Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-07-18

habitants, that proud city was left for-
lorn and desolate. In Padua, after
the cessation Of the plague, two third.
OF Inc inhabitants were wanting; and
m Florence it was prohibited to pub.
l,sh the numbers Of the dead. and TO toll
The bells AZ their funerals, in order that
The living might not abandon themselves
to despair.
we have more exact accounts Of
England most Of the great cities ,uf-
'ered incredible losses above all, Var
mouth, IN which .O59 died: Bri,,oI
oxford, Norwich, Leicester, York. and
London, where in one burial ground
alone, there were entered UPWARD, Of
$4,000 corpses, arranged in LAYERS. in
large pits. Iii said, that in the whole
country. scarcely a tenth part remain
ed alive but this estimate is evidently
too high. Smaller losses were sufficient
to cause those commissions, whose con-
sequences were felt for some centuries,
IN a false impulse given 10 civil life.
and whose indirect influence, unknown
TO the English, has, perhaps, extended
even TO modern times.
The changes which occurred about
tins period in the north Of Europe, are
sufficiently memorable TO claim a few
moments attention. In Sweden. two
princes dIed-Haken and Kaut, half
brothers Of King Magnus, and in West
gothland alone, ACC Priests. The in
habitants Of Iceland and Greenland
found, IN the coldness Of their inhos-
pitaoie Climate, no protection against
the southern enemy who had penetra-
ted to them from happier COUNTLESS
Inc plague caused great havoc among
them. Nature made no allowance for
their constant warfare with the eIs-
ments. aud the parsimony with which
she had meted out TO them the enioy-
ments Of life. In Denmark and Nor
way, however, people were so occupied
with their own misery, that the accu.-
toned voyages to Greenland ceased.-
towering icebergs formed at the same
time on the coast Of Greenland, in con-
sequence OF tho general concussion Of
the earth's organism; and no mortal,
from that time forward, has ever seen
that shore or its inhabitants.
Ii has been observed above. that in
Russia. the Black Plague did not break
out until 1851, after il had already
passed through the south and north Of
Europe. In this country also, the NOR
tality was extraordinarily great; and
the same scenes of affection and des-
PAIR were exhibited as had occurred I'm
Those nations which had already psss-
ed the ordeal. The same mode Of bu.
riai-the same horrible certainty Of
death-the same torpor and depression
OF spirits. The wealthy abandoned
their treasures, and gave their villa
ges and estates TO the churches and
monasteries this being, according TO
the notions Of the age, the surest way
OF securing the favor Of heaven, and
the forgiveness Of past sins. In Rus
sia, too. the voice OF nature was silenc-
ed ny iear aud horror. In the hour of
danger, fathers and mothers deserted
their children, and children their pa
rents.
OF all the estimates Of the number
OF lives lost in Europe, the most pro
oabie IS, that altogether, fourth part
ot the inhabitants were carried OF.
Now u Europe al present contain $40,
OOO,OOO inhabitants. the population.
not to take higher estimate. which
might easily be justified, amounted =,
at least 5000, 900 IN the sixth cen,ir.
~. IL may therefore BE- aSsumed.wi,E.
out exaggeFatioB, that Europe Io,t.
during the Black Death, 25.U0QCCO
Of inhabitants. r English paper.
DO%= q