The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from London, September 17.

"The bustle about Wilkes has wholly subsided, and he now lives (whatever the papers may assert to the contrary) a very solitary and neglected life in the King's Bench prison. The Parliament assembles, you see, the 8th of November; whether any change in the Ministry will take place before that time I have not yet been able to learn, but they have plenty of business to do. Besides the contested elections, and other affairs incident to the first session of a new Parliament, there is a multitude of other matters that require the deepest attention, what relates to North America more especially. The late paper and glass act now complained of, was, I humbly think, a most unseasonable and pernicious measure; and yet I am certain there is, in fact, no disposition in the Legislature of this country to vex, plague, or lay any heavy burdens upon you. The passing of this very law was occasioned solely by a promise extorted from the late Charles Townshend, by the opposition with Grenville at their head, that some effectual revenue should be obtained that session from North America; but whether, now it is past, they may think it prudent to repeal it, I will not pretend to say. Be that as it may, I hope it will not be in the power of factious, turbulent, and ill designing men, on either side of the water, to widen the breach more than is necessary, as neither side will find their account in quarrelling. There our common enemies must be the only gainers, as perhaps will be discovered when it is too late. But I am still hopeful some lucky expedient will be hit on to quiet all those discontents, and set every thing to rights again.

"Lord Bute is now drinking the waters at Bruges, but has yet received no benefit from them; and his want of appetite, and disinclination to sleep, still continuing, it is thought he will soon return. It is said, and I believe not without foundation, that the French take possession of Corsica by virtue of a private article in the late treaty of peace. If so it will be a handle against him, and in that case it may be prudent for his Lordship to withdraw until the storm is over."