The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Last Saturday Afternoon a Person who lately belonged to the Sloop Liberty, and came round to this Place in the Sloop Success, from Rhode-Island, and soon after his Arrival informed of her having a Cask or two of Wine on board, which occasioned the Vessel's being seiz'd, was discovered and pursued, but took Shelter in a House
where he secreted himself till the beginning of the Evening, when thinking the Coast clear he ventured out, but the Avenues to the House being strictly watched the whole of the Time, he was immediately seized upon by the Populace, and soon placed in a Cart, his Jacket and Shirt taken off, and his naked Skin well tarred and feathered; they obliged him to hold a large Glass Lantern in his Hand that People might see the doleful Condition he was in, and to deter others from such infamous Practices: He was then carted from the Town-House through the main Street up to Liberty-Tree, amidst a vast Concourse of People, where he was made to swear never to be guilty of the like Crime for the future; but in their going thither, as they passed Mead and Fleming's Printing-Office a Gun was fired from thence and two others snapped at them just as they got by, upon which some of the Company rushed into the Office in order to secure the Offenders, but they had fled; however they brought off three Guns, two of them well charged; as Evidences against them whenever they can be taken: This imprudent Conduct of those in the Printing-Office (for what Reason we know not, as no Injury seemed designed them) did not interrupt the carting the feathered Informer through the principal Streets in Town for about three Hours, when he was brought back to King-street, and after renewing his Obligation of behaving better for time to come, and asking Pardon for his past Offence, he was dismissed without further Damage, after having his Clothes returned again; and then all peaceably dispersed about nine o'clock.

[Ev. Post, and Bost. Gaz.]

Numbers of People perhaps some Thousands were gathered together, and they ordered the Inhabitants to put Lights in their Windows, as they passed, which in general was complied with.---

Upon proper Notice to the Commanding Officer of His Majesty's Forces in the Town, orders were issued, and the Men were all in Arms at the several Barracks and Guard-Houses. His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor met with such of his Majesty's Council as were in Town, and as many of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace as could be reasonably convened at the Council Chamber, but soon after the Tumult gradually subsided, the People dispersed, and before Nine o'Clock the Town was perfectly quiet.---We hear the Persons principally concerned in carting the Informer as before related, would not have engaged in it on a Saturday Evening, if a Question had not been started, whether the Man could legally be kept in custody till Monday.

(Monday's Mass. Gaz.)