The Virginia Gazette

An Extract of a Letter from the HAGUE, dated May 29.

One may at last with Certainty pronounce, that the French Squadron under the Command of the Marquis d'Antin will go into the Baltick. Besides the Four Men of War and Fire-Ships equipped at Brest, of which mention has been made in the publick Papers, several lesser Ships which are fitting out at Rochfort will join this Squadron. The 9th of this Month, M. de Chavigny, the French Minister at Copenhagen, declar'd to his Danish Majesty's Great Chancellor, that his Court having judg'd it necessary to exercise its Navy, had determin'd to send some Ships of War into the Baltick, and hop'd, that the King of Denmark would make no Difficulty of permitting them to pass the Sound. Whereupon Mr. Titley, the British Minister, dispatch'd a Courier for London, and M. Chavigny another for Paris. It's now publickly acknowledged at Versailles, that this Squadron is design'd for the Baltick; but it is likewise said, that these Ships are sent thither with no other Intent than to exercise their Marine in a Sea where hitherto it has had but little Experience. How plausible soever this Pretence may be, there is certain Advice, that four Swedish Men of War are ready to act in case of Need. Some Polititians pretend, that this Armament of France is not design'd against Russia; but be that as it will, the Court of Petersburg is greatly alarm'd at it, and the Emperor's Affairs cannot but suffer great Prejudice therefrom, as it will prevent Russia from making so strong a Diversion on the side of Turkey.