The New Hampshire Gazette

At two o'Clock last Monday Morning a Fire broke out at the Court House in Providence, in Rhode-Island Government, whereby that building was soon laid in Ashes, as also a Dwelling House, contiguous to it: The Quaker Meeting House, and the Tavern kept by Mr. Noah Mason, sustained great Damage by the Fire, but were not wholly destroyed: The Fire was occasioned, as is generally Suppos'd, by keeping a large Fire the Saturday before, it being an extreme cold Season, (the General Court then sitting there,) heat the Hearth to such a Degree that it catch'd the Timber under it, and continued burning till Monday Morning before it broke out: We have not learnt whether any of the Colony or Court Records were destroyed, or what the Loss is computed at; a fine Library, which cost a few Years ago 2000 l. Sterling, was destroyed excepting a few Books which were lent out. Dr. Bowen of that Town was run over by an Engine at the Time of the Fire, which bruised him in such Manner that his Life was despaired of: A Negro Woman was so frightned at the Fire that she died on the Spot.