The Virginia Gazette

Hague, May 6. As soon as the British Minister was inform'd
of the Resolution which the States General had taken to send a
third Minister to Paris, in Order to agree upon either a Neutrality
or an Accommodation with the Court of France, he went to the House
of the principal Members of the Government, and afterwards demanded
a Conference with the Deputies of the State, which was granted him
the same Day, when that Minister told them, That the Resolution
which the States General had taken was of such a Nature, that he
knew not what Terms to make Use of, in Order to palliate or excuse
it to the British Court, and to prevent its giving Offence to the
King, the Ministry, and even the Nation in general. After which,
this Minister asked the Deputies, Whether they had in earnest determined
to receive Law from France, and to subscribe, with a blind Confidence,
every Thing which that Power had a Mind to impose upon them? Whether
it was possible, as he has been assured in several Places, that Mr.
Gilles was gone to Versailles, in Order to conclude a Neutrality with
that Court? Whether their High Mightinesses were not apprehensive
that they should soon have Reason to repent of their having taken
such a Step? Whether their High Mightinesses thought the Powers of
Europe in general would look indifferently on their yielding with so
much Facility, to the burdensome Propositions of a common Enemy, who
was probably, notwithstanding his Boasting, very near being vanquished,
and receiving Law even from those whom he was endeavouring to make
Slaves of? That Experience ought to be the Guide of the States General
in their present Conduct; that they ought to remember how prejudicial
to the Interest of Europe the Neutrality was, which they concluded on
Account of the War upon the Rhine in the Year 1742; seeing if that had
not been entered into, the House of Austria would not have been reduced
to the unhappy Situation it has since been, and is in at present. All
Germany likewise felt its injurious Effects. It was therefore surprising,
that the States General, who so perfectly knew the Views of the French
Ministry, should think of taking so odd a Step, especially at a Time
when such extraordinary Advantages had been gained by the Austrians and
Piedmontese in Italy, and at a Time too when all the Allies of their
High Mightinesses were making the greatest Efforts both in Money, Troops,
and Shipping, in Order to change the Face of Affairs, and to assemble a
formidable Army in the Netherlands. This Minister further declared, That
let their High Mightinesses take what Resolutions they would, his Britannick
Majesty would not be a Jot less firm and constant in the Measures he had
all along pursued, and was still in earnest taking, in Order to reduce the
Power of France: That it was with this invariable Disposition that his
Britannick Majesty had sent Orders to Hanover, to cause a considerable Body
of the Troops of that Electorate to march with all Diligence into the Low
Countries: That it was with the same View that this Monarch had sent fresh
Instructions to his Ministers at the Courts of Dresden and Petersburgh, which,
as would appear by the Event, might serve to repair the Chasm which the
Neutrality of the Republick would make, if, which God forbid, their High
Mightinesses should conclude one with France: That after all he again conjured
their High Mightinesses, by all the Principles and Motives which might make
Impression on a free People, to seriously reflect on the Danger which the
Republick run, in trusting its Interest and Concerns to the Faith of France;
but if through Misfortune all the Representations which he had the Honour of
making to their High Mightinesses, should prove vain and unfruitful, he should
from this Moment, lament the Fate of the united Provinces, and mourn beforehand
the Injuries which it must inevitably expect to suffer.