FOOTNOTES.

When it pleased God to withdraw the disease from this neighbourhood, the skilful manner in which Mr. Langworthy had treated it, and his unremitting attention to the arduous duties of his office, were duly acknowledged at a parish meeting, with an addition to his salary; and a handsome piece of plate, purchased by subscription, was presented to him. He died a few years afterwards.

Immediately after the funeral, I wrote to her relations at Cork, informing them of the mournful event, and requesting them to inform me what arrangements they would suggest respecting the children. The youngest, aged one year, died of the cholera in our hospital, in a fortnight after the decease of its mother. At this time, a person arrived, to take charge of the children. Before they left the workhouse, where every care had been taken of them, their relation requested to know what was due to the parish. In reply to which, he was informed, that “the last tribute of respect and Christian sympathy to a broken-hearted widow, was reserved for her helpless little orphans.” Nothing was accepted. The purse which she had with her was returned, with the contents untouched.

Some displeasure was expressed, at Plympton, on account of Susan Taylor having gone to her brother-in-law’s house, as that place had hitherto been free from the epidemic.

An influential gentleman there wrote to me on the subject, to the following effect:—

I dare say you have heard that the cholera has unhappily appeared among us, owing to the widow of Taylor and her child, having emigrated last night from Underwood to Plympton, and slept at the house of her brother, in consequence of her having no other abode . . . It is requisite that you should be aided by the practical co-operation of others, and particularly that you should be empowered, by the vote of the parish, to enforce in your overseers the full and immediate performance of their duty . . . If the poor of Plympton St. Mary are driven from their houses by accident or pestilence, they are equally entitled to be taken care of by the parish officers, and it is their bounden duty instantly to provide them with some other habitation. Had that been attended to yesterday, we should (at least in the present case) have been exempt from the pestilence to-day.

Dated August 11th, 1832.

Rose Cottage, Ridgeway, August 11, 1832.

My dear Sir,

As the dread malady with which this neighbourhood is unhappily afflicted does not appear to have yet run its course (neither Ridgeway nor Colebrook having been much affected), and as it is utterly impossible that one medical man, however active and zealous, can attend on half the cases; nor is it possible that you should be able to continue your exertions as you have done, unless the patients are more concentrated: under these considerations, I beg to suggest the propriety of calling a meeting to-morrow, to consider the expediency of appointing some place to receive the poor people that may be attacked, and also to depute some one to act as assistant overseer; as the overseer resides so far off, a deputy is absolutely necessary.

I remain, my dear Sir,

Yours, &c. B. CROCKER.

William I. Coppard, Chairman.

“An adjourned meeting of the parishioners was held on this day, at the Plymouth Inn, Ridgeway; present, George Strode, Esq., William Langmead, Esq., George William Soltau, Esq., B. Crocker, Esq., Mr. J. Yolland, Mr. William Delville, Mr. Worth, Mr. Willing, Mr. Joseph Pearse, Mr. Brewer. Resolved, That a Board of Health having been regularly appointed in the parish, under the authority of the Lords of H.M. most honourable Privy Council, in compliance with the proposition of the Board, the sum of twenty pounds be paid to the order of the chairman of the said Board, for the purpose of meeting the present expenses of the Board.”

William I. Coppard, Chairman.