The Virginia Gazette

By the last Holland Mail, we learn from Constantinople, that the Marquis de Villeneuve, the French Ambassador from Paris, has lately had a private Audience of the Grand Signior, at which he communicated to his Highness the Order he had received from his Court to repair to the Frontiers of Poland, in order to be ready to make the most effectual Use of the Mediation of the King his Master, between the Emperor, Russia, and the Porte.

The Grand Seignior continues in a Resolution to retake Oczakow at all Events. The People being persuaded that the European manner of attacking Places, is preferable to that used by the Turks, his Highness designs a Body of 20,000 Men for that Enterprize, who have been disciplin'd by Count Bonneval, and which consist of Rasnians and Moldavians; and this is the principal Use that has hitherto been made of the Count's Talents, which probably would have been of great Service to the Turks, had it not been for the Jealousy which the Turkish Generals discover of a foreign Favourite, and the Suspicions which the Ecclesiastics have entertained of his not being perfectly sincere in his Profession of Mahometism: These have been, and ever will be, invincible Obstacles to his obtaining a superior Command: Wherefore the new Grand Vizir, who knows nothing of the Military Affairs, will be put at the Head of the Army, which is to besiege Oczakow. His want of Capacity is, however, to be supplied by the Number of his Forces; which, besides the above-mentioned 20,000 Men that are to form the Siege, will consist of 200,000, which seems to be a Number sufficient to cover it.