have coſt the City about 200 Chalder of Coals a Week, if they had continued, which was indeed a very great Quantity; but as it was, thought neceſſary, nothing was ſpar’d; however as ſome of the Phyſicians cry’d them down, they were not kept a-light above four or five Days; the Fires were order’d thus.
One at the Cuſtom-houſe, one at Billingſgate, one at Queen-hith, and one at the Three Cranes, one in Black Friers, and one at the Gate of Bridewel, one at the Corner of Leadenbal Street, and Grace-church, one at the North, and one at the South Gate of the Royal Exchange, one at Guild Hall, and one at Blackwell-hall Gate, one at the Lord Mayor’s Door, in St. Helens, one at the Weſt Entrance into St. Paul’s, and one at the Entrance into Bow Church: I do not remember whether there was any at the City Gates, but one at the Bridge foot there was, juſt by St. Magnus Church.
I know, ſome have quarrell’d ſince that at the Experiment, and ſaid, that there died the more People, becauſe of thoſe Fires; but I am perſuaded thoſe that ſay fo, offer no Evidence to prove it, neither can I believe it on any Account whatever.
It remains to give ſome Account of the State of Trade at home in England during this dreadful Time, and particularly as it relates to the Manufactures, and the Trade in the City: At the firſt breaking out of the Infection, there was, as it is eaſie to ſuppoſe, a very great fright among the People, and conſequently a general ſtop of Trade; except in Proviſions and Neceſſaries of Life, and even in thoſe Things, as there was a vaſt Number of People fled, and a very great Number always ſick, beſides the Number which died, ſo there could not be above two Thirds, if above one Half of the Conſumption of Proviſions in the City as uſed to be.
