_Mr. Honeywood's Convalescence._
When _Prue_ and I made up our Books at the Year's End, we found to our
great Thankfulness and Satisfaction, that in spite of our having paid
many heavy Bills of my _Father's_, we were on the right Side the Post,
and had cleared a good Year's Income. And this I told my _Father_ in so
many Words, thinking it would please him as well as ourselves.
"Humph!" said he; "'In spite of having paid many of your _Father's_
heavy Bills.' This carries an ill Sound with it. And the Sense is
worse. Many a Father grudges paying his thoughtless Son's bills: well
may industrious Daughters grudge paying the Bills of a thoughtless
Father--"
"Dear _Father_! I'm sure we don't grudge--"
"Silence, Mrs. _Patty_! If I'm falling into a profitable and penitent
State of Mind, why should you hinder me? Do you want Nobody to be good
but yourself? That's your Pride. I've got my Share of Self-Knowledge
and Humiliation, I hope, as well as other People; and when I say
I've been thoughtless, _Madam_, (smiting the Table with his Fist,) I
seriously mean it!"
As Mr. _Fenwick_ had just been talking with him, I attributed this
virtuous Self-Indignation to his Influence, and only hoped it might
last. My _Father_ and he were now mighty Friends: although we were so
far from _Shoreditch_, Mr. _Fenwick_ stepped over to us at least once
a Week, saying he could not forget our Attentions to himself during
his Illness, and considered us as a kind of Out-Parishioners. On these
Occasions he frequently spent an Hour alone with my _Father_, and then
joined us at the Tea-Table, which was profitable to the one Party and
pleasant to the other.
At Length, it became practicable to remove my _Father_ down Stairs.
But before this was accomplished, he beckoned to my _Mother_ and said,
"_Delia_, I prithee cover up or hide away all the China Figures down
Stairs before I come into the _Chinese_ Parlour, or they will bring
my Dream to Mind, and set me fancying I see 'em all dancing. Anything
but that! I loathe the very Thought of them!--You may sell them if
you will--send them to _Dick Harper_ with my Card, and they'll fetch
a pretty Figure at the next Auction, especially if you throw in the
Five Senses. Idle Baggages! they led me astray, as they've led many a
better Man before me. Happy he who can disembarrass himself from their
Extravagancies thus easily!"
My _Mother_ did, in Fact, get a pretty little Sum for them; and my
_Father_ never bought another Piece of China nor attended another
Auction from that Day to this. But this by the Way.
We were sitting very comfortably about the Fire, congratulating
ourselves upon being thus re-united,--and my _Father_ was enjoying a
Basin of strong Gravy Soup, (for it was a little before Noon,) and
wishing my _Mother_ would have a little of it, when all at once down
fell a Smelling-Bottle from the Chimney-Piece; a Water-Caraffe on
the Table upset; Doors banged, Bells rang without being pulled, the
Walls shook, and the Ground sank and rose under us like a Ship at
Sea. We shrieked out, and clung to one another; and I, in addition to
my Terror, experienced great Nausea, as if I were on Shipboard. My
_Father_ immediately exclaimed, "Heyday! there's a Powder-Mill blown up
at _Hounslow_!"
"God pity the poor Creatures in and about it," cries my _Mother_. The
next Moment, in rushes _Peter_, as white as a Sheet.
"An Earthquake! an Earthquake!" cries he, "Did you feel the Earthquake?"
"Earthquake? you Dolt," says my _Father_; "'tis a Powder-Mill blown up
at _Hounslow_, I tell ye; and so you'll find before To-morrow."
"Well, Sir," says _Peter_, "all the Neighbours say as I do, and are
scared out of their Wits, expecting another Shock presently, which, for
Aught we know, may swallow us up alive."
"_Peter_, you're an Oaf--a Lubber!" says my _Father_ contemptuously; on
which _Peter_ retired; but _Prue_, who was much frightened, began to
cry.
"What's the use of crying, Chit?" says my _Father_, "is that a Cure for
an Earthquake?"
"No, _Father_, but it's so very awful--"
"Very awful," said my _Mother_, seriously.
"Very awful indeed," said I.
"Well, of course it would be, if it _were_ an Earthquake," says my
_Father_; "but I say 'twas only a Powder-Mill blowing up somewhere, and
so you'll see."
When the Apothecary who had set _Father's_ Leg came in, however, he
confirmed the general Opinion that there had been a smart Shock of
an Earthquake, and added that it had been accompanied by what we had
not noticed, namely, a loud crashing or crackling Noise. Everybody
that came into the Shop spoke about it; and there was a general
Uncomfortableness and Sense of Insecurity.
In the Dusk of Evening, Dr. _Elwes_ looked in on us; and while he
remained, Mr. _Fenwick_ came in. Both spoke of the Earthquake, though
my _Father_ would not entirely give into it till it was positively
ascertained that no Mill had blown up. Dr. _Elwes_ said that the Shock
had been felt on both Sides of the River, as far as _Greenwich_, and
remarked that the natural Phenomena of the last Month had surely been
such as to awaken the careless and solemnize the thoughtful Mind.
"For Instance," says he, "the new Year was ushered in by a very
remarkable Appearance in the Heavens, of a dusky red Light that seemed
to gather into a Focus southward, emitting brilliant Coruscations. I
was warm in Bed and asleep at the Time, but I heard it from those who
saw it, and it was in the public Prints."
I here put in that I had seen it; being on Watch over my _Father_
at the Time, who was then in his Deliration. I had seen a red Light
glowing through the white Window-Curtains, and on going to look out,
perceived such a ruddy Glow in the Sky that I had surmised a dreadful,
distant Fire somewhere. And again, a few Weeks after, _Prue_ and I were
wakened in the Night by such an awful Storm of Thunder, Lightning,
Rain, Sleet, and Hail, accompanied by terrific Blasts of Wind, as
seemed to go nigh to shake the House to Pieces.
"I slept through it all," said my _Father_.--"However, _Patty_ does
not exaggerate, for the Mischief done by that Tempest at _Bristol_ was
immense, and filled the Inhabitants with Consternation."
"I wonder what it all means," said _Prudence_ ruefully.
"Means!" repeated my _Father_, with Contempt.
"It means that we should watch," said Mr. _Fenwick_, mildly, "since
our LORD will come at an Hour we know not of. Many poor People in
_Shoreditch_ came to me in great Alarm, to ask me if I thought the End
of the World was coming. I told them I knew no more then they did,
for that of that Hour knoweth no Man; no, not the Angels in Heaven,
but only the FATHER; but that what our SAVIOUR had said to his own
Disciples, he had said unto all--'Watch!'"
And he went on to speak of the Desirableness and Duty of a continual
State of Preparedness for whatever might happen to us from within
or without, and the Confidence with which Believers might repose on
the Care of their heavenly FATHER, with such Feeling and Power, that
all of us went to Bed that Night in a State of chastened Composure,
widely apart from ungodly Indifference or slavish Fear. There was
more Solemnity and Affection than usual in our Parting for the Night;
since we knew not but we might be swallowed up quick like _Dathan_ and
_Abiram_ ere Morning Light, though we humbly hoped, in that Case, to
reopen our Eyes in a better World.
This being our State of Mind, it was with Disgust that I learnt on the
following Day, that the reckless Men of Fashion and Quality who had
supped Overnight at _Bedford House_, had gone about the Town on their
Way Home, betwixt four and five o'Clock in the Morning, knocking at
Doors and mischievously frightening timid harmless People, by bawling
out, "Past four o'Clock, and a dreadful Earthquake!" "The Fool hath
said in his Heart, There is no GOD!"
During the Remainder of this Month we went on quietly enough, seeing
few Persons except in the Way of Business, which, by Reason of the
Severity of the Season, was much slacker than in fine Weather. My
_Father_ progressed so slowly that we had our private Doubts whether
he were not invalided for Life. However, from being one of the most
impatient, he had now become the most patient of Men; so that 'twas
quite a Pleasure to nurse him. His gay Companions having altogether
forsook him in his Illness, he was now grown totally indifferent to
them, and if one or other of them dropped in on him, he treated them
with so much sardonic Irony that they were unlikely to intrude very
soon on him again. He missed 'em very little, having now taken a great
Fancy to reading, and to the Company of my _Mother_, both of which were
very safe and inexpensive Luxuries. He had grown singularly fond of Mr.
_Fenwick_ and of Dr. _Elwes_, the latter of whom frequently honoured
us by dropping in to play a Rubber--they were Men of two different
Worlds, but yet neither of them so unacquainted with the World that
was characteristically the other's, as to be wholly unable to make
Allowances:--one brought my _Father_ worldly Wisdom and Wit, the other
heavenly Wisdom and innocent Pleasantry; one supplied him with humorous
Books, the other, with profitable Reading; so that, between 'em both,
he fared not badly. He was now getting through the History of _Don
Quixote de la Mancha_, which he read Snatches of with infinite Gusto
to my _Mother_; and was continually quoting the Proverbs of _Sancho
Panza_. Thus we went peacefully on, and were losing all Fear or even
Memory of the Earthquake; when, on the very same Day of the very next
Month, which is to say, _February 1750_, we were affrighted out of our
Senses by a worse Shock and abundantly more terrifical, between Five
and Six o'Clock in the Morning. Oh! how _Prue_ and I shrieked out,
and rushed down, half dressed, to my _Father_ and _Mother_. They were
sitting up in Bed, having been woke out of Sleep by a loud, rumbling
Noise, accompanied by thick, low Flashes of Lightning. The House was
still rocking and the Ground heaving all about us, Bells ringing,
Clocks striking, Glass and China jingling, and Furniture shifting from
one Place to another. My _Father_ was this Time seriously frightened,
and cried, "Come to my Arms, my Children, and let us die together--we
heeded not the first Warning. 'Tis as well to meet our Fate here, all
together, as anywhere else, since whither could we flee from Danger?
even if I were an able-bodied Man, which I am not. Good LORD, deliver
us. Because there is none other that can help us, but only thou, O
LORD!"
So I remained folded in his Arms, and _Prue_ in my _Mother's_, while we
heard Persons in wild Affright loudly shrieking in the open Air. I have
often thought since, that had Death indeed come upon us at that Moment,
it would have been attended with much Mitigation of its Bitterness.
By-and-by, the Vibration having ceased, we slowly withdrew from one
another's Arms, with deep-drawn Breaths; and set about dressing and
resuming the Occupations of the Day in strange Discomfort and Sadness.
I have since read, in Books of Travellers, that in Countries where
Earthquakes are prevalent, the Natives are in many Instances far more
consternated by them than Strangers, who being unaccustomed to them do
not in one View concentrate all their disastrous Consequences. This
I can well believe; for certainly all _London_ was infinitely more
appalled by this second Shock than by the first. How can I convey
any Figure of the Impressions of Fear and Superstition? how describe
the alarmed Consciences of Sinners, the Perturbation of grave Men,
the Distress of tender _Mothers_, the Cries of affrighted Children
at a Danger so novel and Stupendous? To increase the general Panic,
while godly Preachers like Bishop _Sherlock_ and Bishop _Secker_ were
endeavouring to improve the Judgment to Purposes of Penitence and Piety
among the upper Ranks, and good Ministers like Mr. _Fenwick_ were
calling on the lower Orders to repent and be saved, a fanatic Itinerant
began preaching in the Streets, and boldly prophesying another Shock
on the same Day of _April_, which would swallow up all _London_. The
Impression produced by this Prediction was such as that Churches now
filled to overflowing, Public-Houses were deserted, good Books were
read, Alms liberally bestowed on the Poor, and the Sick and them that
lay in Prison visited. O that such Deeds of Humanity had sprung from
some better Principle than selfish Fear! "Ah," says one poor Man
lying in _Newgate_, "I expect that when the next Earthquake occurs,
my Chains, like those of _St. Paul_, will fall off." "Let us eat and
drink," cries another tipsily, "for To-morrow we die!"--"I can't help
fearing this next Shock that is to happen in _April_," says a poor
Wretch in the Hospital that is sure not to live out the Week. "Ah,"
says a meek Patient in the next Bed, placidly smiling, "I shall be out
of Harm's Way before that comes!"
Others combated their Neighbours' Fears with Reason and Ridicule;
others drowned Thought altogether in additional Excess of Riot. I
understood from _Gatty_ that many smart Things were said about the
Earthquake in the upper Circles; and every fresh Instance of a fine
Lady caring for her Soul and going to Prayers elicited Fits of modish
Laughter. And yet, who deserved the Judgment of Heaven to fall upon
them, if the Rich did not? whose Dissoluteness and Disregard of
Decency and Order had now come to that Pass as quite to paravaunt
over the Vices and Crimes of the common Orders. GOD'S sacred Name
habitually blasphemed, CHRIST and the HOLY SPIRIT ignored, the _Devil_
disbelieved, Chastity laughed at, Ribaldry approved, Drunkenness
considered Good-Breeding, Servants treated as if not of the same Flesh
and Blood with themselves, Sabbaths desecrated, Gambling carried to an
incredible Extent, the Hanging of poor Wretches at _Tyburn_ counted
a Spectacle worthy to recreate Noblemen, public Honour a mere Name,
Patriotism the Synonyme for revolutionary Principle, no Truth, nor
Honour, nor Justice, in Court nor in public Offices ... who, then, had
Reason to dread the just Judgments of GOD?
At the very Time the Earth was rocking with the first Shock, there were
profane Scoffers in Club-houses who would bet, whether it were an
Earthquake or the Explosion of a Gunpowder Magazine. At the very Time
two-thirds of _London_ were on their Knees, observing a general Fast
and Day of Humiliation, the Gambling-houses were filled with Members of
Parliament, who found themselves with a Day of Leisure on their Hands.
A Man dropped down Dead at the Door of _White's_ Coffee-house: he was
carried in; the Club immediately made Bets whether he were dead or not;
a Surgeon came in to bleed him; the Wagerers interposed, saying it
would affect the Fairness of the Bet!
O Madness of mortal Men! O Hardness, past Belief, of impenitent
Sinners!
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