The Virginia Gazette

Leghorn, October 5.

Letters from Barcelona say, they are preparing to embark there 10,000 Foot, and 5000 Horse, with a Train of 100 Pieces of Battery, Several Mortars, and a prodigious Quantity of Ammunition, and Provision; and that they had got 15000 Hogheads full of Wine and Water, for these Troops. The true Object of this Armament, is still a Secret to us; some will have it to be Against Algier, which, as the Spaniards are Masters of Oran, may be easily attack'd; and that the Project has been form'd these many Months past, though not put in Execution, because the Porte might have detected it, by sending Succours to the Algerines. But as the Turk has no visible Hands full with the Russian, the Court of Spain is resolved to make Use of so good an Opportunity. This is the Reasoning of some People, and to support it they say that Oran is a fit Place for favouring such an Enterprize; it is but Ten or Twelve Leagues from Algier, and the Port very proper for a Debarkation. Besides, it is near the Southern Provinces of Spain, from whence can be easily sent, the necessary Provisions and Recruits, and may serve as a secure Retreat in Case of a Defeat. Whether all this is but a Blind we know not, but it is reported, that if the Expedition goes on, it will be commanded by the Duke de Montemar.