Defoe's Journal and the English Plague Writing Tradition

In 1720 London was in a state of panic: bubonic plague was causing havoc in Marseilles and predictions were rife that it would soon reach England. The government acted quickly, issuing proclamations enabling ships from infected countries to be quarantined, drawing up new regulations including policed cordon sanitaires for the control of any epidemic, and ordering a day of national fasting and prayer. On December 16, 1720 the nation was duly called to repentance and ministers railed from their pulpits and in print, detailing the sins of avarice, political discord, and slovenliness in religion that were likely to bring down the wrath of God on England unless a "Reformation of Manners" was promptly enacted. 2