The Virginia Gazette

In one of our Gazettes, we gave an Account of a Plot of the Slaves, against the white People in Antigua, and we have now the following more particular Account, viz.

Extract of a Letter from Antigua, Oct. 20.

Here has been a general Stop to all Business, occasioned by the happy Discovery of an accursed Negro Plot, which should have been perpetrated on the 11th Instant, the Anniversary of the King's Coronation, on which Day the General usually gives a handsome Ball to the Gentlemen and Ladies of the whole Island; but this was postpon'd 'till the 20th Instant, upon Account of the Death of the General's Son at St. Christophers some little Time ago: This was the only Preservative to all our Lives. The Plot was thus, viz. One Court, a Negro Man belonging to Thomas Kirby, Esq; was the chief Person in this Affair; Tomboy, a Negro Man belonging to Mr. Thomas Hamilton; and Hercules, a Negro Man belonging to Mr. John Christophers, were to have been this King Court's head Generals; and while the Gentlemen and Ladies were diverting themselves at the Ball, which was to have been held at Mr. Christopher Dunbar's new House, they were to convey a great Quantity of Gun-powder into the Cellar, and blow the House up: At the same Time, this King Court, Tomboy, and Hercules, were to head a Party of Four Hundred Men each: one from the East End of the Town, one from Otter's Pasture, and one from Morgan's Pasture, all armed with Cutlasses, and to fall on all the Whites in the Town, Men, Women, and Children, without Reserve, at the same Time the House blew up, which was to be a general Signal to the other Parts of the Island, (for they were to place themselves, or at least look out on several Eminencies, which, with a false Fire they were to make at each Place) was to convey the Signal through the Island; then the Negroes of each Plantation were to rise and destroy all the Whites in their respective Districts, and so have made themselves sole Masters of the Island. How this happy Discovery was made, is hardly to be accounted for: but some kind Hand of Providence induc'd the Magistrates to enquire more strictly into their Proceedings than usually they had done, for playing at Dice, &c. which was contrary to the wholesome Laws of this Island, they still discover'd more and more, till at last this Court, Tomboy, and Hercules being suspected, for former Crimes and high Misdemeanors, were taken up, and after some strict Examination, found sufficient Cause to commit them; and still more and more Evidences appearing against them, they were at length convicted on the 19th Instant at Night. The Day following, King Court was brought to the Place of Execution, there was laid extended on a Wheel, seiz'd by the Wrists and Ankles, and so laid basking in the Sun for the full Space of an Hour and a Quarter, or more, when he begg'd Leave to plead; to which the Justices gave their Assent, and he acknowledged every Thing that was alledged against him, and what his General Tomboy had confess'd in Prison the same Morning, when he was assur'd his Time drew near for Execution. At last about Noon, Mr. King Court (for so they had actually made him, and bow'd the Knee to him at a very great Feast they had a little before the Day they intended to prosecute their accurs'd Design), was broke on the Wheel, and his Kingly Cap and Canopy was found in some Negro Possession; Tomboy was broke on the Wheel on Thursday, and Hercules on Friday; their Bones were broke, and after, their Heads were cut off, and stuck up on a Pole of some considerable Height. Four more of the Heads of these honest Gentlemen were burnt the same Day in Otter's Pasture, and To-morrow will be Seven more, and so many as they can find leading Men in this Plot. This is all I can say to the Affair at present, only that it puts us all into the utmost Confusion: all our People are under Arms, and 'tis believ'd will continue so till after Christmas.