Column: Past Times

Courtesy of Roanoke Public Library

A banner in the weekly newspaper that first was published in 1736.

The Virginia Gazette, first published in 1736, served as a source of news for the Colonists. The Gazette was published on a weekly basis in Williamsburg until 1780, when operations were moved to the new capital of Richmond.

The news covered all Virginia and included information from the Colonies, Scotland, England and other countries. Many of the issues have been copied onto microfilm and can be viewed and copied (or even e-mailed to your computer) in the Virginia Room of the Roanoke Library. Indexed copies also can be found in the History section of the Colonial Williamsburg Web site at www.research.history.org/.

As an example, and perhaps an incentive to read other editions, a variety of excerpts follow from some of Volume 99 of the Virginia Gazette, obtained from the Roanoke Library. Spellings and punctuation are as transcribed with some exceptions for clarity:

"We have an account by the last post from Vienna, of a remarkable duel fought in that city on Sunday the 10th of March, the particulars of which are as follows: Mont. Durand, who was formerly aid de Camp to Marshal Villars in Italy, happened to win a considerable sum of money at play of Captain Crimeri, an officer in the Imperial Guards.

The next night, meeting accidentally at the opera, the Frenchman took upon him to condemn the play and the actors; Crimeri, who had not forgot the loss of his money, defended both with extraordinary warmth. His adversary replying with the same vivacity and they both drew their swords but Count Schlick, a member of the Royal Council of Bohemia, stept in and parted them.

In the mean time the quarrel being made publick, the Imperial Captain received orders not to stir out of his quarters, and the French Officer would have had the same orders, if he had not been under the protection of the Marquis of Mueprix, the French Ambassador. Some days later, Durand not being able to stifle his resentment, writ to Crimeri to meet him at such a place, such an hour; the latter not withstanding his orders, did not fail to come on horseback to the appointed place, where Durand arrived shortly thereafter in a post chaise [horse drawn carriage] to prevent suspicion.

The duel was fought with pistols. The Imperial Officer, out of respect to Durand as a stranger, offered him to fire his two pistols first, which having missed him, he fired in his turn, and mortally wounded his enemy in the breast. Durand perceiving himself wounded, drew his sword, and clapping one hand upon the wound rushed upon the Imperial Officer, who little expected such an attack, and gave him a desperate thrust over his arm and into his belly. Durand died about nine at night and Crimeri made his escape into an adjoining Monastery, but tis thought his wound is also mortal.

Yesterday we had the melancholy news that a dreadful storm happened on the 24th of February, on the coast of Spain, by which 'tis said 12 ships at least were lost; only the following are known as yet. viz. The Folkstone Sloop, Capt. Wood, laden with wheat from Dartmouth for Seville; the Master and Crew were all drowned. The Anne, Scholar, of and from London, for Seville; the Captain and Mate were drowned. The Howell, Spiring, of and from Exon for Seville; the Captain and one man were drowned. A Brigantine from Newry, in Ireland. And a large Spanish ship from Havannah, richly laden. Capt. Redard got over the Bar of St. Lucie, and was safe; as did several other ships bound for Cadiz and the Straits

Charlestown, South Carolina: April 17, 1738: On Tuesday, a ship built for the Honorable Charles Wyndham, Esq, Capt. of his Majesty's Ship the Rose, was launched. She is the finest ship that ever was built here, all her timber being live oak, and her planks mahogany; she was named the Duke of Cumberland.

Williamsburg, June 23: On Sunday last died Charles Brown, M.D. after having labored for near three years, under a lingering consumptive disorder. In his conversation with all parts of civil life, he acted like a gentlemen; in the practice of his profession, he was a man of learning, probity, and honour; under the afflictions and pains of his last sickness, he was justly admired and applauded by all about him for the bravery and truly Christian spirit with which he expected his approaching dissolution.

The ship Success, Capt. Ignatius Simms, in the employ of Mr. Philpots, Merchant of London, bound to Potomack, received so much damage between the western islands and the coast of Portugal, that they bore away for Antigua to repair; and coming from thence, was attacked and taken by the Spanish Guard de Coast, within a day or two's sail of Antigua. The Spaniards took two of the men belonging to the success, and the rest, being 18 in number were turned adrift in their long boat, which however, happily carried them safe into Antigua, from whence Capt. Simms got a passage in Col. Lee's Brigantine to Potomack, and gives this account. The Success was richly laden, and Mr. Humphry Bell of London, had a large cargo on board, consigned to Mr. Parnham in Maryland, from whence the mistake arose, of the ship belonging to Mr. Bell, as mentioned in our last Gazette.

The ship Betty, Capt. Dunlap, from Glasgow, is arrived at Hampton. He spoke with a ship from Liverpool that sailed 3 weeks after them, who reported that they were pressing seamen in several of the ports in England, and that they had even pressed men from on board the merchant ships outward bound which would not be done without some extraordinary occasion.

Advertisements

On Tuesday, the 14th of October next, the Library of the late Dr. Charles Brown, will be exposed to sale at Mr. Kerr's house in the city of Williamsburg containing a very valuable collection of books, especially in all the branches of natural philosophy and physics. As this is the finest and most copious collection that ever was exposed to sale in this colony, and as it may in all probability be many years before there will be such another, it is not to be doubted, but the Gentlemen of the Faculty will embrace this opportunity of furnishing themselves with the best writers in this way at reasonable prices.

That one James Newland, who about five or six years ago, went over from Glasgow to some one of his majesty's plantations in the station of an indentured servant, has lately succeeded to a fortune of some considerable value, and as his friends since that time have had no account of him, it is hereby desired if he is alive, that he signify so much to Alexander Newlands, Skinner in Edinburgh and if dead, that some one or other to whom he was known would communicate the same to said Alexander Newlands; and if also to advise whether he left issue [children], or died unmarried, so as his friends, in either case, may conduct themselves in the disposal of his fortune according to justice. At his leaving Scotland, he was about thirty five years of age, a man of low stature, and had two nails on his right thumb. Let the advice be addressed to the care of Richard and Alexander Oswald, Merchants in Glasgow; or to Mr. Patrick Cheap, Merchant in Middlesex County, VA.

It's one thing to study history from a textbook, but reading about events as they actually occurred (or as quickly as news could travel in those days) offers another perspective. Two men willing to fight to the death over their assessment of an opera performance shows much of human nature remains the same.