A Brief Journal of what passed in the City of Marseilles, while it was afflicted with the Plague, in the Year 1720.

Lewis, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre. To our beloved and faithful Counsellors holding our Court of Parliament of Paris, and to all others whom it may Concern: Greeting. Our well beloved Nicholas Carré of Paris, having represented to us, that a Manuscript has been put into his Hands, intitled, A Brief Journal of what passed in the City of Marseilles while it was afflicted with the Plague; and most humbly besought us to grant him our Letters of Privilege, for the sole printing and vending thereof throughout our Dominions.——We being willing to treat the Petitioner favourably, and to acknowledge his Zeal for the Good and Benefit of the Publick, do by these Presents grant to him and his Assigns, the sole Liberty of printing and publishing the said Book, for the term of six Years from the Date hereof:—Forbidding all other Persons to print or counterfeit the same, on the Penalty of Confiscation of such Copies, and of a Fine of three thousand Livres, to be paid by every Offender. Done at Paris, the 17^th of July in the sixth Year of our Reign. By the King in Council.

Carpot.

HE Coasts of the Levant being always suspected of the Plague, all Ships which come from thence for Marseilles stop at the Islands of Chateaudif; and the Intendants of Health regulate the Time and Manner of their Quarantaines, and of purifying their Cargoes, by the Tenor of their Patents (or Bills of Health), and by the State of Health of the particular Places from whence they come.

The Beginning of May, 1720. we had Advice at Marseilles, that from the Month of March the Plague was rife in most of the Maritime Towns or trading Ports of Palestine and Syria.

The 25th of the said Month of May, the Ship commanded by Captain Chataud, which came from thence, that is to say, from Sidon, Tripoli, Syria, and Cyprus, arrives at the said Islands; but his Patents are clean (i.e. his Certificates imported there was no Contagion at those Places,) because he came away the 31st of January, before the Plague was there. He declares, however, to the Intendants of Health, that in his Voyage, or at Leghorn where he touched, Six Men of his Crew died, but he shews by the Certificate of the Physicians of Health at Leghorn, that they died only of Malignant Fevers, caused by unwholesome Provisions.

The 27th of May, one of his Sailors dies in his Ship.

The 28th, the Intendants cause the Corpse to be carried into the Infirmary; Guerard, chief Surgeon of Health, views it; and makes Report, that it has not any Mark of Contagion.

The 29th, the Intendants settle the purifying of the Goods of this Cargo, to Forty Days compleat, to be reckoned from the Day the last Bale shall be carried from it into the Infirmaries.

The last of May, Three other Vessels arrive at the same Islands; viz. Two small Vessels of Captain Aillaud's from Sidon, whence they came since the Plague was there; and Captain Fouque's Bark from Scanderoon.

The 12th of June, Captain Gabriel's Ship arrives there likewise from the same Places, with a foul Patent; (i.e. importing, that the Plague was there.)

The same Day the Officer, whom the Intendants had put on Board Captain Chataud's Ship to see Quarantain duly performed, dies there; Guerard chief Surgeon of Health views the Body, and makes Report that it has not any Mark of Contagion.

The 14th of June, the Passengers who came in the said Ship, are perfumed for the last Time in the Infirmaries; and are allowed to enter the City as usual.

The 23d, being the Eve of St. John Baptist, the Grand Prior arrives at Genoa with the King's Gallies; the Sheriffs have the Honour to welcome him, and I to make a Speech to him in the Name of the City.

The same Day a Cabbin-Boy of Captain Chataud's Ship, a Servant employed at the Infirmaries in purifying the Goods of that Ship, and another who was purifying those of Captain Gabriel's Ship, fall sick; the same Surgeon makes Report that they have not any Mark of Contagion.

The 24th, another Servant employed to purify Captain Aillaud's Goods, falls sick likewise; is visited, and the same Report made.

The 24th, and 26th, all Four dye one after another; their Bodies are viewed, and Report made that they have not any Mark of Contagion.

Notwithstanding the Reports thus made, the Intendants consult and resolve by way of Precaution to cause all these Bodies to be buried in Lime; to remove from the Island of Pomegué the Ships of the Captains Chataud, Aillaud, and Gabriel, and send them to a distant Island called Jarre, there to begin again their Quarantain; and to inclose the Yard where their Goods are purifying in the Infirmaries, without suffering the Servants employed to air them, to come out.

The 28th of June, another Vessel, being Captain Gueymart's Bark,