The New York Packet

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Amsterdam, to his correspondent in Philadelphia, dated June 8, 1787.

Our situation is deplorable; we are engaged in a civil war, and the Lord knows what will become of us. Several battles have already been fought, in which our burghers gained victory; but the blood of the burghers lost on these occasions cannot be forgotten. Plundering and uproars are all over the seven provinces. Last week the troubles began here and in two nights time forty houses have been plundered or ruined, and among these are two Burgomasters houses; it was a dreadful sight to behold; had you been here, it would have broke your heart to see their fine furniture thrown out of the windows, broke into a thousand pieces and cast into the canals. I have seen several of the houses plundered, and was there from the first to last; but I can assure you, I should not like to see such another scene; it is worse than seeing houses on fire. Last Saturday one of the mob was hanged, and fifty more are in goal; some will meet the same fate. Matters are now come to such a crisis, that they cannot be settled otherwise than by the sword; and by what appears, our union will be broke, and the province of Holland, with two or three more, will become a separate State, fighting against the others as long as possible.