The Virginia Gazette

Hague, May 12. The whole Conduct of the Ministry of Versailles manifestly shews, that the French Court is forming grand Projects for improving the Commerce of that Nation in America; and, at the same Time, is taking the utmost Precautions for securing the Possession of Isle Royal, or Cape-Breton, and Canada, especially as they are so near the English new and flourishing Colony of Nova-Scotia, at which the French look with an envious Eye. They are sending great Quantities of Ammunition and Artillery, as well to Louisbourg, as to the Mouth of the River of St. Lawrence, Which ought to awaken the Attention of the English; who may be well assured, that if the least Misunderstanding should happen between the two Nations, the French will strike the first Blow in America, by falling on the British Colonies there. In that Case, Nova-Scotia would be in great Danger, and Jamaica itself would not be entirely secure, as the French have always such Numbers of Ships at St. Domingo and Cape-Breton; all which they would not fail to employ in giving a Blow to either of those Places, or any other they should think proper to attack; and should they at any Time succeed in an Attempt of this Nature, it would not be easy to drive them from the Country they should get Possession of.