On approaching Newgate Market, they found it entirely deserted.  Most of the stalls were removed, the shops closed, and the window-shutters nailed up.  It was never, in fact, used at all, except by a few countrymen and higglers, who ventured thither on certain days of the week to sell fresh eggs, butter, poultry, and such commodities.  The manner of sale was this.  The article disposed of was placed on a flag on one side of the market, near which stood a pump and a trough of water.  The vendor then retired, while the purchaser approached, took the article, and put its price into the water, whence it was removed when supposed to be sufficiently purified.

As the party passed Grey Friars, the tramp of their horses was mistaken for the dead-cart, and a door was suddenly opened and a corpse brought forth.  Leonard would have avoided the spectacle had it been possible, but they were now too close to Newgate, where they were detained for a few minutes at the gate, while their bills of health were examined and countersigned by the officer stationed there.  During this pause Leonard glanced at the grated windows of the prison, the debtors’ side of which fronted the street.  But not a single face was to be seen.  In fact, as has already been stated, the prison was shut up.

The gate was now opened to them, and descending Snow Hill they entered a region completely devastated by the pestilence.  So saddening was the sight, that Leonard involuntarily quickened his horse’s pace, resolved to get out of this forlorn district as speedily as possible.  He was, however, stopped by an unexpected and fearful impediment.  When within a short distance of Holborn Bridge, he observed on the further side of it a large black vehicle, and, unable to make out what it was, though a fearful suspicion crossed him, slackened his pace.  A nearer approach showed him that it was the pest-cart, filled with its charnel load.  The horse was in the shafts, and was standing quite still.  Rising in his stirrups to obtain a better view, Leonard perceived that the driver was lying on the ground at a little distance from the cart, in an attitude that proclaimed he had been suddenly seized by the pestilence, and had probably just expired.

Not choosing to incur the risk of passing this contagious load, Leonard retraced his course as far as Holborn Conduit, then turning into Seacole-lane, and making the best of his way to Fleet Bridge, crossed it, and entered the great thoroughfare with which it communicated.  He had not proceeded far when he encountered a small party of the watch, to whom he showed his certificate, and recounted the fate of the driver of the dead-cart.  At Temple Bar he was again obliged to exhibit his passports; and while there detained, he observed three other horsemen riding towards them from the further end of Fleet-street.