The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Amsterdam, dated May 3.

There is much Talk, since the Peace, of the Endeavours which the Court of France is using, and the Efforts which it is making, to put its Marine into a respectable Condition. Tis true, that Court labours strenuously to accomplish this End, and, indeed, with some Success, but has yet done nothing near so much therein as has been published in most of the foreign News-Papers. Far from having eighty or a hundred Men of War actually in a Condition of being employed, we are assured, there are not in all the French Ports many more than half that Number which are ready to put to Sea. Tis nevertheless true, that there are as many, and perhaps more upon the Stocks, in the several Ports of the Kingdom, than will make up that Number; but the Superintendants in a great Measure content themselves with beginning the Construction of Ships, and leaving off after they have carried it on to a certain Point; but then, in such Manner, as to be able to finish when the Circumstances of Affairs shall require it. In the mean Time, many Hands are employed, and much Diligence is used, in preparing Masts, Sails, and Cordage, and considerable Quantities of all Sorts of Materials for Building Ships, are collecting and laying up in the Arsenals and Magazines of France, insomuch that in a few Years that Nation will be in a Condition of putting several powerful Squadrons to Sea, of having a Number of Men of War in Reserve, with large Quantities of all Materials for building more. The French Court has appropriated an annual Fund for the Service of the Marine; the Surplus of which Fund, after having defray'd the Expence of building a sufficient Number of Ships, and laying in a Quantity of Materials for building more, will accumulate and be always ready to be employed in Time of War in the Maintenance of Sailors, and other extraordinary Expences.