The Virginia Gazette

By Letters from Crema, Capital of the Cremasco, a little Territory belonging to the Venetians, adjoining to the Cremonese, we hear, that about the Beginning of this Month, Captain Moca arrived there with a Detachment of 200 Men, and was received with the loudest Acclamations by the Populace, as they imagined these Troops were come there only to be quartered, which would make Money circulate in their City. But their joy was soon turned into Sorrow; for that Officer having first seized the Gates of the City, caused next a particular Quarter to be invested, where he apprehended eighteen Persons, three of whom were, four Hours after, hanged, and the other fifteen sent to Venice to be made Galley-Slaves, without any Form or Process. These Persons were charged with venting Murmurs against the Government of the serene Republick, without any Foundation; since which singular Stroke of Republican Justice, the People have been very quiet, or, in plain English, are afraid to open their Mouths; for in Countries where Words, rashly and unadvisedly spoken, are made so highly criminal, none but the Dumb can ever be said to be safe.