We hear a Body of People, armed with Clubs and some few Fire Arms, to the Number of about 100, assembled at Westminster, in the County of Cumberland, in the Province of New-York, on the Evening of the 12th Day of this Instant, being the Evening before the Day of the sitting of the Courts of Common Pleas, for said County, for the Purpose of preventing the Courts sitting there, and took Possession of the Court House; the Sheriff of the County being previously advertised of their Design, raised the Posse Comitatus to oppose them, and came up to the Court-House a short Time after the Rioters had seized it, and attempted to enter the same; but was opposed by them; he informed the Rioters that the Court House was the Property of his Majesty, and that he was the Keeper of it, and demanded Entrance into it, & ordered them to disperse, which they peremptorily refused to do. Several Attempts were made by the Sheriff and the Posse to enter the House without Force, which were resisted by the Mob. The Sheriff then informed the Rioters that he was determined at all Events, to have Possession of the House: if he could not get it without, he would get it by Force: He then read the Riot Act to them, and ordered them to disperse within one Hour; and told them that if they did not disperse within that Time and cease their Opposition to his Entrance into the Court House, he would most certainly order the Posse to fire upon them; to which they replied, Fire, and be damned! If you do, the hardest fend off. The Sheriff told the Rioters he would not have them flatter themselves that He should not fire on them, for he was absolutely determined to do it, if they continued obstinate. He then with his Posse, left the House for the Space of about three Hours; during which Time all possible Arguments were used to dissuade the Rioters from their Purpose, which they treated with Neglect. They then sent to those of the Judges of the Court then in Town, to know if they would treat with a Committee from their Body, whether the Court should do Business: The Judges returned this Answer, "That they could not treat with them whether his Majesty's Business should be done or not; but if they thought themselves aggrieved, and would apply to them in the proper Way, they would give them Redress if it was in their Power." But this was by no Means satisfactory to them. At the Expiration of the Three Hours, the Sheriff and Posse returned to the Court-House, and again attempted to enter it; But were beat back by the Rioters with their Clubs; he told them he would most certainly fire on them if they did not desist; they answered fire and be damn'd! Fire and be damn'd! The Sheriff then ordered his Men to fire on them, which they did, & wounded one mortally (who is since dead) and several others very badly, one of whom is thought to be dangerous; the Sheriff, after a few Shots ordered the Fire to cease, and his Men to enter the House with Clubs, which they did, when a Stout Resistance was made by the Rioters for some Time; but they were finally dispossessed, and nine or ten of them taken Prisoners. The Rioters fired once or twice on the Sheriff's Party, but did no Damage. The next Day the Rioters were reinforced by a large Number, armed with Muskets, and being much superior to the Sheriff's Party, took him & about twelve others, and confined them in close Goal.
