The Virginia Gazette

People here, of the greatest Consideration, are much alarm'd with the entire Reconciliation, and strict Union, of the two Branches of the House of Bourbon; and a double Marriage they apprehend will not only cement a Friendship between these Branches, but also prompt them to execute the vast Designs they are said to have form'd. France and Spain, say they, may, and probably will, give to the Infant Don Philip the Duchies of Parma and Placentia, with the Kingdom of Corsica; the Consequence of which will be, that in a short Time these Territories will be thought too inconsiderable for a Prince who has married the eldest Daughter of France. To remedy this, and in order to give the Don more Elbow-Room, Attempts will be made to obtain him the Mantuan, with what yet remains to the Emperor of the Milanese. Should such Attempts succeed, (and who can hinder them from so doing?) his Imperial Majesty must be driven entirely out of Italy. They further suggest, that it may happen, and probably will, that at the Death of the Emperor, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, demanding the Succession of the House of Austria, and aspiring to the Imperial Throne, will, in order to obtain their Ends, have Occasion for the Aid and Support of the Crown of France, which it will scarcely be prevailed upon to give him without a valuable Consideration, and will then have a favourable Opportunity of obliging him to quit Tuscany. Be this, however, as it will, every body foresees, that sooner or later, the Power of France cannot fail of being greatly detrimental to the House of Austria; and 'tis for this Reason, that some few of the Ministers of the Imperial Court endeavour, by shewing the Benefit and Usefulness that would accrue to his Imperial Majesty from re-uniting with the Maritime Powers, to weaken the Party in the Ministry that is devoted to the Court of France.