The Virginia Gazette

May 17. Prince Gallitzin, the Russian Minister at the Hague, has received an authentick Letter from Petersburgh, dated April 18th, with the following Advices:

" Yesterday (the 18th of April) the Empress received at Czarsko Zelo by two Officers of Rank, the important and agreeable News that the Rebels, in Number 9 or 10,000 Men, commanded by the Impostor Pugatscheff, who styles himself Peter III. have been entirely defeated, and that he himself with Difficulty escaped with four of his Companions. Seeing the Body of Troops under General Prince de Gallitzin advance, in Order to engage him, and rescue the Town of Orenbourg, which he kept shut up, he had assembled his best Troops in the Fortress of Tatischewa, on the River Jaik, which lay in the Way to Orenbourg. Prince Gallitzin attacked this Place the 2d of April, and carried it Sword in Hand. The Rebels had 2000 Men killed on the Spot, 3000 taken Prisoner, and lost 36 Pieces of Cannon. The rest were dispersed, and the Impostor himself with Difficulty escaped. He afterwards went to another Fortress called Berda, not far from Orenbourg, where there were 4000 of his Men. However, he had not Time to take Shelter there; for the Governour of Orenbourg, hearing of his Defeat, sent a large Detachment to make an Attack upon the Rebels at that Place, and he, with about 3000 Men, in a Panick, abandoned Berda; but it is not doubted we shall have a good Account of them, Prince Gallitzin having Sent Parties every Way to intercept the scattered Remains of them. Those who remained at Berda Surrendered to the Governour of Orenbourg, and great Numbers of others surrender themselves every Day. Our Loss doth not exceed 100 or 200 Men. This happy Event seems to have put an End to an Affair which has made so much Noise throughout Europe, and been so much exaggerated by our Enemies."