The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Paris, dated June 6.

Matters here, between the Clergy and Parliament, are in a terrible Convulsion. The former is countenanced by the Court, and the latter have the Well-wishes of the People. The worst Things are apprehended from the Fury of these last, Times past have shewn what Length the Parisians have gone in Cases of the like Nature, where Religion has been the Motive of their Dissatisfaction. The King, as a good Father, is very desirous of making his People easy, and of preventing the bad Consequences which are likely to result from these Divisions; but it is very much doubted whether the Zeal of his Majesty is capable of effecting this: It is an Affair in which People's Consciences are interested, and wherein a Sovereign when he interposes, very rarely succeeds, whether he makes use of gentle or rigorous Methods.

The Parliament, who know their own Strength, and who never act with Heat when Things come to Extremity, at this Time shew their utmost Grandeur by the majestic Strength with which they make their Remonstrances to the King. His Majesty sees the Solidity of the Reasons offered by this Body, and would yield to them, but the Clergy have such Influence over this Monarch, that the Parliament can really gain no Ground. Things must needs grow worse and worse, if a Judgment may be formed from the Choice which the King has made of the Prelates, who are to be Part of the Ecclesiastical Council. In the mean Time, external Affairs are neglected, the Ministry having Scarcely any Time to reflect thereupon. The Powers who oppose the Measures of this Court take Advantage of these domestick Troubles, which tear the King-dom in Pieces, and greatly weaken the French Nation.

We hear that most of the Cities of the Kingdom have followed the Example of this Capital; and that the Dissension has every where the same Object or its Motive, which, 'tis said, throws the Court into an extreme Embarrassment, and which may possibly cause the Ministry to find Employment for busy restless Minds, by entering into a new War, which would probably prevent the threatened Consequences of the Divisions, and Parties formed thereupon: For it's an unerring Observation, that the French are never better Subjects, nor more submissive, than when their publick Affairs go ill.