The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / By Tho. Sprat.

  • Thomas Sprat
Date:
1702
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the Royal Society of London, for the Improving of Natural Knowledge / By Tho. Sprat. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    143/470 page 121
    Upon our return after the abating of the Plague, what elfe could we exped, but to fee the ftreets un¬ frequented, the River forlaken, the fields deform’d with the Graves of the Dead, and the terrors of Death dill abiding on the faces of the living? ButInftead of fuel) difmal fights, there appear’d almoft the fame throngs in all publick places, the fame noife of lufi- nejs, the fame freedom of convers, and with there-* turn of the King, the fame cheerfulnefs returning on the minds of the people as before. Nor was their courage left, in fudaining the fecond calamityywhich deftroy d their houfes, and eflates. This the greated lofers indur’d with fuch undaunted firm- nefs of mind,that their example may incline us to be¬ lieve, that not only the bt£\ Natural^hvxi the belt Mo¬ ral Philofophy too, may be learned from the (hops of Mechanicks. It was indeed an admirable thing to be¬ hold, with what conjlancy, the meanefl Artificers faw all the labours of their lives, and the fupport of their families devour’d in an inflaot. The affliction ’tis true, was widely fpread over the whole Nation : every place was fill’d with figns of pity, and commiferation: But thofe who had Buffer'd moll, feem’d the leaft af¬ fected with the lofs : no unmanly levoailings were heard in the few ftreets, that were preferv’d : they beheld the A flies of their Houfes. and Gates, and Tem¬ ples, without the lead expredion of Pufillanimity. If Philofophers had done this, it had well become their profefiion of Wifdom : if Gentlemen, the noblenefs of their breeding, and blood would have requir’d it. But that fuch greatnefs of heart ffaould be found a- rhongft the poor Artizans, and the obfeure multitude, is no doubt one of the mod honourable events, that ever happen’d. Yet dill there is one circumftance tr-- hind,
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