The Virginia Gazette

Extract from a Political Weekly Paper lately published.

From the Netherlands we have had News indeed, bad enough to prepare us for something worse than Fontenoy, unless the French King has the Power of making Peace put into his Hands, or the Spirit and Success of Henry should again revive. Who can help the Advantages gain'd by superior Armies: And the French seem at present so much superior, that they are able at the same Time to coop up the Allied Army, and to spare Men enough for cutting off our Communication with any Part of Flanders. Brussels is represented by the foreign Prints as in the utmost Terror.

Not a few People indeed are of Opinion, that if our Troops were well at home, we need not much care what became of the War abroad; I mean, the War in Flanders. The Dutch, who must certainly in Interest be the most concerned, do not yet see Reason to become Principals; which, it is imagin'd, may give future Generation Cause to wonder, how we came to appear in that Character.--But, if they should have Security for a new Barrier upon delivering up their Old, and by this are engag'd not to declare War against France, must not that Sagacity appear exceeding strange which could not smell out a Syllable of the Matter?

These good Neighbours, we see by printed Memorials, are so far from making themselves Principals even by Sea, that a Complaint has been made against them for not doing half what they stand engag'd for as Auxiliaries. Very good Encouragement, we must allow, for depending on them farther.