The Virginia Gazette

The French have managed their Mediation between the Burghers and Magistrates of Geneva with so much Dexterity, that they seem to have gained the good Will of both. By the Code of this Mediation, as it is called, the Independency and Sovereignty of the City is fully acknowledged; the general Council is declared the only Sovereign; that they alone have the Right of making War and Peace; that they alone can bring in Foreign Troops, coin Money, lay Taxes, make Loans, or alienate; that the Taxes cannot be encreased, the Garrison augmented, or any Thing of Importance undertaken, such as fortifying, &c. without previously applying to them, and obtaining their Consent. This is really in some Measure conquering the City, and a better Method than that of doing it by mere Force; for by this Means they have made the Inhabitants, if not altogether their Subjects, at least their sincere Friends; whereas, by the other Method, they might have made them Slaves, but at the same Time they would have made them their secret and inveterate Enemies.