The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Paisley, June 16.

"A silk weaver in this place, thinking to make some advantage of the madness of the times, had invented a pattern for his handkerchiefs and aprons of silk gauze, where amongst small flowers 45 was wrought in large figures, a web of which when finished he sent to London for a trial. It was quickly bought up, and his correspondent wrote him to send up a dozen pieces more, if he thought he could do it without giving offence. On this he immediately employed a number of hands to finish the commission, which taking air, on Saturday a great number of journeymen weavers assembled and went in a body to the magistrates, telling them not to be alarmed, as they were to make no disturbance; but having been informed that several men were employed in weaving flags of sedition, they were resolved to show their loyalty, by putting a stop to such work, and desired, that they would be pleased to order that no more of that seditious pattern should be wrought, which the magistrates thought it necessary to comply with, and promised to call the manufacturer before them so soon as he returned to town. But one of the clippers with a cap of that pattern appearing at church on Sunday, the weavers again assembled on Monday, to the number of 1400 or 1500, went to the workhouse and cut out of the loom about a yard, which was all that was wrought of it, and fixing it to the end of a pole, along with the clipper's cap, they carried it in procession, with drums beating and music playing, through the streets to the market place, and there set fire to it, amidst the loud huzzas of great crowds of spectators, who gave them money to drink the health of his Majesty, the Royal Family, and all loyal subjects, and confusion to all seditious incendiaries and their adherents, which was done, and they then dispersed peaceably."