The New Hampshire Gazette

On the 24th past the Magistrates of Hanau were ordered by the commanding officer of the French troops in the place; to pay, in 24 hours, 750,000 livres. Next morning the magistrates collected 80,000 florins, which they offered him, and begged a delay of some weeks to pay the rest: but this was absolutely refused, and the garrison having been that day reinforced with two battalions and four squadrons, the soldiers were distributed in the principal squares, and market places, and the gates shut; cannon were even pointed against some streets, and to cause the greater terror, pitched matches were fastened to several houses, as if they intended to set the town on fire: but all these steps not having produced the effect expected, the French commander sent detachments of grenadiers to the houses of four of the chief magistrates and merchants, who brought away all the most valuable effects to the town house, where the whole continued when the last letters came away.