August 2, 1784.

Yes, it is confirmed that what we are dealing with is the so-called Yellow Fever, or as the Spaniards call it, the "vomito negro."

We have talked to the Capitano of the Genoese ship, la Sirena, and he says that three of their sailors and one passenger have the fever. These men are isolated in the forecastle of the ship, and the rest of the crew are being watched to see if they develop the symptoms. The Capitano seems a good fellow and he and his officers understand very well why we cannot let them come ashore. The ship did in fact sail from Sicilia six days ago with a cargo of olive oil and dried fish.

The royal Neapolitan revenue service ship Allegra reached the mainland very quickly and returned by morning with orders from the Governor of the Sorrento District. So now we are under quarantine -- a temporary board of health has been established for the district, headed by some english gentleman who I assume must be a friend or relation of Sir John Acton.

We are to keep all ships in the harbor -- if anyone leaves the island by small boat, they must have a "clean bill of health" from the doctors, and they can bring nothing with them, particularly bedding or any clothing other than what they are wearing. We are to close all public gathering places and confiscate bulk products that may carry the contagion, such as coffee and wheat if it comes from North Africa or Sicilia. The Governor's staff evidently were pleased to hear we had already set up a lazaretto, and they will be sending nursing sisters -- one or two anyway -- when another revenue cutter returns tomorrow early in the morning.

As chief magistrate I have carried out the Governor's instructions. Accompanied by Moschetierri Hansen and Peschi, I have gone around and closed down spaces such as the taverna, the bakery, the cabinet of curiosities and the coffee house. The coffee house was full when we arrived. I do not think people expected this, for the most part. It took a while for the Guardia to clear them all out.

I have been confiscating the products that someone thinks may be a source of contagion. Poor Signora Macbain was not happy when the boys took her three big sacks of coffee beans. If they have to be destroyed I will see to it she is reimbursed, even if it has to come out of my pocket instead of King Ferdinando's.

We later held a town meeting at the old fortezza to answer people's questions and to tell them what to expect. I thought it better to have people inside, in the cool shade of the thick stone walls, rather than out in the hot afternoon sun, but we still had some of ladies fall ill and have to be examined by the doctors. They found that Donna Candace and a Signorina Emily were simply overcome by the heat, but the woman Devi, who works on behalf of the Conte Foscari appears to have actually contracted the fever.

Achille, I know, is fond of this young woman, Devi. I wish he were here.

Don Lucerius and Don Merucurio volunteered to detonate barrels of gunpowder around the village and harbor in order to purify the air somewhat and fight the contagion. They did so with the aid of our stalwart Moschetierre Peschi who carried musket with fixed bayonet to keep the feckless and foolish at bay for their own good. Do such measures actually help? I cannot say. But much of the powder was donated by the captains of ships in the harbor for the public good, so at least it is not costing the Rocca Sorrentina council of magistrates too dearly.

Tomorrow at 10 AM, Dottore Greymoon and Dottore Panacek, and the nursing sisters (if they have arrived) shall preform examinations in a temporary medical facility that the good Dottore Greymoon has set up in the lecture hall of the academia. Any person who can get a clean bill of health from them may then travel in small boats to the mainland if they absolutely need to, but those who stay -- and are healthy -- will be invited to some private social events. I intend to organize one such event at my rooms in the villa on Tuesday evening, if all goes well. Don Mercurio has likewise offered to host something at his house later in the week.

I think doing this will help keep people's spirits up, cheering them with good company and distracting them from the melancholy thoughts that come with such situations. The orders from the Governor only said we must close public gathering places. They said nothing about private socializing. But the key will be the examinations tomorrow. If no one else seems infected, and we can go another five or six days without having anyone else fall ill, that will indicate that we may relax the restrictions and that things will be well...

except, of course, for those mariners on the Sirena and the poor lady from Roma in the lazarettoand Devi. I shall have to see if Padre Cuthbert can be permitted to join usI think he is at Pompeii again. We may have need of his services.

Don Merucurio has certainly been helpful.

I wonder why?