The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Newcastle, March 20.

"Yesterday and this day the sailors, belonging to the ships now lying at Shields and Sunderland, began in a very riotous manner to stop all the ships that were bound for London with coals, by going on board and unbending their sails, and abusing the captains and sailors that were willing to proceed upon their voyage. Some ships in the confusion made the best of their way over the bar, having little wind, but were soon followed by a great number of boats, well manned, which overtook and boarded them, then forcibly brought them back to Shields, against an ebb tide and wind, though with much difficulty, and great hazard; they then unrigged and moored them, after which they unbent their sails, and, collecting a great quantity of lighters or keels, made a boom of them quite across the river, so that no craft can pass up or down without their permission, by which means supplying you with coals is now impracticable. Our magistrates, foreseeing this storm, have procured five companies of the 31st regiment, from Tynemouth and Morpeth, and this day three troops of the Scots Grey dragoons arrived here from York, by whose assistance it is to be hoped all further mischief will be prevented."

"The mob has stopped the working of all the colliers below bridge, and are determined to do the same with all the colliers upon the two rivers Tyne and Wear. I am informed that the Admiralty have ordered a 20 gun ship to be stationed here."