The Virginia Gazette

From the London General Advertiser.

It may not be improper here to enlarge upon the various Methods that may be pursued by his Majesty, to distress the French most effectually in prosecuting the War; but it seems most natural, and with least Expence to employ Foreign Troops on the Continent; and as few Troops as may be from Britain, except Horse and Dragoons, if wanted; and to reserve our British Foot for Expeditions by Sea, to make Acquisitions in America, or to ruin the French Colonies and Trade. The French have discovered to us a new Way of making War, by Rebellions and Invasions, wasting and pillaging our Towns; therefore let us, who have a superiour Naval Force, retaliate in Kind, by embarking 12 or 14,000 Men, alarm their whole Sea-Coast from Boulogne to the Pyrenees, make Descents where they can, pillage the open Towns and adjacent Country, bombard Towns which we cannot take, force them to detach Troops from Flanders to protect their Coast, and when any Number of Forces approach ours, then re-imbark them and land them in some distant Place, and thus harass their Troops, keep their labouring Men idle by perpetual Alarms, and revenge the Insults done us. By such Conduct we must ruin their Trade effectually, as our Fleet would swarm upon their Coasts, and our Privateers would join in pillaging their Towns, which would make them draw off 40 or 50,000 Men from Flanders to join their Militia on the Coast, and be of more Service to them than 50,000 Men sent to Flanders. The Remainder of our Troops (after leaving a sufficient Number to guard our own Coast) may be sent upon Expeditions to America; we may, at the same Time, put Arms into the Hands of French Protestants, from whom we may hope for Assistance, as our Invasions and Successes tend to restore them to their Liberties, in preserving of which, the Nation of the Franks were formerly famous. This Conduct would be meritorious; whereas the French Invasions are design'd to entail Slavery, and reduce us to their own abject State. In these Expeditions most of our Money would circulate at home, and by acting vigorously at Sea, our Trade and Customs would increase, our Acquisitions be confirmed to us by a glorious Peace, in a short Time; but if we starve the Cause, and carry on a defensive War, we linger for some Years, run daily more in Debt, lose our Allies, and after all be forced into a precarious shameful Peace.