The Virginia Gazette

Brussels, Sept. 8. N. S.

SIR,

In a Tour of the Austrian Netherlands I am now making, I am more and more confirm'd in my Opinion, with Regard to the imminent Danger these Provinces are in, of falling into the Hands of France. The second Draught of the Imperial Troops for the Army in Turkey, which was made in the Month of May last, was so great, that there was left only between Eight and Nine Thousand Foot, and a Regiment of Dragoons behind; whereas, when Great-Britain and the United Provinces conquered this fine Country for his present Imperial Majesty, they gave him to understand, that they expected twenty-five Thousand Men should be the Quota kept up by him in Time of Peace, as the least that can be supposed to be sufficient for the Preservation of the said Country. The Fortifications in all the Imperial Towns here are alike in a very bad Condition; so that the Safety of those important Provinces may be said to lie wholly in the five Barrier Towns; Furnes, Ypres, Menin, Tournay, and Namure, where the Dutch have the full Complement of Men, and which they keep in extraordinary Repair. The same may be said of their own Frontier Towns in Flanders, Brabant, Guelders, and Liege, viz. Sluys, Hulst, Bergopzoom, Breda, Bois-le-duc, Grave, Venlo, and Maestricht. In Sluys, there are no less than fifteen Companies; whereas in Ostend, which lies near it, and is twice as large, there are no more than three. In several other great Towns, as Bruges, &c. there is not a Soldier left; so that the Burghers mount Guard and do all the Duty.

But to the external weak Condition the Netherlands are in, and which is obvious to every one who passes through them, our Jealousy and Uneasiness must be heightened; if we add, this other Consideration, the Disaffection of the Natives to their present Master, and the general Disposition which prevails amongst them of being under the French Government.

The Motives inducing them hereto are various; some of them solid enough, and others have no other Foundation, but that Weakness and Inconstancy, so inseparable to human Nature. Men in general being restless and uneasy with the Present, and promise to themselves better Days under other Governors, and other Circumstances of Affairs.

The Flemings have not yet forgot the Suppression of the East-India Company, which they think the Emperor and his Ministry, on no Account ought to have consented to. The vast Resort of Foreign Merchants, not excepting the Dutch and English themselves, to Ostend, as to a cheaper Market than their own, is still fresh in their Memories, and do not talk of that short Day of Prosperity, without Tears. There are still three of the Company's Ships lying rotting in the Harbour of Ostend, a lamentable Spectacle to the People! and which argues very bad Policy of the Government not to remove them out of their Sight.

Another Thing which disgusts the more sensible Men of the Country at their Sovereign, is, his making War upon the Turk, a reduc'd Enemy, whom neither the Empire nor Christendom have any Reason to be afraid of; and thereby leaving the Empire and the Netherlands naked and open to France, as if he had shook off all Care of them, and had no Concern in their Preservation. This Conduct ill becomes the Head and Sovereign of any Country. The Clergy in particular, from whom he has forced a large Sum, by way of Free Gift, can't endure that he should drain the Country both of Men and Money, to enable him to make his Foreign Conquests, and to maintain which (if he should unfortunately make any) say they, an annual Tax will be levied upon them. He has enough already, being possess'd of a Territory near twice as big as the Kingdom of France, and of which did he take more Care, he must be a great and glorious Monarch, and they a flourishing and happy People. The Men of Piety of the sacred Order, are griev'd that Christianity should bleed by the Deed of a Christian Emperor, who has so openly violated Faith with the Infidel. They wish that at least he had stay'd till the Truce was expired, and that he had publish'd rather no Manifesto at all, than so poor a one; wherein he alledges, for the chief Motive of his falling upon the Turks, the Engagement he had entered into to help Russia; whereas every Body knows he took Advantages of the Broils between those two Powers, to make Conquests for himself. Besides, subsequent Engagements can never disannul preceding Obligations and solemn Treaties. They heartily wish he had taken the Advice of his best Friends, Britain and Holland, who did all they could to dissuade him from such an Enterprize.

Another Ground of Disaffection which reigns chiefly among the Commonalty and Vulgar, is the Poverty of the Emperor. The little Money there is in their Hands (if you except a few English Guineas) they perceive is all French Money; and this gives them as great Ideas of that Monarch, as low ones of their own Prince. The same Thing happens in private Life; the wealthy Person is regarded, and the poor Man despised. From the Dominion of France, they promise to themselves two Things: 1st, That there would be Plenty of Money among them; and then, that the grand Monarch would suffer no Power on Earth to prescribe to him; far less consent to the Demolition of such Companies, Tariffs, or Manufactures, as manifestly contribute to the Welfare and enriching of the Country.

Thus, from what I have said here, and elsewhere, I doubt it is but too well demonstrated, the great Danger of these Provinces falling into the Hands of France; and that not only their Safety, but also the Safety and Tranquility of Europe, at this Day, do solely depend on the Honour and Moderation of a French Minister.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.