The Virginia Gazette

From the Daily Gazetteer, August 17.

The Magistrates of Petersburg continue to make strict Search after the Incendiaries, concern'd in the many Fires that have lately happen'd there, by which 'tis calculated that no less than Two Thirds of that City have been destroy'd. Among others, a Shopkeeper was apprehended, on a certain Suspicion, which was confirmed by some Fire Balls found upon him; and in order to find out the Truth, they put him to the Torture, but he underwent it with a Courage which betokened his Innocence; and upon his making it appear that he was possess'd of those Balls by meer Accident, he was released, acquitted in a publick Manner, and indemnified for what he had suffer'd. But another Person, who was confin'd in the Citadel on the same Account, confess'd under the Torture, that he had a Hand in the Two last Fires; and he has impeached several of his Accomplices, for whom all possible Search is making. The terrible Punishment which these notorious Villains are sure to meet with, if taken, has not hinder'd them from making a fresh Attempt to set Fire to the City, but by good Luck it was discover'd soon enough to prevent the Execution. The Audaciousness of these Fellows is so great, that a Letter was lately found dropp'd in one of the Passages of the Palace, containing these Words: It signifies nothing to be at any Trouble for discovering the rest of the Incendiaries; for Such proper Measures are taken, that they will never be found out. And a few Days before, there happened a very odd Circumstance; for, on the 8th of July, O. S. while Divine Service was celebrating in the new Russian Church, an ordinary Person to all Appearance, and one it seems who was quite unknown, went up to the Priest as he was officiating, gave him a Piece of Paper, with Money roll'd up in it, and told him, That it was Sent to pay for the Celebration of a Service for the Repose of the Soul of a Person deceased: The Priest desired him to stay 'till the Service was over: but he stole out of the Church unobserved, and when the Service was ended, the Priest opening the Rouleau, was astonished to read the following Admonition: You are advis'd to save the best Effects of your Church; because in Three Days Time that Part of the City where it stands, will be set on Fire, as will also the Booths nearly erected in the Neighbourhood: 'Tis your own Fault if you don't make the best Use of the Time. The Priest shewing the Letter to the People at Church, the Alarm soon spread all over that Quarter of the City, and every Body was in a Hurry to secure their Effects: But the Time limited and Three Days more have passed over their Heads, without any more Smoke than ordinary; so that 'tis highly probable the continual Vigilance of the Government, has hinder'd the Execution of the villainous Design: And for the better securing the Stone Buildings from Fire, the Galley-Slaves are set at Work to pull down all the Timber-Houses that are near them.