The Virginia Gazette

We hear from Newport, Rhode Island, that last Monday the sloop Liberty, Capt. Reid, said to be owned by the Commissioners, brought in there a brig and a sloop, belonging to Connecticut, that they had for some pretext seized in the Sound, which, together with the imprudent behaviour of the Captain and some of his people, so exasperated a number of persons there that on Wednesday afternoon they went on board the Liberty as she lay at anchor in the harbour and cut her cables, and let her drift ashore. They then set her on fire, but being informed a considerable quantity of powder was on board, for fear of endangering the town they extinguished it again. They then cut away her mast, threw her guns and stores overboard, entered the cabin and destroyed the Captain's and his wife's clothes, bedding, &c. broke the tables, chairs, china, and other things therein, and did not quit her until three o'clock the next morning, when, after scuttling the vessel, they left her a mere wreck, and she now remains sunk near one of the wharfs there. They also seized her barge and boat, and burnt them. The brig that was seized, we hear, was legally discharged on Thursday; but that the sloop made her escape, in the confusion, the evening before. The Captain of the tender made complaint to the Governour, who told him he was ready to assist him in the discovering the offenders, and to bring them to justice, if they could be found; but reminded the Captain that he had never shewn the commission by which he acted, and had made seizure of these and other vessels. The Captain said he left it to the town to take charge of the hull of the vessel, which he refused to have any farther concern with; and nobody else will meddle with her. A day or two after a court was held for the trial of the brig, but the people being all gone, and no evidence appearing to condemn her, she was discharged; and the vessel and papers were delivered back to the Captain, who sailed for the port of New London, to which he belonged.