The Virginia Gazette

ST. AUGUSTINE, August 24.

All the vessels belonging to Doctor Turnbull's fleet being arrived at St. Augustine, with 1400 Italians, Minorcans, and Greeks, in order to settle the lands on the Musquito river, they proceeded, under the direction of Mr. John Cutter, to that place, with which many of them being greatly dissatisfied they formed a design of returning to their own country, to accomplish which, on the 18th of August, about 250 of the Greeks and some Italians rose upon and confined all the Englishmen that were among them; and having armed themselves, they seized the schooner Balmer (belonging to Mr. Torrans of Charlestown, merchant) Evan Stokes Master, which had been employed in carrying provision to the settlement; they also seized Mr. Turnbull's store, from which they loaded the schooner with goods, intending to proceed to the Havannah. Next day they attempted to take possession of the schooner East Florida Packet, Capt. Barton, which was in the river about 20 leagues south of St. Augustine, waiting for a wind to get over the bar; but he getting notice of their design, before they came up cuttled the vessel, took out some necessaries, left her, and went over the bar in his boat. They were within 300 yards of the schooner, when Captain Barton left her; but she having been, the day before, ballasted with sand, was so full of water before they got on board that they could do nothing with her. They intended likewise to have seized a ship lying off the Musquito harbour, Capt. Duncan; but the wind not being fair, prevented them. Early on the 21st Governor Grant sent two armed sloops, full of men, and Captain Rainsford with 50 more marched by land, who all arrived next day, in time to prevent them from getting the schooner over the bar. Before the soldiers arrived Mr. Turnbull, with a few English, had found means to get possession of his sloop, and killed several of the mutineers. On the appearance of the fleet and troops they immediately quitted the schooner and betook themselves to the bushes and other hiding places, but were quelled. These mutineers were mostly Greeks, with a few Italians, but not one Minorcan was concerned with them.