The Virginia Gazette

From the Gentleman's Magazine. Jan. 1739.

Of the Castle of STEINHORST, &c.

( See Foreign Affairs. )

HIS important Fortress, together within the Estate about it, I am assur'd, is worth a thousand Pounds a Year; and inestimable as to the Dominium utile, no less than valuable as to the Dominium directum, as it is a check to the Northern Powers:

But the Title being pretty intricate and doubtful, his Majesty bought it a Pennyworth of the Duke of Holstein, the last time he visited the German Dominions, paying, I think, no more than 30,000 l. for it.

I have met with some timorous people, who apprehend ill Consequences from this Affair. The King of Denmark, (say they) incens'd at this Treatment, will certainly throw himself into the Arms of France, which hath, for some Time, been endeavouring to engage him, as well as other Northern Powers, provisionally in her Interests, to facilitate her future Schemes of Power and Greatness. Nay, more, (say they) the King of Denmark may probably resent this upon Hanover itself, and march a considerable Body of Troops there ; in which Case, Hanover will cry out, Murder! call upon England for Help, and we may be obliged to send more Fleets to the Baltick, and be engaged in a War upon Account of a disputed Possession, too inconsiderable even for a Law-Suit. But those who talk in this Way are but shallow Politicians, and have not an adequate Notion of the Strength and Importance of our Foreign Dominions, or of the Goodness of those Troops. On the contrary, it seems evident to me, that the King of Denmark will think twice before he engages in Measures disagreeable to that State, whose Strength, Courage, and Conduct he hath so lately experienc'd; but should he take any rash and inconsiderate Step, Hanover alone is more than a Match for him, and England neither can, nor will be, engaged in that Quarrel; and especially at a Time that our Expences and Fleets are employed in obtaining ample Reparation for our Merchants ; and future Security for our Trade, which, it may be, is not quite yet accomplish'd.

Upon this Occasion, give me Leave, Sir, to suggest to you my Thoughts upon the Future and Advantage which England receives from being so happily annexed to his Majesty's German Dominions, in answer to the vulgar Prejudices too commonly entertained against them.

While England was unconnected with any Dominions upon the Continent, we had only our Fleets to prevent, and resist Insults from other Powers; whereas, by our happy Union with Hanover, we have a Body of above 20,000 Men, most excellent Troops, to act wherever we think proper without the least Danger or Expence to England, by which too, particularly, we bridle the North.

The Dutchy of Bremen is of infinite Advantage to England, as it supplies us with great Quantities of Linen both for Home Consumption and Re-exportation, to the great Ease of our Linen Manufacturers, who would otherwise be obliged to make ten times the Quantity they do now.

Hanover may be likewise of Use to us by its Example, since there cannot be a greater Instance of the Advantages arising to a Country, from a wise and frugal Administration, than the great Improvements of that Electorate, under the successive Governments of his late and his present Majesty.

The whole Revenues of the Electorate, at the Time of his late Majesty's Accession to the Throne of these Realms, did not amount to more than 300,000 l. a Year; and yet, soon afterwards, the considerable Purchases of Bremen and Verden were made for above 500,000 l. Sterling. Not long after this, the Number of Troops in that Electorate, was rais'd much above what it was before thought able to maintain, and hath continued ever since upon that high Establishment.

Since his present Majesty's Accession to the Electorate, several Acquisitions have also been made, and the very last Time his Majesty visited those Dominions, he brought in, at the Price of above 100,000 l. the Revenues of the Postage of the Electorate, which was an hereditary Grant to the Counts of Platen: And 1st August last his Majesty concluded the Purchase, and paid above 30,000 l. for the Fortress and Estate of Steinhorst. So that, upon the Whole, notwithstanding that the Expences for the current Service of the Year equal, at least, the Revenue of the Electorate : yet, by a prudent and frugal Management, a Million Sterling, at least, hath been laid out, over and above, in new Acquisitions.

If such frugal Means had been pursued, we should have been in a better Condition than we are now. I cannot help recommending to the Ad-----n here, to follow the Example of their German Brethren, to have Spirit enough to act, and Frugality enough to put the Nation in a Condition of doing it.

I am, Sir,

Your humble Servant,

ANGLO-GERMANICUS.