The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from LISBON, June 20.

It is apprehended here (and with great reason) that this unhappy country will soon be involved in a war. A Spanish army of considerable force is within a short march of our frontiers; and the Spanish Ambassador seems upon the point of leaving this city, not having received a satisfactory answer whether the Court of Portugal will join Spain in case a war should break out between England and them; the only answer he could obtain was, that the King of Portugal could not think of deserting their old ally; besides, they had only a sufficient force to guard their own territories, and protect their trading ships in time of war. We have a tolerable strong fleet, well manned, and our land forces well disciplined; part of them have received orders to march to guard our frontiers against an invasion. Trade at present flourishes, and the English merchants have every advantage that can be given them, which has given great disgust to the French, who have complained to their Court of it; so that I am pretty certain either France or Spain, and perhaps both, will find some means to break with us; but while we have so faithful an ally as England, we are under no dreadful apprehensions of having this country brought under the Spanish yoke. Just now arrived three ships from America, laden with wheat, but can not get their names.