The Virginia Gazette

RICHMOND, May 31.

Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia, to his friend in this town, dated May 16, 1780.

By the Marquis de la Fayette whose generous zeal has drawn him hither from all the attractions and endearments of his own, Dispatches are brought from
Doctor Franklin and Mr. Adams of as late date as the 4th of March. The state of things in Europe is represented as at that time, as favourable to our wishes, as a disinclination in Britain to peace, could well admit: She has as yet been able to gain no allies, nor any countenance to her pretensions from any of the powers of Europe, except an order from the King of Denmark, for delivering up three prizes sent into Bergen by Paul Jones's squadron, which Doctor Franklin has reclaimed in a memorial to the Danish Minister on the subject. The Irish are determined it seems not to be appeased without some reformation of their government. The discontents in England breaking out in county petitions also begin to give great uneasiness, to Administration; it was for some time doubted whether a conciliating or an authoritative treatment from the court would be the most suitable remedy. Whilst the operations of war had no tendency to inspire the Ministry with a confidence in their own strength, they seemed inclined to the former. The success of Rodney at Gibraltar has fortunately emboldened them to try the latter. The majority in Parliament accordingly after that event clamoured against those proceedings, as licentious and seditious, and advised the King to express his disapprobation of them, by displacing the crown officers who promoted them. The late success of the enemy have had another effect which we must regard with a very different eye; they have enabled Lord North to fill up the necessary loans for the ensuing campaign. We shall probably never bring that proud nation to listen to peace as long as the loan commands the resources of war. France is doing every thing for carrying on the war with effect, that a great and wise nation ought to do, and every thing for our particular welfare that ought to be wished from a generous and faithful ally. The great contest during the present campaign will probably be for a superiority of force in the American seas, besides those great military exertions, on the part of our ally, I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that we expect soon to be indebted to her friendly attention to our wants for very valuable supplies of clothing and stores. The supercilious deportment of Great Britain towards the Dutch, seems to have disgusted and irritated them effectually, even the Stadtholder begins to feel for the honour of himself and his country, and has declared in favour of unlimited convoys for the security of their trade, and the dignity of their flag. It is very certain that some late dispatches from Europe, have thrown the enemy at New York into great consternation and dejection, immediately on the receipt of them, Councils of war were held, several advice boats sent one after another to Sir Henry Clinton, the militia called out on fatigue, preparations for strengthening their fortifications undertaken, and upwards of twenty vessels filled with stone, to be sunk in case of necessity. The hourly expectation of a French sea and land armament on the coast, is said to have produced all this.