The Virginia Gazette

They were not yet recovered at Moscow from the Consternation they had been thrown into by the Conflagration of the 22d of May, when a Fire broke out the 3d of June near Atbat-tucht, hard by the House of M. Nankin, Marshal of the Court, which stood within a small Distance of the Imperial Palace of Kremelin. During the Remainder of that Day, and all the Night following, the Wind being at South-West, blew the Flames towards the Quarters of Znamenka, Pretschistenfkaja, Ostochienkaja Zoubons, Smolunkaj, Sawinka and Chamowna, as far as the Monastery or Community of the Noble Ladies, where they stopt the 4th in the Evening, after having consumed upwards of 13,000 Houses, and most of the Churches and Convents of the said Quarters. The 6th another Fire broke out in the Center of the City, and did not subside till it had made a terrible Devastation, If we may credit common Fame, and if the Accounts of the Damage are not exaggerated, near two Thirds of the whole City of Moscow are reduced to Ashes. This we can safely aver, that there is no considerable Family in the Empire but what is a Sufferer by this Disaster: Admiral Prince Gallitzin, in particular, is above 100,000 Rubles the worse for it. The Empress's Stables in the Quarter of Chamowna entirely burnt down. We regret in particular the Loss of the Manufactory of Sail-cloth, Hollands and Diapers, belonging to Mr. John Tamas, which was entirely consumed, with every Thing belonging to it: His Dwelling-house being of Stone, nothing but the Roof of it was burnt.

It would be some Consolation if we could be persuaded that these Disasters were purely accidental; but it is unfortunately too true that the Fire was kindled by Incendiaries: The Flames were seen to arise in distant Places at once, and some of those horrid Monsters were detected in lighting and scattering combustible Matters, Parcels of which were found on the Roofs of several Palaces, particularly on Prince Repnin's House. Some of those Miscreants having been examined as to their Motives for committing such execrable Actions, they could allege no Disaffection to the Government, nor any Hatred to private Persons, but were only instigated by the Prospect of plundering in the Midst of the Confusion and Deolation, As such monstrous Crimes cannot be too rigorously punished
punished, an Execution will soon be made at Moscow capable of striking a Terror into all who may yet be inclined to turn Incendiaries.

While Moscow lies in this melancholy Condition, most of the Lords and Ladies of the Court imagined they ought to divert the Empress from her intended Journey thither, lest her Imperial Majesty should be too much affected with so dismal a Spectacle.

But it is on this very Account that she has resolved to go, and nothing will be capable of making her alter that Resolution.

Being at Table a few Days ago, she explained herself thus in Regard to the Journey: The more miserable my Subjects at Moscow are, the sooner will I repair thither, in Order to comfort and relieve them.

Yet we doubt whether the Empress can set out so soon as she intends, because she must lodge this Time in Kremlin Palace, and it must be previously repaired and new furnished.

As every Post from Moscow brings fresh Particulars of the Damage done by the Fire, we have just now learned that the Grand Imperial Pharmacy has likewise been reduced to Ashes, with Part of the Laboratories, Warehouses and Buildings belonging to it.

From this Pharmacy Medicines were distributed all over the Empire, for the Account of the Court, who took Care to get them prepared under the Inspection of able Physicians and expert Chemists, in Order to prevent the Adulterations of Quacks, &c.