The Virginia Gazette

The Negotiation for engaging the Court of Spain, to bring Matters to a Congress, has been conducted with great Delicacy, and concluded with Success: That Court having created a Thousand Delays, and stood out a long Time against all the Instances the French Ambassador could make, has at length declar'd to M. Vaugrenan, that altho' the Orders are actually given for evacuating Tuscany, yet as his Catholick Majesty has been, in some Measure, teaz'd into it, he looks upon himself at Liberty to recal that Step, in case the most Christian King fails to execute the Promise he has made him, to engage the Maritime Powers to guaranty the King of the Two Sicilies in the Possession of his Countries. The Marquis de Vaugrenan, inform'd of the Dispositions of those Powers, has since had a Conference with Don Patinho; and the Court of Spain has determin'd the Hague to be the Place for the Congress to be held. The Court of France has made the same Proposal to the Emperor; and represented, that in putting the last Hand to the Treaty under the Eyes of the States-General, it would certainly be a Means to obtain more easily the Guaranties requir'd of them. 'Tis certain the Emperor is very coy, and makes a Difficulty to give his Consent, pretending that the States-General having taken no Part in the War, it is unnecessary to treat of a Peace under their Inspection. The French Ambassador nevertheless makes a great Merit to their High Mightinesses of the Pains his Master has taken to cause the Congress to be held at the Hague. The King of Great Britain and the States-General would be glad if the Affair between Spain and Portugal was treated of at the same Time; but the Court of France is by no Means of the same Mind, being desirous if possible to get the Mediation solely in her own Hands, in order to be able to oblige Spain, who desires of all Things that the Maritime Powers, particularly England, would have nothing to do in it, since from Advantages which the English may reap from their Trade to America, She fears his Britannick Majesty will throw in some Conditions in Favour of the Portuguese Colonies, whence his own Subjects may draw some Convenience or Benefit.