The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from the Hague.

All that has been mention'd concerning the Arret of King Theodore at Amsterdam, proves confirm'd. As this is a very extraordinary Event, we shall give some further Particulars in relation to it. Baron Neuhoff, being sometime since at Amsterdam, contracted several Debts there, to the Amount of 30000 Florins. A certain Merchant, among others, who had lent the Baron 5000 Florins, died, after whose Decease the Executors found the Baron's Bond for the said Sum; and having heard the Report that he was incognito at Amsterdam, endeavour'd a good while in vain to find him out, because tho' his Domesticks lodg'd at a House upon the Sea Dyke, and he himself had an Apartment there, yet he never lay there, pretending always that he had Journeys to take, sometimes to one Place, sometimes to another, but in reality skulk'd about in Amsterdam, so as never to be met with by his Creditors. In this manner, however, he has carried on his Affairs, having, 'tis said, lent Ammunition to Corsica, to the Value of 200000 Florins and upwards: At last a certain necessitous Person, call'd Van Hockum, to whom the Baron was well described, undertook to discover and take him, for a Reward of 100 Ducats. He dress'd himself very fine, and went directly to the Sign of the Stag, near the Place where the Baron lodg'd, in order to watch for him, who not long after appear'd; upon which Van Hockum address'd himself to him as though he positively knew him, making him an Offer, by Way of Pledge for his Fidelity and good Behaviour, of 80000 Florins, in case his Majesty would give him a Captain's Commission. Into this Snare the crafty Mock King very easily fell, telling him he would consider of his Proposal, and give him an Answer the next Day; when he confess'd to the Traitor Hockum, that he was actually King Theodore, and would grant his Request. This Wretch, to make sure of his Prize, return'd next Night out of Breath, and throwing himself at the pretended King's Feet, cry'd out, I am undone, protect me, the Officers are at my Heels! Which indeed was Fact, because he had conducted them there: They immediately enter'd the Room; whereupon Hockum, as in a Passion, drew his Sword; which they little regarding, address'd themselves to the Baron, telling him he was their Prisoner, at the Suit of such and such, and the next Day conducted him to Prison. Many Persons, even of Distinction, have been to see him, whom he received tolerably well, but in a very concise Way. He is about Five Feet and a half high, square, and well set, a goodly Mien, of a bold and lively Countenance; he speaks High and Low Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Italian, and the Lingua Franca. According to Letters from Amsterdam, he has petition'd to be removed to the Town-House, which it seems has been granted him. Many Persons of Note, being affected with his Condition, have interested themselves on his Behalf. His Debts amount to 18 or 20000 Florins: Besides these, it is well known, that there are two other Creditors, one of 8000, the other of 9000 Florins, who have not yet charg'd him. The Success of the Conferences held with the Persons who have engaged to assist him, is expected with Impatience. During this Negotiation, many Reports are spread; and, 'tis thought, that if the Genoese, to whom Hockum has wrote, to demand the Reward set on his Head, have timely Notice, they will insist on his being delivered up to them; which, as it would greatly embarrass their High Mightinesses, many wish that he was already discharg'd.

Extract of another private Letter from the Hague.

Nothing is more deplorable than the Condition of King Theodore, which draws the Compassion of all tender-hearted Persons. At the Time when those who interested themselves to discharge him were about to pay the necessary Money to set him at Liberty, he was charg'd with a fresh Debt for 550 l. Sterling, and the next Day with another of 600 l. so that they who were engaged to clear him, withdrew their Hands, perceiving that it was to drink up the Sea, since every Moment produced new Debts; so that on the 20th Instant he was removed to the Town-House: He has an Apartment to himself, and is treated with great Civility: because it is expected, that on the Arrival of every Post from Italy, France, Hamburgh, &c. fresh Matter will be brought against him; and, which he had most of all to fear, that the Genoese will demand him to be delivered up to them: which furnishes Matter of much Debate among the Politicians: Some alledge, that as he was at the Head of a Rebellion, their High Mightinesses cannot avoid giving him up, according to a Convention subsisting among all Sovereign States for their mutual Safety, whereby it is agreed to give no Protection to Rebels and Traytors: Others say, that being neither Citizen nor Subject of the Republick of Genoa, he cannot be deem'd a Traytor, and ought not to be delivered up; and that his heading the Corsicans, who were only endeavouring to obtain their Liberty, and shake off the Yoke of Tyranny, will be sure very little incline the Hollanders towards giving him up.

Extract of a private Letter from Holland.

King Theodore, after having been confin'd Eight Days in the Town-House of Amsterdam, was set at Liberty on Tuesday the 7th Inst. N. S. upon Security. This Affair, as it was most extraordinary in itself, so it ended by an extraordinary political Proceeding; and 'tis assur'd, that their High Mightinesses had a great Hand in the unexpected taking off his Arret. The Republick was much embarrass'd at its being known they had such a Personage in their Power, and it was to prevent the Consequences of it, so much haste was taken to discharge him. Their High Mightinesses communicated their Difficulties to the Counsellor-Deputies of this Province, and they to the Magistracy of Amsterdam, who soon found out an Expedient to remove all their Fears. King Theodore appear'd before the Council with a Sword by his Side, who declared his Arret void; whereupon he immediately went out of the Town-House; but it is thought thought he returned there again before Night, to regulate some Affairs. Before his Arrest, a certain Person went from the Hague to Amsterdam, and stayed there some Days; and before it could be known that he was arrested, he received an Order from the same Person, that 12,000 Muskets should be delivered him; and as that Person is known to be an Agent from the King of the Two Sicilies, this Discovery confirms a received Opinion, that King Theodore is supported in his Enterprise against the Genoese, either by the Court of Naples, or that of Spain.