The Virginia Gazette

October 24. Last Wednesday forenoon it was said the high sheriff of the county of Suffolk had orders to clear the province manufactory house in the town of Boston, for a number of years superintended by Mr. John Brown, in behalf of a certain company, and lately on his own account. Mr. Brown, being informed the order was to be put in execution that day, detained some persons to serve as evidences of the transactions. About two o'clock the sheriff came, attended by the Lieutenant Governour, and approaching the hall window, out of which the people leaned to receive them, the sheriff said he was sent by the authority of the province to demand possession of that house, and to require Mr. Brown to clear it forthwith, for the reception of his Majesty's troops; and observed that he had brought his Honour along with him, that his advice might have the more weight in moving Mr. Brown to resign the house quietly. Mr Brown questioned the sheriff with respect to his warrant, which he said was an order from the Governour, founded on a resolve of Council, whereby the Governour was empowered to clear the house. Mr. Brown said he never had any lawful warning to leave the house, and did not look upon the power of the Governour and Council sufficient to dispossess him, and finally told him that he would not surrender his possession to any until required by the General Court, under whom he held, or was obliged thereto by the law of the province, or compelled by force. His Honour replied that Mr. Brown was a tenant at will of the province, that the Governour and Council were the remaining authority of the province, which he looked upon sufficient to warrant the proceedings; observed that Mr. Brown must be very ill advised to think of withstanding that authority, and wished him to consider better than to involve himself in consequences so disagreeable as must attend his refusal. Mr. Brown to this returned that his counsel were of the ablest in the province, and he should adhere to their advice, be the consequences what they would. The sheriff then left the windows, and walked up the eastermost stairs, rapped moderately at the door, and no body answering soon returned, acquainting Mr. Brown he had done enough for the whole in the steps taken with him. The sheriff, in his return, took out and read a paper to Mr. Brown, containing, as he said, a transcript of a minute of Council, and instruction from the Governour, to clear the factory forthwith. Mr. Brown first requested, and afterwards demanded, a copy of his order, which he refused, referring him to the Secretary's office, where, after divers applications, he was there first put off, and then finally denied.

Mr. Brown still retaining apprehension of violent measures, kept his doors and windows shut, and suffered none to enter without caution; this caused the men working in the cellar to keep one of the lower sashes moveable, to pass from the cellar to the yard. Thursday in the forenoon the sheriff, with another Gentleman, were seen reconnoitring; and between twelve and one o'clock the sheriff came to the east end of the factory, where was the window aforementioned, at which one of the weavers had just gone out. The young man, seeing the sheriff approach the window, turned hastily, to prevent his entering; but notwithstanding his efforts to that purpose, the sheriff entered the window, sword in hand. Mr. Brown, then at some distance in the cellar, hearing the scuffle, hastened to the window; but a loom intervening, the sheriff had fully forced entry before Mr. Brown could oppose him. A small scuffle happened between them, in which neither party received much hurt, two of the sheriff's deputies and a servant following, one of whom was soon after sent to the officer of the piquet, with a written order to come with his guard to the factory immediately.

On his arrival the sheriff ordered him to place sentinels at each door, two or more at the gate, and ten in the cellar; then read him a paper, giving him full possession of the yard, charging him to let any one come out of the house, but none to go in. Finding the people gather fast about the gate, orders were issued for another company, the posting of which gave the complete idea of a formal blockade. Friday morning bread and water were denied, and no person allowed to speak to them for several hours; the sick were denied the visits of their physicians, and Dr. Church's apprentice pretty roughly used, in attempting to convey them medicines.

Some Gentlemen deploring the imminent ruin of their country, and fearing some ill consequences from the resentment of the people, who had been insulted by the guards, &c. kept with them, to moderate their temper, while others laid before the members of his Majesty's Council the distress and danger they conceived the people subjected to by these unprecedented actions. The Council assembled, and after some deliberation waited on his Excellency, and signified that their advice to clear the factory intended no more than to clear it by law. His Excellency said it appeared to him to empower him to clear it as he most conveniently could; however, it seems the consequence of this meeting was a recall of the troops about seven o'clock that evening, leaving a small guard in the cellar, and one or two at the window.--It were to be wished that the principal officers may for the future admonish all subalterns and private men to speak with respect of the laws of the country, as a contrary behaviour must inevitably introduce that anarchy and confusion it was pretended they were sent to suppress.-- Thus this extraordinary affair, which has been made the subject of so much conversation in town, at present rests.