The Virginia Gazette

Edinburgh, Sept. 6. On Sunday, the Act for the more effectual bringing to Justice the Murderers of Capt. Porteous, was read in 3 of the Churches of this City, viz the old Church, the College Church, and Haddo's Hole: And 'tis said would have been read in 2 more, had not the Ministers belonging to them been out of Town for their Health.

In the old Church there was some Disturbance made by the Populace without the Rails, which obliged the Minister to stop short: But a Gentleman coming out of his Seat, drove the Crowd out of the Church; and the Assistance of the Guard being called for, no Harm ensued. The Minister spoke pathetically to the Populace, representing to them the Danger of such unbecoming Behaviour, and the Mischief they would thereby bring on themselves, and perhaps on the City too, if they did not forbear; adding, that he did not deserve to stand there, if any Thing they could say or do would intimidate him from doing what he judged to be his Duty, viz. giving Obedience to the Laws. -- 'Tis remarkable, that not one in the Body of the Church made the least Noise; nor was there any in the rest of the Churches.

Among those who left the Church on this Occasion, was honest John Dalgleish, alias Jack Ketch, whose Scruples possibly arose from this, That the Publication warned Offenders of their Danger, and thus seemed to be calculated to disappoint him of his proper Business, and the Emoluments arising from thence.

The Minister of West Calder read the Act verbatim in Terms of Law; as did no doubt many others, of whom no Account is yet come to hand.