The Virginia Gazette

From the Gentleman's Magazine, for Dec. 1750.

The Year which we are now closing has not been made memorable by any great Events. The European Nations are employed in repairing the Ruins of the late War, and settling themselves in Tranquillity, after its Convulsions. --In Asia we hear the Sound of remote Commotions, but confused and indistinct, nor is there yet any Knowledge to be gained of the Designs or Pretensions of either Party. The Africans, indeed, might be said to be at War in the Mediterranean, but that they seem hitherto not to have been opposed, and there can be no War where there is no Resistance.

The Turks have for some Time been looked on with Suspicion by the bordering Powers, of which each has been afraid of some sudden Attack; not that either the Sultan or his Ministers are supposed to desire a War for the Sake of Conquest, but because the Janizaries are tumultuous, and there is no Method of appeasing them so effectual as a busy Life, and remote Employment. The Alarm however begins to grow less, and there is Reason to hope that mutual Fear will continue Peace.

The Russian Empire appears to gain every Day new Influence in Europe, the late Treaty by which 20,000 of her Troops were to have been employed in Flanders, has proved that no European Potentate is so distant as not to have something to hope or fear from these Novi Homines, this Nation of new Erection; and it is now likely to become yet more engaged in the Negotiations and Treaties of Europe, by the Defensive Treaty made with Britain, Austria, and Poland, by which each is to support the other with 30,000 Men. Whether this, or some other Cause has raised Jealousy between the Empress and the King of Prussia, the Ambassadors of both Courts have returned without the Ceremony of Leave, and there passes at present only cold Civility between them.

The Swedes are now too weak to give Terror or Disturbance to their Neighbours, and seem to have little more in View than to cultivate their Land, which when they were Masters of Livonia, lay unemployed, to extend their Commerce, improve their Commodities, and finish the new Canal, by which they will deprive the Danes of their Tribute at the Sound. The King of Denmark continues to encourage Trade, and seems inclined to grow powerful by growing rich. The Poles have no Apprehensions of any Enemy, but some wild Clans that rob upon their Borders, and a Pestilence which has broken out in one of the Towns; and are preparing to secure themselves by chasing away the Robbers, and burning infected Houses.

In Germany the chief Business of Europe is now carrying on. The Negotiators are busy in adjusting contrary Interests, and in palliating Disputes which cannot be decided.- The King of Prussia is always employed in gaining new Security to his new Possession of Silesia, which he will probably keep only till there is an Opportunity of taking it away. The Austrian Empress is diligent in her Endeavours to continue the Imperial Power in her Family, by making her Son King of the Romans, for which she is soliciting the Electoral Courts, and which she will probably effect, notwithstanding the Opposition of those Princes who desire to see the supreme Power in a weaker House. She is labouring, according to the best Maxims of Policy, to draw People into her hereditary Dominions, and has granted such Immunities to all that shall transplant themselves to Hungary, that great Numbers are about to accept the Favour, and there can need but few other Invitations to settle there, than the Certainty of enjoying the Fertility of that Country.

The Hollanders are still employed in settling their Government, redressing Grievances, detecting Corruptions, and finding, what no Politician has yet reached, Methods of laying Taxes on the People without provoking them.

The States of Italy are one of them busy in securing their Coasts from the Algerines, and others in Treaties and Negotiations for future Tranquillity. The Genoese are not yet restored to the Dominion of Corsica, which is still possessed by the French Troops, and of which the Inhabitants appear inclined to choose any Masters before the Genoese. The great Subject of Admiration is the Conduct of the Pope, who seems inclined to strip the Romish Religion of many of its Formalities, without much Regard to the Interest of the Clergy. and who perhaps consults the Interest of his Church, by throwing down its weak Outworks, and putting it into a State of better Defence.

The French are supposed, by such as value themselves upon political Sagacity, to be preparing for War in this Interval of Peace. They are indeed very diligent in repairing their Navy, and have already built a great Number of Ships ; but this is surely very natural for a Nation that has suffered such a Diminution of its maritime Force, and has so much Commerce to protect, and so many Settlements to guard and supply, without supposing any particular Designs against the neighbouring Powers. They have, with great Justice and Prudence, rewarded the Officers of their Army for their Dangers and Fatigues, by an Edict which ennobles all the Generals, and even the Captains, if they have served thirty Years, or have been disabled from serving by their Wounds. They seem at present more inclined to favour their Soldiers than their Clergy, upon whom they have levied new Imposts, without any Regard to the Remonstrance of the Bishops, who consider the Inheritance of the Church as Sacred, and have with much Spirit and Firmness refused Payment. Other Taxes are levied with great Strictness, that the Revenue may be again clear, and the Government enabled to recover that Strength which had been exhausted.

In America they still disturb, or are supposed to abet the Indians in disturbing Nova Scotia, of which the Bounds are yet undetermined, and which they seem inclined to confine within a narrow Compass. Our own Accounts are full of our Successes against them, but to be molested is to be cheated, and it is not enough that we keep the Ground which we ought not to suffer them to dispute.

The Spaniards are endeavouring to extend the Blessings of Peace, by the Encouragement of Manufactures, which had long languished for Want of the Treasures detained by the English Fleets in America; and which now spread Gladness and Abundance over the whole Kingdom. They are particularly busy in promoting their Inland Commerce, and facilitating the Communication between their Cities and Provinces, by commodious Roads, supplied with proper Houses of Entertainment. They have not, however, neglected their more distant Dominions, for they seem determined to maintain the exclusive Right to Navigation within certain Limits, and continue to search the Ships which they find within the Seas that they call their own. The Treaty which is now concluded, to the Loss, as is said, of 200,000 l. claimed by our South-Sea Company, will very little conduce to settle the Dispute; for it refers only to old Stipulations, of which the Sense is not better known than before the War.

Marshal Saxe, whose Death we mentioned last Month, after the Conclusion of the late War, in which he gained so much Honour, retired to Chambord, where he lived like a Sovereign Prince, having his Regiments of Dragoons and Uhlans, and his Guards. He had augmented and beautified that Castle, having caused Stables and Barracks to be built there, and an Hospital for the Sick. Also a Theatre, the Decorations of which cost more than 60,000 Livres. His Company of Players was composed of excellent Actors and Actresses, and he had in his Kitchen thirty-five Cooks, &c. The single Entertainment which he gave to Mademoiselle de Sens, is said to have cost 400,000 Livres. -He died of a malignant Fever, beyond the Reach of Art to remove. When M. Senac, the King's Physician, came to visit him, he said, looking upon him affectionately, My Friend, you here see me come to the End of a pleasing Dream, and such is the Course of human Greatness; it is nothing more than an Illusion. He bequeathed to his Nephew the Count de Friese a very fine Diamond Ring, all his Furniture at Chambord, and a Manuscript Treatise, entitled Military Speculations; he left also to M. Woromoff 400,000 Livres, and 100,000 to a French Officer. He wrote some Time before his Death a Letter to the King, containing a succinct Relation of the Campaigns made in his Service, penned with all the Modesty imaginable. His dying a Lutheran rendering it impossible to pay him the funeral Honours due to his Birth, Rank, and Services to France, his Body is to be sent to Strasbourg, under the Escort of his Regiment of Uhlans, there to be interred in the principal Lutheran Church.

Though the Marshal was naturally full of Vivacity, he was never put in a Flutter whilst at the Head of the Army: He was one Day told, that the Enemy was advanced within a League, to which he calmly answered, We must then advance towards them, in order to make them retire. Another Time he told the General Officers, Gentlemen, I have just been informed, that the Enemy is to hold a Council of War at Seven this Evening; for my Part I shall go about the same Time to the Play, and I advise you to do so too. He always kept his Plan of Operations a Secret, and never communicated them to any but the King.

Many satirical Expressions have been dropt, on the French refusing Christian Burial to the greatest General they ever had.