The Virginia Gazette

W A R S A W, August 24.

YESTERDAY evening a fourth courier arrived at Prince
Repnin's, with advice of the taking of Cracow, which
though we have not yet received a particular account of
the circumstances in general are as follow :

"On the 18th instant General Apraxin received an express
from Prince Repnin, with orders to storm the place; accordingly
on the 19th, at two o'clock in the morning, the Russians began
the assault, and in order to divide the forces of the besieged made
two false attacks. When they came to the foot of the wall they
blew open the gates with petards, in order to let in their cavalry;
but the besieged had stopped up the way, by planting chests filled
with stones, and digging several deep ditches. Notwithstanding
all these difficulties, and the continual fire of the Confederates,
the Russians forced their way through, and their cavalry entered
the town.

"They had no sooner got in but the Confederates made a
terrible fire upon them from the adjacent houses, and the Priests
were very active in encouraging the people to make a vigorous
defence; nevertheless the Russian officers and soldiers committed
no excesses, though they could have made a terrible slaughter,
but immediately published, by sound of trumpet, that all who
would lay down their arms should be pardoned: This had the
desired effect, for most of the principal Poles surrendered imme-
diately ;and the people, following their example, laid down their
arms. A small party only of the mutineers retired into the Jesuits
convent and defended themselves there, so that the conquerors
were obliged to take the building by force. This event would
havebeen fatal to the Jesuits if Prince Repnin had not before
granted them a pardon on account of their protecting the Dis-
Dents against the fury of the mutineers, even so far as to give
them money to support them under theirmiser y. The loss of the
Russians amounts to about 500 men, and would have been less
considerable if the Confederates, having no more lead, had not
made use of pieces of copper and brass to supply the place of ball.
Among the Russian officers Col. Igelstrom and Major Patkul
were wounded. Above 3000 of the Confederates have surrendered
to them.

Notwithstanding the taking of this place, we are apprehensive
that the tranquility of the kingdom will not soon be restored;
for besides that the Haydamacks have committed fresh excesses,
by burning three towns, about 50 villages, and murdering 4 or
5000 people (among whom were great numbers of Jews, most
of whom are burnt alive) some conspiracies are apprehended in
Lithuania, where the highways are very dangerous.