The Virginia Gazette

October 26. A letter from a gentleman of veracity, who was present at the late sale of the French East India company's goods at l'Orient, says: "That the merchants of Nantz purchased there almost all the tea, and are going to embark it for America, in order to sell it, in a clandestine manner, to the English colonies. It is pretended some of the officers of the English ships on that station favour such commerce. Several ships belonging to Bourdeaux, Rochelle, and Marseilles, are arrived in those ports with rich returns, in exchange for all sorts of silk and woollen goods, stockings, linen, &c. which they have sold there by the same means. The manufacturers of Tourney, Rhodes, Sedan, and Poitou, in the woollen branch, and those of Lyons and Nimes, in the silks, have been so fully employed for 18 months past that the workmen can with difficulty supply the demands." This shews the effect of the act of parliament made against the colonies. M. de Vergennes will take advantage of the mistakes of the English government, to ruin their commerce, and augment that of France; and unless a speedy remedy be applied, in less than six months, England will lose all the commerce of her colonies.

An estimate by bills of lading of all the British manufactures which were shipped last summer for America, and have lately been returned on merchants hands in London, and other out ports, is ordered to be laid before the privy council.