The Virginia Gazette

May 4. They write from the Hague, that though the States-General have not yet been prevailed on to arm in Concert with Great-Britain against the Spaniards, their High Mightinesses have, however, repeated their Orders to M. Smits, who is Secretary to the Embassy at Madrid, and charged with the Affairs of Holland there, to make strong Representations at that Court against the Injustice of the Spaniards, in taking the Dutch American Ships; which the Secretary has never failed of doing in the most pressing Manner, but with no better Success than M. Keene has had in his Sollicitations for the Release of the British Ships taken by the Spaniards. M. Smits observes, in one of his Letters to the States-General, a pretty Circumstance: He says, that all the Ministers of the Court of Spain have their particular Pretences, when Application is made to them for Redress in these Affairs; that of the Marquis de la Quadra, is always to alledge that some important Paper relating to the Affair in Question, is mislaid, by which Means he retards the Dispatch of the Business, about which he is sollicited for whole Months, nay, in some Cases, seven Years. M. Smits further takes Notice, that this Minister was forced, the last Time he saw him, to call the old Excuse into his Aid, but at the same Time said, "You may, with the utmost Security, assure the States-General, that their High Mightinesses Shall be fully satisfied in every Thing they demand; and nothing at present impedes it, but the want of the Paper which I have several Times spoke of, and for which, the Viceroy of Mexico has been wrote to."