The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from the Hague, May 10.

"They write from Cologne, that the whole Empire is attentive to what passes at Hanover during the Residence there of His Britannick Majesty, whom long Experience has made acquainted with every Thing that can contribute to maintain the Tranquillity of Europe, and who will, it's not doubted, put the most proper Methods in Practice to secure the Possession of that precious Treasure, the effecting of which that august Monarch has greatly at Heart.

Our last Letters from Bonn advise, that the Elector of Cologne is returned in good Health; that Count Wartensleben, who had no Prospect of Succeeding in his Negociation with that Prince, staid behind at Munich, in Order to attend the Elector Palatine, by whom this Lord is favourably regarded, to try if he could succeed better with him; but it is much doubted, these Letters add, with all his Dexterity, and the Esteem which his Serene Electoral Highness has for his Person, whether he will be better able to engage the Palatine Court to relish a Treaty of Subsidy with the Maritime Powers, than he has been to induce the Elector of Cologne to enter into one; that the Prisons of the City of Cologne continue to be filled with People of various Ranks; and that his Perquisition was the more necessary, as the blackest Crimes were every Day committed there with Impunity.

Though the States of Holland have been fully employed, during their last Session, with Military Affairs, as well as those of Commerce, yet no favourable Resolution has been taken by them thereupon, such a Disagreement of Sentiments prevail in that Assembly. Some People think that they will follow the Example of some of the Provinces, which have made Remonstrances against the incorporating of several Regiments; a Scheme that has been unanimously approved by the States General, and the Council of State, the Members whereof have no private Interest to manage in this Affair; but among the States of the other Provinces the Case is very different, every Magistrate of the City, every Member of the Noblesse, has Brothers, Nephews, Cousins, &c. who fall within the Reform, and which is the prime Cause of Remonstrances from Friesland, Guelderland and Zealand. As Holland, however, will be greatly benefited by the Saving which will be made by this incorporating, there are others who flatter themselves that their Noble and Great Mightinesses will support the good Intentions of his Royal Highness, whose Prudence and Steadiness meets with, at least, as much Opposition as the good Intentions of the late Stadtholder. The Deputies of the Admiralty are also busy in deliberating upon the Project of a free Port, and there is great Reason to apprehend, that they will take a negative Resolution, under Pretence that nothing is pointed Out to indemnify them for the Loss that their Finances will sustain by this Establishment. The Deputations to these Colleges were heretofore very lucrative, but now, as they have an Inspector who represents the Stadtholder, they have not an Opportunity of lining their Purses as they used to do, which puts them much out of Humour."