The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, October 9.

A FEW Days ago General Scott gave an Invitation to Captain Sutherland, Nephew to the General (and who had always been intended by him as his Heir, whereby he would have succeeded to a Fortune of seventy Thousand Pounds) to spend a few Days with him at his Country Seat, not many Miles from the City of Edinburgh. Unfortunately for the General, he was married a few Months ago to a sprightly young Lady, of eighteen. After four Days Interview between the Captain and the General's Lady, they became so enamoured of each other that the Lady contrived a Scheme for an Elopement. She pretended one Night to have a Variety of Letters to write, which would keep her up very late. The Lover was to get every Thing in Readiness; and accordingly, about four in the Morning, when all was silent, a Chaise was ordered in a particular Place, and they set off immediately for London, the Lady taking with her only her Gold Repeater, nine Guineas in Cash, and a few Trinkets. When the General got up, at his usual Hour, he inquired for his Lady and the Captain : but alas! they were both missing. The General having got Intelligence of the Route they took, immediately pursued them, and traced them from Stage to Stage. The Lovers did not think proper to take a Night's Repose till they arrived at the Red Lion at Barnet, which was on Friday Night last. They accordingly stopped to refresh themselves, after so fatiguing a Journey, for a few Hours; but on Saturday Morning early the General overtook them at the above mentioned Inn, before they were out of Bed. The Captain was so terrified at the News of the General's Arrival that he made his Escape out of the Window without his Breeches, and in that Situation got privately into a Post Chaise, and made the best of his Way to Town. The General having called in the Waiter to reconnoitre the Lady, after asking him whether he should know her again, and being answered in the affirmative, retired, but sent her a Hundred Pounds to bear her Expences home to her Friends. One Circumstance rather fortunate happened in this Affair : The Captain, when it was determined the Night before to stop at Barnet, loaded his Pistols, in the Resolution to defend himself against all Assailants; but the Lady insisting on their being unloaded again, as she declared she could not sleep with loaded Pistols in the Room, the Captain took out the Charges which probably prevented Bloodshed on the Pursuer's breaking open the Door of the Bedchamber in which they lay. The General proceeded to London. This Affair will, in all Probability, cause some farther Business in Doctors Commons. It is said that the General had settled upon his Lady a very great Jointure, five Thousand Pounds a Year, which her Ingratitude has justly made her forfeit. It is also said that he had settled upon the Fruits of the Marriage one Hundred Thousand Pounds. This Ingratitude of Captain Sutherland, who carried off this Lady, is truly detestable. The General has promoted him by his Interest to the Rank he enjoyed in the Army, and, in short, had been his greatest Benefactor.

The Captain who lately dishonoured the Bed of a certain General Officer will, it is said, be cashiered, by an Order from the Secretary at War ; so much Offence having been taken at his scandalous Inhospitality by a great Personage.

When Captain Sutherland made his Escape out of the Window, at Barnet, on Saturday last, in his Shirt, it was about four o'Clock in the Morning, and it now appears that he got under a Hay Rick, where he covered himself up, and lay in that Condition till nine o'Clock the next Night. Being by this Time almost starved for Want of Clothes, he crept out in Order to beg Protection in the first House he could reach, and it happened, though entirely unknown to him, that he came to the same House he left, and is now under the Care of Doctor Garret of Barnet, his Flesh being much torn by crossing the Hedges in that Condition. The General, who had advanced him Money to purchase his Commission in his own Regiment, called the next Day upon his Agent, and directed him to inform Captain Sutherland that he should have Liberty to sell out.