Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

HORRIBLE MASSACRE

The following is taken from hup what a destiny is yours?

The following is an extract of a private letter from Abo, the capital of Finland, under date the 6th ult.

"It is with the deepest regret that I communicate to you an account of the perpetration of atrocities scarcely exceeded by the memorable massacre on St. Bartholomew's day at Paris, by the Russian troops on the inhabitants of this ill-fated country.

In violation of an express stipulation in the treaty for the transfer of Finland to Russia, a certain portion of the inhabitants were ordered to be drafted or rather impressed into the emperor's service. The despotic mandate was in general obeyed, and considerable levies were procured, before their destination was known to be the shores of Euxine, to fight against the Turks.

In the province of Savolax the alarm became general; and the people conceiving they were exempt from service for a limited time, ventured to remonstrate against what they considered as an infraction of the treaty.

Count Tolesky, the governor of Finland, to whom the appeal was made in the most respectful and submissive terms, invited the inhabitants, by proclamation, to repair on Sunday last to their respective churches, in order to obtain a redress of grievances.

This article had the desired effect. The inhabitants, who are widely scattered, and difficult to be got at in detail, were collected in a body; and, while in anxious expectation of the proffered act of grace, and unconscious of the impending danger, they were suddenly surrounded by bands of soldiers, who, regardless of the sanctity of the place, and deaf to the voice of humanity, dragged the flower of the young men from the altars of their God, from the bosoms of their parents, and the enjoyment of all that was most dear to them in life: and moreover butchered, without any distinction of age, sex, or condition, those that attempted by intercession or force to soften the hearts or avert the deadly weapons of their remorseless assassins.

In the parishes where those atrocities were perpetrated, no less than 700 unoffending and defenceless individuals have fallen victims to the relentless fury of monsters in human form."