The Virginia Gazette

The Act of Parliament to prevent the Selling of Gin, being to take place to-morrow, Mother Gin lay in State yesterday, at a Distiller's Shop in Swallow street near St. James's Church: but to prevent the ill Consequences from such a Funeral, a neighbouring Justice took the Undertaker, his Men, and all the Mourners into Custody.

On Friday and Saturday last, several Apothecaries Shops had so large a Call for Gripe and Cholick Waters, &c. by the poorer sort of People, that the Masters were obliged to employ an additional Number of Hands in serving them.

This Morning a double Guard mounted at Kensington; at Noon the Horse Guards received Orders to patrol at Night about the Streets; and this Evening a Detachment of 60 Soldiers went to guard Sir Joseph Jekyll's House, which was surrounded by the Populace, because that Honourable Gentleman was publick spirited enough to exert himself in passing the Gin Act, last Session of Parliament.

On Sunday the Guard at the Rolls were again rid; but there have been no manner of Disturbances, Mother Gin having died very quietly: But tho' the Common People are deprived of Gin, there are various Drams invented and sold at the Gin-Shops, in Lieu thereof; as Sangree, Tow-Row, Cyder boil'd with Jamaica Pepper, &c. &c. &c.

The Exit of Mother Gin in Bristol, has been enough heu'd and sigh'd, by the Retailers and Drinkers of it; many of the latter, willing to have their Fill, and to take the last Farewell in a respectful manner of their beloved Dame, have not scrupled to pawn and sell their very Cloaths, as the last Devoir they can pay to her Memory. It was observ'd, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, that several Retailers Shops were well crowded, some tippling on the Spot, while others were carrying it off from a Pint to a Gallon, and one of those Shops had such a good Trade, that it put every Cask they had, upon the Stoop; and the Owner with sorrowful Sighs said, Is' not this a barbarous and cruel Thing, that I must not be permitted to fill them again? And pronounc'd a heavy Woe, on the Instruments of their ruin. Such has been the Lamentation, that on Wednesday Night, her funeral Obsequies was performed with Formality in several Parishes, and some of the Votaries appeared in ragged Cloaths, some without Gowns, and others with one Stocking; but among them all, we don't hear of any that have carried their Grief so far, as to hang or drown themselves, rather chusing the drinking Part to finish their Sorrow; and accordingly a few old Women are pretty near tipping off the Perch, by sipping too large a Draught.

We hear from Bath, that Mother Gin has been lamented in that City, much after the same Manner.