The Virginia Gazette

A Cordial for the Creditors of the Publick Funds.

Here are, to what purpose I know not, certain people attempting to persuade the publick that we are on the eve of war, at a time when there is not existing a nation, that we are acquainted with, that has either power or disposition to quarrel with us, or the minutest cause of dispute at present in question. Whether this nonsense about a war be merely to fill up the papers, fall the stocks, propagate monopoly, alarm the people, terrify the Ministry, or what not, it is certainly very idle, if not very wicked; but as weak or inexperienced persons are apt to credit they know not what, or why, I have taken some pains to collect the following certain facts, which, if but half as well attended to as the ridiculous publications about war, will circumscribe the meanest apprehensions within the circle of truth and common sense, and in consequence preserve them from being the dupes of party, brokers, monopolists, &c. And unless the writers of groundless paragraphs are able to make out that France and Spain have expended since the peace two hundred and twenty two millions of French livres, and have thereby put their navy and the restored conquests, &c. into the same condition they were before the war commenced, and that the finances of France are not in the most shattered condition, the proprietors of the publick funds may sleep in profound security.

VIGILATOR.