The Virginia Gazette

The following account is given of the seizure of the papers and person of the Prince de Conti, which has made a great noise at Paris. The Prince de Conti having been suspected by the court to have favoured several seditious papers lately published against the Ministry, and to have caused them to be privately printed at a press he had erected in the verge of the temple where he holds his court at Paris, the Chancellor Maupeou obtained a letter de cachet, which he caused to be issued October the 13th. In consequence of this arret, the palace of the Prince was environed at midnight by the Musketeers, and other guards. The first secured the manuscripts and printed papers; these were instantly deposited in the hands of Monsieur de Sartine, the Lieutenant of the Police. The Abbe Quillet (the supposed author of the dissemin publications) together with the printers, were then seized and conducted to the Bastile. During the confusion one of the Prince's postilions found means to escape, and made the best of his way to L'Isle d'Adam, a country seat belonging to the Prince de Conti (where he then was) and acquainted him what was transacting at his palace. The Prince, greatly astonished at the intelligence, immediately set off for Paris; but he found his person no more sacred than his house, his papers, or his secrets. The Minister Maupeou secured the Prince also; and the great and noble assertor and protector of the liberties of his country has been immured like a common felon. What will be the consequence of this atrocious stretch of power in the Chancellor time only can disclose; but the populace is so exasperated that some dreadful effects are to be expected. The other Princes of the blood were so alarmed at this daring attack of the Minister on so respectable a part of their body, that they went from their palaces in Paris to the country with the utmost precipitation, in the opinion of many in a manner very unworthy their high births and stations.