Page:Account of a dreadful hurricane which happened in the island of Jamaica, in the month of October, 1780.pdf/17

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storm. The ſtench that arose from the putrefacation of the dead bodies, which remained for many weeks without interment (and to numbers of which the rites of burial could not be adminiſtered), occasioned a kind of peſtilence, that ſwept away a great proportion of thoſe who had providentially escaped the firſt deſtruction. Almost every perſon (illegible text) the town and neighbourhood was affected; and the faculty were rendered incapable through, sickneſs, to attend their patients, many of whom periſhed from the inclemency of the weather, from want of attendance, or ſupply of food: and to add (illegible text) the general apprehenſion, the negroes poured down in troops to the ſcene of devaſtation (and, I (illegible text) ſorry to obſerve, that many white people were (illegible text)ected, opon the ſpot, of promiſcuous plunder); and having made free with the rum that was floating in the inundations, began to grow inſolent and unruly; and, by their threats and conduct, occaſioned an alarm which it was found neceſſary, by exer(illegible text)n and caution, at once to ſuppreſs: and what the conſequences, at ſuch a time of general confuſion and dread, might have been, had not the punche(illegible text) been immediately ſtaved, can hardly, even at this diſtance of time, be reflected upon without (illegible text)rrour.

That the unenlightened negroes ſhould be led to (illegible text)under, when they could it with ſafety, and without the curbs of morality and religion to restrain them, is a circumſtance not to be wondered at, as it is conſiſent with the common depravity of human nature; but that thoſe who ought to be a (illegible text)ck upon the licentiouſneſs which they themselves perhaps have taught, ſhould ſtand forward to (illegible text)veſt miſery of its laſt ſupport, and even plunder (illegible text)ury itſelf of its utmoſt farthing, is a reflection upon thoſe who can diſtinguiſh black from white