The Virginia Gazette

They write from Florence, That the Electress Dowager Palatine has continued the Courtiers in the same Pensions which they had during the late Duke's Life, which amount to 42,000 Crowns a Year, and are to be paid out of the Profits of the Meal-Farm.

The Prince de Craon, who has approved of this, is making several other useful Regulations, reforming various Abuses, and bringing all Criminal Prosecutions to a speedy Issue. Last some Executions already made, several Persons have been sentenced to Banishment. Of the latter Number are some Gentlemen, Ladies, and Clergymen, whose Behaviour has not been the most regular. At the same Time there have been banished a Couple of Friers, two of the late Duke's Lackeys, a Surgeon, and two Women, who are known to have grossly abused the Familiarity with which that Prince honoured them. These had Orders to quit the City in Three Hours, and the Dutchy in Three Days.

The Letters add, That the severe Prosecutions which had been stirred up against the Free Masons there are dropped, since it has been made appear, their Society has the Honour to have the present Great Duke for one of its Members: who is a Prince too Wise and too Virtuous, to be joined to a Society that should be guilty of any Indecency or Irregularity.