The Virginia Gazette

Newport, Rhode-Island, January, 13.

We are informed by a Letter from Block-Island, dated the first Inst. to the Hon. John Wanton, Esq; our Governor, That a large Ship of about 300 Tons, was cast away on said Island the 26th of December last; she was very rich, reckon'd to be worth 20,000 l. Sterling; she came from Rotterdam last August, but last from Cowes in England, having on board 400 Palatine Passengers and Servants bound to Philadelphia; but having a long Passage, near 200 of them died while on it, the Remainder came on Shore, and 20 of them are dead since they came on the Island.

Their Captain, whose Name was Long, died in the Passage, and his Mate took the Charge of the Ship as Captain and Commander, after the said Long's Death: and he being often desired by some of the Gentlemen of the Island, to suffer the Passengers to take their Goods out of the Ship, he absolutely refused it; tho' many of them saved their Silver and Gold: Tho' all possible Means were used to prevent clandestine Actions, many have lost by Extortion and otherways, a great Part of the little which they saved.

After the Ship broke to Pieces, there were abundance of Goods came ashore, but the Owners cannot have any of them, without paying a third Salvage, besides which, a great Part of them are confiscated, together with great Quantities of Silver and Gold: In short, Tongue and Pen cannot relate the present Circumstances of the poor Palatines, whose Number is said to be but only Eighty Five Persons.

Upon this melancholy News, our Governor sent a Magistrate and other proper Officers to Block-Island to see how Matters are, that those poor People may have Justice done them.

January 19. Last Tuesday Night arrived here Peter Bowe, Esq; with the rest of the proper Officers that were sent by our Authority to Block-Island, to inspect into the Affairs of those poor distressed People the Palatines, by whom we are informed as follows:

That the Ship above-mentioned stranded on Block-Island, being chiefly owned by Persons belonging to Ramsgate in England, commanded by George Long, left Plymouth some Time in August, bound for Philadelphia, with about 400 Palatines on Board, which they took in at Rotterdam: That an exceeding bad Fever and Flux prevail'd among them: That but about One Hundred and Five landed upon Block-Island: and the Number is reduced to about Ninety. Capt. Long, with several of the Mariners, died on the Passage. The chiefest Reason assigned for so great a Mortality, is the badness of their Water taken in at Rotterdam in Casks that had before contained white and red Wines. The Hull of the Ship (which had no Cargo in belonging to the Owners of her) together with the chiefest Part of the Goods of the Palatines are entirely lost in the Sea, great Care has been taken by the Authority, that what is saved may be secured for the Benefit of those surviving distressed People, many of whom it is said left their Country, purely to enjoy their religious Privileges in America.