The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from the Hague

All Accounts from France agree, that the Face of Affairs in Europe is greatly changed by the Downfall of M. Chauvelin. That Minister being a Pensioner to the Queen of Spain, had form'd a Plan, agreeable with that of the late Don Joseph Patinho, per fas et nefas, right or wrong, to raise the House of Bourbon to so high a Pitch of Power in Europe, as to give Law to all the States thereof. He had a natural Aversion to the English and Dutch, whom he look'd on as the only Powers capable to obstruct his Designs, by the Interposition they have so long had in the Affairs of Europe. He therefore attempted with Success to exclude them from intermeddling therewith. The Cardinal took him for his Assistant, not being able to transact every Thing himself; but he was so far from co-operating with his Eminence in any of his Designs, and particularly that of bringing about an Accommodation between Spain and Portugal, and Spain and Great-Britain, that he did all he could to increase their Differences: Marshal Noailles remitted the Secret Orders which were ent him into Italy, which caus'd the long Delay of the Evacuation of the Milanese, by raising as many Chicaneries as could be invented. The Queen of Spain could not submit to part with that Dutchy, nor give up Tuscany to the Imperialists; and 'tis certain, that M. Chauvelin was acquainted with the Artifices used by the Duke of Montemar to defer the Evacuation of Tuscany, hoping daily for the sudden Death of the Cardinal, when, pursuant to another Scheme, War was design'd to be rekindled, at least in Italy. In this Case the King of Sardinia would have been obliged to join with the House of Bourbon, to whom in some Measure he must have become a Vassal, being surrounded by France and Spain, besides being under a Necessity of giving up Sardinia; for, in a Word, the Plan of the Court of Spain was to re-unite to the Crown of Castile, all that was dismembered from it by the Peace of Utrecht. It was suggested to Philip the Fifth, that he was oblig'd in Conscience to endeavour at that Re-union, and under that Pretence, the Queen, and Don Joseph Patinho and Don de la Quadra, obtained his Consent to all the Enterprizes which contributed to that End. M. Chauvelin was in this Secret, as has been discovered among M. de Vaugrenan's Papers; and it was with a View to engage France to embark in this Design, that (flattering the Desires of the Cardinal to establish a General Peace,) he form'd a Project of Accommodation Between Great-Britain and Spain, of which the Restitution of Gibraltar was to have been a principal Article, and if refused to be complied with by Great-Britain, would have given a Handle for France to join her Arms to those of Spain, to obtain the Conditions his Most Christian Majesty should think equitable. This was the Genius, this the Policy of this Ministerial Goadjutor. He is charged likewise with several Crimes committed in favour of Sweden and Poland; and that he will be called to Account for several considerable Sums of Money.