The Virginia Gazette

The following Particulars are said to have transpired of a Conversation that passed, the Beginning of last Week, between the Earl of Rochford and the Spanish Ambassador.

The English Minister reproached the other with the Pretences lately spread abroad of a dangerous Insurrection in the Island of Luconia, declaring, that, to his Knowledge, no Advices of that Kind had been received by the Court of Spain, and that the Report had been only raised in Order to cover the true Design of their Preparations against this Country; telling him, at the same Time, that it was looked upon, by all the King's Ministers, as an additional Insult, and that of the worst Kind, to choose to date their false Reports from a Place which had already been the Instrument of such scandalous Imposition on this Country, in the Affair of the Manila Ransom.

The Spaniard, willing to evade the principal Point, replied, that the Manila Ransom was now a Matter of no Consideration to us, as it is well known the greatest Part of the Captors had sold their Shares to Jews and Brokers, who consequently would be the only Gainers by the Payment: to which the Secretary of State returned, that if they had taken so unadvised a Step, the Perfidy of Spain had been the Cause of it; that the national Honour was concerned; that the Money should be paid; and that the national Interest required that so considerable a Sum should not remain in the Hands of an Enemy, to enable him to equip himself for War at our Expense.