The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from the Hague.

Every thing tends towards fresh Disturbances from many Quarters, as will be perceived from the following Contents. It's now known with much Certainty, that the Motive of Mr. Horace Walpole's Journey to Paris, is rather to prevent certain Measures that are taking, which may prove prejudicial to the Commerce of England, than to concern himself in the Affairs of Juliers and Bergue. The Court of Great Britain has discovered, that there is negociating between the Kings of France, Spain and Portugal, a particular Alliance, the Scope and Design of which is entirely to prejudice his Portuguese Majesty to the British Nation. Intelligence from good Hands avers, that for this Effect the Court of Madrid has proposed to that of Lisbon, that she would yield to the King of Portugal several Places in the West-Indies, the Right of which is at present in Contest; and that she would grant all possible Advantages to the Portuguese, in order to enable them to carry on a Commerce in the Possessions of his Catholick Majesty: provided that his Portuguese Majesty would no longer suffer the English to trade to the Brazils. The King of Portugal seems too much to hearken to this Proposition; and as Spain endeavours to engage France in this Affair, Mr. Walpole's going to Paris, is in order to prevent the Execution of it. Mr. Trevor has communicated the whole of this Contrivance to the Grand Pensionary; and told him, that if a Negociation like this should succeed, great Disadvantages would accrue therefrom to the Dutch, as well as to the English; and that of Consequence it was the Interest of their High-Mightinesses to join with the King his Master to hinder it from taking Effect. A Letter that the States-General have received from M. Van Til, their Minister at Lisbon, seems to confirm what has been above related. He takes Notice, that some important Business is carrying on between the Court of Portugal and that of Spain, wherein France is comprised; since in less than a Fortnight three Couriers have been sent from Lisbon to Madrid, and two to Paris; and in that Time there have been Two sent to the Court of Portugal from Don Lewis d'Acunha, its Ambassador at the Court of France. M. Van Til adds, 'My Lord Tyrawley, Minister of Great-Britain, came on Purpose to let me know that he had good Grounds to suspect something was carrying on which would prove disadvantageous to the Maritime Powers, and that Endeavours were using to break the good Intelligence that there was between the King of Portugal and the King of Great-Britain.'