The Virginia Gazette

Last Wednesday two of the Custom-house, Clearing-Boats, well-mann'd and armed, by Order of the Commissioners, went on board the Samuel and Mary, Capt. Holland, from Norway, to apprehend the Persons that had insulted their Officers on their Duty on Thursday e'nnight, and violently snatch'd from their Hands a legal Seizure of some Casks of Brandy, and, not without Hazard of their Lives, brought off one of the Fellows who was most instrumental and busy in the Affair, whom they carried before Justice Farmer, in Wellclose Square, by whom he was committed to New-Prison; but being an active brisk Fellow, he found Means to escape from the Constable's Hands, and by leaping over a Wall, and afterwards swimming a Ditch near the Farthing Fields, he got clear off; and no doubt to save the Government the Trouble will transport himself, the Punishment for his Crime being Transportation by an Act pass'd in the Ninth Year of his present Majesty. There were near 20 Persons to guard him; but had there been twenty more, if the Prisoner could get the Start and was nimblest of Foot, no Wonder he could get clear off: for the Women had a Notion that his Pursuers were Custom house Officers, and therefore threw all Obstructions in their Way, as Gridirons, Saucepans, Pots, &c.