The Virginia Gazette

London, Dec. 7. Last Week the Marquisses Fenelon and St. Gilles, Ministers, from France and Spain at the Hague, had a Conference with some of the Deputies of the States, concerning the Affairs of Portugal.

The States Deputies acquainted those Two Ambassadors, that it would be the greatest Pleasure to their High Mightinesses, to see an End put to the Misunderstanding between the Courts of Madrid and Lisbon; and in the mean Time, should be glad to be inform'd how far the Negotiations carrying on for that purpose at Paris were advanc'd; and that the rather, because M. Van Hoey had wrote nothing relating thereto, for some Time past : To which their Excellencies replied, there was little Likelihood of any Progress being made towards an Accommodation; but on the contrary, so long as the King of Portugal refuses to comply with the Conditions as they were first proposed and drawn at Madrid, the King of Spain will not listen to any new Propositions: That M. Trevies had so fully declar'd his Catholick Majesty's Sentiments on that Subject to the Cardinal Fleury, as leaves no room to believe he will depart the least Tittle from what has been propos'd; and that the wisest measure to be pursu'd, would be to give the King of Portugal the wholesome Advice to accept of the propos'd Conditions, without Exception or Restriction, they being Terms drawn up by Three Powers, who acted with all the Impartiality requisite in such a Case. Upon the Whole, the States Deputies observ'd there would be much Difficulty in bringing about the desir'd Reconciliation; the more to be wish'd for, because the want of it occasions a real Coldness between the Courts of London and Madrid.

It is with an evil Eye the Spaniards look on the British Fleet in the Tagus ; nor have the English more reason to be pleas'd at the many Shifts and Cavils made use of by Spain, to delay granting the Schedula for the South-Sea Company's Ship to sail to Buenos Ayres. Since the Discovery of the Spaniards Design upon Georgia, a Conversation lately pass'd between Lord Waldegrave and M. Trevigno, in Presence of Cardinal Fleury : My Lord told M. Trevigno, that it was reported the King of Spain design'd to send a Squadron of Men of War into America ; which, if true, the King of Great-Britain would think himself oblig'd to send another there, in order to accommodate them : To which M. Trevigno replied, your King cannot do better, otherwise his Fleet may be in Danger of rotting in the Tagus : Cardinal Fleury observ'd, with his usual Calmness, that it was to be hop'd both one and the other might be prevented.

Mr. Keene has likewise represented at Madrid, that if his Catholick Majesty sent any Men of War into America, the King of Great-Britain would also send a Squadron there; which has greatly offended the Court of Madrid.