94 



of this difaftrous period, it was rendered 

 highly afflidlng. Not only the peace and 

 prop^erty, but the lives of numbers were at 

 hazard. To go off in the boats, crowded as 

 they were, was extremely dangerous ; but 

 ftill greater peril awaited longer delay. 

 Hence, at all rifks, thofe who could poffibly 

 find place, ventured themfelves afloat, and, 

 quickl}r, we faw, from our window, as it 

 were, a whole town moving upon the water^- 



Among the crowd that appeared before 

 the city gates early in the morning, as well 

 as among thofe who left their homes, to 

 efcape from the town, were groupes of the 

 various defcriptions of young and old, male 

 and female, rich and poor, polifhed and vul- 

 gar, all confounded, pall-mall, together. Ad- 

 ing from the fudden impulfe of terror, many 

 thought only of the fafety of their perfons ; 

 and fome, in their hafte and anxiety to efcape, 

 ran off without hats or fhoes — fome without 

 caps or bonnets. Few, Indeed, were enough 

 ^olledted to regard either propriety or orna- 

 ment of drefs. The countenances of all 

 befpake moie important concern; but their 



