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⟨storm⟩. The ſtench that aroſe from the putrefaction 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 ⟨in⟩ the town and neighbourhood was affected; and ⟨the⟩ faculty were rendered incapable, through, ⟨weakneſs⟩, 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 ⟨to⟩ the general apprehenſion, the negroes poured ⟨down⟩ in troops to the ſcene of devaſtation (and, I ⟨am⟩ ſorry to obſerve, that many white people were ⟨detected⟩, 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 exertion and caution, at once to ſupprefs: and what the ⟨conſequences⟩, at ſuch a time of general confuſion ⟨and⟩ dread, might have been, had not the puncheons been immediately ſtaved, can hardly, even at ⟨this⟩ diſtance of time, be reflected upon without ⟨horrour⟩.
That the unenlightened negroes ſhould be led to ⟨plunder⟩, when they could do 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 conſiſtent with the common depravity of ⟨human⟩ nature; but that thole who ought to be a ⟨check⟩ upon that licentiouſneſs which they themselves perhaps have taught, ſhould ſtand forward to ⟨diveſt⟩ miſery of its laſt ſupport, and even plunder ⟨penury⟩ itſelf of is utmoſt farthing, is a reflection ⟨upon⟩ thoſe who can diſtinguiſh black from white