The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Hamburg, March 12.

Since yesterday a universal report is current here, and which is confirmed by several publick papers of the empire, that a most outrageous insurrection happened at Constantinople on the 13th ult. The Greeks of that place became the first sacrifice to the enraged people, and some thousands of them lost their lives; the beautiful Grecian church has been entirely torn down. The workmen of that edifice were barbarously killed, and cut to pieces; after which the mob insulted the Danish hotel, at which Col. Peterson, the Russian charge d'affaires, resided, killed his guards, and he himself had a very narrow escape, being obliged to retire on board a man of war. The mob next broke into the hotels of the Imperial internuncio, and the grand Bailiff of Venice, both of whom, with great difficulty, saved their lives. The janissaries, instead of acting against the mob, joined them. They were soon joined by the chiefs of the law, who surrounded the seraglio, and sent a messenger to the Grand Sultan, with the important question, "whether he chose to be dethroned, or immediately declare the renewal of the war with Russia;" to answer which they gave him three days, keeping the seraglio blocked up in the meantime. This important piece of intelligence (adds our correspondent) certainly requires farther confirmation, although letters from Italy also seem to give it out for authentic; and a letter from Venice mentions, that a courier arrived there from their bailiff at Constantinople with the same news. A letter from Leghorn also mentions, that, in consequence of that intelligence, Count Orlow, with all the Russian officers there, immediately went on board the Russian men of war, and sailed for the Archipelago.