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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In Bristol on Wednesday last, a corporal from the quartered regiment insulted the mistress of the Fountain Tavern, leading to a fight with the drawer. The guard seized the drawer as a prisoner, threatened to blow up the house, and ordered soldiers to fire on townsmen. Magistrates reprimanded the officers for insolence and vowed to pursue the matter, highlighting tensions with the standing army. Additional disturbance by military at the Assizes.
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Accordingly, the Party of Soldiers enter'd the House: Mrs. Noble ask'd them what they wanted armed in such a Manner? One answer'd, they were ordered there, &c. another, that they had Powder and Ball enough; and unless the Drawer was instantly deliver'd up, they would blow up the House; on which the Drawer appear'd, whom the Guard soon secur'd, and conducted him as a martial Prisoner (tho' in open Day) to the Guard-House, which on so extraordinary an Occasion, was pretty full of Townsmen; on the Appearance of so many People the Serjeant commanded the Guard, To your Ranks, and if the Dogs don't immediately depart, fire at 'em, striking several of the Townsmen that were mix'd with the Soldiers; and so far exerted his Authority, as to shut the Doors and stop up the Passage. This Affair soon reach'd our Magistrates, who sent immediately for the Officer of the Guard to know the Meaning of this uncommon Insolence, who answering in an evasive odd Manner, gave Occasion for one of the Magistrates to tell him, That they were not to be govern'd by a Standing Army, and hoped they never should: And deferred a further Hearing 'til this Day, when the Mayor and Aldermen severely check'd the Officer and Serjeant, and told them they were resolv'd to support the Dignity of the Magistrate, and pursue this Affair to the utmost. It seems that great Endeavours were us'd to persuade the Magistrates that the Soldier was so miserably beat, that he was not able to appear; when, at the same Time, the Fellow had the Impudence to appear publickly on the Tolzey. One of the Soldiers of the Guard, when the Serjeant commanded them to their Ranks, was observ'd to have five Balls in his Hand. --- This is only one Instance of the bloody Effects of a Standing Army; tho' many other Cities and Towns can give as bad Accounts of their ill Treatment by these Military Gentlemen, who are for hectoring and bullying all his Majesty's Subjects: The Mayor and Aldermen acted like Men of Spirit; and it's hop'd proper Representation will be laid before the Parliament relating to this scandalous Affair. At the Assizes here these Military Gentlemen caus'd a Disturbance too.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Bristol
Event Date
Wednesday Last
Key Persons
Outcome
the mayor and aldermen severely check'd the officer and serjeant, and told them they were resolv'd to support the dignity of the magistrate, and pursue this affair to the utmost.
Event Details
On Wednesday last a Corporal belonging to the Regiment quarter'd in this City, having the Impudence to make a Disturbance, as he was going thro' the Fountain Tavern in High-street, by insulting and abusing Mrs. Noble, the Mistress thereof; and being turn'd out of the fore Door by the Drawer, he instantly return'd and struck the Drawer violently over the Head, on which a Combat ensu'd, but being soon parted, the Neighbours sent for the Guard, the Serjeant of which by some Means had been inform'd that the Soldier was grosly abus'd, &c. on which he detach'd a Party of the Guard with strict Orders to take no Notice of the Soldier, but to seize the Drawer and bring him before Him: Accordingly, the Party of Soldiers enter'd the House: Mrs. Noble ask'd them what they wanted armed in such a Manner? One answer'd, they were ordered there, &c. another, that they had Powder and Ball enough; and unless the Drawer was instantly deliver'd up, they would blow up the House; on which the Drawer appear'd, whom the Guard soon secur'd, and conducted him as a martial Prisoner (tho' in open Day) to the Guard-House, which on so extraordinary an Occasion, was pretty full of Townsmen; on the Appearance of so many People the Serjeant commanded the Guard, To your Ranks, and if the Dogs don't immediately depart, fire at 'em, striking several of the Townsmen that were mix'd with the Soldiers; and so far exerted his Authority, as to shut the Doors and stop up the Passage. This Affair soon reach'd our Magistrates, who sent immediately for the Officer of the Guard to know the Meaning of this uncommon Insolence, who answering in an evasive odd Manner, gave Occasion for one of the Magistrates to tell him, That they were not to be govern'd by a Standing Army, and hoped they never should: And deferred a further Hearing 'til this Day, when the Mayor and Aldermen severely check'd the Officer and Serjeant, and told them they were resolv'd to support the Dignity of the Magistrate, and pursue this Affair to the utmost. It seems that great Endeavours were us'd to persuade the Magistrates that the Soldier was so miserably beat, that he was not able to appear; when, at the Same Time, the Fellow had the Impudence to appear publickly on the Tolzey. One of the Soldiers of the Guard, when the Serjeant commanded them to their Ranks, was observ'd to have five Balls in his Hand. --- This is only one Instance of the bloody Effects of a Standing Army; tho' many other Cities and Towns can give as bad Accounts of their ill Treatment by these Military Gentlemen, who are for hectoring and bullying all his Majesty's Subjects: The Mayor and Aldermen acted like Men of Spirit; and it's hop'd proper Representation will be laid before the Parliament relating to this scandalous Affair. At the Assizes here these Military Gentlemen caus'd a Disturbance too.