The Virginia Gazette

With Respect to the Affairs of Germany, we must own, the Cession of Lorrain to France, has made a good deal of Noise, and gives great Uneasiness to such Princes as have Territories in its Neighbourhood: But we cannot conceive that a Point which has been warmly disputed amongst us, ought to admit of any Dispute at all; (viz.) Whether the Dutches of Lorrain and Barr, be any great Acquisition to France, or not? Let us consider how this Acquisition may be measured, and the Question will be answer'd.

France declar'd with great Solemnity, that she would never lay down her Arms till King Stanislaw had Satisfaction. Satisfaction for what? The Kingdom of Poland, and the grand Duchy of Lithuania. After a War not unproperous on the whole, she has laid down her Arms on the giving this Country to King Stanislaw for Life, and the securing the Sovereignty after his Demise to the Crown of France for ever. One would think it therefore of some Value.

But as the Dutches of Lorrain and Barr belong'd to their natural Prince before this Cession; we may guess at their Value by the Equivalent given him, and that is no less than the grand Duchy of Tuscany, the first Principality of Europe. By this Cession, all the reasonable Views of the French Court are satisfied: And if the Duke of Lorrain becomes Emperor, (as in all Probability he will) his Dominions in Italy will be better secured, than ever his present Imperial Majesty's were; who, a little while ago, was so distressed, that he had but one Place in Italy, and that too block'd up; but now is in Possession not only of the Mantuan, and Milanese, but also of Parma and Placentia, the Hereditary Countries of the Queen of Spain. 'Tis true, Naples and Sicily are, with his Consent, in the Hands of another Prince, but they were so without his Consent, when he had nothing left but Mantua.