M. _Audimar_ and _Dieudé_, the other Sheriffs, are fatigued on their part with continual Care and Pains, arising from the Increase of necessary Business in a Town, where the common Course of Occurrences takes up all the Time the Civil Magistrate can bestow. M. _Dieudé_, however, goes two Nights together, to accompany the Officers at removing the Dead and the Sick.
The Marquis _de Pilles_, the Governor, is perpetually co-operating with them all; he is every Day, from Morning till Night, at the Town-House, applying himself indefatigably to all that his Zeal and Prudence suggest to him; and to all that the maintaining of good Order requires on such an Occasion.
The whole Sum in _Specie_ at this time in the City-Treasury, is but 1100 Livres; and 'tis manifest, that if the City come to be thoroughly infected, all must perish for Want of Money: This obliges the Sheriffs to write to the First President, to press him earnestly to be pleased to procure Money for them.
Bread-Corn being scarce, is immediately run up to an exorbitant Price; to prevent therefore its being hoarded up to make it dearer, an Ordinance is issued at my Instance, to forbid the hoarding it, on severe Penalties. Two other Ordinances are published at the same time, forbidding all Persons to have and keep in the Town, any thing that might contribute to the spreading of the Contagion.
The 30th of _July_, a general View and Inventory is taken of all the Provisions in the City; and the Sheriffs finding hardly any Bread-Corn, Meat, or Wood, and little Money in the Treasury to buy Stores with; all things excessively dear; Disorder increasing; the Populace as poor as frighten'd; all the Persons of Condition and the Rich already fled: They write to M. _le Pelletier des Forts_, and representing to him the deplorable Condition of _Marseilles_, beseech him to intercede with his Royal Highness to grant them some Supplies.
The 31st of _July_, another Ordinance is issued at my Instance, to oblige all strange Beggars to depart the City this Day; and those settled in the Town, to retire into the Hospital _de la Charité_, on the Penalty of being whipped.
But this Ordinance is not put in Execution, because we learn the same Day, that the Chamber of _Vacations_ of the Parliament of _Aix_, on the Rumour that the Plague is in _Marseilles_, has publish'd an _Arrêt_, forbidding the _Marseillians_ to stir out of the Bounds of their own Territory; the Inhabitants of all the Towns and Places of _Provence_ to communicate with them, or to harbour them; and all Muleteers, Carriers, and all others, to go to _Marseilles_, for what Cause, or under what Pretext soever, on Pain of Death.