The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Cadiz, October 9.

"I am sorry to tell you that I think Things still look embroiled, and I much fear that they may come to some Extremity. The greatest Security against it is the poor Condition this Country is in, they having neither Men nor Money to go to War with; so that if they are brought to it it will be very reluctantly, and I believe them to be disposed to make any Kind of Concession, to avoid it, of which I hope our Rulers in England will make a proper Advantage. The Affair which has happened in South America is undoubtedly a Blunder on the Part of their Governor, and others there; and in Case of an Accommodation, which I have still sanguine Hopes of, they may be brought to a severe Account."

Extract of another Letter from the same Place, October 3.

"Things are exceedingly embroiled, though I am still not without Hopes they may be adjusted; but it is good to guard against the worst. In Case of War, the Portuguese are likely to be brought in; and I am of Opinion that Spain must either make her attack them or Gibraltar. Should the Portuguese take Part with the House of Bourbon, they will of Course experience our Resentment; and you would do well to be cautious how you adventure Cargo to those Parts of Europe, for some Time to come."

Copy of a Letter from Cadiz, November 6, 1770.

SIR,

I TAKE the Liberty to inform you, as a sworn Consul for his Majesty here, and being lately employed as a Factor for many of his Majesty's Subjects concerned in the Trade of the Colony which you preside over, that there is, for the present, the strongest Appearance of a Rupture between
Between the Courts of Great Britain and Spain, which may be a Means in the different Ports of this Kingdom, after a War may be declared, and many Vessels arriving from his Majesty's Plantations in North America, consequently being made Prizes of. I have taken every Precaution which occurred to me towards preventing such Vessels as may be on their Way from coming into this Port, or others in Spain, should a Rupture actually happen; and I give you this Notice, that you may make such Use of it as your Prudence may suggest, towards preventing other Vessels being dispatched to these Parts, until after Accounts are received of these Clouds to enable his Majesty's Subjects trading this Way to pursue and resume their Trade with Security and Safety. I have the Honour to be,

Sir, your most obedient,

And most humble Servant,

JAMES DUFF.

To the Honourable John Penn, Esquire.

Extract of a Letter from London, November 7.

"I think there is good Reason to suppose that the Duty on Tea will be repealed this Session, in which Case I hope Things will again subside into that regular Channel which they flowed in before the Eruption of the late Discontents. What has passed will, no Doubt, excite a constant Jealousy in the Americans of any future Encroachments of arbitrary Power; and will, I trust, be a Lesson to Ministers to avoid the Agitation of so dangerous a Requisition as that of an American Revenue."

Extract of another Letter from London, of the same Date.

"With Regard to our Dispute with Spain, you may be assured, from good Authority, it is now reduced to a mere Punctilio, and that there is no Doubt of their Submission. The French Court too dread Nothing so much as breaking with us at present. These important Particulars you may depend on. But if, contrary to all reasonable Expectation, the present Misunderstanding should at Length occasion a War, our Fleet is in excellent Order. Eighteen Ships of the Line, with a great Number of Frigates, are already manned, and can put to Sea in a Week; fifty more can be ready in a few Months; and the whole English Nation are quite alive and alert, in Contemplation of a Rupture with their ancient Enemies.

"As for our Finances, you may also be assured (and from good Authority likewise) that the Sinking Fund this Year (viz. from Michaelmas to Michaelmas last) amounts to two Millions eight Hundred and twenty one Thousand and seventy four Pounds more than it was last Year; a Sum which, together with an additional Shilling Land Tax, is sufficient to carry on a naval War, without laying any further Burthen upon the People. A Situation this which our Enemies know, and tremble at.

"Next Week the Parliament assembles, when we shall soon see what Turn publick Affairs will take. It is thought the Parliament will not take off the Duty on Tea, nor give up the Right of Taxation in America. I most sincerely wish this, and every future Dispute, may be conducted, so as to promote the Prosperity and Happiness of the Whole. I can never be brought to think our interests are, or ought to be, separate."

Extract of a Letter from London, November 9.

"We are fluctuating between Peace and War, our Ministers know not which. They have risen in their Demands upon Spain, when they found the French advising that Court to Peace. This may disgust the Spaniards so much as to make them determine upon War; we shall know in a very few Weeks."

Extract of a Letter from London, November 12.

"Our Opinion, in general, is changed from War to Peace; however, all is mere Conjecture until the King meets his Parliament Tomorrow, when the Speech will, in some Measure, inform their Judgements. At present there is no Certainty."

13th, in the Evening.

"Just come from the House, where I heard the King's Speech. It is too general to form an Opinion from; but, from the Manner of debating it on the Court Side, a War will be, if it can be with any Propriety."

Extract of a Letter from London, November 15.

"The Right Honourable George Grenville, Esquire, died the 13th Instant. It is not clear how publick Matters will turn out. From all that can be learnt, though it is very possible Things may end in a War during the Course of next Summer, yet it is still thought more probable that they will terminate peaceably. The better we are prepared for War, however, the more likely are we to secure Peace."

Extract of a Letter from St. Christopher's, December 7.

"There are thirty Sail of Privateers at Martinico and Guadaloupe, ready to put to Sea; and should a War be declared, our Seas will be full of them. The French have bought up all the Powder and Shot that is at St. Eustatia."

By Captain Calley, arrived at Marblehead, from Cadiz, which he left the 5th of November, we learn that the Court of Great Britain had demanded six Millions of Dollars of the Spaniards, as a Reimbursement for the Expences which their late Infraction has occasioned, and for completing the Manila Ransom; but that the Spaniards would agree to pay no more than three Millions, on which the Messenger set out for London, having remained at Madrid only nine Hours.