Here, the Marquess _de Pilles_, and the Sheriffs, think only of preserving the Life and Health of others, exposing their own without any Concern; and are Night and Day in the open Street, wherever they see Danger deter others.
The Marquess _de Pilles_ has so little Regard for himself, that at the first he lets the principal Pest-House (which is that _des Convalescens_) be settled within 4 Paces of his own House. M. _Estelle_ goes all Night long, so void of fear, to see the dead Bodies carried off the Street _Lescale_, that slipping on the Pavement he was within a Finger's Breadth of falling full upon a dead Body that lay on the Ground before him: M. _Moustier_ sets so light by Dangers that make others tremble, that a Plaister reeking with the Corruption of the Bubo of an infected Person thrown out of the Window, lighting on his Cheek, and sticking there, he takes it off perfectly unconcerned, and only wiping his Cheek clean with his Spunge dipped in Vinegar, proceeds on the Business he is about. The others behaved much in the same manner.
The 25th, the Plague has spread into the four Corners of the City, and exercises its Rage on all Sides: From this time to the End of _September_ it rages with the same Violence, it strikes like Lightning every where, sweeps all before it, and carries off above a Thousand Souls a Day.
Its Violence now attacks by Crowds only, and its Fury gives a Thousand Deaths at once. In Consequence, the Pest-Houses established are insufficient to receive all the poor Sick; it is resolved to make a new one, large enough to take in any Number; and there not being without the Town, nor in it, a Building capacious enough for that Purpose, it is resolved to erect one (as the Physicians of _Montpellier_ had advised) in the Allies of that spacious Piece of Ground used for playing at Mall, which is without the Gate _des faineants_, contiguous to the Convent of the Reformed _Augustines_, with Timber-Work to be covered with Sail-Cloath made of Cotton: This is a new Difficulty for the Sheriffs, to have such an Hospital to build, without being able to reckon upon the Assistance of any Person, and even without any Workmen, for they are generally fled.
The 26th, the Chamber of Vacations being informed that almost all the Bakers of _Marseilles_ have deserted, and being desirous to prevent the Extremity to which the City will be reduced, if at such a Conjuncture sufficient Quantities of Bread should not be made; they publish an Arrêt, commanding all _Bakers_ and their Foremen who have withdrawn, to return on Pain of Death; and enjoining the Consuls of the Places where they may have taken Refuge, to deliver them up, on the Penalty of a Fine and other Punishment.