The Virginia Gazette

The following expresses such truly noble, christian and humane Sentiments, and gives us such an Idea of the cruel, unchristian Spirit of the bigotted Roman Clergy, that we could not forbear inserting it.

Letter from the King of Prussia to Prince Schaffgotsch, Bishop of Breslau, concerning the Grievances of the Protestants of Hungary.

Our Direction must, doubtless, have been informed, as we have been already, of the Prosecutions the Protestants of Hungary have suffered for some Time past; and how, in Violation of Treaties concluded with them by the Mediation of foreign Powers, their Churches have been successively wrested from them under the most frivolous Pretxts. You cannot but be likewise acquainted with the rigorous Proceedings against them, and how their Adversaries daily study to molest them in their private domestick Life: so that one is almost tempted to believe, that nothing else is intended by this Way of Dealing, but to drive them to Despair, and force them to take such Courses as may afford a Colour and Pretext to come to a Resolution to exterminate them entirely.

Though we have no Engagements nor Connections with those People, and that, on the contrary, the Remembrance of their excessive Animosity against us, during the late Troubles, has hindered them from complaining to us of their miserable Situation, and imploring our Intercession; and tho' we ourselves, if swayed only by political Views, ought rather to feel a secret Satisfaction, than be sorry, at seeing ourselves so amply revenged for the bitter Spirit with which they did then act against us: Nevertheless, we have been so sensibly affected with the wretched Fate of so many innocent People, and Persons of Merit, that, out of pure Compassion for their Sufferings, we could wish to be able to contribute in any Shape to their Relief. We would not have delayed making an Attempt for this Purpose at the Court of Vienna, had we not been diverted from it, by the ill Success of the Instances of that Court's best Friends and Allies on this Head: In Consequence of which we had too much Room to infer, that those Powers, to whom the said Court lies under such great Obligations, not having been able to bring her into favourable Sentiments concerning the Article in Question, our Instances must needs be much less regarded, and might, moreover, only contribute to increase the Misfortunes of those poor People, by giving some Colour to what has been so often laid to their Charge, viz. endeavouring by indirect Ways and unwarrantable Means to obtain the Assistance of a foreign Power.

Another Consideration that has confirmed us in the Resolution not to apply to the said Court, is, that we are well informed, that the Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, whose Greatness of Soul the World is well acquainted with, is not so much the Cause of these Persecutions, as the Roman Catholick Clergy of Hungary, who daily manifest a fixed Resolution to make an End, once for all, of the Protestants of that Kingdom; which Point they pursue with so much Eagerness and Cruelty, that this wise Princess, thro' political Motives, lest she should disoblige them, finds herself under a Necessity rather to stifle her truly maternal Affection and Tenderness for all her Subjects in general, than oppose, with Authority, the Enterprizes of the Clergy, who aim at the total Ruin of her faithful Subjects of the Protestant Religion. It is impossible for any rational Roman Catholick to read, without Indignation, the Piece lately published by the Bishop of Veprin against the Protestants, in which, not content with rendering them odious to his Sovereign, he lays down, under the Shadow of dogmatical Truths, such Principles as are most capable of dissolving the Bands of civil Society.

Matters standing thus, a Thought occurred to us, that, supposing there was yet any Hopes of saving from imminent Ruin, innocent People of the same Communion as ourselves, it would be proper to go to the very Source of their Calamity, in getting transmitted to the Roman Catholick Clergy of Hungary, the Effects of our Solicitude, and properly representing to them, but still in a manly and vigorous Way, the Injustice of the Persecutions hitherto exercised against the Protestants; in Order to make them sensible, how far the Glory and Majesty of the Sovereign are concerned in, and sullied by, such Proceedings; and let them see what may one Day result therefrom, to the Disadvantage and Prejudice of her Fame, so justly established in other Respects, if it should happen that, under her Reign, and under the Sanction of her Name, the very People, who, in the most dangerous Conjunctures, gave the strongest Proofs of an inviolable Attachment, even to the sacrificing their Lives and Fortunes for the Interest of their Sovereign, should have no other Reward for their Loyalty than the Loss of their dearest and most valuable Rights and Privileges, and be thereby driven to the highest Pitch of Rage and Despair. How would the Breast of every impartial Man be fired with Indignation against the Clergy of Hungary, if they should be seen to maintain the Principles lately advanced by one of their Members? And to what Dangers would not those Principles expose him, if, in those Vicissitudes and Revolutions, of which the Almighty is the Arbiter, that, or any other Country attached to the Roman Church, should fall to the Share, and pass into the Hands of a Master of another Communion, that had been slandered and abused beyond Measure; especially, if that new Master, and those of his Communion, agreeable to the indisputable Right of Reprisals, should take it into his Head to retort those Principles upon the Hungarian Clergy, and treat them accordingly?

We don't know any Person more capable than your Direction to insinuate all these Things in a proper Manner to the said Clergy, and we the more confidently charge you with the Business, as we have had the Satisfaction to perceive, on several Occasions, that your Attachment to your Church does not at all contract your Sentiments of Humanity, nor make you less observant of the principal Duties of all Religions, and that you are moreover extremely averse to the superstitious Prejudice, That it is a sacred Law to propagate divine Truths by Acts of Injustice. And so great is our Confidence in you, that we cannot doubt but you will exert all your Prudence and Address in executing this Commission, however thorny and perplexing it may appear to your Direction, and bring it to a happy Issue, without Prejudice to any Persons, according to our Intentions, our Hopes, and Wishes.

Your Direction will thereby do us a most agreeable Service; and in conducting this Affair to the desired End, which we don't propose you should be any Way answerable for, you will greatly increase our Satisfaction, and the Merit you have acquired with us. Whereupon we shall expect in due Time a faithful and punctual Report from your Direction, &c.

Signed FREDERICK.

In Answer to this Letter, the Bishop of Breslau said, That for his Part he had always been of Opinion, that the Church ought to behave with Patience and Lenity towards Dissenters, and heartily wished to see the Protestants of Hungary delivered from the Hardships they suffer merely on the Score of Religion; but could not make any Representations to the Roman Catholick Clergy of that Kingdom, nor write in particular to the Bishop of Veprin, because he was pretty sure they would not vouchsafe him an Answer. Wherefore he thought best to send the Contents of his Prussian Majesty's Letter to Rome, and solicit the Pope to employ his Authority in Behalf of the said persecuted Protestants, &c.

And from Rome we were informed, that the Bishop of Breslau's Remonstrances have been favourably received, the Pope judging that the Equity and Humanity with which those of his Communion are treated in the Prussian Dominions, calls upon him to give that Monarch all the Satisfaction that lies in his Power.