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ARTES
LIBRARY
1837
VERITAS
PLULITUS UCUN
"
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
TUEBOR
SCIENTIA
OF THE
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739
F133
1
Fabrice, Ernst Friedrich von
THE
GENUINE LETTERS
OF
BARON FABRICIUS,
Envoy from his Serene Highness the Duke Ad-
miniftrator of HOLSTEIN
ΤΟ
CHARLES XII. of Sweden.
Comprehending
His entire Correfpondence with the Duke himſelf, Baron
GOERTZ then Privy-Counſellor to his Serene Highness,
afterwards Prime Miniſter to his SWEDISH Majeſty;
and with Count REVENTLAU, during his Refidence
with that Monarch at BENDER; and alfo his Excurfions
for his Service into different Parts of the OTTOMAN
Dominions in 1710, 1711, 1712, 1713, and 1714.
Interfperfed throughout,
With many fingular Particulars, fecret Tranfactions, and cu
rious Anecdotes in Relation to that Northern HERO, during
his Refidence in TURKEY.
Now faithfully publiſhed from the Author's Originals (moſt of
them in Cypher) carefully preferved in the Archives of his
Serene Highness the Duke of HOLSTEIN.
LONDON:
Printed for T. BECKET and P. A. DEHONDT,
at Tully's Head, in the Strand.
M.DCC.LXI.
Fabrice, Frust Friedrich von,
M
$
02-10-26 H.II.
7-10-34
MIP.
Reclass
Librarian
ma Leish
11-84-75
12526
[iii]
A N
EPISTLE TO A FRIEND
ON THE
Anecdotes of CHARLES XII.
During his ſtay at BENDER:
Containing a Character of the Book, its Au-
thor, and other Particulars.
SIR,
I
HAVE read the Letters of Baron Fabrice,
relating to the tranfactions of the famous
Charles the Twelfth, during his refidence in
the Ottoman Empire. They have entertained
me extremely, and I make no doubt they will
be as pleafing to you, when the Engliſh
Tranflation appears, Thefe Epiftles unite all
the circumſtances, or at leaſt all the principal
circumſtances, that can render books of that
kind agreeable. In reference to the matter,
they are equally curious, fingular, and im-
portant; in refpect to the manner, they are
written with an eafe, perfpicuity and veracity,
that at once delight the mind, and fatisfy the
underſtanding. As to their authenticity, there
is not the leaſt colour of difpute. That the
author wrote letters on the fubject, was a point
A 2
of
[ iv 1
of notoriety, at the time. That they were
preſerved and eſteemed the beſt accounts of
the events they contained, was long ago made
known to the world, by various authors, who
regretted the not having an opportunity to con-
fult them, and the Bookfellers in Germany
offered the tranfcripts from his original manu-
fcripts in cypher, to the view of the inquifitive,
upon their publiſhing the work. I do not
wonder therefore, that it has excited your cu-
riofity, and that it may entirely fatisfy your
expectation, I very willingly undertake the
taſk you have impofed, of making you ac-
quainted with fome of the principal characters,
that are mentioned therein; which I flatter
myſelf will be no unacceptable, perhaps no
unneceffary introduction, to the letters them-
felves.
Baron Fabrice was a gentleman of a good
family in Germany. His father was Prefident
of Zell for King GEORGE I. as Elector
of Hanover, and he had a brother who held
a confiderable office in that Prince's court.
The Baron of whom we are ſpeaking, as foon
as he had finiſhed his ftudies, went into Hol-
ftein, and was very early taken into the fer-
vice of that court, where his talents were fo
much esteemed, that when it was judged re-
quifite, to fend a perfon with a public cha-
racter, to manage the intereft of that Serene
Houfe, with his Swediſh Majeſty while he
continued at Bender, the choice made of him,
by the Duke Adminiftrator, was univerfally
approved. He was then in the flower of his
youth,
[v ]
youth, had a good perfon, a pleaſing addreſs,
great accomplishments, and no vanity. His
learning was far from being fuperficial, and
yet he had nothing of the pedant; he was af
fable in his behaviour, and yet always meant
more, than his compliments expreffed. He
was neat in his dreſs, without being a fop;
and under the exterior of a compleat courtier,
concealed as fincere a heart, and as benevolent
a mind, as if he had never been connected
with the great.
It was believed, that he would prove accep-
table to the King, and thofe who thought fo,
were not mistaken. He was but a little while
about that Prince, before he ſtood as high in
his good graces, as any; and as his modefty
originally introduced him, ſo when his fervices
had eſtabliſhed him, he never prefumed upon
his favour. His public character, allowed the
King to be familiar with him, without giving
umbrage to his minifters, or his fervants. He
commonly accompanied him in his exercifes,
was very frequently at his table. Befides this,
the King ſpent hours alone with him in his
clofet. In his ferious moments, his Majefty
unbofomed himſelf to Fabrice; and when he
was difpofed to amufement, Fabrice was never
abfent. He was employed on many occafions,
he was ufeful upon all. He found credit, par-
ticularly with the English merchants, to fup-
ply the King's neceffities, which were fome-
times very preffing. His intereft amongſt the
Turks and Tartars, was furprizingly great, and
he never made ufe of his intereft any where,
A 3
bu:
影
​{\vi ]
but for his friends. He lived fplendidly, and
yet with œconomy.
He had but one enemy
in the King of Sweden's court, which was
General Daldorff, and he was fo from a politi-
cal pique; but being made prifoner by the
Tartars, when they ftormed his Swediſh Ma-
jefty's camp, Fabrice took pains to find him
out, releafed and fupplied him with money,
which ſo entirely vanquished the General, that
he became thence forward not only his friend,
but the warmeft of his friends.
Tho' he was much a man of pleafure, the
Baron never loft fight of his duty, but did his
bufinefs as a minifter effectually; entering deep
into politics, but his fchemes were always
mild and pacific. Amongst other fervices he
rendered his Swedish Majefty, he gave him a
turn to reading, and it was out of Fabrice's
hand that Monarch fnatched the book, when
he tore from it the eighth Satire of Boileau, in
which he reprefents Alexander the Great as a
madman. He was no leſs in favour with King
Stanislaus, and with our own Monarch King
George the Firſt, whom he accompanied in
his laft journey to Hanover, and who may be
faid to have died in his arms; fo that you may
ftill find many living witneffes, who will verify
the truth of all I have faid, and who will af-
fure you, that this character, fair as it is, falls
very far fhort of the merits of this amiable
perfon, who with the probity of a philofopher,
was the finest gentleman of his time, and had
as few faults, as is compatible with the infir-
mities of human nature.
In
[vii]
4
In order to give you a diftinct idea of the
Prince, by whom Baron Fabrice was fent to
Charles the Twelfth, it will be neceffary to ob-
ferve, that Frederic the Second Duke of Hol-
ftein Gottorp, married in 697 the Princeſs
Hedewig Sophia, eldeſt fifter to his Swediſh
Majefty. This Duke Frederic, was killed in
the King's Service, at the battle of Clifdorf
near Cracow, July 9th, 1702. Upon his
demife his brother Prince Chriftian Auguftus,
became co-tutor with the Princefs Royal of
Holftein, to the young Duke Charles Frederic,
then a little more than two years old, and up-
on the demise of the Princess Royal, Sept.
21st. 1708, Duke Chriftian Auguftus, father
to the prefent King of Sweden, had the fole
direction of his nephew's affairs, under the title
of Adminiſtrator of the Dutchy of Holſtein.
It is eaſy to judge from hence, how cloſely con-
nected the interefts of this family were, with
thofe of Charles the Twelfth, and it will put
this ftill in a ſtronger light, if we mention,
that at the beginning of the war, when his
Swedish Majefty left Stockholm, he made a
Will, by way of precaution, in which, if he
died without iffue, he called to the fucceffion,
his fifter the Princefs Royal of Holſtein, and
her defcendants.
It may not be amifs to obferve, that this
Duke Charles Frederic, finding himſelf defeat-
ed in his expectations of the crown of Sweden,
and at the fame time deprived of his own do-
minions, on account of his connection with
that Royal Family, thought it the ſhorteſt and
A 4
the
[viii]
the eafieft way to attach himſelf to the Czar
Peter the First, in order to obtain his daugh-
ter the Princess Anna Petrowna, and thereby
the recovery of his hereditary dominions.
This marriage, tho' fettled in the lifetime of
the Czar, did not take effect till after his de-
miſe in 1725. This Duke died in 1739, leav-
ing his fon Charles Peter Ulric, born the 21ft
of February 1728, the heir of his Dutchy, and of
all his pretenfions; who by the name of Peter
Federowitz, after declining the crown of
Sweden, to the fucceffion of which he was
called by election, was with great folem-
nity declared heir of the Ruffian Empire, No-
vember the 18th, 1742, and is now ftiled the
Grand Duke of all the Ruffias. He married
Sophia Frederica Augufta, according to the
Ruffian mode, ftiled Catherina Alexiewna,
Princess of Anhalt Zerbft, and by her has a
fon and a daughter.
Baron Görtz, to whom many of theſe let-
ters were written, was fo well known in the
world afterwards, that it would be needlefs for
me, to give you a long account of his fortunes
here. I thall only remark, that he was a na-
tive of Franconia, a free Baron of the Empire,
and having attached himself to the houfe of
Holftein, gradually rofe to the fupreme direc-
tion of affairs. He was a perſon of a moft
comprehenfive capacity, as well as of bound-
lefs ambition. The world never knew, 'till
theſe letters appeared, how he wrought himſelf
fo fuddenly, as well as effectually, into the
good graces of Charles the Twelfth, but we
now
[ ix ]
now ſee it was through the fchemes, which by
the hands of Baron Fabrice, he tranfmitted to
him while at Bender. The King readily dif
cerned from theſe, that he had a head won-
derfully fertile in refources, his affairs required
fuch a genius, and the ſucceſs he had in a va-
riety of intrigues, raiſed him very high in the
King's favour, and in confequence of that, to
the envied poft of Prime Minifter. To de-
pict his adminiftration in few words, he was
in the cabinet, what his maſter was in the
field; and the fittest Mercury, for executing
the commands, and fulfilling the purpoſes, of
fuch a Jupiter. Upon the King's death, he
was arrefted, and like our famous Earl of Straf-
ford, fell by being accufed of accumulated mal-
verfations, which conftituted altogether, a
crime that wanted a name, but which it was
faid, rendered him not fit to live. As foon as
he was ſeized, he faid " Then the King is
"dead." When he ſaw his fate approaching,
he wiſhed to have for his epitaph theſe words,
"Such is the Reward of my fidelity to the
King and Duke: my mafter's death, is
"mine." He fuffered with the utmoſt intre-
pidity, being beheaded at the common place
of execution in Stockholm, where his body was
interred according to his fentence, at the foot
of the gallows. But his Valet de Chambre,
at the hazard of his life, took it up in the
night, and having put it with his head into a
barrel, conveyed it to Hamburgh, where it lay
in ftate, in his own magnificent palace, and
was afterwards interred with much folemnity.
The
<<
[xX
]
The Count de Reventlau, was another mi-
hifter of the court of Holftein, a man of an
eminent and noble family, who as he acquired
early a great degree of credit with the Princes
of that houſe, maintained it to the laft, and
was conftantly employed in affairs of the
greatest importance. But it is now time, that
I ſhould ſpeak to you of the King, to whom he
was fent. Not that I pretend to enter into his
hiſtory; for that has been written over and over,
and will be yet better written than hitherto it
has been, by the help of theſe Letters, and pof-
fibly fome other Anecdotes, which their pub-
lication may draw out of oblivion. All that
I propofe is, to add a few circumſtances, in re-
gard to the King's coming to Bender, and the
condition he was in there, before the arrival of
Baron Fabrice, as at this diſtance of time,
theſe are become neceffary, in order to con-
ceive clearly, the meaning of the Baron's first
diſpatches.
After the unfortunate battle of Pultowa,
fought on the 18th of June, 1709, in which
the Swedes were totally defeated, and thereby
loft the fruits of fo many victories, with thirty
thouſand of thoſe brave men, who had gained
them; Charles the Twelfth, in the midſt of
his misfortunes, was fo happy, tho' not without
great difficulty, to pafs the Borifthenes, and
at length arrived at Oczakow, where the Turk-
ifh Baſhaw received him, with all the refpect
poffible. He went from thence to Bender,
where he choſe to encamp, with the inconfi-
derable remains of his faithful troops, rather
than
[ xi ]
than accept of any of the accommodations of-
fered him in the town. Here, he at laſt con-
defcended to the demands of his furgeon, to
fuffer the wound he had received in the battle
to be dreffed, which had already advanced to
a gangrene. This made repeated operations
requifite, that were exceedingly painful, but
which the King bore, as he did all his misfor-
tunes, without teftifying the leaft fenfe of them.
Even in this fituation, he continued to medi-
tate the deftruction of the Czar, by engaging
the Turks in a war with that Prince, tho' he
well knew, that the Grand Signior was little
difpofed, and his minifters abfolutely averſe to
it. The King found means to fet on foot in-
trigues in the Seraglio, and by the help of
Count Poniatowski, who charged himself vo-
luntarily with that dangerous commiffion, pro-
cured a memorial full of complaints and in-
vectives against the Grand Vifier, to be put in-
to the hands of the Sultan, in the
open ſtreets,
as he returned in ftate, from the Mofque; and
in confequence of that, of a ſubſequent me-
morial, and of theſe intrigues, the Vifier was
depofed.
Things were in this fituation, when Baron
Fabrice arrived at Bender. He found the King
fo well recovered, that he rode on horſeback
feveral hours every day, was in perfect health,
fupported his dignity, and kept his court, with
as much or rather more ftate, than he had
ever done in Sweden. For obferving, that
pomp and fhew were things effential, amongſt
the Turks, he condefcended, and in him it
was
† xii ]
was a condefcenfion, to have ſeveral ſpacious
apartments, and thofe not only handfomely, but
richly and fplendidly furniſhed, according to
the taſte of the country. His temper was not
in the leaft altered by his condition, he pre-
ſerved the ſame magnanimity, and the fame
fteady attention to his affairs. He was ex-
tremely fober himfelf, eating whatever was ſet
before him, and drinking water only, but was
fo far from impofing on the inclinations of
others, that he not only caufed two public ta-
bles to be kept in his camp, but was very well
pleaſed, to be a fpectator of the mirth and free-
dom of his friends. He took a pleaſure in
hearing the intrigues that were carried on at
Conftantinople, amufed himſelf with the ad-
ventures of his own courtiers, and would fome-
times rally them very agreeably, on thoſe ſub-
jects. He was naturally ferious, and fedate,
but without any aufterity; and his tranquillity,
was not either affected, or the fruits of infenfi-
bility. This appeared clearly, when his bro-
ther-in-law the Duke of Holftein, was mor-
tally wounded in his prefence, he embraced
him tenderly, and with a flood of tears. His
paffion rofe ftill higher, upon the death of his
favourite fifter, the widow of that Prince. He
not only wept bitterly, but fuffered fome ex-
clamations to eſcape him, which fhewed the
extravagance of his grief. At Bender, he de-
tected a favourite, who had long impoſed upon
him, whofe malice had been fatal to the un-
fortunate Patkull, and whoſe pride had em-
barraffed his mafter, with thoſe with whom, in
the
C
[ xiii ]
the circumftances he then was, it imported
him much to be upon good terms. In the
first transport of his anger, he treated him
harthly, but recollecting himſelf in a moment,
he bid him be gone out of his prefence, and ne-
ver come into it again. He was far from be-
ing fufpicious. Thoſe whom he honoured
with his confidence, were under no apprehen-
fions of having ill offices done them. The
King faw with his own eyes, and would
judge for himself, in fmall matters as well as
in great.
He was equally juſt and generous,
was beloved in the higheſt degree by thoſe
about him, and reverenced by the Turks and
Tartars, for thoſe exemplary virtues, which
fet his character as a man, in a fuperior point
of view, than his dignity as a King could have
placed it.
At the time Baron Fabrice arrived at Ben-
der, the Ottoman Empire was governed by
Achmet the Third, who was about forty years
of
age, and had been raiſed to the throne, in
a popular fedition, about feven years before,
when his brother Muftapha the ſecond was
depofed. That Prince, who had always treat-
ed Achmet with much gentleneſs and affec-
tion, was the firft to felicitate him upon his
acceffion, when he came to occupy the apart-
ment in the Seraglio, in which, 'till then, Ach-
met had spent his days. His compliment was
fomewhat fingular, "You are going, my dear
brother, faid he, to mount that Throne,
"from which I am juft fallen. Let me defire
you to keep one thing always in mind,
<<
"That
་་
[ xiv ]
"That thoſe who place you there, were tray-
tors to me, and will be fo to you, if you
"do not put it out of their power." Achmet
returned the kindneſs he had received from
his brother, and treated him with the utmoſt
tenderneſs and refpect, which however did not
hinder him from breaking his heart, in no long
fpace of time. The new Sultan, remembered
the advice that had been given him. He dif-
fembled for a convenient fpace, but when his
government was once thoroughly eſtabliſhed,
he filently deſtroyed numbers of thoſe, who
had been the authors of his elevation. When
their force was confiderably diminiſhed, he
acted more openly, and under a variety of pre-
tences, gradually put to death all the principal
perfons, who had been concerned in depofing
his brother. Some fay, that fixteen thousand
perifhed at different times; others affert that
the number of thefe victims, were near twice
as many. By this means, he ruined his ar-
mies, and deprived himſelf of all thofe mini-
fters, whofe parts and experience rendered
them fit for their employments, bringing into
their places his own creatures, perfons of flen-
der abilities, many of them cruel and avarici-
ous, whofe crimes, he punished, and enriched
his coffers with their ſpoils.
He was far from wanting talents, but he
wanted feelings. He had little ſenſe of grati-
tude, and often facrificed his own creatures,
when by executing his commands, they were
grown odious. He was much influenced by
women and favourites, the latter commonly
recom-
[ xv ]
recommended by the former. His mother, the
Sultana Valide, was at firft, or at leaſt feemed
to be under his diſpleaſure ; but by degrees the
came to have great authority. Voltaire has
been ſeverely cenfured, for faying that he was
deeply in the intereſts of Charles the Twelfth,
and that the correfponded with him. But thefe
Letters clearly fhew, that cenfure to be ill
founded, and that the fact is true.
His great
favourite was Haffan Baſhaw, who married his
fifter, and who, which is a rare thing for fa-
vourites, and more eſpecially for Turkiſh fa-
vourites, held his confidence as long as he liv-
ed, and died in peace, after paffing through
the higheſt employments, and poffeffing the
moft lucrative governments. He had a mif-
treſs of whom he was extravagantly fond, the
wife of Baltagi Mahomet, who by her credit
was twice Prime Vifier, and who was difgraced
the last time, for making with the Czar Peter,
when in circumftances, as himſelf confeffed,
no better than thofe of his brother Charles at
Pultowa, the treaty of the Pruth. Achmet
reigned twenty feven years, with variety of for-
tune, but with little peace, and was at length
depofed in 1730, when his nephew Mahomet,
fon to Mustapha the Second, was advanced to
the throne, but he furvived in his confinement
to 1736.
I now refer you to the Letters, and ſhall
only put you in mind, that they were written
by a man of honour and veracity, who was
an actor in many, and a fpectator of all the
tranfactions, of which he writes. He wrote
8
like-
[ xvi ]
likewiſe in confidence, to perfons of the higheſt
rank, whom it was his duty to inform, and
who, his character and theirs confidered, it
cannot be fuppofed he would deceive. Theſe
are circumſtances, that render his Letters as
valuable, as the matter they contain, render
them curious and important. I will add no-
thing farther than that,
1
I am, &c.
THE
[ xvii ]
THE
OOO
CONTENT S
OF THE
SEVERAL LETTER S.
LETTER I.
FA
ABRICIUS informs Baron Goertz of his arrival at
Vienna in his way to Bender; where he learns fome
news of the King. The Imperial court fufpects the
King's correfpondence with the rebels of Hungary. p. 1
II. Written To his Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
Fabricius, having received the imperial pafs, propofes
to ſet out from Vienna. He begs leave of the Duke
to vifit Conftantinople, before his return to Holftein. 4
III. To the fame. He informs him of his arrival at Ef-
feck in Hungary, and acquaints him that the inhabitants
of that country are zealous Swedes.
6
IV. To the fame. Fabricius is kindly received at Peter-
waradin by the deputy Governor. He is informed that
the Turks are very mercenary, and that every thing
may be done with money in their country. He hears
of the King's health by two officers who had arrived
from the baths of Burfia in Bithynia.
7
V. To the fame. Fabricius having received a guide and
protector from the Governor of Belgrade, arrives fafe
at Bender. He finds the King in good health, and very
chearful. His Majefty had procured the depofition of
the Grand Vifir, for taking bribes from the Muscovites.
The Swedish court in great hopes that the Turks will
be
[ xviii]
be perfuaded to declare war againſt the Czar. Fabri-
cius fore feeing that he will be obliged to ftay a confi.
derable time at Eender, builds himſelf a hut under
ground.
P. 9
VI. To Baron Goertz. He recapitulates his journey from
Belgrade to Bender. The King is not lame, and is
greatly refpected by the Turks. Two inftances of this.
The manner of living at Bender. Fabricius in great
favour with the King.
II
VII. To the fame. The Turks are making preparations
to take the field. The King diffatisfied with the grand
allies for not fulfilling their guarantees, and oppofing
the King of Denmark. The expence of living at Ben-
der. The Ruffians attempt to poifon Poniatowski at
Conftantinople.
15
VIII. To his Serene Highness. The Swedish court re-
ceives good news from Chriftendom. Fabricius vifits
the Cham of the Tartars. An account of him. He
is invited to a magnificent Turkiſh feaſt.
19
IX. To the fame. Fabricius thanks his Highnefs for his
permiffion to vifit Conftantinople. He offers the loan
of 100,000 crowns to the Swedish court. The King
inclined to an alliance with the Elector of Hanover,
but utterly averfe to a neutrality. He is no friend to
France. Wishes a peace with Denmark. The dull
manner of living at Bender. A recapitulation of the
tranfactions concerning the King of Sweden, fince the
battle of Pultowa till that time. A rupture between
the Turks and Mufcovites. The Mufcovite Ambaf-
fador fent a priſoner to the Seven Towers.
21
X. To Baron Geertz. The King fufpicious of the court
of Hanover, on account of the alliance they had con-
cluded with the Czar and the King of Denmark. The
King will by no means agree to a neutrality, nor
will even publifh his fentiments to fatisfy the allies.
No friend however to France. An account of the
Turkish preparations for the war. The King ftill
wiſhes a peace with Denmark. Promotions at Bender,
in Sweden and Germany.
30
I
XI.
[xix]
XI. To his Serene Highness. The allies have nothing to
fear from the rupture between the Turks and Ruffians.
The Mufcovite and Polifh territories invaded by three
different armies.
D
P.43
XII. To Baron Goertz. The King injuriouſly accuſed of
having connections with France, and Prince Ragotſki.
The allies might eafily procure the friendship of the
King of Sweden. The King's kindneſs to Fabricius,
who propoſes to bring fome Turkiſh curiofities to Ger-
many, at his return.
46
XIII. To the fame. Fabricius obtains leave of the King
to vifit Conftantinople. He begs of Baron Goertz to
procure a peace with Denmark, and affures him that
he can prove that the Czar and King Auguftus are ready
to enter into an alliance with Sweden againſt the allies.
The Cham of the Tartars burns feveral Muscovite ci-
ties, and carries off 10,000 flaves.
52
Fabricius fees
XIV. To the fame, from Conftantinople.
the Turkish army as he paffes by Adrianople. Their
numerous fleet fails againſt Afoph. A deſcription of
the Grand Signior's perfon. An account of his harem.
The danger of intrigues with Turkish women. Tem-
porary marriages common at Conftantinople. The
magnificent appearance of that city at a diftance, or
from the fea. The ſtreets narrow and dirty; and
the houſes mean. An account of the Chriftian Am-
baſſadors, Envoys, and Refidents at that court.
53
XV. To the fame, from Conftantinople.
my begin their march for Bender.
view of the flave market and of a harem at Conſtanti-
nople.
The Turkish ar-
Fabricius gets a
59
XVI. To his Serene Highness, from Bender. Fabricius
propoſes that the allies by favouring the King of Swe-
den, fhould prevent France from reaping any advan-
tage from the rupture between the Turks and Mufco-
vites. An account of the Grand Vifir's army. Propo-
fitions made to the King of Sweden, by Mr. Jefferies, on
the part of the allies, and the King's answers.
61
a 2
XVII.
[
xx ]
XVII. To Baron Goertz. A body of Mufcovites defeated
by the young Cham. The Czar imprudently enters
Moldavia, on the affurances of Prince Cantemir of be-
ing joined by the Molavians.
p. 65
XVIII. To bis Serene Highness. The Czar fuffers himſelf
to be encloſed, and is obliged to aſk haman, or pardon.
The Grand Vifir being bribed by him, grants him a
better peace than he had reafon to expect. The King
of Sweden prefents memorials againſt the Grand Vifir,
who remains with the army, and urges him to conclude
a peace with the Czar, but without effect. He pref-
fes the King to quit Turky, and even ufes harſhneſs.
He retrenches the daily fubfiftence of his court.
67
XIX. To Count Reventlau Envoy, from Holftein at Vienna.
He congratulates him upon his return to Vienna. Some
diftant hopes of a peace between the King and the
Czar.
71
XX. To Baron Goertz.
Poland confent to the
nions thro' Poland.
ticles of the late peace.
The Czar and the Republic of
King's return to his own domi-
The Czar neglects to fulfil the ar-
72
XXI. To Count Reventlau. The Grand Vifir threatens to
hang the Muscovite hoſtages.
73
XXII. To Baron Goertz. The Grand Vifir prohibits any
meffengers or letters to be fent by the Swedish court. 74
XXIII. To his Serene Highness. The King of Sweden
arrives at the Turkish camp about two hours after the
Czar's retreat. He is highly diffatisfied with the Grand
Vifir's conduct, and makes complaints against him at
the Porte. The Grand Vifir removes the King's inter-
preter, and ftops the daily fubfiftence his court received
from the Porte. The King's difdain and inflexibility.
The Grand Viſir having received orders to return to
Conftantinople, is anxious to be reconciled to the King.
He is made a prifoner at Adrianople, and depofed.
The Muscovites having delayed to deliver up Afoph,
their hoftages are fent prifoners to Conftantinople. The
King
[ xxi ]
**
King of Sweden pleafed with the good officers of his
Serene Highness.
pi 76
XXIV. To Baron Goertz. General Poniatowſki ſent to
Conftantinople to endeavour to get the war renewed. 82
•
XXV. To the fame, from Conftantinople. Fabricius re-
turns to Conftantinople to fathom the intrigues of the
Engliſh and Dutch Minifters, who endeavour to pre-
vent a new, rupture with the Mufcovites. The Turks
refolve upon renewing the war, tho' they have received
news that Afoph is delivered to them. The Grand Sig-
nior propoſes to take the field in perfon; preparations
made for that purpoſe. Part of the Divan are againſt a
82
war.
XXVI. To his Serene Highness, from Conftantinople. The
late Grand Vifir banished to the inland of Mytilene.
The war with the Mufcovites again refolved upon, and
great promiſes made to the King of Sweden. Orders
fent by the Grand Signior, to all the Vifirs and Bafhaws
of his Empire to affemble their troops, and repair to
the plain of Adrianople.
89
XXVII. To Baron Goertz. An accommodation with the
Mufcovites mentioned as certain. The Cham of the
Tartars diffuades a war. The late Vifir fet at liberty.
The King affured of an escort thro' Poland, and a large
fum of money.
95
XXVIII. To the fame.
Fabricius in hopes of foon re-
turning to Germany. A peace between Sweden and
Denmark very neceffary, as the Porte has renewed the
peace with the Muscovites.
99
XXIX. To his Serene Highness. The weakness of the
Turks, and their general averfion to a war. The Cham
of the Tartars ordered to aſk of the Republic of Po-
land, a friendly paffage thro' their territories.
IOI
XXX. To Baron Goertz. No great hopes of a numerous
efcort. A good harmony between the King and the
allies abfolutely neceffary.
103
XXXI.
[xxii ]
1
XXXI. To the fame.
The Mufcovites endeavour to
thwart the paffage of the King. The Grand Vifir not
much his friend.
p. 105
XXXII. To his Serene Highness. The Grand Vifir defir-
ous of his Majesty's departure. The intereft of the
Mufcovites prevails at the Porte. A copy of the treaty.
between the Turks and Muscovites.
108
XXXIII. To Baron Goertz. The King of Sweden's En-
voy, notwithſtanding the oppofition of the Grand Vifir,
obtains a fecond public audience of the Grand Signior,
at which Fabricius is prefent. The Envoy of King
Auguftus at the Porte, declares that his mafter is wil-
ling to conclude a peace with Sweden, exclufive of his
allies.
116
XXXIV. To Count Reventlau. Fabricius thanks the
Count and his Countess for their good offices, and of-
fers her the prefent of a Negro boy.
118
An ac-
XXXV. To his Serene Highness, from Bender.
count of the audience given to the King's Envoy, and
the anſwer returned by the Republic of Poland. 119
XXXVI. To Baron Goertz, from Bender. The Swedes
very weak in Pomerania. The Baron is adviſed to pro-
cure a peace between Sweden and Denmark,
122
XXXVII. To his Serene Highness. The King preſents a
memorial againſt the Grand Vifir, becauſe the Mufco-
vites have not evacuated Poland according to the treaty.
The Turks fend to Poland to fee whether the Mufco-
vites are there or not.
124
XXXVIII. To Baron Goertz. The King of Sweden is in
hopes of good officers from the Queen of England. 125
XXXIX. To Count Reventlau. He begs of him to
ſend an extract of the public news of Europe to Bender.
He affures him that the King is not in the French in-
tereft. The Grand Signior enraged against the Muf-
covites becauſe they have not evacuated Poland. The
King at variance with Ragotſki.
126
XL.
[ xxiii]
XL. To the fame. If the Mufcovites have not evacuated Po-
land; there is a likelihood of a new war with the Czar.
P. 129
XLI. To Baron Goertz. The meffenger from Poland
returns and brings an account that the Muscovites are
ftill there. Fabricius hopes to fet out on his return in
a few days.
130
XLII. To his Serene Highness. The republic of Po-
land fends an ambaffador to the Porte; but the
Poliſh refugees at Bender proteft against his recep-
tion. The Grand Signior upon the news that the Mufco-
vites are ſtill in Poland, orders their hoftages and ambaf-
fadors to be fent to the Seven Towers. The Grand
Vifir is depofed and made a prifoner. War is again
declared against the Czar. The Porte acknowledges
King Stanislaus as King of Poland.
131
XLIII. To Baron Goertz. A recapitulation of the news
in the foregoing letter. The ambaffador from the
republic of Poland made a priſoner. Two Mufcovites
couriers unexpectedly made flaves.
138
XLIV. To the fame. An introduction to a repetition.
of former news.
142
XLV. To the fame. The Vifirs, Bafhaws, and Beys
throughout the empire ordered to repair with their troops
to the plain of Adrianople. The King obtains 1200
purfes or 600,000 crowns from the Porte.
142
XLVI. To his Serene Highness. War again declared by
the Muscovites. A letter of the Grand Signior is pre-
fented to the King of Sweden.
144
XLVII. To Baron Goertz. An extraordinary change of
affairs at Bender. The Turks offended that the King
delays his departure. It is determined in a great divan
to force him to depart. The King's difdain when that
is notified to him. Several thoufand Tartars furround
his camp, which he fortifies with great ardour. Fa-
bricius and the Engliſh ambaffador attempt to mediate
an accommodation, but in vain. The Turks with
great condefcenfion agree to a fufpenfion of hoftilities
till new orders fhould arrive from the Grand Signior,
and
( xxiv 1
and connive at the King's getting provifions. Their
furpriſing patience when infulted by the King, p. 147
XLVIII. To the fame. New, and poſitive orders from the
Grand Signior to attack the King at all hazards, if he
refuſes to depart. The King's ftrange inflexibility, and
the great condefcenfion of the Turks. The Janiffaries,
Tartars, and other troops march to the attack, and
plant their artillery against the King's houſe, who ftill
remains inflexible. The Janiffaries mutiny and refufe
to attack the King. The prudent and politic conduct
of the Baſhaw. Fabricius is put under arreft by the
Tartar Han, but fet at liberty by the Bafhaw, The
Janiffaries having been infulted by the King, when
they wanted to take him under their protection, march
to the attack full of refentment. The King's moſt
defperate defence. His houfe fet on flames. In at-
tempting a fally he is thrown down and taken prifoner.
He is treated with great reſpect by the Bafhaw. Fa-
bricius applies himſelf to purchaſe the liberty of the
Swediſh prifoners.
169
XLIX. To the fame. The King gives an order to the
Senate of Sweden for the repayment of the fums de-
livered by Fabricius in his fervice. King Staniſlaus
arrives in Turky, and is made a priſoner. King Charles
is conducted from Bender by an eſcort towards Adria-
nople.
198
L. To his Serene Highness. Conjectures about the fu-
ture behaviour of the Turks towards the King. 207
LI. To Count Reventlau. Reflections upon the moſt
extraordinary battle at Bender. Fabricius begs of the
count to procure a paffage for the King of Sweden
through the imperial territories.
209
LII. To Baron Goertz. He gives him an account of the
manner in which the Swedes, who have recovered their
liberty, are now fupported. A report that the Grand
Signior is offended with the violence done to the King
at Bender. The Porte acknowledges Stanislaus as
King of Poland.
212
LIII
[ XXV ]
LIII. To his Serene Highness. Expectations that the
Grand Signior intends to take the field in perfon in fa-
vour of the King of Sweden.
P. 216
LIV. To Baron Goertz. The Emperor gives affurances
of his friendſhip to the King of Sweden. Fabricius
very apprehenfive for the fate of Holftein from the Muf-
covites.
218
221
LV. To the fame. He informs him that he is juft going
to fet out to fee the King at Adrianople.
LVI. To the fame, from Adrianople. The Grand Signior
promiſes to force a paffage for the King through Poland.
Great revolutions among the officers of the Porte. ib.
LVII.
To the fame. The Tartar Han depofed and
baniſhed. The Grand Vifir meets with the fame fate.
The King pretends fickneſs and continues in bed. 222
LVIII. To his Serene Highnefs, from Adrianople. The
Grand Signior at Adrianople; and the King lodged in
a palace within a few leagues of that city. The King
ftill keeps his bed.
224
LIX. To Baron Goertz. A conference propofed be-
tween the King and the new Tartar Han, and the
new Grand Vifir. The conduct of Count Steinbok in
226
Germany blamed
LX. To his Serene Highness. The new Grand Vifir
depofed. The determination of the Porte very uncer-
tain. The bad fituation of Count Steinbok. 227
LXI. To Baron Goertz. The King had been kept in
ignorance of his true fituation. The neceffity of a
peace with King Auguftus.
231
LXII. To the fame. A new appearance of a rupture
between the Mufcovites and Turks. The King ftill
promiſes himſelf great things from the latter. 233
LXIII. To his Serene Highness. The Emperor again
declares that he will at all events procure a paffage for
the King of Sweden through Poland.
234
LXIV.
b
[ xxvi ]
LXIV. To Baron Goertz. Fabricius informs the Baron
that he hopes to prevail with the King to confent to the
plan propofed by him for an accommodation with King
Auguftus. Count Welling commiffioned to conclude an
alliance with Pruffia. The King's backwardness to
hearken to a peace with Auguftus. His thankfulneſs
to the adminiftrator for his care of Steinbok's army.
The King of Sweden complains of the partiality of
the miniftry of England.
p. 236
LXV. To his Serene Highness. A probability that a
peace between the Turks and Mufcovites will not be
of long continuance.
244
LXVI. To Baron Goertz. The Porte feems in good
earneft to undertake the refloration of King Staniſlaus.
The King of Sweden reduced low by a fever.
246
To his Serene Highness. A Turkish army
249
LXVII.
marches to the confines of Poland.
LXVIII. To Baron Goertz. The ratification of the
peace with the Mufcovites is expected.
251
LXIX. To his Serene Highness. Fabricius doubts whe-
ther the Turks will fteadily fupport Stanislaus. He ad-
vifes an alliance with Pruffia.
253
LXX. To Baron Goertz. Fabricius reafons on the af-
fairs of Stanislaus, who is fent back from the Turkif
army to Bender.
255
LXXI. To the fame. He complains of the infenfibility
of King Charles and the Swedes in regard to their own
affairs.
257
LXXII. To his Serene Highness. The profpect of the
King's affairs in Turkey daily turns worse.
259.
LXXIII. To Baron Goertz. The King in a converſation
with Fabricius, affures him that his affairs will mend.
Propofals made by the Porte to the King of Sweden,
with the King's anſwer.
260
LXXIV.
[
xxvii ]
LXXIV. To the fame. The King of Sweden promifes
not to make a peace without including Holftein. Fa-
bricius afks new inftructions from the Baron.
p. 264
LXXV. To the fame. The Turks incline to an accom-
modation with Poland.
267
LXXVI. To the fame, from Conftantinople. Fabricius
deſpairs of the King's confenting to an accommodation
with King Auguftus; but affures the Baron that he
does his utmost to procure it. The King has kept his
bed for nine months.
268
LXXVII. To Baron Goertz, from Adrianople. The King
of Sweden defires to take all the Holftein troops into
his pay. Diſpatches of great confequence brought
from Sweden. Some fufpicions of revolutions in that
kingdom. The King of Denmark threatens Holſtein
with his reſentment for favouring Steinbok. Fabricius.
makes excuſes for the greatnefs of his expences.
272
LXXVIII. To the fame. The King at laft refolves in
good earnest to leave Turkey from his apprehenfion,
of revolutions in Sweden. Some hopes of a general
peace by the mediation of France and the Emperor. 282
LXXIX. To the fame. By an article of the peace be-
tween the Turks and Poland, a paffage is granted for
the King through that kingdom, but his friends per-
fuade him to take another route. The King diſap-
proves of the fenate's proceedings with Denmark. 283
LXXX. To the fame, from Demotica. The King inſtead,
of infifting any longer upon an eſcort, afks only a paff-
port. King Stanislaus leaves Turkey. The King's
creditors prepare to follow him to his own dominions.
286
LXXXI. To his Serene Highness, from Adrianople. Fa-
bricius informs the Duke that the King will foon be
in his neighbourhood.
289
LXXXII. To Baron Goertz. He informs him that he
will precede the King of Sweden, and defires new in-
ftructions at Vienna.
292
LXXXIII.
[xxviii]
LXXXIII. To Baron Goertz. Fabricius believes that the
Turks, if applied to in a proper manner, would give
a large fum of money to the King.
p. 293
LXXXIV. To his Serene Highness. Baron Grothufen
is appointed as an envoy extraordinary to the Porte. 294
LXXXV. To Baron Goertz. Fabricius has great ex-
pectations from Grothufen's journey. He diverts him-
felf with hunting.
296
LXXXVI. To the fame. Fabricius blames the expenfive
retinue of Grothufen.
298
LXXXVII. To his Serene Highness. An account of
Grothufen's audience.
300
LXXXVIII. To Baron Goertz. No hopes of getting
any money from the Porte.
304
LXXXIX. To the fame. The King is fatisfied with the
court of Vienna.
306
XC. To b's Serene Highness. The King expreffes his
gratitude for the favours received from the Duke. 307
XCI. To Baron Goertz. He adviſes the part of the garri-
fon of Stettin compofed of Holfteiners to be upon their
guard against the defigns of the Pruffians, who com-
pofe the other part.
309
XCII. To the fame. The King of Sweden approves of
the marriage of his fifter with the Prince of Heffe Caffel.
310
He informs him that the
King fets out on the morrow, and will probably per-
form his journey incognito.
311
XCIII. To Count Reventlau.
XCIV. To his Serene Highness, from Zelle. Fabricius
informs the Duke that he had flopped fome days at
Brunswick, to dive into the fentiments of the minifters
at the congrefs. He promifes to wait on his Highneſs
in a few days at Hamburg.
315
LET-
[ 1 ]
LETTER I.
To the Duke Administrator of Holstein, Bishop of
Lubec.
SIR,
525 II
Vienna, May 31, 1710.
I
MMEDIATELY upon my arrival here from
Baden, I went with the count de Reventlau to
the count * Herberſtein, preſident of the board
of war, to beg of him to procure me that very
evening a paffport with an order of the Emperor to
count Nehm governor of Peter waradin. But as
the count Trautfon, great chamberlain of the Em-
peror's houſehold, judged it proper, for the grea-
ter fecurity, to have the order figned by his Impe-
rial Majefty himſelf, and it will be late before he
returns this evening from Laxenbourg; I doubt
much whether I can get the order figned before to-
morrow evening, or till after to-morrow morning.
Meanwhile I am preparing every thing for fetting
out whenever I receive it, which will infallibly be
Monday morning at the lateft. My great earnestness
is owing to my zeal for the intereft of the Serene ducal
houſe, and for your Serene Highneſs in particular,
which will not fuffer me to reft till I arrive at Bender.
I hope, if it pleaſe God, to be there ſtill before the
end of June, as an aid-de-camp named Anthouard †,
diſpatched by King Stanislaus to the King of Swe-
den, has returned from Bender to Vienna in 17
days, the moſt part of the journey being perform-
The Duke of Holftein's Envoy at Vienna.
+ Afterwards a Colonel in the French fervice.
B
ed
[2]
ed on horſeback. He paffed through here yefter-
day incognito, and as he ſtopped only a few hours,
it was too late before I was informed of it, fo that
I could not ſpeak to him myſelf. However, Mr.
de Stiernhoek, counſellor to the Swediſh Embaffies,
who had fome converfation with him, told me this
morning that he was charged with three large pack-
ets for the poft mafler at Stralfunde: and as the
King, before the departure of this courier, had al-
ready been informed of the victory gained over
the Danes in Scania, we may reaſonably prefume
that he carries inftructions to the Senate, and to
count Gyllenstierne governor of Bremen, whereby
they are to regulate their conduct for the future.
People indulge this conjecture, I believe, the
more, as the neutrality eftablifhed in Germany
cannot in any manner fuit his Majefty's views. The
King in other refpects is in good humour and in
perfect good health, according to the account of
the faid Mr. Anthouard, but the time of his de-
parture is ftill an abfolute fecret: Only it is talked
underhand that it will happen in five or fix weeks,
but it is not faid however what rout he will take.
Every thing is kept a profound fecret at Bender
for a certain Secretary of the King who had in-
formed one of his friends in Sweden of a very tri-
fling circumftance, has been on that account dif-
graced. By this time a body of 10,000 Turks
muft have encamped round Bender; and Potoki
Palatine of Kiovia is alfo to repair thither, having
left his troops in the neighbourhood of Saffi.
When Authouard came away they were on the
point of holding a grand conference on the af-
fairs of Sweden, to which the Cham of the Tar-
tars and ſeveral Bafhaws were invited; 'tis believed
*Meaning the battle of Helfingborg, fought on the 12th of
March, 1710.
that
[ 3 ]
that they are already on the road to Bender for
this purpoſe. This aid de-camp moreover added
that General Poinatowſki was preparing to fet out
for Conftantinople, and that the King, notwith-
ftanding the great rupture betwixt him and the
Grand Vifir, whofe prefents he difdainfully re-
jected, flattered himſelf that he would fucceed
with the Grand Signior even in getting that firſt
Miniſter of the Porte difgraced, and making him
lofe his head for fuffering himſelf to be corrupted
with the money of the Muscovites. It would
feem from all this that his Majeſty intends to af-
femble as many Turks, Tartars and Poles as he
can befides his own troops, and with theſe to force
his way through Poland coft what it will. It may
probably happen that the corps of the army of
Craffau may receive orders by the fame letters to re-
turn into Poland, to meet the King, which however,
in my opinion, would be both a moſt uncertain, and
a moſt unſuitable ſcheme in the prefent fituation of
affiairs. The Imperial Court is ftill apprehenſive
that the King has fome correſpondence with the
rebels of Hungary, as the Marquis Defalleurs,
who goes to Conftantinople in quality of French
Ambaffador, has taken his route by Bender, and
the Miniſters of the courts at enmity with the
King, are at the utmoft pains to confirm this court
in their difadvantageous opinion of that of Swe-
den. The Count Trautfon is to afk of his Im-
perial Majefty, whether on the occafion of my
going to Bender, he has any commands for me to
communicate to the King of Sweden; and per-
haps I fhall be charged to reprefent to that Prince
the bad confequences of this pretended connection
with the rebels. Meanwhile, Sir, I will haften
my voyage as much as poffible to get to the King.
I expect to meet Colonel Swerin on the road, be-
caufe when General Poniatowski is difpatched to
B 2
Con-
[ 4 ]
Conftantinople, the Colonel is to receive orders to
return to Sweden.
I have the honour to be, with the moſt profound
refpect,
Sir,
Your Serene Highness's
Moft humble, moſt obedient,
And moft faithful fervant,
FABRICIUS.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO oooo ooo
LETTER II.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Vienna, June 2, 1710.
A
FTER receiving yefterday in the evening
the Imperial paſs, with the order figned by
the Emperor for Count Nehm Governor of Peter-
waradin, and after fettling all my affairs, I judged
it proper to wait to-day the arrival of the poft
from Holftein, after which I propoſe to ſet out
for Peterwaradin this night or to-morrow morning
at fartheft. My having taken this refolution gives
me the more pleaſure as I have this moment re-
ceived the orders of your Serene Highness.
As to other matters, I could not have the honour
of paying my refpects to his Imperial Majefty, be-
caufe he did not arrive from Laxenbourg before yef-
terday, and I would be obliged to wait here fome days
longer to have that honour. I propofe after finiſhing
this letter to fet out on my journey, and in five days
to paſs thro' Grats, Pettaw, Waradin and Effeck
for Peterwaradin, where I fhall be obliged to ftop
at least two days, to wait for the anfwer of the
Bafhaw
[ 5 ]
Bafhaw of Belgrade. From thence I hope to ar-
rive in fifteen days at Bender, paffing thro' Wid-
den, Bucharest, Tergovifte, Socgowa and Jazzi,
as Mr. de Garient, formerly Imperial Minifter at
the Ottoman court, has given me room to expect.
It is his opinion likewife, that after my arrival at
Belgrade I fhall run no longer any rifk, as the
Turks directly give a Chiaous to all foreign Mini-
fters, to protect them from all infults; that Chia-
ous being obliged, under pain of death, to conduct
the Miniſter in fafety to the place where he is to
go. I hope alfo to fend my narrative to your Se-
rene Highness by the regular poft of Belgrade;
but when I get further, I fear much that I fhall
not be able to have that honour but by extraordi-
nary occafions. Whenever I fhall have acquitted
myſelf of my commiffion to his Majefty, and
fhall obferve that my prefence is no longer necef-
fary there, I will fet out on my return to Holftein
to make my report to your Serene Highneſs by
word of mouth. In the mean time, as I muft then
pafs pretty near to Conftantinople, I take the li-
berty moft humbly to beg of your Serene High-
nefs to permit me to go thither, eſpecially as it
will not be at moft above 40 leagues out of my
way, and it will be eafy for me to get from thence
to Vienna by the common route.
I have the honour to be, &c.
B 3
LET-
[ 6 ]
LETTER III.
To bis Serene Highness.
SIR,
Efeck, within 12 Leagues of
Peterwaradin, June 9, 1710.
it
this moment when the
poft is fetting out, moft humbly to mention to
your Serene Highness, that after having paffed
thro' Croatia and part of Sclavonia, I happily ar-
rived here yeſterday in the evening without having
met with the leaft accident. I propofe inſtantly
to fet out for Peter waradin, where I hope to ar-
rive this evening. I fhall not find Count Nehm
there, becauſe he paffed thro' this place a few days
ago in his way to the Imperial army in Hungary.
However, Baron de Becker, Governor of this
place, affures me that Colonel Renaud, deputy Go-
vernor of Peter waradin, will affift me in every
thing that I need, and will give me an eſcort to
Belgrade, from whence I fhall have a journey of
ten days to Bender; fo that I hope to arrive there
about the 25th or the 26th of this month at far-
theft. I have been informed here by the poft-maf-
ter, that Colonel Swerin paffed thro' this place in
the end of February; General Poniatowſki about
the middle of March; and Major Kuchenmeister
in the end of April. The inhabitants of this
country and eſpecially of this city, the greateſt
part of whom are Germans, appear to be good
Swedes; zealously defiring thit his Majefty may
paſs thro' this place in his return, which is un-
doubtedly the fafeft courfe.
I have the honour to be, &c.
LET-
A
[ 7 ]
LETTER IV.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Peterwaradin, June 12, 1710.
I
Arrived here yeſterday in the evening when they
were fhutting the gates, and directly prefented
the Emperor's order to Colonel Renaud, in the ab-
fence of the General Count Nehm. He is a very
polite man and very willing to oblige. He is to
caufe me to be conducted to-day with three fmall
waggons as far as Belgrade, and at the fame time
gives me a letter of recommendation for the Ba-
fhaw. I fhall there take a boat to go down the
Danube as far as Widdin, from whence I fhall con-
tinue my journey by land to Buchareft, and from
thence to Bender. I can, if it be convenient, paſs
from thence by water to Smaillo, from whence I
have only two days journey to Bender, where I
hope to arrive without fail before the end of this
month. By Mr. Renaud's account to me a perfon
travels very fafely in Turky, provided he is not
niggard of his money, no nation in the world be-
ing more mercenary than the Turks. The King
of Sweden cannot but be fenfible of this too late,
and it is certain that a more confiderable fervice
could not be done him, than to give him a draught
for fome hundred thouſand crowns, as I am well
informed that his Majefty is negotiating a loan of
money at Conftantinople, where the Grand Vifier,
who is at open variance with the King, takes the
utmoft pains to prevent him from fucceeding. Hi-
therto his Majefty has not wanted money, Mazep-
pa having left at his death 80,000 ducats in gold,
which the King has made ufe of; and the Grand
B 4
Signior,
[ 8 ]
Signior, when he made him a preſent of feveral
horfes, added another of 20,000. The King, not-
withſtanding the oppofition of the Grand Vifier,
ought ſtill to perfift in perfuading the Port to break
with the Muscovites. In this he hopes to fucceed
without fail, and likewife in getting that firft Mi-
nifter ftrangled.
This moment the Colonels Oernftedt and Hierta
with two Drabans have arrived here from Conftan-
tinople, having left Bender on the 10th of March.
They have been at the baths of Burfia in Bithynia
for their health, but as they find themſelves no bet-
ter they fet out to-morrow for Germany. They
tell me that the King keeps his health furprisingly,
and is for the moſt part in good humour; that it
was the fame with his officers, excepting as to the
money part, which incommoded them a little; that
Colonel Dahldorff fhewed himſelf diſcontented,
and reproached the King with much ſharpneſs for
having conducted the army thro' the Ukraine; that
the King heard all his complaints, and thofe of fe-
veral others, who had the honour of being near
his perfon, with an admirable condefcenfion, tel-
ling them always to have patience, and that all
would foon go well.
I fhall not fail upon my arrival at Belgrade to
give a further accout to your Serene Highness,
having the honour to be, &c.
LET-
[ 9 ]
1
LETTER V.
To bis Serene Highness.
Bender, { June 25,} 1710.
July 6,
SIR,
Should have had the honour on the 28th of laſt
month to have informed your Royal Highness
of
my arrival here, after having paffed from Bel-
grade to Siliftria on the Danube, and from thence
by land thro' Moldavia and Tartary, if the Chia-
ous, who had conducted me, had not been order-
ed by his Majefty to ſtop here till now, becauſe he
intended to charge him with fome letters. As I
cannot tell exactly the time when he may fet out,
which perhaps may happen very fuddenly, I have
thought proper to take the precaution to draw up
this account, that it may be ready whatever hap-
pen.
I found the King, thank God, in good health,
gay and chearful, and in every fenfe, in as good
humor, as we faw him fome years ago in Saxony *.
All the reports which his enemies fpread in Ger-
many, and every where with fo much affiduity and
earneftneſs, are as falfe as it is true that he is as much
revered and even feared by the Turks, as he could
expect to be in his own kingdom. Nothing can
be a more inconteftible proof of the truth of what
I affert, than the agreeable news brought hither
from Conftantinople about eight days ago by Ge-
neral Poniatowski of the depofition of the Grand
Vifir, upon the reprefentation and at the follicita-
tion of the King of Sweden, and of his baniſh-
The Author accompanied the Duke Adminiſtrator thither,
in quality of gentleman of his bed chamber.
ment
[ 10 ]
ment to Tartary, he having been convicted of ha-
ving received every month 40,000 ducats from
the Czar to prevent the war, and to perfuade the
Grand Signior to make a truce with him. Befides
nothing can more fhew his regard for the King
than his conferring the place of the depofed Mi-
nifter upon Coprogli Bafhaw of Bofnia, who is a
very brave man and a very good Swede.
This great news has occafioned inexpreffible joy
here; and we flatter ourſelves that if the Turks
will not directly begin hoftilities againſt the Muf-
covites, the Han, who is not above a fhort league
from hence, will at leaft receive orders to penetrate
into the Ukraine with an army of 150,000 Tartars.
It is not known however, whether his Imperial Ma-
jefty will refolve to depart in perfon with that ar-
my; at leaſt it ftill appears that he will with dif-
ficulty perfuade himſelf to paſs thro' Germany, ei-
ther publicly or incognito.
His Majesty moreover, according to his ufual
manner, is extremely referved in every thing, and
fpeaks always very modeftly of his enemies, even
fo far as to excufe thoſe who have entered into an
alliance against him.
It was Mr. Müller, Counſellor of the Chancery,
who introduced me to his Majefty, to whom I had
the honour, after my firft compliments, to deliver
the letter of your Serene Highnefs agreeable to my
inftructions. I carefully avoided making the leaft
mention of the death of her Royal Highnefs *, be-
cauſe his Majefty is fo fenfibly affected with the
remembrance of the lofs of fo dear a fifter, that
for fear of finding fome particulars relating to her
in the letter of your Serene Highneſs, he ordered
Mr. Müller on the ſpot to open it and to tell him
*The mother of his Royal Highneſs the prefent Duke, who
died on the 11th of December, 1708.
the
[ [ ]
the contents of it. The King then enquired very
earneſtly after the health of your Serene Highness,
and teftified great fatisfaction with your care of the
intereft of the young Duke.
According to all appearance, I fhall be obliged
to remain here at leaſt a year, on which account I
have, after the example of all the officers and
attendants at Court, bought a couple of horfes,
and like them have cauſed a hut to be built for
myſelf under ground. Your Serene Highness
will pardon me if for the future I have rarely the
honour of writing to you. It is abfolutely im-
poffible, as I am not even permitted to fend an ex-
prefs to Belgrade. General Poniatowski, Colonel
Grothufen, Mr. Funk and Capt. Sten Ardwidfon
are actually at Conftantinople, whence we impa-
tiently expect to hear what are likely to be the con-
fequences of the depofition of the Grand Vifier.
We expect every day to draw money from thence
likewife, without which the court will be greatly
embarraffed. I have the honour to be, &c.
ooo ooo o
LETTER
VI.
To Baron Gortz, Privy Counſellor to his Serene High-
nefs the Duke of Holstein.
SIR,
Bender, July 4, 1710.
H
AVING left Belgrade on the 14th of June,
I proceeded for 6 days on the Daunbe to Si-
liftria, and from thence I arrived here by land in
6 days thro' Moldavia and Tartary, namely on
the 28th of June at 9 in the morning; fo that I
wanted only one day of the calculation I had made
at Vienna. I fhould have arrived fooner if I could
have prevailed on the Tartars to have conducted
me
[ 12 ]
me during the night, but it was impoffible to per-
fuade them to that. We wanted for nothing on
our journey, and one might travel as well in this
country as in Germany if there were any inns.
But of theſe there is great want, and a traveller
finds himself ftill worfe here than in Sclavonia,
where the people dwell already under ground like
rats. I would not have failed to have written to
your Excellency during my journey; but I had no
opportunity of fending my letters even to Belgrade.
I even write this to have it ready before hand,
not knowing when the King will fend back the
Chiaous, who is a kind of commiffary whom the
Bafhaw of Belgrade gave me, and who has been
detained here theſe 6 days. We have here no
other opportunity of conveying our letters to Ger-
many, than by the exprefs which the King fends
thither. I fhall however write likewife to Conftan-
tinople, to fee if the letters fent that way can have
the happineſs of reaching you.
His Majefty the King is in perfect good health,
and does not halt, as they falfely give out in Ger-
many his countenance is even freſher, and he is
fatter than when he was in Saxony. He is befides
very chearful, and talks with as much good fenfe
and penetration as any one. I may add alfo, that
if this Prince was great in his profperity, he is
much greater in his adverfity. He is adored in
this country, and feared at the fame time. Be-
fides, he has it in his power to do whatever he
thinks expedient, and to judge from appearances,
and from the manner in which they treat him, the
Turks feem to depend more upon him than he up-
on them; fo that all the bad news which his ene-
mies have reported, are mere fictions. I fhall
mention only two actions to fhew the extraordina-
ry refpect paid him in this country. First, it de-
pended merely upon the King whether the Bafhaw
of
[ 13 ]
of Oczakow fhould be ftrangled, for having at
firft hefitated to let the King pafs. Secondly, the
Hofpodar of Walachia was depofed, for having
been in fome meaſure the caufe why Gyllenbrok
with his troops was ſurpriſed by the Mufcovites.
Afterwards the Grand Signior ordered the Cham
of the Tartars, who is the neareſt fucceffor to the
Ottoman court, to make a journey of near 100
leagues to come and fee the King and have a con-
ference with him. As that Prince claims to be
treated on a footing of equality with Kings, he
pretended that the King of Sweden fhould come to
him, or at leaſt that they ſhould meet each other,
in a third place, under fome tent. But the King,
far from agreeing to that, would never confent to
go two steps out of his tent to meet him, which
difference hindered the Cham from waiting on his
Majefty till he had received an exprefs order from
Conftantinople. He has been here thefe 15 days,
but the King has not yet returned his vifit, altho'
his camp is only about a league diftant. Let one
judge by this, whether the King knows how to fe-
cure to himſelf in this country the refpect that is
his due. But the chief article is the news which
General Poniatowski brought from Conftantinople
within thefe 8 days, that at the King's requeſt even
the Grand Vifir himfelf has been depofed, and
banished to Tartary, and his place conferred on
Coprogli, a brave man and a good Swede. The
other was convicted of having received more than
40,000 ducats from the Czar every month, which
was the cauſe of the fufpenfion of hoftilities agreed
to between the Ottoman Porte and the Muscovites.
This fingle action fhews befides with what an eye
they regard his Majefty.
Every body here is perfuaded that this revolu-
tion will give quite another face to affairs, and that
the worst that can happen will be that the Ottoman
Porte
3
[ 14 ]
"
Porte will order the Cham to enter the Ukraine
with 150, or 200,000 Tartars and Coffacks. I
doubt whether the King will put himſelf at the
head of this army, unless the Ottoman Porte comes
to an open rupture; altho' every one here feems
perfuaded that the King will not return to his king-
dom without an army, as has been believed in
Germany. There is fo little talk here of a depar-
ture, that on the contrary every one is employed
in building houſes. I likewife began one, the day
before yeſterday, to have fome place to dwell in,
and that I might not fhew any earnestnefs to be
gone, which would fpoil my affairs. They live
here for the most part in huts under ground, ex-
cept the King who has two houfes, and likewife
General Axel Sparre and Colonel Hardt. My
houfe with my ſtables will coft me between 30 and
40 ducats. I have bought alſo a couple of Tartar
horfes, that I may attend the King when he goes
an airing, which he does regularly twice every day,
as it is the beft opportunity I have to converfe with
him. I find the difpofition of this great Prince fo
calm and fteady that it aftoniſhes me: he ſpeaks
very modeftly of his enemies; he himſelf even ex-
cufes the Allies for their not oppofing the King of
Denmark and King Auguftus. But he is never-
theleſs fo referved, that I defy the moft penetrat-
ing or infinuating man to difcover his true fenti-
ments. He is very glad to get information of eve-
ry thing, and for thefe four days I have difcourfed
with him pretty often; but I lofe my latin in at-
tempting to diſcover his fentiments, altho' the day
before yeſterday I was two hours alone with him
talking with him in his tent.
An hour after my arrival Mr. Müller introduced
me to the King, to whom I paid a very high com-
pliment from his Serene Highnefs, but I was very
concife, and did not make the leaft mention of
her
[ 15 ]
her Royal Highnefs deceaſed, becauſe that lofs ftill
very fenfibly affects the King. He very gaciouſly
enquired after his Serene Highneſs, and declared
that it would always give him great joy to hear that
he was in good health. As it was my firft audi-
ence, I confined myſelf to ſpeak only of public
news, about which his Majefty was very inquifitive.
Next day I had a conference with Mr. Müller for
two full hours. I fpeak to the King when I pleaſe,
and he always hears me with great goodness; I dif-
cover no earneſtnefs to be gone, and Mr. Müller
believes, that he will get me difſpatched ſooner than
I expect. I am, &c.
P. S. As money is much wanted here, it would
be doing the King a fignal fervice to furnish him
with fome by the way of Conftantinople. Think
of this, Sir.
to o
LETTER
To the Same,
LOLOLOLO
VII.
SIR,
Bender, July 19, 1710.
SIN
INCE my arrival here I have wrote to you
twice; and I hope you have received my let-
ters. I write this other to have it ready for any
opportunity, and if I cannot foon meet with an
occafion of fending it directly by Belgrade, I will
cauſe it to make the tour by Conftantinople. The
King continues always in good health, and takes
an airing on horſeback twice a day regularly. The
Turkish Captain who is on guard follows him al-
ways, but alone. This week two couriers have ar-
rived from Conftantinople; but the contents of the
letters which they have brought are kept fo fecret,
that
4
E 16 ]
that it is impoffible to difcover the leaft thing.
The first meffenger was immediately fent back, and
at his return, which may happen in about 8 days,
'tis faid we fhall then pofitively know what we
are to expect. Meanwhile I make no doubt of good
news, becauſe not only the Turks are making rea-
dy to take the field, and are making ſeveral mo-
tions; but ftill more becaufe colours are making
with a crown and C. XII. It is believed that this
is for the Feldherr of the Coffacks. I have reaſon
to be fatisfied with the reception that I meet with
here from all the Swedes; but especially, I cannot
enough praiſe the goodneſs of his Majefty. He
fpeaks to me every time he fees me, and furniſhes
me often with opportunities of ſpeaking to him of
bufinefs and altho' he is one of the moſt impene-
trable Princes in the world, I however diſcovered
that he is diſcontented with the Allies, becauſe they
have not oppoſed the King of Denmark.
Mr. Müller has fhewed the King fome of the
pieces which I brought with me. The King appear-
ed to me content with them, and I am greatly de-
ceived if he does not give full juftice to his Highneſs.
I hope to be difpatched from hence before the de-
parture of his Majefty, and confequently before
winter. I am entirely, &c.
P. S. You have here, Sir, a great many friends who
fend their hearty compliments to you, and drink
your health often, particularly Sparre, Hardt and
Müller. Hylten is no longer in the Secretaries
Office.
*
*This is the Secretary whom he mentioned in his firft letter,
who was difgraced for writing news to Sweden.
A
[ 17 ]
A SUPPLEMENT upon a Leaf apart.
You fee by the date, that this letter has been writ-
ten more than fix weeks; but as the King has not
judged it proper to fend back any of the three mef-
feng rs who have arrived from Germany one after
the other, I hazard to fend this by Conftantinople,
for which city a Courier is to fet out in a few mi-
nutes. This hinders me from anfwering at full
length, the three pofts which I have received of
the 14th and 29th of September. The laft brings
me letters of exchange upon Conftantinople. This
offer was extremely well received; but perhaps it
will not be accepted, as the 400,000 crowns which
the Grand Signior offers to lend the King without
intereft, are expected to be payed every day. I
am bold to ſay that the goodneſs and favour of his
Majefty towards me augment every day. I have
caufed the King to be founded as to my departure ;
but he has begged of me (if I may prefume to uſe
the word) fo gracioufly to wait a couple of months
longer, that I confented without the leaft refiſt-
ance. I hope this will be to charge me with fome
commiffions for the Allies, when we fhall have re-
ceived a pofitive anfwer from Conftantinople, which
cannot fail, as not only the new Vifier Achmet
Pacha of Aleppo, (who has been chofen fince the
voluntary refignation of Numen Pacha) has enter-
ed upon his office; but likewife the Cham of the
Tartars who is a very good Swede, has been again
called to Conftantinole laft week. According to
this difpofition, the King will yet pafs the winter
here, to fet out at length with the affiftance fo long
promiſed. I have been obliged like all the reft to
build myſelf a little winter houfe, and I expect
that my chamber will coft me dear. Judge Sir, if
it is cheap living here, as we are obliged to pay
C.
24
1
[ 18 ]
1
24 crowns for a faddle, and 4 franks for fhoeing a
horſe. All my commiffioners fucceed well, and
you ſhall be fully informed concerning them by the
first courier, whom the King promiſes me to fend
back forthwith. I will prefs him on account of his
own affairs.
General Lagercrona has been difgraced within
thefe few days, on account of a quarrel he had
with Colonel Grothufen, who is much in the Kings
favour. I fancy the first will very foon be ſent a-
way from hence. Hard and Dahldorf have been
made Major Generals. I beg of you Sir, to give my
refpects to his Highnefs, and make my excufes for
not writing. This I fhall do fully by the firft Cou-
rier. I have no time to ftop, and it is by a kind
of intrigue that I make this letter pafs by Con-
ftantinople. I am, &c.
Another SUPPLEMENT.
THE Ruffian Ambaffador at Conftantinople has
made an attempt to poiſon Paniatowski and the
Palatin of Kiovia, but his defign has been difco-
vered.
I beg of you Sir, to reprefent to his Highneſs
the refolution I have taken to remain here a part of
the winter, altho' almoſt all my commiffions are
finiſhed. 'Tis but making a bad bargain to ex-
change the abode at Hamburgh, at Kiel, or Han-
nover for that at Bender, where pleaſures are very
thin fown. Continue, I beg of you, to fend me
news often, as the King begins to be very inquifi-
tive on that head.
Before this letter was fent away Mr. Fabricius had
wrote the following to the Duke Administrator.
4
LET-
[ 19 ]
LETTER VIII.
SIR,
Bender, July 14---24, 1710.
I
Should oftner have the honour of fending my
humble narratives to your Serene Highneſs, if
the opportunities of fending them were as frequent
as the matters to write about are important. But
as a Turk the day before yeſterday brought a packet
from Belgrade, which Count Reventlau had fent
thither from Vienna, and as I prefume he will re-
turn very foon, I would not omit writing the pre-
fent letter to have it ready beforehand. The letters
brought by the Turk were fo much the more a-
greeable, as they gave us intelligence of ſeveral
pieces of good news; as for example, the news of
the Swediſh fleet of 16 men of war quitting their
ports and taking 23 Danifh veffels loaded with
corn, and with many failors on board; likewife
that the Mufcovites had been repulfed with great
lofs in their attack upon the ſuburb of Riga; that
Wibourg had been fo well furniſhed with provi-
fions, that it had no danger to fear. I had the ho-
hour to read all theſe news to his Majefty for an
hour together in the Secretaries office, and he ap-
peared greatly pleaſed with them. I ſhould with,
Sir, to have often fuch, or at leaſt fome other no-
velties to relate here, becauſe it would furniſh me
with a favourable opportunity of difcourfing with
his Majefty, and talking to him of bufinefs. I read
among others the account of the Berlin Gazette,
as to what paffed here which greatly diverted him,
as likewife a paffage in the French Gazette of Hol-
land, where it is laid, That the return of his Majeſty
is greatly wifhed for, provided he returns with paci
fick fentiments, and without too numerous a retinue.
C 2
No-
[ 20 ]
Nothing pofitive, however, can be faid as to the
return of this Prince. We ftill flatter ourſelves
that it will happen before the end of fummer, that
fuccours may be drawn together on the frontiers of
Pomerania before the end of winter; but theſe
are only conjectures. We will be more exactly in-
formed about it on the return of the meffenger dif-
patched from hence 8 days ago, and of that which
the Ottoman Porte fent to the Czar after the depo-
fition of the Grand Vifir to defire him to with-
draw his troops from Poland, and to fet at liberty
the 1500 Swedes taken prifoners in Walachia. It
is certain however, that magazines are forming on
the frontiers for the fubfiftence of a numerous
Turkish army, and that the Cham of the Tartars,
and likewiſe the Zaporovian Coffacks, and thoſe
of the Don, hold themſelves in readineſs on the
first orders to penetrate into Poland. Yeſterday,
for the first time, I vifited the Cham of the Tar-
tars. He is a venerable old man, has wit, and a
good deal of knowledge for a Tartar. He has
made feveral campaigns againſt the chriftians, and
was at the famous fiege of Vienna. His fon is fo
beautiful, and fo well made, that his Majeſty ſays
often in jeft, That he furpaſſes in beauty, all the
women in Sweden and Germany. I cannot fufficiently.
repreſent to your Serene Highnefs, how much the
Swedes are eſteemed and confidered among the
Turks and Tartars. A few days ago
A few days ago I was prefent.
at a Turkiſh feaft, which the Kiaja of the Bafhaw
of Bender gave to the principal Swediſh officers,
where were placed fucceffively, above 160 different
diſhes upon a table ferved by 12 perfons. After
the cloth was removed, we were entertained with
mufic after the Turkiſh faſhion, and feveral players
gave us a kind of comedy. Meanwhile, I do
not fail to feize every favourable opportunity to
acquit myſelf of my commiffions. If I were per-
·
mitted
[ 21 ]
mitted to fend expreffes to Belgrade, your Serene
Highnefs fhould more often receive my humble
letters. But as his Majefty exprefsly forbids it, I
am reduced to acquit myfelf of my duty only upon
a favourable opportunity.
I have the honour to be, Sir, &c.
L
ETTER
To the Duke Adminiftrator.
IX.
Bender, Decemb. 15. The Letter
was not fent off till the 25th.
SIR,
I
Beg your Serene Highnefs will believe that it
was not my fault that I have not had the honour
of writing to you fince the 12th of Auguſt. I
flatter myſelf that you will be fo good as believe
that nothing but an abfolute impoffibility hinder-
ed me from writing. Befides, his Majefty fince
the departure of Major Kuchenmeifter, has not fent
any one to Germany thefe feveral months. I
have always been prevented from fending my let-
ters by Conftantinople every time that I propoſed
to make them pafs that way, under pretence that
the King was forthwith to fend off a courier for
Germany. I attribute it to the hopes that the court
has of receiving every moment a final and pofi-
tive anſwer from the Grand Signior, and as his
Majefly in his prefent uncertainty does not chooſe
that any thing fhould be published, I inftantly
conformed to his inclination. Meanwhile I have
received the expreffes which your Serene High-
nefs fent me. They arrived here on the 19th of
C 3
Au-
[ 22 ]
Auguft, the 14th and 29th of September, and the
15 of November. The orders which they bought
are dated the 26th of June, the 10th and 12th of
July, the 25th of Auguft and the 22d of Septem-
ber. I return your Serene Highnefs my moft
humble thanks for the permiffion you have been
pleafed to grant me along with my first orders, of
feeing Conftantinople before my return, With
this defign, I had fome thoughts of making a tour
thither about the end of this month, and to return
afterwards to Bender; but his Majefty having
mentioned to me that he could wish I would fuf-
pend my voyage till my departure, I will therefore.
put it off till then.
P. S. In the mean time, in confequence of the
orders of your Serene Highness, I offered to his
Majefty by Chancellor Müllern, the loan of 100,000
crowns which was, &c. with thanks. However,
as they do not, as yet, know whether they will
have occafion for that fum at Conftantinople in
fpecie, as the Grand Vifir has advanced to the King
400,000 crowns, without mentioning any claim
either to the principal or intereft, his Majefty ear-
neftly wishes that the fum of 100,000 crowns fhould
be in readineſs at Vienna, that the fpring following,
in cafe of neceffity, he might bring it from thence
in fpecie, or elfe get it by the channel of the Mer-
chants of Conftantinople. I have only received
letters of exchange from Count Reventiau, but he
promiſes to let me have the reft very foon by the
way of Holland. The first thing they thought of
here, was to give fecurity to the Ducal houfe for
the repayment of the money. Mr. Müllern, for
that purpoſe, having expedited an order to the re-
gency of Stade, to treat on that head with the Se-
rene houſe, and to affign it, or elfe give fome fuitable
fecurity when the money fhall be payed, or the
letters
[23]
7
"
letters of exchange tranfmitted to the Secretaries
office. As to the other 100,000 crowns which the
Ducal houfe likewife propoſes to advance, the loan
muſt be tranſacted with the fenate in Sweden, who
ſeem to defire that this fum fhould be paid to the
royal treaſury at Stockholm.
In the mean time I offered to his Majeſty
It was perfectly well received, and looked upon as
a convincing proof of the friendſhip of your Se-
rene Highness, therefore his Majesty ordered me
to return you his fincere thanks.
The news from Hanover, which fays that the
Elector is difpofed to renew the alliance with his
Majefty, has been fo much the more agreeable
here, as we are thereby perfuaded that the intent of
the alliance between the Elector and the King of
Denmark, is not fuch as our enemies affect to give
out. Altho' it is the general opinion that the E-
lector could eaſily have declined it in the prefent con-
juncture, the court nevertheless declare their rea-
dinefs to agree to the propofitions made by him,
in which cafe his Majefty is very willing that the
Serene houſe alfo accede to it.
As to what regards the treaty to be negotiated
between the Senate and the Allies, concerning the
delivering up of 8,000 Swedish troops in Pome-
rania to the latter*, it is certain his Majefty will
never confent to it; and in truth, the affair feems
to be of confequence. Neither will he hear men-
tion made of the plan of neutrality; his Majefty
not being of the mind, as he declares himſelf, to
fuffer his hands to be bound, by any Prince in the
world. He is particularly diffatisfied, that Poland
and Jutland being comprized in the neutrality, no
* See Lamberti's Memoirs, tom. vi. p. 284. and elſewhere.
+ Lamberti's Memoirs, tom. viii. p. 283. 285. 289. 292. 296.
303, 304. 308. 310. 314.
C 4
equa-
[ 24 ]
!
equality is obferved with regard to them. I´ven-
tured, but with all poffible modefty, to alledge all
the reafons I could think of to prevail with his
Majefty to accept of it, by reprefenting to him the
advantage it would be to his kingdom, and that at
leaft it would be neceffary for him to diffemble for
fome time, till the appearance of more favourable
conjunctures, when he might unmask his defigns
with fuccefs. But I fucceeded fo badly in this at-
tempt, that I even fear when this letter goes off
that a new proteftation will be fent to Germany *.
We may eaſily foreſee how that fecond declaration
will be received by the Allies. However, I am
ftill fully convinced, that the King will never un-
dertake any thing againſt the Empire, and ftill
much leſs in favour of France; and that he will
only employ the Ottoman forces and his own troops.
againſt the Czar, and againſt King Auguftus. It
were to be wished that his Majefty would publicly
declare his defigns with regard to this, to all the
courts intereſted in the affairs of the North, but he
thinks himself the lefs obliged to this, as he is not
bound to give an account of his actions to any one:
As far as I fee, 'tis believed, that by the rupture
between the Turks and Mufcovites, the ftrength
of the enemy will be at leaft fo counterbalanced,
that there will be no great need of any other af
fiſtance, ſo that this court will not be very forward
to agree to a general peace. However, they wish
much to conclude a treaty with Denmark, that his
Majefty may form an army capable of making head
againſt that of the Czar and King Auguftus, and
of taking ample revenge. I can likewife affure
your Serene Highness, that your good offices, as
to a treaty with Denmark, could not fail of be-
*The firft is dated the 30th of Novemb. and is inferted in
Lamberti, vol. vi.
1
ing
[ 25 ]
*
ing very agreeable to his Majefty, and that the
conditions on his part will be very reaſonable,
provided the point of honour is not hurt, and it
appear that the firft propofal of an accommoda-
tion comes from the other fide. Here they are
in the utmoſt impatience to know what the Mi-
nifter of your Serene Highneſs ſhall have negoti-
ated as to this point.
As to my return to Holftein, it is true that I
fhould have been very glad to have got back be-
fore the great fair of Kiel, but as your Serene
Highneſs has done me the favour to declare that I
need not be very earneft in that point, I have fub-
mitted to your orders the more chearfully, as his
Majefty himſelf in the moft gracious manner, told
me, that it would give him great pleasure if I would
remain bere at least a part of the winter. For the
future, therefore, my departure will depend folely
upon his orders, and according to all appearance,
I fhall not be able to fet out before the begin-
ning of next fpring. If I have been formerly
rallied for preferring my pleafures to every thing
elfe, your Serene Highness will fee by every
part of this letter, that no charge can be worfe
founded, as on this occafion I can prefer your glory
and my duty, to every thing that is called Plea-
fure. Our whole bufinefs confits in taking an airing
on horſeback with the King regularly twice a day.
The converſation with the Turks is but very dull,
and confifts only in fmoaking and drinking coffee.
Neither does writing afford us much employment,
as a courier is hardly difpatched once in two
months. The King, it is true, has been at laſt
prevailed on to eſtabliſh a regular poft by Buchareſt
and Belgrade, as far as Peterwaradin, the Empe-
rors poft coming no farther than that place. The
meffenger who carries this letter, is the firſt who
takes this route.
For
[ 26 ]
For thefe feveral weeks paft, our chief employ-
ment has been to build ourſelves houfes, and fur-
nifh them with fophas and carpets in the Turkiſh
tafte. We have even built a fmall fort on the
banks of the Neiper, within half a cannon fhot of
this place, and we cannot be reproached with want-
ing either fire or a place of refidence, even in the
heart of Budziack Tartary, but this cofts each of
us at leaſt 4 or 500 crowns. The Serafkier has
caufed to be built a kind of feraglio for the King,
which has very much the air of one of our fmall
farms in Holstein, only that it is painted with a
great variety of colours, and has a wooden roof.
It is to be obſerved, that a feraglio, properly
fpeaking, is a palace, contrary to the fignification
that is falfely given to it in Germany, where it is
taken for a place in which the women are ſhut up.
This laft is named a Harem, and all males are pro-
hibited to enter it except the cock of theſe cloiſter-
ed pullets. I will bring with me at my return, fe-
veral curious remarks upon Turky.
1
Many believe that the body of Mufcovites en-
camped on the frontiers of Poland, within fix
leagues of this place, may happen to pay us a vifit
in our new city when the rivers are once frozen.
This the King ardently defires, as it would haften
the rupture betwixt them and the Turks.
Mr.
has not only been recalled from his
poft, but has been made Landfhöfding in Sweden *.
This is a proof of his Majefty's regard for your
Serene Highness, and of his fatisfaction in being
able to do you a pleaſure. Mr. Müllern, a few
days ago, was created Chancellor of the court. I
mentioned in my letter to Baron Goertz to day,
the other promotions that happened at the fame
time.
That is Governor of a Province.
To
[ 27 ]
To conclude, as to what concerns the news of
this place, I ſhall here give a ſketch of them, but
in a very conciſe manner, remarking the begin-
ning, the continuation, and the end. Your Se-
rene Highnefs already knows that after the unhappy
battle of Pultowa, and after the retreat into fur-
ky, his Majeſty's defign was to go and join the
army of Craffau in Poland, as foon as his wound
fhould be cured. For that purpoſe he ordered
Colonel Gyllenkrok to come to meet him with
800 men.
But as the Ottoman Porte in the mean
time offered him of their own accord a more con-
fiderable eſcort, he judged it more proper to ac-
cept of it, as he was too late to join the Army of
Craffau, which had already retired to Pomerania.
In fact, all the preparations for this eſcort were al-
ready made, when the Czar being informed of it, en-
ployed feveral tons of gold to bring the Grand
Vifir Ali Pacha over to his intereft. He fucceeded
in this very happily; fo that the truce between the
Porte and Ruffia was not only prolonged, but fe-
veral difficulties were begun to be ſtarted, not only
in respect to the promiſed efcort, but alſo in regard
to ſeveral Swediſh flaves who had withdrawn from
their mafters to the houfe of Mr. Neugebaer the
King's envoy at Conftantinople. The Ottoman
Porte even went fo far as to conclude a Peace with
the Czar and King Auguftus by the Cham of the
Tartars, who came to wait upon the King on that
account. His Majefty inſtead of hearkning in the
leaft to the propofitions, drew up a long memo-
rial, in which he complained bitterly against the
Grand Vifir, and demanded fatisfaction. This
memorial General Poniatowski found means of
putting into the Grand Signior's own hands.
During thefe tranfactions, the Sultan had fent to
the King 25 horfes magnificently caparifoned after
the Turkiſh faſhion. His Majefty accepted the
horſes
1
[ 28 ]
horfes as a prefent of the Grand Signior: but he
refuſed with a ſteady firmneſs the five others which
the Vifir had added to them, altho' the Serafkier
of Bender entreated him even upon his knees, re-
preſenting that the King by his refufal would ex-
pofe himſelf to the utmoft danger, and it might
alfo coft the fuppliant his head. The King an-
fwered dryly, That he could not accept of prefents
from the grand Vifir, who had ſuffered himself to be
corrupted by his enemies, and against whom he had
already preferred a complaint to the Grand Signior.
Accordingly the horfes in queftion, were not only
fent back, but General Poniatowſki had orders be-
fides, to infift upon the depofition of the Grand
Vifir as a traitor corrupted by the money of the
Mufcovites. That depofition followed fome days
after. Ali Pacha was banifhed to a fmall ifland in
the Archipelago, his goods were confifcated, and
his wives and his effects publicly fold by auction.
He would even have loft his life, if his fucceffor
Numen Cupruli had not preferved it from genero-
fity. The Vifiriat of this laft feemed to promiſe
all kinds of advantages to the King, he being not
only a very brave and very honeft man, but hav-
ing alfo cauſed the Mufti and ſeveral other parti-
fans of the Mufcovites to be depofed, on which
account we no longer doubted of the promiſed
efcort.
*
*
But this minifter being too rigorous and fevere,
and not very follicitous to conform himfelf to the
Emperor's humour, he began foon to fear him as
much as the people adored him, who all reverenced
him almoſt as a faint. He therefore held the ad-
miniſtration only about two months, when he re-
turned to his Bafhawlic or government of Negro-
pont, having demanded and obtained leave to re-
tire.
The
1
[ 29 ]
The Muscovite party greatly flattered themſelves
that this revolution would extremely cross the
King's defigns; but General Poniatowski making
an excellent advantage of this vacancy, found means
of directly informing the Grand Signior himſelf in
feveral important points, as to the future defigns
and intrigues of the Mufcovites: infomuch that
he was promiſed a pofitive anfwer as foon as the
new Vifir Mehemet Bafhaw ſhould arrive from
Aleppo. This Vifir began, not only by depofing
the Aga of the Janiffaries, but alfo gave orders to
the Cham of the Tartars to come from Crim to
Conftantinople, where he arrived directly, after
having affured the King by one of his Sons that
he would employ all his credit to forward his de-
figns.
Tolftoy, the Mufcovite Ambaffador, ſeeing the
turn that affairs were taking, found no other re-
fource for recovering his authority, than to bribe
a domeftic of General Poniatowski, who was to
poifon his maſter, and alſo the Waivode Kiowſki,
which however did not fucceed, the black defign
being diſcovered in time, and the traitor condem-
ned to the Gallies.
At length after feveral conferences, we had on
the 28th of November, the agreeable news by a
courier from Conftantinople that a war had been
refolved upon. On the 5th of December, the Se-
rafkier of Bender, and Hofpodar of Walachia Mau-
ro Cordato were depofed. The Waivode Kiowſki
arrived here on the 6th with the confirmation of
the reſolution taken immediately to make war with
a fleet of 200 fail by fea, 20,000 Tartars and
150,000 Turks by land. The Cham of the Tar-
tars followed him on the 10th, and was received
with great ceremony and inexpreffible joy by every
one here. He affured us that the rupture was al-
ready begun, as the Mufcovite Ambaffader was
fent
1
[ 30 ]
fent a prifoner to the Seven Towers, next morning
he had an audience of the King, which lafted four
hours, and yeſterday being the 14th he fet out for
Crim, to make the neceffary preparations for an
irruption into Ruffia, which he reckons he fhall un-
dertake this winter yet. The Waivode Kiowſki
has received the command of 40,000 Budziak Tar-
tars to attempt to diflodge the Mufcovites, who are
poſted on the frontiers, 20,000 Janiffaries are ex-
pected here in a few days. In five weeks the Grand
Vifir is to be at Baba the general rendezvous of the
army within twenty leagues of Bender, and the
Grand Signior is at the fame time to repair to Adri-
anople.
Such, fir, has been the happy conclufion of this
grand affair, the fuccefs of which, is folely owing
to the King's fteadinefs and the great vigilance of
General Poniatowski.
We are very curious to know how this new war
is looked upon in Chriftendom.
What is certain,
is, that it is not the intention of the King to do the
leaft prejudice to the empire by it. The allies to be
fully certain of it, need only mediate a peace with
Denmark. I will not fet out till I have received
the laft orders of your Serene Highness. I have
the honour to be, &c.
LOTO O O O O O O
LETTER X.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Bender, Dec. 24, 1710.
A
LTHO' his Majefty the King of Sweden
has fent no courier to Germany fince the 12th
of Auguft, when Captain Kuchenmeifter fet out;
I ne-
[ 31 ]
I nevertheleſs, about three weeks ago, rifked to
write you by the way, of Conftantinople. I hope
you have received that letter, as I fent it to Con-
ftantinople, under a cover, addreffed to Mr. Col-
liers the Dutch ambaffador there, who fent it to
Mr. Hamel Bruninx at Vienna. It contained an
anſwer to four of your letters, one of which I re-
ceived on the 19th of Auguft, another by the way
of Conftantinople, on the 24th of the fame month;
the 3d on the 14th of September, and the 4th by
Silfvercrantz the 29th of the fame month. Since
that time Mr. Tungelfeldt, a Swediſh captain, ar-
rived on the 15th of December from Scania. He
has brought me three of your letters of the 23d,
26th, and 29th of September.
As my letter fent by Conftantinople was very con-
cife, and as I am not very fure befides, that you
received it, I fhall here repeat the moſt material
circumſtances of the prefent fituation of affairs,
and then I fhall anfwer thofe letters that I have
lately received. As to the alliances which the
court of Hanover has made with the Czar and
the King of Denmark, I cannot deny, but at firſt,
that circumftance had like to have given the King
a bad opinion of the friendſhip of the Elector, and
fo much the more as the enemies of that court
have laboured to fhew in the new alliances, a latent
defign of taking poffeffion of the country of Bre-
men: but happily I have received by the fame poft,
letters from the Electoral Prince, and from Mr.
Bernſdorff, with a long memorial juſtifying the
tranfaction. This joined to the offer of the court
of Hanover, of renewing its alliance with his Swe-
diſh Majefty, has difabuſed the miniſtry here, and
likewife the King: and altho' theſe alliances with
the enemies of Sweden are not at all to his liking,
That letter is loft.
he
[ 32 ]
he nevertheless, looks upon the Elector of Hanover,
as his best friend among the chriftian Princes.
This however is not much, as he is far from being
fatisfied with his other allies, who inftead of a gua-
rantee to which they have bound themſelves, want
to force him to a neutrality, which appears to him
fo much the more difadvantageous, as there is not
only no equality obferved in regard to Jutland and
Poland, but as his point of honour is offended, by
the meaſures they have taken in order to compel
him to obferve it. It would be too long to repeat
here all the arguments I uſed to repreſent to him,
that the allies could not act otherwife on account of
the war in which they are engaged with France,
and that they even alledge that they have hereby
done a ſervice to Sweden. I hoped by my difcourfe
to bring the King to accept the neutrality; but my
labour was quite loft, and I am greatly deceived if
another proteſt be not publiſhed againſt it. The
King will ſtill leſs hear mention made of the treaty
concluded at the Hague, for the 8000 men in
Pomerania, in which he does not ſeem to me to act
much amifs, notwithſtanding ſeveral advantages
that might attend it, as it is the only body of troops
the King can employ, if the Turks enter Poland.
I have demonftrated to Mr. Mullern, that it would
be greatly for his Majefty's intereft, that if he does
not chooſe to obferve the neutrality, he would at
leaft diffemble his fentiments of it. He was of my
opinion, efpecially, as at prefent the King of Den-
mark would certainly act against the neutrality, if
he continued in his intention of putting his troops
into winter quarters in Holftein; and that the
Swedes thereby might get the whole vengeance of
the allies to fall upon him, and procure that body
of 15,000 men for Sweden, as it would be againſt
her otherwife; but the King anſwered, that he was
too fincere to deceive any one, and to promiſe a thing
that
[ 33 ]
that he had no defign to perform. Mr. Mullern in
the mean time is perfuaded, that he will undertake
nothing againſt the empire, and I am alfo fully of
this opinion; but he will have a difficulty in de-
claring this, becauſe he pretends, that the allies
have not acted genteelly by him; and that as they
have done nothing for him, he is not obliged to do
any thing for them. It appears to me that the hopes
formed by this court of their drawing themfelves out
of all their troubles, by the fole affiftance of the
Turks, without that of any others whatever, is
the true foundation of thefe fentiments, and of all
the protests that have been made. Meanwhile the
news of the King of Denmark's defign againſt
Holftein, may perhaps have fuch an iffue, as to
oblige Denmark to conclude a peace, which is
greatly defired here, as the King has no refentment
against the King of Denmark, but fays, that he
was feduced by King Auguftus. He was very well
pleaſed, fir, to hear that you are to make a journey
hither. I believe that this court will be very easy
and reaſonable, as to the conditions of this peace,
provided the point of honour be faved, which is
the great article.
粘
​The news of a great battle in Spain, and of the
terrible diſturbances that have arifen in England,
makes it be believed here, that both parties will in
good earneſt think of a general peace, and 'tis doubted
whether any obftacles can be made to it, if the parties
are ſeriouſly diſpoſed to put an end to the war. They
appear here fo much the more indifferent on this
head, as they know not what they are to expect
from the allies after the conclufion of the peace.
At leaſt they are perfuaded, that they will do no-
thing for King Staniſlaus; and that this Prince has
no other reſource for recovering his throne, but
The battle of Brighuera, the 8th December, 1710..
D
the
[ 34 ]
the rupture between the Turks and Mufcovites, in
which, in my opinion, they are not much in the
wrong. As this court has indeed formed no cer-
tain plan as to Germany, I endeavoured to per-
fuade the King, that if he would not accede to the
neutrality, nor make a public declaration, that he
had no intention of acting againſt the empire, he
would at leaft declare as much in confidence to that
power, which he believed to be his greateſt friend.
But he anſwered, that is needless, they will fee that
Soon enough at my return. I endeavoured to infi-
nuate, that in the mean time his enemies taking
advantage of his filence, might prejudice the allies
against his Majefty, and make them believe that
he acted in concert with France, and mentioned as a
proof of it the memorial of the Ruffian ambaffador,
prefented at Berlin and the Hague, which may
be moſt justly and moſt fully anſwered. The King
ftill alledged, that this would be needlefs, and that the
allies would be much inclined to believe ill of him, if
they give credit to all the artifices and intrigues of his
enemies. It would be an infallible means for the
allies to gain the friendſhip and confidence of the
King of Sweden, if they would make repeated de-
clarations, that they do not defire to force him to
any thing; and that they believe him too juft to
undertake any thing against the empire, unlefs he
is forced to it, as he has always hitherto made ap-
pear. I can demonftrate to you, Sir, that the me-
morial of the Muscovite ambaffador is a mere tiffue
of falsehoods. For firft, the King far from hav-
ing any correspondence with Prince Ragotſki,
has an ill will to him on account of his bad treat-
ment of the troops of the Palatine of Kiovia, which
he will revenge fooner or later. I have myſelf heard
him ſpeak of him with the utmoſt contempt. Next
It is inferted in Lamberti, Vol. VI. p. 310.
I
it
[ 35 ]
E
it is very certain, that the King cannot in his pre-
fent fituation do the fmalleft fervice to France. I
ſee the accounts of M. Cronftrom from Paris every
poft, and I can affure you they never contain any
thing but common news, or other trifles not in the
leaft concerning the allies. It was very injurious
likewife to fufpect any mystery in the journey that
Mr. Defalleurs made hither, in his way from Hun-
gary to Conftantinople. Befides, that it lay in his
road, I know for certain, that he propofed only
the mediation of the king his mafter, between the
King of Sweden and the Czar; and that his offer
was not accepted. Judge from this, Sir, if the al-
lies have reafon to take the leaft umbrage, or to
fufpect the King's having any engagement with
France. The Mufcovite ambaffador fays, next,
that the King offers the Grand Signior, to make
part of Poland tributary to him, if he will break
with Mufcovy. This again is a bold falfehood. It
is certain, that the King fince he has been in this
country, has not taken a fingle ftep that could
ftain his glory. Far from this, never did an un-
happy prince fhew ſo much firmneſs of mind, and fo
high a fpirit; and to fee the manner in which he
procured the depofition of the Grand Vifir Ali
Pacha, one would fay that he commands in this
country as in his own. I flatter myself, however,
that the King when he leaves this place will order
fuch a declaration to be made to the allies, as they
will have reaſon to be fully fatisfied with. But I
doubt much whether he will make it fooner, be-
cauſe never having given them any reafon to com-
plain of him, he does not think himſelf obliged to
declare before hand his intention of not doing what
he never intended to do. I fhall endeavour to ob-
tain fuch a declaration when I come away.. I in-
formed myſelf likewife if it was true that Baron
Stralenheim had protefted at Vienna against giving
D 2
the
[ 36 ]
nover.
·
•
the command of the troops affembled for maintain-
ing the neutrality, to his electoral highneſs of Ha-
I was anſwered, that they doubted whe-
ther Mr. Stralenheim had done it; that at leaſt he
could receive no orders from hence, as we knew
nothing of the affair before the arrival of the letter
from Hanover. They are here too well acquaint-
ed with the intereſts of Sweden, not to wiſh the
command of that army rather into the hands of the
Elector of Hanover, than
as the
King flatters himſelf, that he would not employ
it againſt him; for without that, he ſays, he would
be obliged to look upon him as his enemy. As to
myſelf I am ſtill in hopes there will be a general
peace, and that then the empire having no longer
any reaſon to fear an invaſion of the Muscovites,
the Swedish troops in Pomerania will no longer be
prohibited to enter Poland. I endeavour to make
the beſt uſe I can of the news which I hear; and
as the King begins to be very curious, this often
procures me occafions of difcourfing with him alone.
With this view alfo of fatisfying his curiofity, the
King is going at length to eſtabliſh a regular poft,
who is to fet out from hence every fifteen days, and
another from Belgrade to bring us the letters from
Germany. Count Reventlau therefore need only ad-
drefs thofe he receives for me to the Jew at Belgrade.
By this method we will have news more regularly,
you of the affairs of Turkey, and we of thofe of
Germany. We flatter ourfelver here, that the
Swedes have had fome advantage in the battle
fought at fea, in the Kægerbugt; 'tis pretended
at leaſt, that it has broke the deſigns of the Danes
to tranſport the Mufcovites into Scania.
no longer under apprehenfions for that defcent, as
'tis alledged, that the corps under Field-marfhal
Steinbok is in a very good condition.
We are
Thus
[ 37 ]
Thus far in anſwer to the articles of your excel-
lency's letter. I have only a word to mention of my
own particular affairs, and then I fhall entertain
you with the news of this country.----Our chief
diverfion is to go an airing twice a day regularly
with the King. The converfation with the Turks
is but very dull. Mr. Grothufen fhines among
them. He talks the Turkish language tolerably
well. The King takes particular notice of him,
which procures him envy from not a few. He is
one of my warmeft friends, and has done me good
offices with the King. We all build houſes here,
as tho' we were to fpend a confiderable part of
our lives here. Mine with the ftable, kitchen, &c.
will coft me upwards of a hundred crowns.
As to my departure, I fhould have been ex-
tremely glad to have been able to have got back
about the time of the great fair of Kiel. But both
his Serene Highneſs orders me in all his letters not
to haften my return, and his Majefty likewiſe has
declared, with great goodneſs, that he ſhould be
glad I would pafs a part of the winter with him,
fo that I do not now think of fetting out before the
month of March next. I believe his Majesty's
defign is to ftop me till he receives a laft and final
refolution from Conftantinople, and then to fend
me back with his declaration and his orders. I once
had a defire of going poft to Conftantinople, and
then to come back here; but the King has declared,
that he ſhould wiſh rather, that I would defer it till
my laft departure, that he might not lofe my com-
pany. This has almoft made me vain.
I have not yet made any ufe of my letters of ex-
change upon Conftantinople. But as I begin to
want money, I have taken about two thoufand
crowns here from Major-general Stardh. I have.
ordered Benedix Goldschmidt to pay them to Pe-
D 3
ter
[ 38 ]
2
ter Greve. I beg of you to give him the fame or-
ders if there be a neceffity for it, that the repay-
ment may not be neglected.
At length, Sir, I can tell you pofitively a very
great piece of news, namely, a refolution is taken
at Conftantinople to make war on the Czar by fea
and land. You will fee by my account to his Se-
rene Highness, all the intrigues that have been
carried on fince the depofition of the old Vifir Ali
Pacha, and how at length General Poniatowski
(who is certainly a worthy man, and one to whom
the King owes a great deal) happily furmounted all
obftacles. I fhall only add, that the first news of it
only reached us on the 28th of November, by a cou-
rier from Conftantinople. Next day arrived a Capigi
Pacha, who depofed the Serafkier of Bender, and
on the 5th of December the Prince of Moldavia,
Mauro Cordato. The Palatine of Kiovia, who
has been fix months at Conftantinople, is arrived
with the agreeable news of the wars being refolv
ed upon, and that Mufcovy is to be attacked this
winter with 200,000 Tartars, and in the fpring with
150,000 Turks and 200 fhips: that all the orders
for this purpoſe were alrealy given; that 20,000
Janiffaries would arrive here in a few days, and
that in three weeks the Grand Vifir would come to
Baba, within twenty leagues of this place, where the
whole army is to affemble. On the 10th of Decem-
ber the Cham of the Tartars arrived, and was re-
ceived with many ceremonies by the Vice-Vilir,
and an inexpreffible joy by all the people: next day he
had an audience of the King, and their conference
lafted more than four hours. It is not doubted but
they have taken all the neceffary meaſures for the
plan of the war. The day after the Cham went to
Crimea to give the neceffary orders to all the Tar-
tars to enter Mufcovy this very winter. The Muf-
covite ambaffador has been fent to the feyen Towers,
ĂM.; e
4.46
by
2.
1
1
[ 39 ]
by the Capzler Nyhajaffi himſelf, who came here
with the Cham. There were found in his poffef-
fion 550,000 Crowns. A Mufcovite courier, who
was going to Conftantinople with new orders from
the Czar, has alſo been feized. Theſe two acts
make a rupture no longer doubted. I even believe,
that in a few days fome thouſand Mufcovites, who
have taken poft on the frontiers within fix leagues
of this place, will be driven from thence by 40,000
Budziak Tartars, who will be commanded by the
Palatine of Kiovia. Thus, this great affair is at
length happily terminated, folely by the firmness of
the King, and the incredible pains of General Po-
niatowſki, who more than once run the risk of be-
ing affaffinated and poiſoned. I am perfuaded that
this news, altho' forefeen, will make a great noiſe
through all Chriftendom, efpecially, as the King
will not only proteft publickly againſt the neutra-
lity, but will not even make the leaft declaration to
the allies as to his defigns. You may affure your-
felf, Sir, that the fole reafon of this is, that he does
not think himſelf obliged to give an account of his
actions to any one; and that his paft conduct ought
to justify him fo far, as to make them certain,
that he will not undertake any thing that is unjuſt.
I am certain, that his whole deſign is to humble the
Czar; and that he will undertake nothing againſt
the empire, either with the Turks, or the Swedes,
provided the allies allow him the liberty of drawing
his troops that are in Pomerania into Poland, and
of dealing with the Czar as he fhall think proper,
and fhall oblige Denmark to conclude a peace.
This laft is the chief article. I hope this rupture
of the Turks will be a great argument to perfuade
the King of Denmark to an accommodation; but
in cafe he will not hear mention made of it, the al-
lies muſt abfolutely force him. By this they will
not only make a merit with the King and regain his
D 4
confidence,
"
[ 40 ]
confidence, but 'tis plain alfo, that it is the only
means by which they can hinder France from mak-
ing any advantage of the Turks. The King ab-
folutely defires this peace, and if the allies do not
procure it for him, which it is plainly their intereft
to do, nothing will hinder him from procuring it
to himſelf, colt what it will.
The Ottoman Porte will make a declaration at
Vienna, that its hoftilities are only defigned againſt
Muscovy, and that it depends entirely upon the Em-
peror, whether peace fhall continue between the
two courts. It appears by this, that France will
reap no advantage by this rupture, altho' the King's
enemies and the French themſelves publiſh that this
rupture is made, and that the King acts in concert
with them. But 'tis evident, that nothing is more
falſe; and that the King is no more a Frenchman
here, than he was in Saxony. Since I have been
here, I have feen four or five of Mr. Cronstrom's
narratives from Paris; I ought therefore to know
what paffes but I ſwear to you they never contain
any thing but news or trifles not in the leaft con-
cerning the allies. This you may boldly affert to
all the world. Befides, 'tis certain, that in the
prefent conjunctures the continuation of the war is
more agreeable to the interefts of Sweden than a ge-
.neral peace, if it were only the hindering of the Em-
peror and Empire from making war on the Turks.
By this account, Sir, you fee it depends upon the
conduct of the allies, either to draw the war into
Germany, or to avoid it. You know the King,
and are fenfible, that to feem defirous of hindering
him or forbid him a thing, is the way to make him
anxious to execute it, or to think himſelf bound to
accomplish it. If the allies oblige Denmark to
conclude a peace, for which purpoſe, in caſe of
need, they can employ the 15,000 men deſtined
for preferving the neutrality, together with the
troops
[ 41 ]
K
Troops in Pomerania; they may then repreſent the
merit of that to the King by fome minifter, to whom
the King will declare without ceremony, if he talks
to him in a proper manner on the fubject, that it is
not in the leaft his intention to trouble the empire, or
to lend affiftance to France, but that he wants folely
to attack his chief enemy. This is fo certain, Sir,
that I have even orders to tell it you. I find it ex-
pedient for the King's fervice, and that of his Se-
rene Highneſs, to wait an anſwer to this poſt, there-
fore I fhall not fet out in my return till the follow-
ing fpring. I again recommend to your excellency
the payment of the 2000 crowns which I have re-
ceived from Mr. Hardh. I fhall be obliged to ad-
vance money
here to * 1368
and to draw it from
Hamburgh. I am, &c.
Bender, 28th December, 1710.
P. S. I judge it proper to tell you once more,
that the King defires peace with Denmark; and if
a negotiation for that purpoſe be not fuccefsful, that
the troops in Pomerania will then infallibly march
into Jutland. You fee by this, that it will de-
pend abfolutely upon the conduct of the allies to
preferve the tranquillity of the empire, and to pur-
fue their ſchemes againft France, without that
kingdom's being able to reap the leaſt advantage
from the rupture with the Turks. I write largely
on this point to Mr. Barnfdorf, and do my utmoſt
to make him enter into this plan. I could with
that the court of Hanover would do fomething for
the King in the prefent conjuncture, and would
take upon itſelf the mediation of a peace between
Sweden and Denmark.
·
•
I join to this the advances made here and in Swe-
The laft are known to no one whatever ex-
den.
Meffrs, Sparre and Daldorf.
cept
[ 42 ]
cept to the fecretaries-office and myſelf. The let-
ter of Mr. Wellingk will fhew you, fir, how great-
ly Mr. Müllern is his friend. He will not, I hope,
fail to write to him, and to recommend to him the
interefts of the court of Holftein, efpecially, as his
Majefty looks upon them as his own. I write to
Mr. Wellingk to congratulate him upon his ad-
vancement, and I beg of you to fend him the letter
which I have inclofed in yours.
I have fent my valet de chambre to Vienna with
letters to the retinue of General Poniatowſki, and
of Lieutenant-colonel Buckholts, who are going
into Pomerania. He has orders to wait there for
the anſwer from Holftein and Hanover, and to
come with it by poft, after which I fhall leave this
place: I reckon it may be here by the 25th of
February, which is the term that his Majefty has
fixed for my departure. I wait for it with much
impatience, that I may have the pleafure of feeing
you again, and telling you a great many things by
word of mouth. Grothufen fets out this night for
the third time for Conftantinople. He is the King's
fecret meffenger. No perfon knows of this jour
ney, not even the fecretaries-office, which is a little.
jealous on this account.
Promotions at Bender.
The Counſellor of the fecre-
taries-office, Müllern made
Maj. Gen. Axle Sparre made
Colonel Daldorf,
Colonel Hardh,
Colonel Grothufen,
Hafenap,
Zoge,
Funck,
Mentzer,
Ribbing,
Lowenhielm,
Chancellor of the court.
Lieutenant-general.
Major-general.
Captain lieutenant of Draban's.
{
made Colonels.
and then Lieut. of Draban's.
Major
[ 43 ]
(
Major Lagerby made Lieutenant-colonel, and Envoy to the
Cham of the Tartars.
Promotions in Sweden and Germany.
made fenators of the King. The
last appointed Governor-general of
Cronheilm, Chancellor of the Bremen in room of Count Gylen-
ftierna, who is ordered to return
to Sweden.
Governor of Pomerania.
Prefident of the tribunal at Wifmar.
Vice-prefident at Wifmar.
Landhöfding at Lincöping.
General Spens,
Count Steinbock,
court,
General Wellingk,
General Burenfchiold,
The Landhofding Pfalzburg,
The Affeffor Teffin,
Mr. Lilienstedt,
8 8 8 8 8 8 8ŐTŐLŐ
LETTER XI.
To bis Serene Highness the Bishop of Lubec and Duke
of Holftein.
SIR,
Bender, 12th February, 1711.
IM
MAKE no doubt, but my moſt humble nar-
rative of December laft has reached your Serene
Highnefs, and I flatter myfelf that you will there-
by learn what part of the commiffions which you
did me the honour to charge me with, I have al-
ready executed, and alfo the moft material circum-
ftances of what has paffed here, and how the Ot-
toman Porte has at length come to a refolution of
making war on the Czar. On this point I wait for
the orders of your Serene Highneſs, and hope to
receive them about the end of this month.
Endeavours have been made here for fome time
to give the King a bad opinion of the court of Ha-
nover, and not without fuccefs. I doubt much
whether the King will agree to the propofed al-
177
liance,
[ 44 ]
•
liance, on account of the three articles which the
court of Hanover infifts upon having fettled be-
fore they enter upon the negotiation, as conditiones
fine quibus non, and there will be abfolutely no
more of it, unleſs that court gives up the point,
and contents itſelf with treating thoſe articles after-
wards by a negotiation. I have wrote fully on this
head to the Privy-counfellor Bernsdorff, and hope
they will make proper reflections upon what I have
faid. As to what regards the rupture of the Turks
with Ruffia, the allies are to blame to take fo
great umbrage at it, not only, as the Ottoman
Porte has affured the Imperial Court by an Aga,
that all their preparations were defigned only againſt
the Czar; and that they were refolved faithfully to
obferve the peace of Carlowitz; but alſo as his Ma-
jefty has declared by his minifters in every court,
that he would only act against his enemies, and
would not in the leaft degree difturb the peace of
the Roman Empire. It is certain, that the tran-
quillity of that empire depends entirely upon the
conduct of the allies, and I can affure your Serene
Highness, that the King will never undertake any
thing against the Empire, provided his hands be
left free, and Denmark be obliged to conclude a
peace. But if it be not forced to conclude a treaty,
and if they ſtill perfift in defiring to guarantee the
neutrality contrary to the King's inclination, I can
anfwer for nothing.
As to our news here, I have the honour to in-
form your Serene Highness, that on the 23d of
January the Cham of the Tartars fet out in perfon
from Precop, at the head of 50 or 60,000 Tartars,
and that he was fifteen days ago at Sloboda, on the
confines of the Ukraine. Another body of 40,000
men is to march to Moulozn, and the third of
80,000 men is to proceed along the Don. Theſe
Jaft are to attempt to deftroy the Ruffian fleet,
which
[ 45 ]
which is lying at Woronitz, and to fet at liberty
4,000 Swediſh prifoners confined there.
The Palatin of Kiovia fet out from hence on the
11th of February, and alfo the youngeſt fon of the
Cham of the Tartars, named Sultan Mahomet Ghe-
ray, having with them 4,000 Polanders, and
12,000 Caffocks under the command of their Hett-
mann Orlik, and about 40,000 Tartars. They en-
tered Poland on the fide of Rafkow, towards
Caminiek, and have already paffed Borflaw. They
purſue the Mufcovites, who retire towards Kiow,
where they propofe to affemble their army. The
feafon favours them, for we have had no thaw
theſe fix weeks. Colonel Zulick, and Colonel
Schultz have lately arrived, and about thirty Swe-
diſh officers have accompanied them. Daldorff is
to go with them to be prefent at the firft engage-
ment. The King followed them a day and a half
from this place, whither we returned next day at a
gallop in four hours, as it was exceffive cold, and
we had flept on hay after the King's fashion, with-
out either cloak or night cap. I have by this great-
ly ingratiated myſelf with the King, tho' other-
wife indeed, I had reafon to praiſe his Majeſty's
kindneſs to me.
Count Tarlo, who has returned from Conftan-
tinople within theſe few days, fays, that he can-
not fufficiently exprefs the extraordinary prepara-
tions that they are making there by fea and land.
The Ottoman fleet confifts of twenty-five fultanas
or fhips of the line, and a great number of galleys
and other tranſport veffels, on board of which 'tis
faid 30,000 men are to be embarked to lay fiege
to Afoph. The grand army will confift of at leaſt
200,000 men; I hope the 28th of next month to
*Afterwards Lieutenant-General and Governor of Stral-
fee
funde.
6
[ 46 ]
A
fee the whole army when I pafs by Adrianople. I
cannot exprefs to you the joy the people fhew on
this occafion; and it is certain, that if the Sultan
took it in his head to revoke his declaration of war,
he would run a great riſk of being ſtrangled or at
leaft of being depofed. The Reis-Effendi, whọ
was the only one that remained of the Mufcovite
party, is at length alfo depofed, as well as the reft.
He is made fecretary to the new Effendi on account
of his great experience in affairs, which would ren-
der it inconvenient to baniſh him. All this has been
done merely by the King's defire, fo that for the
future there is nothing to fear.
Whenever the or-
ders of your Serene Highneſs fhall arrive, I will
immediately fet out on my journey to Conſtanti-
nople, from whence I hope in the month of May
to have the honour of declaring to you by word of
mouth the profound reſpect with which I am, &c.
o Đồ gi
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XII.
SIR,
The 26th of February.
I
HAVE received by Mr. Meyerfield, Meffrs.
Schultz and Hierta, and an officer named Wal-
ters, who arrived here on the 20th of December,
the 14th of January, and the 7th of February,
eleven of your letters of the 20th and 28th of Octo-
ber, of the 6th, the 20th, the 22d and 26th of
November, the 3d, the 10th, the 17th and 27th
of December of the year 1710, and of the 2d of
January 1711. In the mean time I have written
to you three, one of the 24th, another of the 28th
of January by Conftantinople, and a third of the
17th
[ 47 ]
17th of February, by Belgrade *. Thefe will have
informed you of the extraordinary motions and
great preparations carried on at Conftantinople, for
pufhing the war againſt the Mufcovites vith vigour.
As the King will abſolutely not hear of the leaft
mention made of a neutrality, whatever can be
urged; I believe therefore, we fhall not oblige
him, by giving the Queen of England the battalion
fhe defires of us, unless we are fully affured that
that body fhall be employed in favour of Sweden,
and to oblige Denmark to conclude a peace. It is
a great misfortune, that the plague ſhould pre-
vail in Sweden, to compleat the defolation of that
poor kingdom, which has fuffered fo much from
the war. But as it is exceffively cold here, and
according to appearances it will not be lefs cold in
Sweden, it is to be hoped that it will be thereby
fuppreffed.
It is doing a great wrong to his Majesty the King,
to accufe him of having too ftrict connections with
the King and minifters of France, as I have feen
almoft all Mr. Cronftrom's letters from Paris, and
thofe of the Marquis de Defalleurs from Conſtan-
tinople, I can fwear to you, that they never con-
tain any thing but compliments or news of very little
confequence. Beſides, the King and his prefent mi-
niftry are any thing rather than Frenchmen. This
I can be bold to anfwer for, as I have the honour
of difcourfing with them every day; but if a per-
fon condefcend to give credit to the opinions and
foolish fpeeches of fome officers, in that cafe in-
deed, he may be excufed for thinking fo; but I
leave you to reflect, Sir, you who are no stranger
to the humour of this court, what is to be inferred
from hence, and how little the King has always
This is only a duplicate of the preceeding letter to the
Duke.
minded
2
[ 48 ]
minded the difcourfes of his officers in affairs of
ftate. Some again accufe the King of having a
a correfpondence with Prince Ragotſki. It is true,
that no later than two days ago, the count of
Tarlo received a letter from him, in which he
offers his mediation for a peace between the Czar
and the King; but I know that they hold him in
fuch contempt here, that they will not even anſwer it.
Befides, the King is fo far irritated againſt that
Prince, for having forced fome foldiers belonging
to the Palatine of Kiovia to enlift againſt their will
among his troops that he will take vengeance foon
or late. It muſt be confeffed, that the allies tor-
ment themſelves extremely upon the ſmalleſt ſtep
taken by the King; and that they take umbrage
without the leaft foundation. 'Tis true they have
fome appearance of reaſon to be alarmed with this
rupture between the Turks and Mufcovites. But
befides the order given by the King, to affure the
princes at whofe court they refide, that this rupture
folely regards the Czar: the declaration made by
the Ottoman Porte, by their envoy at Vienna,
that their warlike preparations are only defigned
againſt the Czar, and that they intend faithfully to
obferve the peace of Carlowitz, ought I think to
quiet the fears of the moſt apprehenfive.
In my weak opinion the allies have only two
things to chooſe. The firft is to favour the King
of Sweden, to force Denmark to conclude a peace,
to allow the troops in Pomerania to enter Poland,
to let the King act with the Czar as he thinks fit,
and laftly, to offer their mediation for a peace with
the King. The fecond thing is to hinder the peace
with Denmark, and the entry of the Swedish troops
into Poland, to infift upon guaranteeing the neu-
trality, fupporting King Auguftus, and raiſing new
enemies against the King of Sweden. Tertium non
datur. A third courſe they cannot take.
I leave
[ 49 ] -
I leave you to judge, if following the fecond pro-
pofal would not be flying directly in the face of the
King of Sweden, obliging him to carry the war
into the empire, and fo difturbing the affairs of
Europe, that France whofe affairs brighten a little
by the victory gained in Spain, the diſturbances in
England, the lofs the allies fuffered laft campaign
in all the fieges, and the difcontent of the duke of
Savoy, would reap advantage from it whether they
would or not; whereas by following the firft cafe
they would fecure the peace of the empire, and
would humble the power of the Czar, at which
there is ſome reaſon to take umbrage. Thefe, Sir,
are my fentiments on this point.
Since the arrival of Mr. Meyerfeld, attempts
have been made alfo to give the King a bad opinion
of the court of Hanover. I have wrote largely on
this point to Mr. Bernſdorff. The three points
that have been demanded as the conditions fine
quibus non, before the alliance can be renewed, con-
firm the King in this opinion. It belongs to you,
Sir, to labour to remove thefe obftacles; for no-
thing could be more agreeable to his Majesty than
to ſee a good harmony restored between himſelf and
the elector. This laft has caufed offers of his me-
diation for a peace to be made to the King of Den-
mark by Mr. Friefendorff*, and they would be
accepted by this channel with pleaſure. I believe
alfo, that if he offered his mediation for a peace
with King Auguftus, that it would not be rejected,
provided he would confent to renounce all preten-
fions to Poland; and that in that cafe an affurance
might be obtained from the King of Sweden, as
to the empire and Saxony. Perhaps King Au-
guftus will be ready enough to agree to this, fince
the rupture of the Ottomam Porte.
* Swediſh envoy at Berlin.
E
I dare
[ 50 ]
I dare boaſt, Sir, that his Majefty's kindneſs for
me encreaſes every day. You may judge of is,
when I tell you, that it depends wholly upon my-
felf whether I fhould enter into his fervice or not,
which you know is a very extraordinary diſtinction
for a perfon in fuch a character as mine. I fhall
have the honour of talking to you of it one day.
They do me at leaft that juftice as to have an entire
confidence in me, and to believe me the chief of good
Swedes. I am very affiduous in paying my court
to the King especially on horfeback, and his Ma-
jefty feems to take pleaſure in my converfation.
The news here are that our forerunner, the Cham
of the Tartars, has entered Mufcovy 15 days
ago with 180,000 men. The Palatin of Kiovia,
the grand General of the Coffacks named Orlik,
and the Son of the Cham have penetrated into Po-
land. Colonel Zulich and 30 Swediſh officers ac-
company them. The feafon is very favourable,
for it has not thawed thefe 6 weeks. Thofe people
are fo accuſtomed to the cold, that even the young
Sultan encamps every night without a tent, and if
any young Tartar complains of the cold, they
warm him with fome blows of the Kantfchuch or
baftinadoe. The King followed them for a day
and a half, and altho' it was moft devilishly cold,
I took care not to complain for fear of receiving
fome of the Tartar's charitable correction. The
main Turkish army is to affemble on the 23d of
April near Adrianople, fo that I hope to fee it as I
pafs. The King is adored in this country, and
looked upon as the greatest hero in the world.
The Reis Effendi has been depofed at the de-
fire of his Majefty, and as he was the only one
remaining of the Mufcovite party, we have now
nothing to fear. I have juft been told that the
Grand Vifir is to refign, as he has not a head ftrong
enough for that great office. To conclude, every
8
thing
[ 5 ]
thing here fucceeds to our wifhes. I wait duly for
an anſwer to my letters of December to fet out.
I hope to bring with me fome curiofities of this
country, as fome Turkiſh bridles, fome embroi-
dered handkerchiefs for the women, a black boy
for the Dutchefs, and a Circaffian girl, but I will
not anſwer for her being a maid, as this merchan-
dife is very rare here, as in every other country.
Beſides a maid cofts 2 or 3000 crowns at Conftan-
tinople, whereas one can buy another girl as beau-
tiful for 4 or 500 crowns. You fee Sir, how much
a maidenhead cofts in this country, while at Ham-
burgh it is fold fometimes for 20 or 30 crowns.
There is no place in the world where they are fo
fkilled in that, as at Conftantinople, and I intend
to ſtudy that ſcience a little by the bye, that I may
be able to catch my future ſpouſe if it fhould come
in my head to defire to catch her. I propofe likewife
to bring fome fine Turkiſh or Arabian ſtallions, but
'tis very difficult to find them without blemiſhes,
eſpecially to find them with good legs. Our friend
Grothufen is ftill at Conftantinople, but I expect
him here before my departure, according to the
letter he wrote me by the laft poft. His enemies
fay that he is gone there to divert himſelf with the
Greek beauties; other fay to eat fweetmeats, and to
buy a stock of them for the enfuing campaign.
Altho' he loves thefe pleaſures dearly, and is one of
the boldeft eaters of fugar in the world, it is ne-
vertheleſs certain that he is there upon affairs of the
greatest confequence. As far as I can difcover, of
all the officers, he is at prefent the King's greateſt
favourite, and in reality he deferves to be fo. I
am juſt told that the meffenger is on the point of
fetting out, therefore I finiſh, having the honour to
be, &c.
É 2
-
•
LET.
[ 52 ]
LETTE R XIII.
To the Same.
SIR,
Bender, April 6--17, 1711.
I
Write this to you at a hazard of getting it fent.
To-day I fet out for Conftantinople, on condi-
tion of returning about the 4th of May old ftile,
the King having judged it more proper that I
fhould go directly for Germany from hence, when
he himſelf fets out, than that I fhould then
go fo
far about, which would make me loſe at leaſt three
weeks. Having taken my leave of his Majefty,
he marked in his tables the day of my departure
and that of my return, which being the 4th of
May old ftile, I fhall have only about four weeks
or fo for my whole journey. I paſs by Adriano-
ple, where I fhall fee the Grand Vifir with the
Turkish army, and General Poniatowski. I hope
that the letters which I fent off about three weeks
ago with my valet de Chambre, in anfwer to thoſe
which the courier of Holſtein brought me, will
have fully informed you of every thing. I expect
the anſwer to them with impatience.
They were certainly my enemies who publiſhed
that I was little refpected here; for the King has an
entire confidence in me, and I have greater regard
fhewn me than I believe any ftranger had of a long
time. If my letters did not arrive with Kufe it is
not my fault; but I hope Poniatowſki has deli-
vered them. The King is very well pleafed that
I ſhould write to Hanover. I fhew him all my let-
ters. You may judge whether thofe who talk non-
fenſe about them are not fools.
I
[53]
*
W
3
ļ
I recommend to you the Affair of Denmark, it
will be making your court here very ftrongly, and
it greatly imports his Majefty that this affair fhould
fucceed. I hope the allies will be reaſonable to the
King. It is certain that he has not any alliance
with France. The King of France, however, in-
terefts himself for a general peace in the North,
and 'tis very certain that King Auguftus and the
Czar are actually ready to enter into an alliance
with Sweden againſt the Allies. I will prove this
to you clearly at my return, and by authentic do-
cuments. The Cham is returning, after having
burnt feveral cities* and 200 large boats, and
brought off at leaſt 10,000 priſoners, who will all be
flaves. My departure haftens, therefore I can only
add, that I am most perfectly, &c.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
O O O O O O
LETTER
To the Same.
SIR,
Conftantinople, May 14, 1711.
I
Have been here about 15 days with the King's
permiffion; but with the exprefs claufe of re-
turning to Bender before the end of the month,
that I may then go from thence directly to Germa-
ny with his Majefty's orders. I lodge with Mr.
Cooke +, who is a very honeft man, and fhews me
a thouſand civilities. I fet out for Bender next Fri-
XIV.
Theſe cities are Wenlo, Maliwolada, Nowicooloda, &c.
The Cham likewife took Merkovi, Ternoka, and fome ſmall
forts, and penetrated to Samara, and under the walls of that
city, burnt the 200 veffels which were deftined for tranſporting
the Mufcovite troops and their artillery.
An English Banker at Conftantinople.
E 3
day,
[ 54 ]
day, and I reckon I ſhall be there before the end of
the month. I hope to bring to Holftein for you,
fome curiofities of this country, as bridles, embroi-
dered hankerchi fs, and fophas. Horfes are fcarce
and dear at pretent on account of the war, however
I hope to bring fome from Bender and the army.
I faw the Grand Vifir at the Turkish army about
18 days ago, as I was paffing by Adrianople. It
confifted then, as General Poniatowſki told me,
only of 25,000 Juniffaries and very few Spahis';
but troops from Afia are paffing by here every day
in their march thither, eſpecially a great number of
Spahis, fo that upon my return I expect to fee it
greatly augmented. It is to begin its march this
week, fo that in 30 days, that is about the middle
of June, it may reach Bender; but I doubt much
whether it will enter Poland before the month of
July; According to appearance, it will exceed
100,000 men. All theſe Janiffaries and Spahis are
the finest men that one can fee under the cope of
Heaven, but there is no order among them. The
Grand Vifir Baltazi Mehemet Bafhaw, is a good
kind of a Gentleman, juſt ſuch as we could with him
to be; but his Kyaja has a good deal of underſtand-
ing. General Poniatowski, who is with the army,
is his intimate friend, and nothing is done without
his advice. The train of artillery will confift of at
leaft 400 pieces of cannon all of brafs, and the fi-
neft one can look upon. The fleet which is com-
pofed of 25 large fhips of war, 20 galleys, 50
half galleys, and a number of other veffels, a-
mounting in all to 400 fail, and having 30,000 men
on board, to make a deſcent at Afof, has already
entered the Black Sea. To conclude, the good
Turks may be faid to be in real good earneſt, and
according to all appearance, the Czar and King
Auguftus, if this laft does not think of an accom-
mo-
[ 55 ]
modation, will have a devilish deal of work upon
their hands.
The Grand Signior will not make the campain in
perfon as was at firft believed; becaufe not being
greatly beloved by the people, he would rifk too
much to remove from Conftantinople. I faw him
last Friday, when he went on horfeback from his
feraglio to the church of St. Sophia. He may be
feen every Friday, on which day he regularly vifits
fome Mofques. He was accompanied by the Kif-
ler Aga, who is, Sir, a very great villain, and with
a number of icoglans or pages, who are the moſt
beautiful youths in the world. The Grand Sig-
nior is about 35 years of age, but is extremely
pale, which is attributed to his great number of
wives. This is his prevailing paffion next to that
of heaping up money, which he loves beyond eve-
ry thing, and of which 'tis faid he has amaffed a
great treaſure. As to his harem, there is almoſt
nothing in the world more impoffible than to enter
it, and all the ftories of the intrigues of the Grand
Signiors wives are mere fables. You may be a
judge of this, when I tell you that when they are
in the garden of the feraglio that looks towards the
fea, to walk or divert themfelves, not a foul alive
dare approach the place in a bark within a muſket
fhot, altho' the walls are 20 yards high and 2 yards
thick. As to intrigues with other Turkiſh women,
the thing is not impoffible, but difficult, or at leaſt
very dangerous. However, a man who cannot do
without women, may in this country gratify him-
felf in that refpect by two very eafy methods. One
is, to go to the market and buy fome beautiful
flave, whom at his departure he can easily get rid
off, by lofing a ſmall trifle. The other is, to make
a capiki, that is a kind of marriage with a Greek,
This is contracted for 3, 4, 5 months, a year is
the longeft, before a judge: and when the time is
E 4
finished
[ 56 ]
finished you give her the fum agreed upon, and
then baida, that is go about your buſineſs, with-
out being troubled any further. This way of mak-
ing love is mighty convenient: it cofts neither
fighs nor forrow: but withal, there is no fuch thing
as having a Turkifh woman for a miftrefs. They
have a certain manner of acting, which 'tis faid
ought to make our fprightly and gay ladies blufh,
But enough of theſe trifles; we ſhall talk more of
them by word of mouth one day at my return.
As to the city of Conftantinople, I may fay with-
out a hyperbole or without flattery, that 'tis the
fineft in the world, for its fituation, and perhaps
alfo for its extent, if we comprehend the fuburbs.
One may fail from the White Sea (Mare di marmora)
to the Black Sea in 3 or 4 hours, thro' the grand
canal that feparates Europe from Afia, and during
the whole time he conftantly fees on both fides
great mountains covered with houſes, feraglios,
Kiofcs or pleaſure-houſes, mofques and trees, par-
ticularly cypreffes, from the bottom to the top,
in the form of an amphitheatre, which has the fineſt
effect in the world, efpecially at one certain place,
where at a fingle view one may command a profpect of
the feraglio, the coafts of Afia, or rather a point that
ftretches out towards Europe, Chalcedon, &c. No-
thing can exceed the beauty of this profpect. The
cafe is very different when you enter Conftantinople:
the streets are narrow and dirty; you are always
either going up hill or coming down, and the
greater part of the houfes being of wood, make
no fine fhow; altho' within they have good apart-
ments, and very elegant. However, there are fome
very magnificent buildings, fuch as the church of
St. Sophia, the Solimania, and feveral other feraglios
or palaces of the Bafhaws. In a word, to believe
Conftantinople the fineft city in the world, one
ought to enter the canal at one end and come
out
[ 57 ]
*
out at the other, without fetting a foot on fhore
at any place. In this cafe I will anfwer, that a
perfon would fay he could not fee a more beau-
tiful nor a more magnificent profpect. The Grand
Signior's feraglio and harem is a moft extenfive
building, fituated upon a long point ftretching
towards Afia, like a fmall peninfula. The paffage
over from one part of the world to the other,
is only about a quarter of a league. People are
admitted only into the 2d court of the feraglio,
and are hindered from going further by a guard
of black Eunuchs. As to the foreign Minifters,
and the Francs or Chriftians, they all live in the
ſuburb named Pera, oppofite to Conftantinople on
the coaft of Afia. I found here four Ambaffa-
dors, one Envoy and one Refident. The firſt is
the French Ambaffador, Marquis Defalleurs, who
is a worthy man, very obliging and affable: a
Frenchman has come to him lately from Dant-
zick, with inftructions from Mr. Befenwal the
Minifter for France in Poland, and from Count
Fleming, the purport of which is to defire him
to offer his mediation for a peace between Swe-
den, and the allies who are her enemies. They
propoſe here very advantageous terms to Sweden,
but very difadvantageous to the grand allies, as
there is mention made in them of an alliance to
be formed in the North, in favour of France. Up-
on my return to Bender, I will ſend you the terms
and the anfwer of the King of Sweden, from whence
we may draw two reflections; firft, that it is en-
tirely in the Kings power to have a peace; but that
he is careful not to do any thing to the prejudice
of the allies; next, that if it were defired, King
Auguftus is very ready to make a peace without
including Denmark. This piece is very curious.
The Engliſh Ambaffador, Sir Robert Sutton, is
a man of great merit, and of a very penetrating
judg-
[ 58 ]
judgment. He is a good Swede, as far as I can
diſcover, and very much my friend. He remem-
bers, Sir, to have feen you at Vienna, and defired
me earneſtly to give his compliments to you.
The Ambaffador from Holland, Count James
Collier, is a good Dutchman, who loves to drink
and divert himſelf. He has a kind of Greek wife,
with 12 or 15 flaves, which forms a compleat
Turkish harem. I talked a little of buſineſs to
thefe two gentlemen, by order of the Secretaries
office. They were greatly fatisfied with the affur-
ances I gave them that there is no engagement be-
tween France and Sweden. The Venetian Ambaf-
fador's name is Mozenigo: he is a fenfible man and
very courteous. The Swediſh Envoy, Mr. Neu-
gebauer, has been made Councellor of the recency
at Stade. He fets out in a few days by fea, when-
ever his fucceffor Colonel Funk fhall arrive, who
brings with him feveral young Swedes, among
others, the Counts Bielke and Poffe, to make a
figure at his audience. I fhould have been very
glad to have affifted at it, and appeared at the
Grand Signior's court; but as the King has limited
me to a certain day, which he has even marked in
his tables, I cannot exceed that term.
The Emperor's refident is named Thalman. He
is greatly embarraffed with the death of his maſter
the Emperor Jofeph, the news of which was brought
here a few days ago by a meffenger to the English
Ambaffador. This death will foon make a great
noife: how it will affect the ftate of affairs cannot
be easily determined. The French flatter them-
felves with fome advantage, or with a peace being
at hand. They make no doubt but King Charles
will become Emperor; but they do not believe that
with his new dignity he will keep the kingdom of
Spain. The Marquis Defalleurs believes that the
Duke of Savoy will be declared King of Spain.
Eu
[ 59 ]
Europe, certainly at prefent, has its own fhare of
uproar and confufion. I mention not a word of
our own affairs, becauſe I hope you will be fully
informed of them by my three laft letters, by Ponni-
atowſki, by Swanlo, and by my valet de Chambre.
I fhall be an Bender before the end of this month,
and I lay my account with finding there, full an-
fwers to my three letters. The English Envoy,
Mr. Jefferies, muft before this time be at Bender.
I hope he will contribute to restore the good har-
mony between the King and the allies. 'Tis faid
he has orders to talk to the King about the neutra-
lity, and to afk troops from him. If he has no
other commiffion but that, he has no reaſon to ex-
pect fuccefs. Mr. Funk is to arrive to-morrow.
We will know from him whether the Turkiſh ar-
my has fet out from Adrianople for Bender. I
reckon that it will be there at the lateſt in four
weeks, and will enter Poland without fail in the
end of June. I believe I fhall be obliged to wait
the departure of his Majefty, ſo that I fhall not be
able to get to Germany before the end of Auguft.
I am very impatient to affure you by word of
mouth, that I am, &c.
LETTER
To the Same.
SIR,
Conftantinople, May 17, 1711.
I
Hope your Excellency will have received a letter
that I did myfelf the honour to write to you a-
bout 15 days ago *. Since that time I have ſent
XV.
*It was dated the 3d of May, and contained nothing re-
mark.ble.
off
[60]
off another dated the 14th inftant, with a narrative
to his Serene Highness
This very day I fet out for Bender, and I hope
to be there in 8 days at fartheft. Mr. Jefferies has
carried fome packets thither for me, which I make
no doubt are an anfwer to my letters which Ponia-
towſki carried with him into Germany. I am ve-
ry impatient to ſee them. The Turkish army be-
gan their march from Adrianople on the of
May. It propoſes to be at Bender in 30 days. I
fhall fee it, as I pafs about 2 or 3 days journey from
Adrianople. General Poniatowski is with it. He
is a very zealous friend of mine, and in great cre-
dit with the King.
-
Mr. Funk will have his audience of the Grand
Signior in about 15 days. The other Envoy, Mr.
Neugebauer, has already fet out on his voyage.
He goes to Hamburgh by fea, if he does not
change his refolution. I have bought ſeveral
Turkish curiofities, particularly carpets for Sophas,
and fine embroidered hankerchiefs for the ladies.
Fine Turkish horfes without blemishes are very
rare. I hope however to find them fuch at the ar-
my. General Poniatowski has got the commiffion,
and old Muller will lead them. A few days ago I
was at the flave market, which is very curious,
but the chriftians are not permitted to enter it. I
afterwards faw at a harem 10 or 12 Circaffian and
Georgian girls, the fineft in the world. But they
were valued each at 6 or 8 purfes, (the purfe con-
fifts of 500 crowns) which appeared too dear for
me. I am with all poffible attachment, &c.
I fhall write to his Serene Highneſs from Ben-
der, having nothing to fay to him from this place.
LET-
[ 6 ]
1
LETTER
XVI.
To bis Serene Highneſs the Duke Adminiſtrator.
SIR,
Bender, June 28, 1715.
N
Ο
my return from Conftantinople about three
weeks ago, I found here the refcript of the
14th of April, which your Serene Highnefs did
me the honour to fend me.----I am now extreme-
ly impatient to receive an anſwer to my letters
which I fent to Vienna by my valet de Chambre
before I fet out for Conftantinople, as I have therein
inferted a copy of the refolution or declaration of
his Majefty, as to the demand of the allies con-
cerning the fecurity of the empire, and particu-
larly of Saxony *. We here defire, with the ut-
moft impatience, to know whether it has been
judged fatisfactory, and confequently whether it
has obliged the allies to act as guarantees againſt
Denmark, and to procure us a peace with that
crown. I earnestly with the allies may follow this
courſe, becauſe otherwife 'tis to be feared the dif-
ferences may widen on both fides, and may have
very fatal confequences, in which cafe France will
indirectly reap advantage from this rupture of the
Turks, altho contrary both to their intention and
the King's. To conclude, it depends upon the
allies themſelves to avert this ftorm. Your Serene
Highnefs will by this time, doubtlefs, be informed
that an Engliſh Minifter, named Jefferys, is arrived
here within theſe 6 weeks. On his arrival, he pro-
duced, at the fame time, credentials from the late
Emperor, and others from the States General of
Holland. Your Serene Highness will fee, by the
extract annexed, his propofitions, and the anſwers
*See Lamberti.
6
of
[ 62 ]
of his Majefty. There has nothing happened fince
in this negotiation. Only he has orders from thofe
three powers to make the campaign with his Ma-
jeſty, but by what I am told, I greatly doubt whe-
ther his Majefty will give him leave. Mr. Befen-
wald the French Minifter, who refides at Dantzick,
has alſo aſked to come hither to execute fome com-
miffions of importance. The anfwer was, that he
might come if he thought proper, but that he
would do better to wait his Majefty's return to his
German dominions. This laft affair proves clearly,
that not only there is nothing concluded with
France, but alſo that the King is no way earneſt to
enter into a negotiation with that power. Howe-
ver, I will answer for nothing, if the allies conti-
nue to prefs the King's great courage to extremi-
ties, and if they propofe, as they have begun, to
hinder his defigns against his unjuft enemies, and
even to favour his enemies againſt him.
As to public news, I have the honour to inform
your Serene Highnefs, thas the Grand Vifir is ac-
tually with the whole army near the bridge that
has been built within about 36 hours journey from
hence, and 4 hours from Smaillo. This week the
whole army is to be compleated there, and will
then directly march hither. General Poniatowski,
who has been here fome days, to take the neceffary
meaſures with his Majefty, returned to the army
two days ago. He affures us that it is actually
compofed of 100,000 Janiffaries, and almoft as
many Spahis and other cavalry *, and that the
Grand Vifir himfelf did not believe that the con-
courfe of troops would have been fo confiderable.
They
** A lift of the Turkish army in 1711.
Cavalry. Spahis
20,000
Sylkfar
20,000
Toprakſchi
12,000
Bosniak
10,000
Turkman, or Turks, in all 62,000
Ara
[ 63 ]
/
They have about 400 pieces of cannon with them,
and provifions for 6 months, which is very necef
fary, confidering the prodigious number of horſes,
camels, mules and cattle which the army takes
along with it. The Tartars, to the number of
100,000 men, are to follow the army, and are to
take poft on the two wings. To morrow the Cham
of the Tartars waits upon the Grand Vifir. The
Muscovites, on their fide, make different motions,
and 'tis faid that their infantry, to the number of
50,000 men is pofted at Braclau, within 20 leagues
of this place; but that the greateſt part of their
cavalry, compoſed of 12,000 horſe, has paffed the
Neifter and the Pruth, under the command of the
young Scheremetof, to prevail with the Moldavi-
ans and Walachians, to ſhake off the Turkish yoke,
and to declare for them, which may very likely
happen, but is of no confequence. The Tartars
will be the only perfons who will reap advantage
from it, as they will be fuffered to pillage thofe
two Provinces. Some believe that the Czar's in-
tention is to march as far as this place, to meet and
fight the Ottoman army: but the moft fenfible and
judicious rather with this than hope it. In 15
days all the Turkish forces will infallibly arrive
here, when we ſhall ſee the theatre of the war open
Arabian ſtandards 100 companies, 300
horfe to each com.
}
Arabians, Tartars and Circaffians
Infantry. Janiffaries
Schetetzi
Topſchi
Arnout
Miferko
Artillery. Mortars
Field pieces
Large cannon
30,000
100,000
40,000
10,000
8,000
20.000
6,000
84,000
50
200
100
with
[64]
with the fiege of Kiow in the Ukraine, and if then
the Czar intends to make a vigorous oppofition,
we fhall certainly ſee a very bloody battle, of which
perhaps I may be an eye witnefs. But if there is
no engagement, I propofe to fet out from hence
very foon; and I hope in two months at fartheft to
have the honour of affuring your Serene Highneſs
by word of mouth, that no one can be with a more
profound refpect, &c.
Propofitions made to his Majefty the King of
Sweden, by Mr. Jefferies, the Mniſter of the
Emperor, the Queen of England and the States
General, with the answer of his Swedish Majefty
to the faid propofitions.
Bender, May, 1711.
1. The powers above-
mentioned offer their
mediation for a peace
between his Swedish
Majefty and his ene-
mies, the Czar, King
Auguftus, and the King
of Denmark, in cafe it
be agreeable to his Swe-
diſh Majefty.
2. They entreat his
Majefty to accept of
the neutrality, as a thing
for his Majefty's inter-
eft, and for the prefer-
vation of his provinces
in Germany.
3. His
Anf. His Majefty ac-
cepts of it with pleasure, as
to the King of Denmark
and King Auguſtus, (not be-
ing able to conclude any thing
as to the Czar, without the
confent of the Ottoman Por-
te) but he wishes they would
employ fomething more effec-
tual than words to bring
them to confent to an equi-
table peace, as they are
thereto obliged both by Al-
liances and Guarantees.
2. His Majefly is wil-
ling to believe that the neu-
trality was not made with
a defign to hurt him: but
as it was made without his
knowledge, and his enemies
receive a confiderable ad-
van-
[ 65 ]
3. His Majefty is
defired, to allow the
fubjects of England
and Holland a free
commerce in the ports
of the Baltic, which
the Czar has feized,
without running the
risk of being taken by
the Swedish fhips of
war.
vantage from it, he can-
not accept of it, as he has
already declared twice or
thrice by his minifters
3. His Majety judges
this demand to be contrary
to the treaties of commerce
and to the law of nations:
therefore hopes that they
will not infift upon demand-
ing a thing fo burtful to
him; especially, as his Ma-
jefty has already given or-
ders to his fleet to block up
all thofe ports that have
been feized.
FOO
☀ ☀008 8 O O O O O O O O
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
TOTOTOTO
XVII.
SIR,
Bender, July,
1711.
SIN
INCE my laſt of the 28th of June, which
I had the honour to write to you, the young
Sultan Gheray, fon to the Cham of the Tartars,
has had the happineſs entirely to defeat 2 or 3000
Mufcovites, within a league of the camp of Sche-
remetof near Jazzi. They have made about 400
priſoners, among whom are a German Lieutenant-
colonel and a French Captain, who are all fold as
flaves. Theſe prifoners fay, that Scheremetof's
corps is about 12,000 men, all cavalry, except
two regiments, who, nevertheleſs, have horſes like-
F
wife ;
[ 66 ]
wife; but that there is fuch a great want of bread
and forage, that the men and horfes can hardly
march and defend themfelves. The Cham on this
intelligence has determined to march with his Cri-
mean Tartars, confifting of 40,000 men; thofe of
his fon who amount to about 20,000 men; 50,000
Turks commanded by a Baſhaw with two tails, and
3000 Poles, who are followed by Count Tarlo,
the Palatine of Kiovia, and the Generals Daldorff
and Zulich, to attack that Mufcovite detachment.
We wait with impatience the iffue of this expedi-
tion. It is certain, that if Scheremetof has not
retired, he runs a great riſk of being entirely ruin-
ed. Some believe that the Czar has paffed the
Neifter to fupport him. If it be fo, the Tartars
will amufe themſelves till the arrival of the Grand
Vifir, and then the battle is unavoidable. He be-
gan his march yeſterday from Sack, where there is
a bridge over the Danube, and in eight or ten days
we may be here or at Jazzi. Baron Grothufen,
who came hither two days ago from the grand ar-
my, whither he had been fent by the King, affures
us that there are actually 200,000 men in the camp,
and that more are ftill arriving every day; that
they are the fineft men in the world, and unani-
mouſly defire nothing more than to come to blows
with the Muscovites, and that they are refolved not
to fire a ſingle mufket, but to attack the enemy
in the Swediſh faſhion, that is to ſay, ſword in hand.
40 or 50,000 men will be left to guard the
bridge, and the reft are to march directly againſt
the enemy. I doubt much whether the Czar will
rifk a pitched battle, especially, as his army con-
fifts at moſt of only 60 or 70,000 men, who
are extremely fatigued, and in very bad condition.
It is certain that the lofs of a battle would be his
utter ruin, whereas with the Turks it would have
no fuch effect. Whichfoever fide gets the advan-
tage,
[67]
tage, we fhall hear of it in eight days. But 'tis
certain the Czar did not believe that the forces of
the Turks were ſo formidable, and that he entered
Moldavia partly at the perfuafions of the Hafpo-
dar *, and partly to make a noife in the world,
and to give his allies a high idea of his forces, and
of this campaign, but to all appearance he will ex-
tricate himſelf as badly as the Swedes did in the
Ukraine. Meanwhile the fkirmiſhing is fucceſsful,
and there is ſcarce a day but the Coffacks and Tar-
tars bring in priſoners, eſpecially a great number of
horſes.
I hope that the court will foon difpatch a courier,
and that I fhall then be able to give you important
news. I am, &c.
LETTER
XVIII.
To bis Serene Highness the Duke, Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Bender, August 16, 1711.
You
OUR Serene Highnefs will graciously par-
don me, if I have not had the honour for
fome time paſt of fending you my most humble
narratives. It has been abfolutely impoffible for
me to fend off one letter, the Turks prohibiting all
correfpondence, and his Majeſty alfo, fince the peace
concluded between the Ottoman Porte and the
Czar, not having thought proper to fend a courier
TOTOTO
*Demetrius Cantemir, who was fent thither in room of
Mauro Cordato Prince of Moldavia, depofed the year before by
the Grand Signior. He made the Czar believe that the Turks
had formed large magazines on the other fide of the Pruth,
which he might eafily feize..
"
F 2
to
[ 68 ]
to Germany. For thefe reafons I have contented
myſelf with fending only, twice, two letters fecretly
to the privy counfellor Baron Goertz*, by which and
the plans I have annexed, your Serene Highneſs
will fee in what manner the Czar with his whole,
army being furrounded on all fides near the Pruth,
faw himſelf obliged moſt humbly to aſk haman or
pardon; and how, nevertheless, he found means to
conclude a peace with the Ottoman Porte, exclu-
clufive of the King of Sweden, folely by the inſa-
tiable avarice of the Grand Viſir †.
A few days after, when his Majefty had return-
ed to Bender from the Pruth, and had diſpatched
two couriers fucceffively with letters and memorials
to the Grand Signior, the Grand Vifir caufed the
King to be entreated to fend fome of his court to
the army, which was ftill encamped between the
Danube and the Pruth, that they might there ne-
gotiate a peace with the Czar, by the Vice chan-
cellor Schafirow. But as his Majefty thought,
that after having loft fo fine an opportunity of tak-
ing an ample revenge, he had no more to expect
from that quarter, he refuſed, and anſwered drily, that
Colonel Funk his envoy at Conftantinople, fhould
be fully authoriſed for that purpofe in cafe of need.
The Grand Vifir did not fail to take advantage of
this anfwer, to bring the faid envoy from Conftan-
tinople to the army, and to fend him afterwards
here to prefs his Majefty to return to his own
kingdom, with an eſcort of 5 or 6000 men; mean
while, the Grand Signior upon receiving the King's
letter, fent peremptory orders to the Grand Vifir
fully to fatisfy his Majefty, coft what it would.
Befides, the Grand Vifir,the Cham of the Tar-
*Thefe two letters and the plans are loft.
See the travels of Motray, vol. ii. where there is a nar-
rative of all that paffed at the Pruth. To this may be added
the treaty of peace at the Pruth, and Thiels Lamberti, &c.
tars,
[ 69 ]
tars, the Poles who are with the Czar, and the
Czar himſelf had fent a kind of envoy to the Re-
public of Poland, to inform them of the peace
concluded between Mufcovy and the Ottoman Porte,
and to affure them from the Czar, that he would
withdraw all his troops from Poland, on which account
a free paffage was demanded from the Republic for the
King of Sweden; the envoy at the fame time declar-
ing, that in cafe of a refufal, they would infallibly
expofe themselves to a war with the Ottoman Porte.
This embaffy, however, produced no effect,
becauſe on our fide we conftantly refufed to ac-
knowledge the creatures of King Auguftus as law-
ful members of the Republic, fo that he returned
without concluding any thing. The Grand Vifir
in the mean time being extremely afraid of the King
of Sweden, neglected no opportunity of making
him quit Turky. He particularly preffed him
warmly, to take his rout thro' Germany by Bel-
grade and Temefwaer; but as his Majefty rejected
ali his propofals with difdain, and conftantly in-
fifted upon the eſcorte long ago promifed, for con-
ducting him to his own dominions thro' Poland,
the Grand Vifir began to think of forcing him by
harſh meaſures, not only ordering his interpreter
to be removed, but alſo endeavouring to hinder
him from having any correfpondence with Ger-
many and Poland. The King notwithſtand-
ing all this remained inflexible, til at length the
Grand Vifir feeing that by this method he rather
loft than gained ground, fent him two Bafhaws of
three tails, Cara Mehemet and Haffan Bafha, with
an offer to eſcort him thro' Poland with 10,000
Spahis, and about 30,000 Buziak Tartars. The
King accepted the offer, but as his Majefty had
need of money both for his journey, and the pay-
ment of his debts before his departure; he fent
back Mr. Funk to the army to borrow 600,000
F 3
crowns
!
(
•
[ 70 ]
•
crowns of the Grand Signior. This fum appear-
ing exorbitant to the covetous Grand Viſir, he not
only refuſed to give it, but began again to prefs
the departure of the King more that ever, propof-
ing to him to return either thro' Mufcovy or Po-
land, or Germany, adding alſo fome threatning
words, if he obftinately continued to put it off
any longer. The King then made anſwer, that he
abfolutely needed the above-mentioned fum; that
if the Turkish Emperor would advance it to him,
" he would be obliged to him, for that, as well as all
his other civilities, which he had received from
him; but if not, he hoped that he would at leaſt
'grant him the free ufe of the air and the earth in
his empire, till he could receive the money from
Vienna.' Immediately upon this anfwer, the Grand
Vifir irritated by the haughtiness of the King, fent
hither fome hundred waggons from Walachia with a
Capizzi-Baſhaw; the former to carry the Swediſh
baggage, and the latter to retrench the Thaim,
which confifts of 500 crowns granted every day
by the Emperor, for the expence of the King's
table and court; but as all this went no farther
than words only, and as the King declared per-
emptorily, that he would give orders to fire upon the
first Turk who fhould dare to be fo bold as to force
him to depart against his will, the Grand Vilir,
who in the mean time had received orders to repair
forthwith to Conftantinople, became more com-
plaifant, and even fent a few days after to make ex-
cufes to his Majefty, with many proteftations of
friendſhip, entreating him at the fame time to re-
main here as long as he pleaſed, and again to ac-
cept of the Thaim, which had been before retrench-
ed, which, however, his Majefty has as yet re-
fufed. Mean while we look upon all this as a good
prefage, and as tho' the interefted Grand Vifir was
in good earneft afraid of his head, Time will in-
form
[ 7 ]
71
form us, and difcover whether after the depofition
of this firft minifter we fhall have the war renewed.
His Majefty in the meantime, according to all
appearance, will not fet out from hence before next
winter, when the froft has fet in, or perhaps he
will remain till next fpring. I have the honour to
be with profound refpect, &c.
LETTER
XIX.
To Count Reventlau, Envoy from Helftein, at Vienna.
Bender, August 29, 1711.
SIR,
T is to congratulate you on your happy return
to Vienna, which I learned yeſterday from Mr.
Duben the Capelmeifter, that I do myfelf the ho-
nour to write this to you by Conftantinople, with
another for Baron Goertz. I fend you the annexed
narrative a ſecond time, in cafe the others which I
ſent off fifteen days ago fhould not have reached
you. After the news that we have that the Grand
Vifir has been called to Conftantinople, and that
the Emperor does not approve of his proceeding:
we have reafon to hope either the continuation of
the war, or a good peace between the Czar and
Sweden, but this under the rofe. All depends upon
a pofitive refolution from Conftantinople before
the King leaves this country, and you fhall receive
an account of the news by the firft courier that ſets
out for Belgrade. My departure is ſtill uncertain;
but I hope to ſee you at Vienna before the winter
being with much refpect, &c,
F 4
LETTER
[ 72 ]
LETTER XX.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Bender, August 29, 1711.
I
Have acted very wifely to have fent you our
news here by the way of Conftantinople, and
to have informed you of the peace which the Turks
took it in their head to make without including his
Swediſh Majefty. I hope you have received them,
as I have written by two different couriers. It is
at prefent a very difficult thing to get any letters
fent to you, the King and Grand Vifir having
fallen out to fuch a degree, that the laſt has ordered
the Bafhaw of Bender not to give a paffport to any
Swedes. You fee by this, that it will coft no
fmall intriguing to write to Conftantinople. 'Tis
even probable, that the letters that come from
thence will be ftopt, as there has no anſwer appear-
ed to the letters that were fent off four weeks ago,
which we know were actually delivered. Beſides,
his Majefty's interpreter has been removed, fo that
we are in a ftrange fituation, the defign of the
Grand Vifir being to force the King to depart be-
fore the anſwer returns from Conftantinople,
which he fears very much. He affures us, that
neither the Czar nor the Republic of Poland, will
hinder the journey of his Majefty thro' their do-
minions, as the firft has promiſed in the treaty of
peace, and he has wrote to the other and threatened
them with a war if they fhould oppofe it; but as
the efcort he offers is only 6000 men, the King can-
not trust himſelf to it; befides, he has not a fingle
farthing of money. The only refource is, the
death of the Grand. Vifir, for which we impati-
ently expect orders to arrive. This appears the
more
[ 73 ]
more certain, as according to all appearance, the
Czar himſelf will not obferve the peace; for we are
told that he refuſes to deliver Afoph, in which caſe
the war will be renewed, tho' they will never again
find fuch an opportunity as they loft at Pruth.
Fifteen days or three weeks at fartheft, will difco-
ver whether the King is to remain here the winter
or not. However it be, it will be very difficult
for him to fubfift at Bender, proviſions, but efpe-
cially forage, being exceffively dear, which is not
a little inconvenient to me. It were to be wifhed
that the army in Pomerania, had entered Poland
and advanced towards this country. I have not
failed to repeat it twenty times to the King, that
without the declaration which the allies demand,
a peace with Denmark was not to be expected.
I have even done my utmost to procure the peace,
and Mr. Müller has neglected nothing for that
purpoſe; but hitherto he has not fucceeded, yet
they hope to procure it without the affiftance of the
allies. I have the honour to be, &c.
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O OOOOOOOOOO
LETTER
To Count Reventlau.
XXI.
SIR,
Bender, Sept. 3, 1711.
"Th
IS now about eight days fince I did myſelf
the honour of writing to you directly by
Belgrade, and as I make not the leaft doubt but
that letter was delivered to you, I have nothing at
this time to fay to your Excellency, but to recom-
mend to you what was inclofed. As the Grand
Vifir prohibits all correfpondence, I have difguifed
one of my domeftics like a Greek, to carry a packet
of confequence to Conftantinople.Affairs here
re-
[ 74 ]
remain in the fame ſtate that I mentioned in my
laft to Baron Goertz. The Kapifler Kyhajaffi of
the Grand Signior, arrived a few days ago at the
army. As he is greatly in the King's intereft, we
every moment expect fome favourable revolution.
The Palatine of Kiovia, and Count Tarlo have
gone to the army to the Grand Vifir, and we will
be able to know fomething at their return. Ac-
cording to appearance, the Mufcovites will not de-
liver up Afoph, fo that 'tis very likely the war will
continue. They have again demanded two months
to evacuate it. The Grand Vifir has told Meffrs.
Schafirof and Schemeretof, that he will cauſe them
to be hanged oppofite to one another, if the place is
not delivered up at the time fixed on. I would not
chufe to be in their place. The King probably will
ftill remain here this winter. In the mean time,
the want of money is fo great here at prefent, the
money from Vienna being fome how delayed, that
the King has at length refolved to negotiate a fum
at Conftantinople. In the letter to Count Wellingk,
there is a very accurate plan of the Turkiſh and
Mufcovite camps; and in cafe my letters of the 28th
of Auguſt did not arrive, with the ſmall plan that
I fent to Baron Goertz, he may afk that of Mr.
Wellingk, to fhew it to his Highnefs. He would
do, me a favour, likewife, to fend a copy to the
Electoral Prince of Hanover in my name. I am, &c.
Oooooooo
O o O 0 0
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XXII.
SIR,
Bender, October 16, 1711.
E not aftonished I beg of you, that I fo fel-
dom do myself the honour to write to you:
for not only the King has fent no courier to Ger-
BE
many
[ 75 ]
many fince the conclufion of the peace between the
Turks and Mufcovites, but the Grand Vifir pro-
hibits all correfpondence, for fear, left we ſhould
inform the Grand Signior of fomething to his dif-
advantage. However, I have found means of
fending two or three to Belgrade and Conftantino-
ple, which I hope you will receive. In the mean
time I fend your Excellency my narrative to his
Serene Highnefs, which a Janiffary whom I have
gained, is to carry to Belgrade. You will there
fee at length the changes which have happened
here, and which happen daily. We must wait for
the arrival of the Grand Vifir at Conftantinople be-
fore we can fay any thing pofitive, whether the
peace will continue, and when the King of Sweden
will ſet out. We flatter ourſelves that he will be
depofed. According to appearance, the King will
remain here till the froft begin, or to the ſpring,
unleſs his army in Pomerania do not advance to the
frontiers, which they may do if the news of the defeat
of the Saxons and Danes, which we have received
feveral times here by the way of Poland, be true.
It might have been wifhed, that the allies with their
army of neutrality, would have hindered this in-
vafion of Pomerania, as their own intereft required
them. This would have entirely reconciled them
with the King of Sweden.I at prefent fend my
equipage to Germany by the way of Hungary.
There are along with it fome Turkiſh horfes for
his Highneſs. I know not when I fhall follow;
but at least, however defirous I am of feeing you
again, it will not be till I have received my
difpatches, or till I fhall be exactly informed
of the time for the departure of his Majefty. I
am with all poffible veneration and attachment, &c.
LET
[ 76 ]
LETTER
XXIII.
To bis Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Bender, Decemb. 24, 1711.
Your
OUR Serene Highness will doubtless have
feen by my moft humble narratives, that
fince the month of July, I have at different times
informed the Privy Counſellor Baron Goertz, how
the Czar having been taken as in a net at the Pruth,
faw himſelf obliged moft humbly to fue for peace
to the Grand Vifir; that he had the happineſs alfo
to obtain it contrary to all expectation, the King
of Sweden likewife being entirely excluded from
the treaty. But to give your Serene Highnefs ftill
a more accurate and clear idea of this affair, I have
hereunto annexed the plan of this action, firft ſketch-
ed out by Lieutenant General Axel-Sparre, and af-
terwards corrected here and there by his Majefty
himſelf. At the fame time I fhall add an exact ac-
count of all that paffed at the Pruth, as it has been
fent by to-day's poft first to Stockholm, and then
to all the Swediſh Miniſters refiding in the different
courts of Europe, which will clearly make appear
the exceffive ſtupidity of the Grand Vifir, who at
length has been depofed, for not knowing how to
improve the advantage in his power, and which
perhaps the Ottoman Porte will never recover while
the world lafts. His Majefty has not thought pro-
per to infert in it, how about two hours before the
Czar's retreat he arrived at the Grand Vifir's camp,
and how after being able to obtain nothing of him
by all the reaſons which he could allege, he quickly
returned to Bender (all which I had the honour to
inform your Serene Highness of, in my firft narrative)
difpatching forthwith from thence feveral couriers,
each
•
[ 77 ]
each with a letter to the Grand Signior, and divers
inftructions to the Swedish Envoy at Conftantino-
ple, ordering him to make loud complaints againſt
the conduct of the Grand Vifir. The two firft of
thefe couriers happily arrived. The Grand Vifir
in the mean time had propofed to the King to fend
fome perſon to the army, there to treat of peace:
with Schafirow; but as his Majefty believed that
fuch a negociation would end in nothing, he drily
anſwered, That he had an Envoy at Conftantinople
who was furnished with inftructions for that purpofe
in cafe of need. The Grand Vifir taking advantage
however of this anfwer, obliged the Envoy Funk
to come from Conftantinople to the army, from
whence he diſpatched him to his Majefty with fome
propoſals, which were principally to perfuade
the King to fet out on his return thro' Poland with
an eſcort of 6000 Turks, or elfe to take his route
with his Swedes alone by Belgrade and Vienna, al-
leging that he had already written for that purpoſe
to the Imperial court and the republic of Poland,
not to give him the leaft oppofition in his paffage :
all which, however, was wholly rejected by his
Majefty. At length, after many difputes, an a-
greement was made with two Bafhaws of three
tails, fent fome days after to the King by the Grand
Vifir; that his Majefty was willing to fet out with
10,000 Spahis, and 30,000 Buziack Tartars through
Poland, provided the Porte advanced to him 600,000
crowns, with which anfwer Mr. Funk was directly
fent back to the army. The Grand Vifir in the
mean time, perceiving the trap, and underſtanding
that we were endeavouring to do him ill offices at
Conftantinople, not only prohibited all correfpon-
dence by letters or otherwife with Belgrade and
Conftantinople, but also removed the King's inter-
preter, and made him a prifoner at Oczakow,
giving as an anſwer to the King's declaration
brought
1
[ 78 ]
brought him by Mr. Funk, that he could only ad-
vance him 150,000 crowns, adding, that the King
ought forthwith to refolve to fet out by Belgrade
and Germany, or take his route thro' Muscovy
with 1000 Spahis, Schafirow having given full
fecurity in that refpect, fo that he ought no longer
to hefitate, and in cafe of his Majeſty's refufal, he
would find himſelf obliged to force him to it, by
making uſe of his troops, and conſtrain him againſt
his will to quit the territories of the Ottoman Porte.
To give weight to this brutal menace, and to pre-
vail with the King to haften his choice of one of
the two propofitions above mentioned, he began
to retrench the Thaim from his Majefty, that is to
fay, the 500 crowns a day which the Grand Signior
had affigned him immediately upon his arrival in
the Turkish Empire. The King, who is always
inflexible in his defigns, anfwered haughtily, "that
he kept by the refolution he had taken to cross
Poland with a reaſonable efcort which had been
promiſed him two years ago by the Porte, on which
promiſe he had always depended fince his arrival;
that if the Emperor would advance him the fum
in queſtion, he would be obliged to him, and
would reimburſe him to the laft farthing; that if
not, he hoped that they would not violate in his
perfon the laws of hoſpitality, and the reſpect due to
crowned heads; and that they would at leaſt give him
time to fend for that fum from Germany, without
which he abfolutely could not begin his journey.
As to the Thaim which had been retrenched, he ſaid
that gave him little uneafinefs, as he had never
afked it, and did not accept of it but at the re-
peated entreaty of the Grand Signior; and laftly,
as to the violence with which they threatned him,
he would not trouble himſelf to think of it, be-
ing ready to repel force by force, having already
given orders to fhoot the first Turk thro' the head
who
[ 79 ]
who ſhould prefume to act in the ſmalleſt manner
contrary to the reſpect due to him." The Salam
Agafi and Capizzi Balhaw, who had been ſent
thither to wait till the King's departure, were dif
patched to the Grand Vifir with this anſwer; Ge-
neral Poniatowski and Colonel Grothufen having
moreover declared the fame thing by word of
mouth to theſe two Bafhaws, and the firm refolu-
tion of the King, to die rather with his arms in his
hand, than fuffer any reftraint whatever to be put
upon him, which furpriſed them extremely. In
confequence of which, orders were given to the
fmall body of troops that his Majefty has here, to
encamp round and very near his tent, and to fup-
ply them with powder and lead.
Meanwhile I found means to fend a packet
with a memorial to the Emperor, under a falle
cover to Conftantinople. About the fame time
the Grand Vifir, after waiting a long time in vain
for the keys of Afoph, having received orders to
decamp and repair with the army to Adrianople;
on his march he reflected on the infolent manner in
which he had acted towards his Majefty, and fee-
ing that he could obtain nothing by force, the Ba-
fhaws having even flatly declared to him, that they
would rather lofe their head, than be wanting in
the refpect due to fo great a Prince, he fent a very
polite letter to the King, in which he excufed what
had paffed as well as he could, again making an
offer of the Thaim and all the fervices in his power,
giving orders at the fame time to fet his Majesty's
interpreter at liberty. The King, however, not
only made no anſwer to this letter, but alſo dif-
dainfully refuſed to accept of the Thaim. The
Grand Vifir in the mean time arrived at Adriano-
ple, where, contrary to cuftom, he ſpent the Bairam
or great Turkish feftival, putting off his journey
to Conftantinople from day to day, notwithstand-
3
ing
1
[ 80 ]
F
ing the peremptory orders of the Grand Signior
which he found there upon his arrival. But as his
Majefty had found means to caufe a new memorial
to be delivered into the Grand Signior's own hands,
(in which the Grand Vifir's extravagant behaviour,
both to his Majefty and the Emperor his own ma-
fter, was defcribed in the moſt lively colours) this
laft piece fo opened the eyes of his Highneſs, that
he diſpatched the fame day his Kapifler Kyhajaffi,
who is a zealous Swede, to the Grand. Vifir, to
carry to him a caffetan or upper cloak, with a
magnificent fword, as tho' he were quite pleaſed
with his conduct; while that officer's fecret orders
were to take his meaſures fo well with the Aga of
the Janiffaries and the Boftangi Bacha, that the
Grand Vifir might be feized at Adrianople with-
out occafioning any diſturbance, which was hap-
pily executed in the night time. The Kapifler
Kyhajaffi, after having furrounded the houſe of
that firft Minifter with the Boftangis, entered it
with the Halcherif or Emperor's order, and hav-
ing taken the feals from the Vifir Baltagi Me-
hemet and put him under arreft, he returned the
feals to the Aga of the Janiffaries, named Juffuf
Bafhaw, and made him directly fit down in the
place and upon the fopha of the depofed Vifir.
All the effects and immenfe riches of Baltagi Me-
hemet were forthwith confifcated, and his equipage
given to be pillaged. In the mean time, the two
hoſtages of the Czar, Schafirow and Schemeretof,
were guarded more ſtrictly, and then fent to Con-
ftantinople, there to keep company in the Seven
Towers with the Mufcovite Ambaffador Tolstoi,
while the new Grand Vifir Juffuf Bafhaw fet out
for that capital with part of the army, having left
the reft in winter quarters on the frontiers. Many
imagine, however, that the new Grand Vifir will
not
8
[ 81]
not long keep his place, and that it has only been
given him from policy.
This great news however of the depofition of
the Vifir, has given much pleaſure to his Majefty,
who immediately fent General Poniatowski to
Conftantinople to affift in beating the iron while it
was hot. The war at prefent appears fo much the
more certain, as the Mufcovites fhew no forward-
nefs to deliver up Afof, and as the Turks begin to
perceive that the Czar has intended to mock them
with the magnificent promifes of the treaty of the
Pruth.
This, Sir, is all that has paffed of any impor-
tance fince that peace. I have alfo the honour to
inform your Serene Highness, that the two letters
which you wrote to his Majefty, and of which Ba-
ron Goertz fent me the copies, were put into his
own hands fix weeks ago by a Swediſh Captain
named Stahl, who paffed thro' Vienna. His Ma-
jefty is greatly pleafed with them, and altho' he
has not yet anſwered them by the poft, he has in
the most gracious manner exprefly ordered me to
make his compliments to your Serene Highnefs
and to excufe him, affuring me that the anſwer
fhall be fent by the firft courier, &c.
We have not for theſe ſeveral months, received
any news of our army in Pomerania, which be-
gins to give us fome uneafinefs; and altho' at two
different times, fome letters from Poland have af-
füred his Majesty, that the Saxons and Danes have
been obliged to evacuate Pomerania, for want of
forage, we cannot however give credit to this, till
we receive the confirmation of it by a courier
from Germany. We hope, however, that the
new war ready to break out between the Ottoman
Porte and the Mufcovites, will occafion a power-
ful diverfion in our favour, and entirely change
the face of affairs. I have the honour to be, &c.
LET
G
[ 82 ]
LETTER XXIV.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Bender, Dec. 10, 1711.
WE
E have been at work here theſe four weeks
upon difpatches that are to be fent to Ger-
many, and as they are to be finiſhed to-morrow or
the day after, I did not chufe to rifk the fending of
my letters by Conftantinople with a courier dif-
patched thither by Baron Grothufen, in hopes that
they will arrive fooner by the way of Belgrade.
You doubtless know that the Grand Vifir being
depofed, General Poniatowski is returned to Con-
ftantinople to endeavour to get the war renewed,
in which there is a great probability that he will fuc-
ceed. I am, &c.
25
LETTER XXV.
To Baron Goertz.
**
SIR,
Conftantinople, Feb. 19, 1712.
Mentioned to you in my laft from Bender, which
I fent to Belgrade by a Janiffary about ſeven or
eight weeks ago, of a journey I had to make to
Conftantinople. Here I am, having arrived two
days ago, partly on my own affairs, but princi-
pally to fee more immediately the refult of all our
intrigues, and whether the Porte will effectually
come to a rupture, and what likelihood there is of
the King of Sweden's departure, that you may there-
upon take your meaſures. I will tell you moreo-
ver,
[83]
"
ver, in confidence, that the court was very glad that
I made this journey hither, to fathom a little the
intrigues of the Engliſh and Dutch Miniſters, who
move heaven and earth to prevent a rupture. As
I do not doubt but the ſaid rupture, the arrival of
the Swediſh tranſports in Pomerania, and the peace
perhaps at this moment concluded between France
and England, will give a new face to the affairs of
Europe, I have thought proper to difpatch this
letter to you by my valet de Chambre, that you
may by him fend me the laft orders of his Serene
Highness, for immediately after his return, I re-
pair to Bender to take my leave of his Majefty,
and return at length to Holftein. A few days be-
fore I left Bender, I had the honour to diſcourſe
with the King upon the Peace with Denmark, which
were greatly to be wifhed, on account of the glory
that would redound to us for having procured it,
and his Majefty always appears to me much in-
clined to agree to it. The new rupture between
the Porte and the Czar, which appears inevitable,
or the Peace which the Czar will be conſtrained to
make with Sweden, may facilitate the negotiation,
as 'tis plain that if this laft happens the King will
turn all his forces againſt the King of Denmark
and Auguftus.
As to the affairs here, you will have ſeen by my
former letters, that after the depofition of the
Grand Vifir Mehemet Baltagi, and the arrival of
the Cham of the Tartars at Conftantinople, mat-
ters fell into quite another train, altho' the prefent
Grand Vifir is not greatly in the intereft of the
King of Sweden. After feveral divans and coun-
cils held, the war has been refolved upon anew, as
your excellency will fee by the Grand Signior's or-
der to all his Baſhaws, tranflated into French,
which is annexed to my narrative to his Serene
Highness; this order has been repeated three times,
G 2
not-
[ 84 ]
notwithstanding the news of the reftitution of
Azak (Afof or Azow) and demolition of Ta-
ganrok, which has arrived within theſe few days.
Every body is furpriſed that the Czar, after delay-
ing fo long, fhould have the weakneſs to deliver
thofe places at a time when he can by no means be
certain that this compliance will be fufficient to con-
firm the peace, efpecially as thofe places would
doubtless have employed the Ottoman forces fe-
veral years. The Engliſh and Dutch Ambaffadors
ufe their utmoft endeavours to oblige the Porte to
be fatisfied, without infifting as it does, upon the
reftitution of the whole Ukraine to the Coffacks. As
to the King's return, they pretend that they have
propoſed a fufpenfion of arms for a year with King
Auguftus, and that the King may then pafs thro'
Poland without an eſcort. I know not, however,
if this be abfolutely certain. I have feen the
Engliſh Ambaffador but once, the day before yef-
terday in a ſerious vifit, and I could difcover no-
thing, especially as he is a man extremely referved
and politic. The Dutch Ambaffador is more open,
and I believe that with the affiftance of a good
Dutch cheeſe, and a good bottle of Cyprus or Te-
nedos wine, one might draw fomewhat more out
of him. However it may be, if it be really fo,
thefe gentlemen will not thereby pay their court to
his Swedish Majefty, as perhaps it is not by order
of their mafters, but folely at the preffing follicita-
tions of the Mufcovite hoftages that they inter-
meddle in this affair *. In all probability, howe-
ver, they will lofe their labour, as after a great
council held yeſterday at the Porte, the Kyhaja of
the Grand Vifir caufed Meff. Poniatowski and
* See the narrative which Count Collier fent to their High
Mightineffes, of the preffing follicitations of the Muscovite
Minifters on this point, in the Memoirs for the Hiftory of
Charles XII. By W. Thyels at Leyden, 1722.
Funk
[ 85 ]
Funk to be told not to give them felves any dif
turbance, as the tails of the Grand Signior would
be difplayed without fail next Thurfday, which is an
infallible mark of war, and of the Emperor's
leaving Conftantinople within forty days after.
They have already begun to make great prepara-
tions, and they pretend that the army will be in-
finitely more numerous than it was last year. I
fhall follow the court from hence to Adrianople,
where my man will find me. As to the affairs of
his Swediſh Majefty, the Cham of the Tartars
who arrived at Bender two days before my depar-
ture, has affured the King of the friendſhip of the
Grand Signior, and that he will infallibly give him
an eſcort of 50,000 men to paſs thro' Poland
whenever he pleaſes, where the Turks will obferve
good difcipline and pay for every thing they want
with ready money. As the news from Germany
of yesterday mention that his Majefty's enemies
have evacuated Pomerania, his army which may
come to meet him in Poland will facilitate his paf-
fage. They have alſo promiſed the King money;
but they have not yet agreed upon the fum. This,
however, as my man will tell you by word of
mouth, is a very material point, to extricate him
from his difficulties. 'Tis probable there will be
an interview between the Grand Signior and the
King of Sweden at the Danube, unleſs the laſt en-
ter Poland before the arrival of the former. We
are in great apprehenfions about the ceremonial,
unleſs the perfonal friendſhip which his Highneſs
has for the King of Sweden, do not make him
abate a little of the ftate he pretends to affume be-
fore Chriftian Princes. I doubt not but your Ex-
cellency is very glad of my arrival at Conſtantino-
ple, as it is the place where the chief affairs are
tranſacted, and from whence regular couriers fet out
every fifteen days; I can more eaſily inform your
G 3
Serene
[ 86 ]
Serene Highness of the news here, as almoſt no-
thing happens but what I learn immediately after;
whereas it was a very hard matter to write from
Bender, or to difpatch any perfon from thence.
Befides, I have here but very little to do, as of
late we have had news from Germany but very
feldom. I have alſo left my affairs at Bender in
the hands of fome fincere friends who inform me
of every thing that paffes, and I write them letters
every eight days, which they read to the King,
from one end to the other. I beg of you, Sir, to
fend back my valet de Chambre as foon as poffible,
and be perfuaded that I am, &c.
P. S. Poniatowski, who flept this night at the
Porte and who fends his compliments to you, tells
me that the tails will go out of the city without
fail, and that even the mules for carrying the Sul-
tanas and Odalicks or flaves of the Grand Signior,
are already bought, which is another fign of the
war. He has the addrefs to infinuate to his High-
nefs whatever he pleaſes, and the intention of the
Emperor is to repair with a numerous army to the
place where the peace was concluded laft year,
there to wait till the articles be fulfilled (which be-
fides the reftitution of the places, mention alfo the
reftoring all the Ukraine on both fides the Nieper
to the Coffacks, and the evacuating of Poland en-
tirely, without taking any part in the affairs or in-
terefts of King Auguftus) and to give a good part of
his army to the King of Sweden to eſcort him
thro' Poland. The Grand Signior makes a point
of honour of this, and is fixt in his refolution,
altho the Grand Vifir and all the Effendis are
against the war.
Another P. S. There is a kalabalik, or moft de-
vilifh ftir at the Porte thefe two days, I ftop my
courier
[ 87 ]
courier to fee the iffue of it. The Grand Signior
is for marching in perfon, coft what it will, to the
frontiers with a numerous army, to be a witness
of the execution of the peace, which confifts, as
I mentioned, befides the reftitution of the places,
in the reſtoration of all the Ukrain and the evacua-
tion of Poland. The day before yesterday he
caufed the Grand Vifir and the Mufti to be called
at 11 at night, to declare to them, That it is his in-
tention either to take the field, or to quit his throne.
Yefterday after a great divan held, the Ambaffa-
dors who offered their mediation, were told that
they must either give as a fecurity in writing, all
their effects, and thofe of their refpective nations
in the eaſt, or not meddle any more with the af-
fair. As it is impoffible for thefe gentlemen to
give this fecurity for the execution of the peace,
'tis not to be doubted but they will follow the latter
courfe. Affairs are at fuch a crifis, that to judge
from the Emperor's fteadineſs, they cannot come
to a conclufion without either the marching
out of the tails, or his depofition. As to-day is
the Turkish Sunday, the divan to be held to-morrow
will decide every thing. The Mufti and the two
Kube Vifirs, Ali Bafhaw and Soliman Bafhaw, are
on the fide of the Grand Signior: but the Grand
Vifir, the Aga of the Janiffaries, a part of the
Janiffaries, and all the Effendis, who are the lawyers,
are againſt the war. A bad circumftance is, that
at the change of a Grand Signior, every Janiffary
receives 25 crowns ready money (a moft dangerous
cuftom) and Sultan Ibrahim, nephew to his High-
neſs is much beloved by the people, who are al-
ways fond of novelty; but as the Grand Signior in
this affair has fhewn more firmneſs, fpirit, and po-
licy, than was ever before attributed to him, 'tis
to be hoped that he will draw himſelf out of his
embarrafment. General Poniatowski has gone to
ſleep
G 4
[ 88 ]
fleep at the Porte, incognito. I have a great de-
fire to follow him in the evening, to be at hand to
fee what paffes to-morrow. The Drogman or
Swedish interpreter, who this moment has come
from the Porte, fays that the Grand Signior re-
mains ftill determined, and will not hear the leaft
mention made of Peace, unleſs the Grand Vifir
and all who defire it, engage their heads by writing
that it fhall be executed, and that the Muscovites
fhall reſtore all the Ukrain, therein comprehending
Kiovia, Czernikovia, &c. which the hoſtages hi-
therto have not confented to. This moment the
Minifters-mediators have paffed by, which is a
proof that the divan is over; but as they have
not upon them the kaftans or robes which the Em-
peror gives on fuch an occafion, we may be fure
the peace has not been concluded, and that the
tails will be carried out without fail. The inter-
preter is returned to the Porte to bring us a poſitive
anſwer. The Swedish Envoy has afked an audi-
ence of the Emperor for to-morrow morning.
As the affairs begin to draw to fome length, I do
not chufe to ſtop my courier any longer. I ſhall in-
form you of all that paffes, by the courier that
Mr. Funk is to fend when the final refolution fhall
be taken. I beg of you, Sir, to give this to his
Serene Highnefs, as I have written it fince my
narrative was finiſhed.
(
A I spray be cont
LET-
[89]
పరSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
LETTER
XXVI.
To his Serene Highneſs the Duke Adminiſtrator.
SIR,
Conftantinople, February 24, 1712.
HAVE come again to
I
come again to Conftantinople
with the confent of his Majefty the King of
Sweden, that I may be more at hand to fee what
turn affairs will at length take, that I may give
your Serene Highness a more exact and faithful
account of them, eſpecially, whether and when
the King fhall leave this country. As I do
not doubt but the rupture between the Porte and
Muſcovy on one fide, and on the other the arrival
of the fo much defired tranfports from Sweden at
Pomerania, joined to the peace, in all appearance
already concluded between France and England,
will give quite another face to the affairs of Europe,
and oblige your Serene Highness to give me new
inftructions; I have therefore judged it neceffary
to diſpatch to Holſtein the bearer of the preſent,
who is my valet de chambre, whom your Serene
Highness will be fo good as charge with your laft
orders, that immediately upon his return I may
repair to Bender to take leave of his Majeſty.
But to come to public affairs; your Serene
Highnefs will fee by my laft narrative from Bender
of the 14th of December, how, after the depofition of
the Grand Vifir, and the arrival of the Cham of the
Tartars and General Poniatowski at Conftantinople
(where this laſt has found means fully to inform the
Grand Signior of all that paffed the foregoing cam-
paign) affairs have begun to turn in favour of his
Swediſh
[ 90 ]
Swedish Majefty. The firft proof of the Grand
Signior gave of this, was his putting under arreſt
the two firft minifters of the depofed Vifir, who
were the cauſe of the conclufion of the treaty, and
who after ſeveral divans held on this occafion, were
beheaded publickly before the gates of the feraglio,
and their bodies after being expofed to the people
the three following days were thrown into the fea.
At the fame time the depofed Grand Vifir was ba-
nifhed to the iſland of Mytilene, where his prede-
ceffor Ali Bacha, who had alſo been banifhed
thither, was ftrangled, and his head carried to Con-
ftantinople, for having without ceafing animated
the laft Grand Vifir against the King of Sweden,
and for having formed fome plot even againſt the
Emperor. After theſe proceedings the war was
again refolved on againſt the Czar, and the annexed
order (tranflated from the Turkiſh into French)
fent to all the Baſhaws of the empire to cauſe them
to march their troops. The Cham of the Tartars
upon this returned to Bender, not only to inform
his Majefty of all that had paffed at Conftantinople;
but alfo to affure him of the friendship of his High-
nefs, and of an eſcort of 50,000 men, who in their
paffage thro' Poland were to pay for every thing
with ready money, and, which was the principal
thing to the King, that they would ftill find means
at the Porte to furnish him with 600 tons of gold,
which he had afked for his departure.
Meanwhile the English and Dutch ambaſſadors
(at the preffing follicitation of the Mufcovite hof-
tages, and not by the order of their maſters) mov-
ed heaven and earth at Conftantinople, where they
had frequent conferences with the above-mentioned
hoftages, and with the minifters of the Porte to
calm the ftorm, and confirm the peace of the
Pruth, especially, as the Mufcovites had, contrary
to all expectation, reftored the fortrefs of Azak or
Azow,
[ 9 ]
Azow, and demolished the fort of Taganrok
(altho' it will be with great reluctance that they
confent to the reftitution of the Ukrain to the Cof-
facks, as the Turkiſh Emperor abfolutely requires)
and confequently, according to them, have ful-
filled the articles of the peace. The rupture, ne-
vertheless, appears fo much the more inevitable,
as the Grand Signior has not only begun to raiſe a
certain duty, which is never impofed but in time
of war, and in confequence of which he is obliged
to make the campaign in perfon; but the kyhaja
of the Grand Vifir alfo, after a great divan held
yeſterday, and which continues even to-day, de-
clared yeſterday in the evening, by the Swediſh in-
terpreter to Mr. Funk the envoy, and to General
Poniatowski; that the feven tails of the Emperor
would be diſplayed without fail on Thurſday next,
which is a never failing fign of a declaration of war,
the Emperor being obliged according to the laws,
to leave Conftantinople within forty days after this
ceremony, and to go directly to the army at Adria-
nople.
Befides, the greateft preparations are making
for the campaign, the army being to confiſt of at
leaft 400,000 men, the Tartars included. 'Tis
believed, that the Emperor, who has an extraor-
dinary eſteem for the King of Sweden, will have
an interview with him on his march near the Da-
nube, to concert together the neceffary meaſures
for the opening of the campaign. I fhall follow
the court to Adrianople, where I fhall wait the re-
turn of my valet de chambre (whom I moft hum-
bly beg your Royal Highnefs will difpatch as foon
as poffible) and from thence I fhall go directly with
my new inftructions for Bender. I fhall not fail
in the mean time to give your Serene Highneſs an
exact account of all that paffes here. The news
which we received yeſterday from Germany, men-
tion,
[ 92 ]
tion, that the King of Denmark and King Au-
guftus had quitted Pomerania with their armies,
which in all probability will facilitate his Majeſty's
paffage thro' Poland; eſpecially, as the party of
King Stanislaus in that kingdom becomes every day
ftronger and ftronger. A proof of this is, that
before my departure from Bender Mr. Cryfpix
Deputy-general of Lithuania arrived there, and Mr.
Saphia Starofte Bobrouſki, and alfo the great Ge-
neral of Lithuania, Prince Wifniowifki (who was
already arrived in Hungary with 5000 men) were
expected at Bender every moment. I have the
honour to be, &c.
鼎
​A TRANSLATION
Of the circular orders fent by the most powerful Otto-
man Emperor to all the Vifirs and Baſhaws of his
empire, by which his Imperial Majefty explains to
them the reafons he has to renew the war against
the Czar of Mufcovy, and orders them to repair
with their troops to the imperial camp in the plain
of Ifaktchi upon the Danube the following Spring
of the year 1712 *.
A
FTER the peace was concluded in the year
of the Hegira 1109 between my Porte,
whofe greatnefs is eternal, and the Czar of Muf-
covy, and after it was renewed in the year 1121 †,
the Czar of Mufcovy having violated the treaty
of peace by enterprifes, which difcovered his bad
*This piece is inferted in the Memoirs of Mr. Thyels, p. 23.
but this tranflation is more literal, and fhews more fully the
ftile of the ſecretary's office at Conftantinople,
$1699.
+ 1711.
intentions
[ 93 ]
intentions againſt my fublime Porte and the Ottoman
territories, affifted by the favour of God from whom
nothing is hid, the victorious army that I brought
into the field this year marched againſt that infidel
Mufcovite; and after they had reduced him and
his army to difficulties at Houg-ghetchei, a place
fituated upon the frontiers of Moldavia, a peace
was concluded on the following conditions, That
he fhould reſtore to my fublime Porte the fortress
of Azak with all its dependencies in the fame ftate it
was in when it was taken; that he ſhould entirely
raze the fortreſs of Taigan, and no more concern
himſelf with the Poles and Coffacks. Some other
articles were agreed to, and ratified treaties were
delivered on both fides, which were to be conform-
ed to. The Czar, nevertheleſs, has not only not
reſtored to my fublime Porte the fortreſs of Azak
nor razed that of Taigan, according to the articles
contained in the treaties, but alſo has not ceaſed
to intermeddle in the affairs of the Poles and Cof-
facks, as evidently appears by the letter which he
wrote to our imperial Majefty, and by the diſcourſe
of the plenipotentiaries and hoftages that are at our
fublime Porte. Theſe proceedings being entirely
contrary to the articles of peace agreed upon,
I have in a general affembly confulted all the Viſirs,
doctors, lawyers, all thoſe who fear God, and other
perfons who enter the council, and all having de-
clared unanimouſly, that it was neceffary to make
war on the infidel Mufcovite to oppofe his wicked-
nefs and the evils he may occafion, we have de-
creed, that our Imperial Majefty, fupported by the
affiſtance of heaven, fhall march in perfon under
happy aufpices the following fpring, with all the
troops of Romelia, Natolia, and other parts of our
dominion, to prevent the miſchiefs the Czar may
do to the Ottoman territories, and as it is neceffary
to go againſt that infidel with a more numerous
army
[ 94 ]
, you
army and more confiderable preparations than thoſe
of last year, you— governor of-
alfo have orders to join my imperial camp in the
plain of Iffaktchi or Adrianople in the beginning
of May with your houſe, which fhall be compofed
ofchofen and ftrong horſemen, furniſhed
with arms neceffary and proper for fighting.
Therefore, immediately after the arrival of my
noble commander, you fhall take care to levy troops
and prepare arms, and you fhall do your utmoſt
to begin your march with that number of chofen
and robuft horſemen that compoſe your houſe, at
fuch a time that you may join my imperial camp
at Iffaktchi in the beginning of May. If you do
not appear there at the time mentioned in my or-
ders, neither your answers, nor your excufes will
be hearkned to, and you will certainly incur the
indignation of your Emperor; but if you have
any regard to your fafety, you will execute what is
above-mentioned with all poffible diligence and
attention. With this my imperial mandate, my
hatfcherif is published at the fame time, that you
may be upon your guard not to moleft the inhabi-
tants upon your route, by taking from them con-
trary to juftice, provifions or other things without
paying for them; that you may not fail thro' dila-
torinefs or negligence to be at the place appointed
within the time fixed; and laftly, that you may
not go there with a fmaller number of troops, than
what you are ordered to go with. Written in the
middle of the moon of Zilkidge, that is to fay,
drawn up about the end of December of the year
one thouſand ſeven hundred and eleven.
LETTER
[ 95 ]
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
OTTOTO TO TOTO
XXVII.
SIR,
Conftantinople, 13th April, 1712.
CCORDING to the letters I received from
Α' Belgrade, my valet de chambre, whom I
1
difpatched from hence in the end of February,
would arrive at Hamburg before the end of March.
I hope he has carried my dispatches, and that ac-
cording to the inftructions I gave him he will in-
form you by word of mouth of the ſtate of affairs
here and at Bender. Since his departure from this
place, we have been in the greateſt uncertainty in
the world, as to the refolution which the Porte
will at length take. You know that at that time
affairs were at a crifis, that, unlefs the Grand
Signior fhould happen to be depofed, a war was ine-
vitable, and that we looked every day for the
tails being diſplayed. But, after fome conferences
held with the ambaffadors-mediators, it was pu-
bliſhed, that the peace was certain, that the two
courts were agreed on every point, excepting only
the reftitution of Kiovia, upon which the Grand
Signior infifted, but that the Mufcovites would not
grant it. Meanwhile the moon of Sefer (which
with us is the month of March) arrived, and as
the Turks from fuperftition believe that month un-
fortunate for their defigns, and then never take
any refolution, the conferences were broke off.
Before the end of that month, the war was thought
unavoidable, by the preparations which the Grand
4
Signior
[ 96 ]
Signior ordered to be made for the campaign, cauf-
ing his tents to be ſpread out, and diftributing to
the Janiffaries the money neceffary for their equi-
pages. Every one bought horfes and kept him-
felf in readinefs. The expofing of the tails was even
fixed for the ift of Rebiul or April, and the Grand
Signior's departure from Conftantinople for the
15th, when the courier who had been fent to the
Cham of the Tartars returned. As this prince
would not alone oppoſe the Grand Viſir, the Mufti,
and all the Effendis who abfolutely were for peace;
and as he was even afraid, that all that the Grand
Signior had done was only grimace to get better
conditions from the Mufcovites, and moreover,
to raiſe a tax upon the people on pretence of a war,
far from advifing it abfolutely, he declared, "That
"the demolition of the Taganrok, and the refti-
"tution of Azak, making it likely, that the Muf-
"covites would execute the other articles of the
peace, it would not be at all neceffary that the
"Grand Signior fhould march in perfon, and
"that it would be fufficient to fend a good army
66
66
to the frontiers to fee the peace executed, and
"to eſcort the King of Sweden." This letter en-
tirely changed the face of affairs. Orders were
immediately fent to Mytelene, to fet at liberty the
late depofed Vifir Mehemet Baltagi, and next mor-
ning the ambaffadors were recalled to the Divan.
Since that time they have had five or fix confer-
ences with the minifters of the Porte and the Muf-
covite hoftages; and altho' the peace is not yet
made public, nor the conditions on which it has
been renewed, no one however doubts but it is
really made. Yet fince yeſterday it has been whif
pered, that 'tis likely the Grand Vifir may be removed,
and that this may again give a new face to affairs.
To conclude here we are in the greateſt uncertainty
in the world, as the refolutions of the Porte change
every
[ 97 ]
every moment. What is certain is, that this Vifir
is not liked by the Grand Signior; and that he got
the feals merely from policy, and as a man who is
much beloved by the Janiffaries. He knows it
well, and on that account walks warily not to give
a handle to his enemies. The Grand Signior on
the contrary is a Prince who has fhewn a good deal
of fpirit, prudence and policy in thefe conjunctures,
and applies himſelf more to bufinefs than ever any
Ottoman Prince did. He rambles every day hither
and thither diſguiſed, and not long ago he fent a
poor furgeon to the gallies for having told to him-
felf without knowing him, that the Grand Signior
was an avaricious and capricious Prince, who wanted
a war without knowing for what reafon. Whatever
happen we are always affured that the King will
have a fufficient efcort to pafs with fafety to his
army or to his dominions. We are alfo promiſed
the money neceffary, which the King demanded,
and which amounts to 600,000 crowns. If they
ſhould offer lefs, I know not if the King would ac-
cept of it, and I know not whether the Porte will
give the whole fum, which will even hardly be fuf-
ficient, as the King already actually owes more
than 300,000 crowns. The ambaffadors-media-
tors are fufpected not only of intriguing to procure
a peace, but alſo of thwarting the grant of the long
promiſed eſcort, that the King may thereby be
obliged to paſs thro' Germany. I have had orders
from the King to talk on that fubject to the English
ambaffador, who is a man of great abilities and
and very much my friend. After feveral con-
ferences with him on this point, he affured me
"that they wronged him; that he interfered in
"the affair of the peace becauſe the Porte had de-
"fired it, but that he had never spoke of the
eſcort, that it would have been even needlefs,
"as the Porte on that point had laid itſelf under
cc
H
66 no
[ 98 ]
""
"no reſtriction, and had always rejected the pro-
"poſals made to it on that head by the hostages,
"and that it depended upon it folely to reconduct
"the King in what manner and by what route it
"pleafed that in truth the Porte did not fail of
being embaraffed about this efcort, foreſeeing,
"that it would draw upon them a war with Po-
❝land, and that it would be very glad to be dif
"penfed with as to its promife. I answered,
that in my opinion the only way of being able to
difpenfe with it honourably, would be to threaten
the republic with a war in cafe they did not give
full fecurity for the paffage of the King, and to
furnish his Majefty with a pretty large fum to buy
off the principal members, and to bring them over
to the King's intereft. This appeared to us very
practicable, fuppofing,
1. That by the treaty of peace on the point
of being made, all the without
#6
exception fhould be obfcovites troops
to quit Poland.
2. That his Majefty's army in Pomerania fhall
be in a condition to take the field there: befides,
3. The King has actually at Bender a corps of
about 12,000 men, Swedes, Poles and Coffacks,
reckoning the Poles whom Prince Wifniowifki is
bringing through Hungary, and thofe whom Co-
lonel Urbanowitz has debauched from the crown
army by means of a little money.
I have given fome hints of this project at Ben-
der; but with all the precaution imaginable, as I
do not know whether it will be to his Majrfty's
liking, but in my opinion they would fucceed
much better in Poland with a million of ready
cafh, than with 15,000 or 20,000 Turks. The
troops in the mean time are marching on every
ide towards the frontiers. I wait with impatience
for the return of my valet de chambre, that I may
immediately repair to Bender, there to receive my
dipatches,
[ 99 ]
diſpatches, and then fet out for Vienna through
Hungary, which city I may eafily reach in fifteen
days, fince the pofts have been re-eſtabliſhed; Í
have fo much the more reaſon to flatter myſelf with
good difpatches, as the fmall fervices that I have
been fo happy as to do for his Majeſty, has given
him a very good opinion of me.
I received a few days ago, by a courier from Ben-
der, two of your letters of the month of October,
with one incloſed, from his Serene Highneſs to his
Majefty, which I did not fail to fend forthwith to
Mr. Müllern. I am with all poffible attachment, &c.
800000 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O
LETTER
XXVIII.
To the Same.
Conftantinople, April 23, 17121
I
SIR,
TAKE the opportunity of the departure of a
Choudar, whom the Porte fends to Belgrade
to tell your Excellency, that I have received by
the Janiffary that accompanied my valet de cham-
bre to Peterwaradin, your letter of the 16th of
March, not doubting but the two packets I wrote
from hence arrived fate. I moft humbly thank you
for his Serene Highness's permiffion concerning my
return. I impatiently expect the return of my va
let de chambre, who according to my calculation
may be here about the end of this month, that I
may repair to Bender, where I make not the leaft
doubt of directly receiving good difpatches, ac-
cording to the promiſe of his majeſty himſelf and
of his minifters; and as I do not doubt but the
隐
​- fenate's anfwer is arrived touching our treaty with
Denmark, I hope to bring with me his Majefty's
H 2
guarantee.
•
"
[100]
guarantee. Count Tarlo informs me from Bender,
in confidence, that fome overture of peace has been
made between the Kings of Sweden and Denmark,
by mediation of the King of Pruffia. I know
not what may be in it, but ftill I have thought
myfelf obliged to give you notice of it. I would
have liked it better if our court, or that of Ha-
nover could have fucceeded in it. This peace ap-
pears abfolutely neceffary in the prefent conjunc-
tures, when the Porte has at length renewed their
treaty with the Czar on the following conditions:
1. That befides the reftitution of Azak, and
the deftroying of Taganrok, Nova Crepa within
four leagues of Azak fhall alfo be razed.
2. That the Ukrain on this fide the Borif-
thenes fhall be reſtored to the Coffacks; and that
the Czar fhall keep the other fide, and alfo Kiovia.
3. That all the Mufcovite troops fhall evacuate
Poland within three months.
4. That the Grand Signior fhall pay to the
Czar 36,000 crowns for four fhips of war, which
the Captain Bafhaw bought the year before from
the commander of Taganrok.
Theſe are the articles that are publiſhed, but 'tis
believed there is befides, fome fecret articles fpeci-
fying a large fum of money to be paid to the Porte.
Whatever it be, the Muscovites may be faid to have
come off as well as at the battle of the Pruth, and
that the Turks are not fo wicked as they are gene-
rally faid to be. I am at a loſs what to attribute it to,
whether to the interpofition and good offices of the
minifters-mediators, and the Mufcovite money,
or the love the Turks have for repofe. The King's
envoy and agents are at prefent endeavouring to
obtain a good eſcort, and a good fum of money
in order to quit this country, at length in good
earneft; and they believe they hall certainly fue-
ceed. I am, &c.
LET-
[ 10 ]
VI
LETTER
XXIX.
To his Serene Highness the Duke Administrator.
SIR,
Conftantinople, May 13, 1712.
T
HE letter of your Serene Highneſs to Ba-
ron Grothufen, was fent to me by my Ja-
niffary, who had accompanied my valet de chambre
to Belgrade, and who about fifteen days ago re-
turned here with feveral other difpatches, which I
forthwith fent by the firft courier to Bender. Ba-
ron Grothufen has been greatly diftreffed there
thefe two months by a defluxion upon his eyes,
but as I had a very long letter from him two days
ago, all written with his own hand, I fuppofe he
is now quite well.Your Serene Highneſs will
have feen by my laft most humble narrative, that
notwithſtanding all the great warlike preparations
made here, peace has nevertheleſs been concluded
between the Porte and the Mufcovites. As all the
Divan on this occafion unanimously declared for
peace, 'tis in vain any longer to expect a rupture.
However, it is no lefs aftoniſhing, that the Muf
covites could at this time obtain a peace on fo fa-
vourable conditions, than it was the former year
incomprehenfible to all the world, that they fhould
get fafe and found out of the trap into which they
had fo imprudently thrown themſelves at the Pruth,
and which threatned them with no lefs than death
or flavery. All this, however, can only be looked
upon as a proof of the extraordinary weaknefs of
the Turks, and their quite incomprehenfible fond-
nefs for peace and repofe.
Notwithstanding all that has happened, the Tur-
kish Emperor promifes his Majefty a confiderable
H 3
efcort
"
7
[102]
efcort through Poland as far as Pomerania, with a
fufficient quantity of provifions, and the money
neceffary for the journey. He has accordingly
already given orders, not only to the greateſt part
of his troops in Europe to march to Bender, but
he has alfo fent a Chiaous Bafhaw, with a letter
written with his own hand to the King of Sweden,
to affure him both by word of mouth and by writ-
ting of his friendship; the Chiaous Bafhaw at the
fame time having orders to take all the neceffary
meaſures with his Majefty for the paffage. Befides,
the Cham of the Tartars has alfo received orders
to notify the defign of the Porte on this point to
the republic of Poland, that they might not take
that paffage for a rupture, promifing to the re-
public, that the Turkish troops fhall pay with rea-
dy money for whatever they want, and fhall ob-
ferve ftrict difcipline on their march. We fhall
quickly fee whether this paffage be practicable
with a Turkiſh or Tartar army, and if the republic
will give their confent to it. As to myfelf, I can
fay nothing about it, and I am still at as great a
lofs, as to the place whither they will conduct the
King, especially if the news from Poland be true,
namely, that the Czar with all his forces have quit-
ted that kingdom, with a defign of marching into
Pomerania, which, however, would be directly
contrary to the peace but just concluded. His Ma-
jefty's refolution as to the propoſals of the Baſhaw,
and the anſwer of the republic of Poland will clear
up this whole affair. It is, however, certain, that
it will meet with a thouſand difficulties; and that
his Majeſty's departure from Bender, will be delay-
ed at leaſt till the end of July or the beginning of
Auguft. As to the fum which his Majefty has de-
manded as a loan from the Ottoman Porte, and
which confifts of 1200 purfes (each purfe making
500 crowns) it has been refolved, that if they
cannot
+7
[- 103 ]
cannot give the whole fum at once, the greateſt
part of it at leaft fhould be paid at Bender at the
King's departure, which will be fo much the more
neceffary, as the court not only owes a confiderable
fum to the Turks, but as the officers have not for
fome time paffed touched a farthing, and confe-
quently are not in a condition to take the field,
without purchafing new equipages. I now expect
every moment the return of my valet de chambre
with the orders of your Serene Highnefs. When-
ever he arrives I fhall return to Bender, there to re-
ceive my difpatches, and then I fhall return thro
Hungary to Vienna. I have the honour to be, &c.
O O O O O O O O O O
O O O O O O O
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XXX. 1
SIR,
Conftantinople, May 13, 1712.
I
DO not fail to reprefent the good intelligence
that now fubfifts between us and the King of
Denmark, as an effect of the prudence and expert-
nefs of the Holftein minifter. I believe they begin
to be convinced of this. They will be more fo
if we fucceed with the King of Denmark as to the
peace, as I look upon a peace with Denmark ab-
folutely neceffary for Sweden, fince not only the
Porte has concluded a peace with the Czar, with-
out any hopes of a future rupture, but also accord-
ing to appearance, the long promifed efcort will
not be fo confiderable as we flattered ourfelves. A
Chiaous Bafhaw, fet out two days ago for Bender,
to concert with the King the neceffary meaſures for
his paffage thro' Poland. Thence he is to go as
ambaffador to Poland, and demand a paffage with
H 4
a
ན
[104]
1
a Turkish and Tartar efcort from the republic.
They promife to execute it by force if the republic
fhould make any oppofition; but I doubt this
much after all the proofs I have feen of the Tur-
kish poltroonery. I have always looked upon this
paffage through a chriftian kingdom, with a Tur-
kish or Tartar efcort as a chimerical notion, unleſs
it were to be made by main force in the time of a
war between the Porte on the one fide, and the
Czar and King of Auguftus on the other. At
prefent it appears to me more abfurd than ever,
as according to the news from Poland, the Czar
propofes to enter Pomerania with all his forces,
and in that cafe I cannot conceive where that eſcort
can conduct the King. 'Tis true that the Mufco-
vite hostages and the Grand Vifir abfolutely deny
that the Czar has any fuch intention, faying, that
fuch a proceeding would be contrary to the peace;
but I believe it neither the lefs nor the more for
that. It is a thing quite inconceivable, how the
Turks, confidering the obligations they are under
to the King, appear all of a fudden to have be-
come the friends of his and their own enemies.
God knows what will be the end of all this. I fear
chiefly, left his Majefty fhould perfift in ftaying at
Bender, and then I know no other means of his
getting out of this country, than the making his
army advance towards the frontiers. The Swedes,
pretend that after the arrival of all the tranſports,
they will be able to take the field with upwards of
30,000 men, You will know what truth there is in
this. The 600,000 crowns which the King is nego-
tiating at the Porte, have not yet been paid, nor will
be till the King is on the point of fetting out; and
it is not known either whether the whole fum
will be given, which, however, is greatly want.
ed.
I have had ſeveral con-
ferences with the minifters of the allies here,
upon
[ 105 ]
upon the affairs of his Majefty. I endeavour to
bring them into the right road, and to remove all
that might give occafion to mutual complaints,
agreeably to the orders I daily receive on that head
from Mr. Müllern. I believe that a good harmo-
ny between the King and the allies is abfolutely ne-
ceffary, as it may procure a peace between his
Majesty and Denmark. With this view, I labour
to the utmoſt of my power to bring it about. I
make no doubt but the allies will do their utmoſt
to hinder the Czar from entering Pomerania. The
Swedes alledge that it is both their duty and in-
tereft, and it feems fo to me alfo. One effential
proof of the friendship of the allies for the King,
would make all that has paffed be forgotten, and
inftantly remove the coolneſs that has arifen between
them.
I have a thouſand thanks to give your excel-
lency, on Mr. Cook's account. I am greatly de-
lighted, Sir, that you have done him fuch an ef
fential fervice. He is a worthy polite gentleman,
and I can fay that I never knew fo many good qua-
lities in a merchant. I have the honour to be, &c.
းးးးးးးး
LETTER
To the Same.
#
XXXI.
OTOTO
SIR,
Conftantinople, June 4, 1712.
A
BOUT eight days ago I was informed by
a letter from Mr. Cook at Hamburg, that
my valet de Chambre had arrived there on the
10th of April. I am alfo told from Vienna, that
he was expected to return thither before the end
of April, fo that according to my calculation he
ought
[ 106 ]
ought already to have been back here, unless you
have thought proper to make him wait for fame
anfwer to the news from this place, which howe-
ver fince that time, have greatly altered their ap-
pearance by the peace that has been concluded.
In the mean time, I have received two of your let-
ters of the 39th of October, and the 16th of No-
vember of last year. This packet had been given
to Mr. Rolamb by the Secretary of Morhof, and
afterwards has been fent to me thither from Ben-
der in the packet of the Secretaries office to Mr.
Funk, by a Capizi Bafhaw, who by order of the
Grand Vifir denied that he received any letters at
Bender, fo that I could not get all the letters that
were brought for me, without much intrigue,
fome expences, and the affiftance of the German
Refident. I was extremely glad to get them out
of the hands of the Turks, as they would not
only have run a rifk of falling into the hands of
the Muscovite hoftages, but alſo as they will be of
very great fervice to me.We fhall hear news
by the firft poft from Bender, whether the King
fets out foon or not, as we are already informed of
the arrival of Chiaous Baſhaw, with the letters of the
Grand Signior and Grand Vifir to the King. And
as he is to concert with his Majefty all the neceffary
meaſures for the paffage through Poland, we fhall
directly know what we are to expect on that point.
King Auguftus being again acknowleged by the
Diet, is not very favourable to this defign; for
there is not the leaf probability that the Porte will
begin a new war out of regard to the King of
Sweden, eſpecially as the prefent Grand Vifir is
not a good Swede, fo that I am afraid the King
will quit the country but with little fatisfaction.
The whole depends upon fome good fuccefs in Po-
merania, and the entry of the Swedes into Poland,
or a peace with Denmark, without which, the
Swediſh
[107]
Swedish affairs appear to me in a very bad fituation.
I believe, before I fet out, which will be immedi-
ately after the arrival of my fervant, I ſhall be able
to fay fomething poſitive as to the departure of his
Majefty, as all depends upon his anſwer to the let-
ters of the Grand Signior and Grand Vifir, and
to the propofitions of the Chiaous Baſhaw. The
Mufcovites, among whom Mr. Schafirow paffes
for a man of parts, do not fail to thwart as much
as poffible this paffage of the King, and as money
is all powerful in this country, they have fome ad-
vantage over the Swedes, which is alfo the cafe
with the Grand Vifir, who 'tis faid, is not very
much in his mafter's favour. He having taken
fome umbrage at the proceedings of General Po-
niatowski, to prevent his intrigues which he is ap-
prehenſive of, he will not allow him to live any
longer with me at the Canal, or ufe any more the
Turkiſh drefs. I am, &c.
P. S. Your Excellency will find the articles of
the peace joined to my narrative. A courier ar-
rived from Bender, relates that the Chiaous Ba-
fhaw was very well received by the King, and
received from him a prefent of a fine fable
fur, with a horſe richly caparifoned. His Ma-
jefty is ready to depart, and demands of the
Porte, (1). 1,200 purfes of money, each purfe
500 crowns. (2). An escort fufficient for his
marching with fafety. (3). 4 or 500 horfes for
the equipages of his officers. (4). 200 waggons
for the baggage.
A great divan is held to-day upon theſe demands,
and if they are granted, his Majefty will foon
be able to let out.
very
LET
[ 108 ]
LETTER
To bis Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Conftantinople, June 5, 1712.
IN
N the expectation of the orders of your Serene
Highness, which I have been looking for eve-
ry day by my valet de Chambre, difpatched hence
about three months ago, and of whom I have
heard no other news, but that he had reached
Hamburg on the 10th of April, and was pro-
ceeding to Gottorp, I would not neglect the op-
portunity of a courier fent by Mr. Thalman, the
Emperor's Envoy to Peter waradin, to inform your
Serene Highneſs that fince the peace lately con-
cluded between the Ottoman Porte and the Czar,
and fince the departure of the Chiaous Bafhaw,
with the letters of the Emperor and Grand Vifir to
his Swediſh Majefty, nothing remarkable has hap-
pened in this country. Every thing now depends
upon the anſwer and refolution of the King, as to
propofals of the Chiaous Bafhaw, which we at pre-
fent expect with impatience. In the mean time,
the greateft part of the troops in Europe have al-
ready received orders to march towards Bender,
and the Cham of the Tartars has even fent a perfon
to Poland to acquaint that republic with the refo-
lution of the Grand Signior, to caufe the King of
Sweden to be eſcorted by an army of Turks and
Tartars thro' Poland to Pomerania, demanding a
paffage for that purpoſe, and promifing to obferve
good difcipline, and to pay for every thing with
ready money. We fhall fee whether the Republic,
after having quite recently acknowleged King Au-
guftus in a general diet will grant the demand,
and
XXXII.
109 ]
and whether the Porte in cafe of a refufal, will de-
clare war againſt it: alfo whether his Majefty then
will chooſe his route thro' Germany, or what other
road he will take, all which appears ftill proble-
matical and uncertain, fo that the departure of his
Majefty feems yet to meet with new delays. How-
ever, nothing pofitive can be affirmed on this fub-
ject, before the return of the King's anſwer on one
fide, and that of the Republic on the other. In
the mean time, it is certain that the 600,000 crowns
will not be granted or payed before the departure
of his Majefty be abfolutely fixed, from the Grand
Vifir's apprehenfion left the fum fhould be em-
ployed in forming dangerous intrigues againſt the
new Miniſtry, which is wholly inclined to peace,
and as general Poniatowski is well known here,
and has even ſeveral good friends in the feraglio of
the Emperor, he is underhand obferved very nar-
rowly, eſpecially as the Muſcovite hoftages do not
fail every day to give out a thouſand things about
him, to augment the fufpicions of the Grand Vifir.
The Engliſh Ambaffador who has this moment
left me, has given me the annexed copy of the treaty
of the peace between the Porte and the Czar. The
first article, which regards the evacuation of Poland
by the Muscovite troops, is conceived in fuch vague
terms, that we can hardly determine whether the
invafion of Pomerania by the fame troops is for or
againſt the article. The latter cafe, however, ap-
pears moſt probable, becauſe the Grand Vifir him-
felf, and alfo the Muscovite hoſtages pretend to
know nothing of this invafion, and treat it as a
falfe report. His Swediſh Majeſty is not pleaſed
that the English and Dutch Ambaffadors inter-
fered with this peace without the orders of their
maſters, altho' they pretend that they could not
refuſe ſo to do, in compliance with the preffing en-
treaties of the Grand Vifir.
A
A
1.
[ 10 ]
A courier diſpatched from Bender by Ifma Ba-
fhaw, and who arrived here two days ago fays,
that the Chiaous Bafhaw had been well received
by his Majefty, who made him a prefent of
a fine fable fur and a horſe richly capari-
foned; that the King appeared wholly inclined
to leave Bender as foon as poffible, if they
would give him 1,200 purfes, a fufficient eſcort
thro' Poland to Pomerania; 4 or 500 horfes for
the equipages of his officers, and 400 waggons
for his baggage. The day after the arrival of this
courier, orders were forthwith iffued to all the
troops in Romelia to haften their march towards
Bender. A great divan was then held, and we
fhall foon fee whether the abovementioned articles
will be granted, eſpecially the firſt. The Grand
Signior's letter to the King is conceived in very
obliging terms *. His Highnefs therein makes
fome excufes in refpect to the peace concluded with
the Czar: He promifes troops and money to the
King, and acquaints him that he has given orders
to the Han of the Tartars and to Ifmael Bafhaw
of Bender, to concert all the neceffary meaſures
with his Majefty for the journey, and parti-
cularly to take fuch, that they may cross Po-
land without rifking a war with that Republic.
When his Majeſty's anfwer arrives, I fhall endea-
vour to get a copy of it to communicate it to your
Serene Highnefs. All my letters from Bender,
promife me a happy difpatch upon my return. I
have the honour to be, with profound refpect, &c.
"
It may be ſeen in Theils, p. 6z; but in the terms it is
there expreffed, it is any thing but obliging.
1
A
[ 11 ]
1
A Treaty of Peace concluded between the Porte and
the Czar of Muscovy *.
THE fubject of this treaty of peace is, that
peace having been concluded between the fublime
Porte and the Czar of Mufcovy, on the fron-
tiers of Moldavia, on the 6th of the moon of Ge-
maziet-Akhir, the year of the Hegira 1123. The
conditions of the treaty mentioned, that the for-
trefs of Azak with all its dependencies, ſhould be
reftored to the Sublime Porte, in the fame condi-
tion it was in when taken, and that Taigan fhould
be entirely demoliſhed, but the reſtitution of Azak,
and the demolition of Taigan being deferred by
fome accidents, and fome other articles alfo not
having been executed on the part of the Czar,
the Porte had judged it neceffary to renew the
war this year, in order to caufe the conditions of
the treaty of peace to be obferved. Then the
great among thoſe of the religion of the Meffiah,
Baron Peter Shafirof, and General Mitchel, fon of
the good fon of the fon of Cheremet (may their
end be happy) plenipotentiaries of the Czar, and
who had been given on his part as hoftages till the
treaty ſhould be compleatly executed, had recourſe
to the great among thofe of the religion of the
Meffiah, Sir Robert Sutton and James Collyer
(may God always direct them in the path of truth)
Ambaffadors of England and the States general,
who with the permiffion of the Sublime Porte be-
came mediators, and entreated to eſtabliſh anew,
4
>
1
a firm peace, by removing the obftacles above-
mentioned. While the conferences were held by
*This piece may be found in the Memoirs of Mr. Theils,
but in an ornate and elegant ftile. We have given it here as
it was tranflated word for word from the original Turkiſh,
which perhaps will be more agreeable to our readers.
J
the
[112]
the mediation of the Ambaffadors, news arrived
that the Czar had reftored the fortrefs of Azak
agreeable to the treaty, and that Taigan had been
razed. Thus, by the fame mediation and agreea-
ble attention of the Ambaffadors, the conditions
neceffary for eſtabliſhing a firm peace, have been
regulated in this treaty in feven articles, in the
manner which follows.
Article I. The Czar will withdraw his troops
that he has in Poland on this fide, 30 days after
the date of the prefent treaty, and as it is neceffary
that he ſhould give his orders to withdraw his
other troops that are in Poland on the other fide
we have granted him the term of three months.
There ſhall not a ſingle perſon of the Czar's army
remain in Poland, and that Prince fhall not leave
any of his troops there under pretence that they
are no longer in his pay, and that they no longer
belong to him. To conclude, within three months,
he fhall withdraw all his troops from Poland,
fhall not intermeddle in the Poliſh affairs, fhall not
in time coming, under any pretext whatever, fend
his troops to the kingdom of Poland, and fhall ab-
folutely abandon it. Nevertheleſs, if the King of
Sweden or his army enter the kingdom of Poland,
and excite the Poles againſt the Czar, and the King
of Sweden ſhould make an alliance with the Poles,
when their deſigns are once apparent, the Mufco-
vite troops fhall be allowed to enter Poland, and
commit acts of hoftility against their enemies,
without the Porte's being able to allege it as an in-
fraction of this treaty. And if upon the account a-
bovementioned, the King of Sweden and the Czar of
Muscovy ſhould make war on each other after this
war, and after the King of Sweden fhall have left
Poland, the Czar of Mufcovy fhall not remain in
Poland, but fhall go out of it with all his army,
and likewife fhall not leave there any troops.
Art.
[ "
113 ]
Art. II. The Porte fhall conduct the King of
Sweden at what time, and by what route it pleafes,
and ſhall neither be obliged to determine the time
nor the route, and if the Porte conduct him to
Muscovy, no act of hoftility fhall be committed
till he arrive in his own dominions, neither by him
nor his troops, nor by the eſcort which fhall ac-
company him, either directly or indirectly, and
alſo while the King of Sweden is on his march, no
injury ſhall be done to him till he arrive in his own
dominions, either directly or indirectly, to that
Prince or to his troops, or to the efcort which the
Porte fhall give him; by the Czar of Mufcovy,
by the Muscovites, or by thofe who depend upon
that Prince, fo that the King of Sweden fhall pafs
in full fecurity. And after the King of Sweden is
arrived in his dominions, no hurt fhall be done ei-
ther directly or indirectly, by the Mufcovites, or
thöfe who depend on the Mufcovites, to the Ot-
toman troops when they are returning in fecurity.
Art. III. The fortrefs of Kiovia which is beyond
the Borifthenes, the Palancks, and the territories de-
pending on them, and the Coffacks and their country
beyond the fame river being in the poffeffion of the
Czar of Muscovy, ſhall ſtill remain in the poffeffion of
that Prince according to their antient limits; and
the Czar of Mufcovy fhall entirely give up his
claim to the Coffacks on this fide the Borifthenes,
the land fortreffes, and the Palancks, according to
their antient limits, excepting Kiovia and the lands
and palancks that depend upon it. The Czar of
Mufcovy fhall alfo quit his claim to the inland cal-
led Sitz, which is in the Borifthenes on this fide of
the River. The Coffack nation that remains on
the fide of the Czar, fhall not do any hurt or da-
mage, directly or indirectly contrary to this treaty
of Peace, on the fide of Crim, nor to the other
countries and fubjects depending upon this Empire;
I
and
[ I
14 ]
and if that nation does any action contrary to the
treaty of peace, the Czar fhall cauſe them to be
punished, and fhall hinder thoſe fort of diforders,
without ufing the pretext that they are Coffacks
and not Mufcovites. And alfo the Coffacks and
Tartars on the fide of the Porte, ſhall not do any
damage to the Muscovites or Coffacks ſubject to
the Czar, and if they fhall do any thing contrary
to this treaty of peace, the Porte fhall caule them
to be puniſhed.
Art. IV. As the fortreſs of Azak is the head of
the Frontier belonging to the Porte, and that of
Tzerkerkirman (formerly called Circaſki) is the head
of the Frontier of Muscovy, to avoid all caufe of
a rupture, neither party fhall build any fortrefs be-
tween those two places, and four months after the
conclufion of this treaty, and at the time when
Azak fhall be restored and Zaigan demoliſhed,
the fortreffes and other fortifications which have
been lately built between Tzerkerkirman and Azak,
and upon the territories of Tzerkerkirman fhall be
razed. Nevertheleſs, while Azak was in poffeffion
of the Czar of Mufcovy, that Prince having built
a fortrefs oppofite to Azak on the other fide of the
Tanais, and having razed it when Azak was de-
livered to the Porte, the Porte may build, if it
pleafes, a fortrefs in place of that which was razed,
efpecially as there is nothing between the ruins of
that fortrefs and Azak, but the river Tanais, and
as that place depends upon Azak.
Art. V. In the former treaty of peace, it was
ftipulated that Azak with all its dependencies,
fhould be reftored to the Porte in the fame ftate it
was in when taken. Now when that place was
taken by the Czar, there were in it 60 pieces of
Brafs cannon, and as they had only left iron cannon
in room of the others when they lately restored it
to the Porte, the Czar fhall ufe his utmoft endea-
vours
[ 15 ]
20
1
yours to find thoſe 60 pieces of braſs cannon to re-
ftore them to the Porte. Thofe which fhall be
found fhall be delivered to the Porte without dif-
ficulty, and the price of the cannons that cannot
be found fhall be paid to the Porte, and, as has
been faid, after the fame brafs cannons have been
delivered to the Porte or their price paid, the iron
cannons which were in the place ſhall be delivered
to the Czar.
Art. VI. In the fame treaty of peace concluded on
the frontiers of Moldavia, it having been ftipulated
that the Czar fhould immediately after raze Ka-
mienka and the new fortrefs on the Sarmara, and
that neither party fhould for the future build for-
treffes in thoſe places, agreably to this article,
neither party ſhall build fortreffes in thofe places.
Art. VII. The continuance of this prefent treaty
has been determined to 25 years fucceffively fol-
lowing, to begin from the day of the date of the
prefent treaty, and the articles fhall be carefully
obferved on both fides during that time; and if
before the term be expired there is a defire to pro-
long the peace, it may be done with the confent
of the parties. After the Czar fhall be informed
of the treaty of peace, he ſhall ſend an Ambaffa-
dor to the Porte with his ratification, and to re-
ceive the capitulations; and if befides the articles
contained in this treaty, the parties want to infert
others uſeful to both parties, an agreement on theſe
heads may be made with the Ambaffador that fhall
be fent by the Czar to conclude the treaty, and to
preferve a good intelligence and good correfpon-
dence; and if at that time neither parties fhall add
new articles, the prefent treaty fhall be received
and ratified by the Porte. To the Plenipotentia-
ries and hoftages abovementioned, in virtue of their
full power, agreeing to and accepting of, on the
part of the Czar the abovementioned conditions,
I 2
con-
[ 116 ]
contained in the above ſeven articles fhall be de-
livered by the intervention and evidence of the
Ambaffador-Mediators above named, a like trea-
ty, which is ftrictly to be obſerved, written in the
Ruffian language and tranflated into Italian. And
we in virtue of our abfolute power as Minifter,
have figned and fealed this treaty which is alſo to
be obferved, and we have delivered it to the faid
Plenipotentiaries and Hoftages. Written on the
10th of the Moon of Rebicove 1124, which an-
fwers to the 16th of April, 1712.
(L. S.)
JUSSU F.
Boong đó có
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XXXIII.
SIR,
Conftantinople, July 2, 1712.
FOR
OR theſe five or fix days fince the happy re-
turn of my valet de Chambre, as I have been
on the point of returning to Bender, there to
endeavour to receive my difpatches, I fhall
from thence fend a full anſwer to the two letters
which you did me the honour to write to me,
and alfo to the refcript of his Serene Highneſs.
I fhall at prefent content myſelf with telling you
by the courier who fets out this moment for Pe-
terwaradin, that the anſwer of his Swediſh Ma-
jefty to the Grand Signior's letter is at length ar-
rived, and he exprefsly orders his Envoy Mr. Funk,
to demand a public audience of the Grand Signior,
to deliver it into his own hands. As it is a thing
quite unheard of that a Minifter fhould ever have
two audiences, and as even an audience of leave
is
[117]
is never granted to any Ambaffador, the Grand
Vifir, who is piqued that the King has fent no an-
fwer to his letter, has greatly oppofed the King's
defire, efpecially as both by law and cuftom the
practice is confirmed of giving all letters for the
Grand Signior into the hands of the Grand Vifir,
who even receives alfo a copy of the contents.
The Envoy, however, infifting upon his orders,
and declaring alſo that the letter was fealed, and
that he did not know what it contained, the Grand
Vifir after fome difputes was obliged to call the
Reis Effendi, to give a Talchis or an account of it
to the Grand Signior, upon which next day the au-
dience was granted for Tueſday morning, to the
aftoniſhment of every one here. As it is one of
the moſt curious things to be feen in this Empire,
and as a perſon on this occafion has acceſs to pla-
ces where no chriftian at any other time dare enter,
General Poniatowski and I have refolved to go in-
cognito among the retinue of the Envoy, as is
cuftomary on the like occafions. Immediately af-
ter the audience, I will go on board a ſmall boat
of 12 oars to join my equipage at Silicori, a port
of the Black Sea about 12 leagues from hence.
The King will be very glad that I ſhould ſee the
audience, to give him an account of all that paffes.
He defired Mr. Müllern by a letter received about
15 days ago, to beg of me to watch a little the
proceedings of General Goltz the Envoy of King
Auguftus, and to endeavour to difcover his views
and his intrigues at the Porte. This Mr. Goltz
has declared at two vifits that he made to the En-
glish Ambaffador, the great defire his mafter has
to conclude a peace, even exclufive of his allies,
and of this I will make fome mention upon my
return to Bender. The Engliſh Ambaſſador alío
charges me to make his peace with the King on
account of the mediation, but this I believe will
I 3
be
[ 118 ]
be a little difficult. The King has not yet göt à
farthing of money from the Porte, altho' we are
affured that 300,000 crowns have been fent to
Bender, and that as much will be paid here. I
make no doubt upon my return to Bender, of ob-
taining a pofitive order as to my departure. I fi-
niſh, with affuring you, that none can be moré
than I, &c.
శ్రీశ్రీ
LETTER
oooo ooo
XXXIV.
To Count Reventlau at Vienna.
SIR,
Conftantinople, July 10, 1712.
MY
Y valet de Chambre did not arrive here be-
fore the end of last month, on account of
the overflowing of the Danube. I am infinitely
obliged to you for the care you took of him, and
will thank you, Sir, on every occafion, and the
Countefs alfo, for the fine cloaths fhe has fent us.
Every one fays they are magnificent and in a fine
tafte; and they are come fo much the more fea-
fonably, as they will ferve us at an audience of the
Grand Signior. I will tell you on what account.
The King of Sweden having at length fent an an-
fwer to the Grand Signior's letter, ordered his En-
voy to deliver the letter at a public audience. As
this is a thing almoft unheard of after the firft au-
dience, and the Grand Vifir being alfo piqued that
the King had not wrote to him, he wanted to hinder
the granting of an audience under pretence of the
law and cuftoms, according to which all letters for
the Grand Signior fhould not only be delivered to
the Grand Vifir, but also the copy of the contents
given to him. But Mr. Funk having infifted upon
his orders, and that as the letter was fealed, he did
****
not
1+
[119]
AN
AS
זך
3
ป
dur
not know its contents, the Grand Vifir was obliged
to refer the whole affair to the Grand Signior, who
to the aſtoniſhment of all the world, granted the
audience for Tueſday morning. Mr. Poniatowski
and I have reſolved to go to the audience among
the retinue of the Envoy, and immediately after
I fhall fet out for Bender. I fhall, to the utmoſt
of my power, fulfil all the commiffions which you
have fent me by my valet de Chambre. The
young Negro will be the greatest difficulty. I
have one of 13 years of age at the fervice of the
Counteſs. Be fo good, Sir, as to fend my letters
for the future directly thro' Hungary for Bender,
and be perfuaded that I am, &c.
P. S. of the 11th of July. The audience has
been happily given this morning. The Grand
Signior never appeared fo pleaſant and gay at any
audience, which gives us good hopes. The Grand
Vifir is not a little difturbed. I beg you would
write this to court, as I have not time to do ſo.
OOO
LÖTŐTŐLŐTŐLŐLŐT
of of otototo
LETTER
To his Serene Highness the Duke Administrator.
SIR,
Bender, August 3, 1712.
I
Would not fail to take the opportunity of the
poft newly eſtabliſhed between Cronstadt (the
capital of Tranfilvania) and this place, moft humbly
to inform your Serene Highness, that I returned
from Conftantinople about eight days ago, having
found his Majefty in perfect health, gay, and in
the moſt aſtoniſhing eafinefs of mind. He received
me in the moſt gracious manner, and feemed very
well
I 4
XXXV.
[ 120 ]
well pleaſed with my ſtay at Conftantinople. :
At preſent I have great reaſon to flatter myſelf with
quick and good difpatches; however I will not
urge them till about four or five weeks hence, to
fee first whether his Majefty will pass the winter
here, or will ftill fet out this year. The audience
which the Emperor gave to Mr. Funk fucceeded
very happily. That Prince appeared to us more
gracious and more chearful, than as they told us he
ordinarily is on thofe occafions. He kept the
King's letter for fome days together without fhew-
ing it to the Grand Vifir. There is, however, no-
thing pofitive determined upon this letter, altho'
his Majefty has there reprefented fully to his High-
neſs, in what manner they had neglected his intereft
in the late peace, how little they ought to depend upon
the word of the Muscovites, fince notwithſtanding the
first article, they had marched with an army quite
lately thro' Poland into Pomerania, that it was there-
fore impoffible to cross that kingdom with a ſmall ef-
cort, and lastly, that his Majesty entirely relied upon
the word of the Emperor fo often given, and repeated
but lately by the Chiaous Bafhaw, both in respect to
the efcort and in refpect to the money.
In the mean time, the Grand Vifir has lately de-
clared in a private audience granted to the Swediſh
Envoy, that his Highnefs will pay all the King's
debts, but that otherwife he will only give him
100,000 crowns ready money and an efcort of
10,000 men. Nevertheleſs we flatter ourſelves
greatly with a new depofition of the Grand Vifir,
efpecially as the Aga who was diſpatched fome
time ago to Poland, returned a few days ago with
the anſwer of Siniaffki, Grand General of the
crown, which confifts of the fubftance of what the
Republic is to give in anſwer to the propoſitions of
the Porte by an entraordinary Ambaffador, whom
fhe defigned to fend for that purpoſe to Conftanti-
nople,
[ 121 ]
1
nople, namely, that tho' the Republic did not pre-
tend to oppofe that paffage, there was however fo
great a number of Mufcovite troops in Poland and
Pomerania, that it would be impoffible to march thro
the Kingdom without a confiderable army. With this
anfwer, that forebodes no good to the Grand
Vifir, the Aga has been diſpatched to Conftantino-
ple two days ago by Ifmael Baſhaw of Bender, and
as we fuppofe, the Emperor feeing by this account
that his Grand Vifir has fuffered himſelf to be led
by the nofe by the Mufcovites, and that the paſ-
fage thro' Poland will not be ſo eaſy as they have
made him believe, we therefore flatter ourſelves
greatly with a happy revolution.
I likewife would not fail to-day of moft humbly
anfwering the refcript of your Serene Highness of
the 23d of April, that his Majefty is pleaſed with
my ſtay at Conftantinople, efpecially when I men-
tioned to him fome propofitions from Mr. Goltz,
the Envoy of King Auguftus, which would not be
prejudicial to his Majeſty's interefts in the preſent
conjunctures, as I fhall have the honour to ex-
plain to your Serene Highness at my return to
Holſtein.
I hope therefore foon to
receive good diſpatches from his Majeſty, which I
expect with fo much the more impatience, as I
have a great defire to declare to your Serene High-
nefs by word of mouth, how much I have the ho-
nour to be, &c.
LET-
[122]
LETTER
·
To Baron Goertz.
XXXVI.
SIR,
Bender, August 3, 1712.
T
HE audience which I had of the Grand Sig-
nior with Mr. Funk, a few days before my
departure from Conftantinople, would not permit
me fully to anſwer the two letters of the 23d of
March, and 23d of April, which you did me the
honour to write to me by my valet de Chambre, as
I fhall now do here directly after my return. This
your Excellency will know by a ſmall billet I wrote
to Count Reventlau a few hours after my arrival.
Mr. Goltz, Envoy of King Au-
guftus at the Porte, caufed me at Conftantinople
by means of the Engliſh Ambaffador, to make
fome overtures of peace with the King of Sweden,
which I hope will not be entirely rejected. I like-
wife act as mediator between this court and Mr.
Cook, to engage him to pay all the King's credi-
tors in Turky, upon having a bond payable two
or three years hence. By this I make my court
greatly to his Majefty, whofe confidence I have the
honour to gain every day more and more.
According to the account we have received from
the young Count Tarlo, who has lately arrived
here from Sweden, there is little hopes of a tranf-
portation of troops this year. In this cafe I fear
greatly for Pomeraina, unleſs England, after her
peace with France, do not offer her good offices to
put an end to the war in the North. I have reafon
to believe that they would accept of them with
pleaſure on the prefent conjunctures.
*
·
Mr. Grothufen, who grows more into favour every
day, is at prefent Hafmadar, that is to fay treaſurer
to
6
1
[ 123 ]
to the King. 'Tis a miracle how he ftill finds al-
ways money to borrow, altho' at very high intereſt.
I conftantly recommend to you a peace with Den-
mark. It would be the moft effential fervice that
could be done to his Majefty. You fee, Sir, by
my preſent narrative, in what ſtate affairs are here.
If the Grand Vifir is not depofed after the arrival
of the Aga at Conftantinople, who is come from.
Poland, and by whofe account the Grand Signior
will fee, that the Mufcovites are ftill in Poland and
in Pomerania, and confequently that the paffage of
the King is impoffible, unless they grant a very
numerous eſcort; there is then no great appear-
ance of the King's affairs fucceeding well. The
only favourable circumſtance is that the Han of the
Tartars and Ifmael Bafhaw of Bender, are both
heartily in the interefts of his Majefty. According
to all appearance the King will pass the winter here
yet, and he will not perhaps fet out before his ar-
my enter Poland, or before the peace be made,
unleſs the war be again renewed between the Porte
and the Czar, which is not impoffible if the Grand
Vifir be depofed, which we are the more inclined
to hope, as 'tis certain that he is not beloved by
the Grand Signior, and that he was only made
from neceffity. So much, Sir, for our principal
news here, and every thing elfe that I have thought
neceffary to acquaint you with at this time. As
there is now a regular poft between this place and
Vienna, thro' Moldavia, Tranfylvania and Hun-
gary, fhall have the honour to affure you more
regularly with how much zeal and attachment I
am, &c.
1
C
4
LETTER
[ 124 ]
LETTER XXXVII.
To bis Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Bender, Auguft 25, 1712.
Α'
FFAIRS here are ftill in the fame crifis in
which they were when I fent you my laſt
humble narrative of the 3d of this month. There
is not any thing new, excepting the memorial that
his Majefty has fince caufed to be put into the Em-
peror's own hands againſt the Grand Vifir, to com-
plain of him, that he has fuffered himſelf to be
ftupidly deceived, or rather that he has fuffered
himfelf to be bribed by the Mufcovites, who in-
ftead of evacuating Poland quietly, continue there
with a great number of troops, contrary to the
exprefs tenor of the 1ft article of the treaty. We
fhall fee what effect this memorial will have. In
the mean time, we look upon it as a good fign that
the Emperor has not yet communicated this me-
morial to the Grand Vifir, as we are pofitively af-
fured by all our letters from Conftantinople. Mean-
while, a Salobor (who is a kind of groom) arrived
here yeſterday, with an hatfcherif or letter of the
Emperor to the Cham of the Tartars, who is en-
camped within two leagues of this place. We do
not exactly know what it contains. We conjecture
only, that it will be a new order to him to fend
fome perfon to the Republic of Poland, to make
a fecond demand of a paffage for his Swediſh Ma-
jefty, who in all probability will pass the winter
here, unleſs his army, after receiving the fuccours
by fea, find means of penetrating into Poland.
Then the worft will be, that money becoming
ſcarcer here every day, may at length fail entirely,
and
[ 125 *]
and 'tis almoſt a miracle how Colonel Grothufen
could have found means of negotiating feveral
tons of gold for the fervice of his Majefty. I have
the honour to be, &c.
P. S. of the 17th of September. His Majefty has
given orders to the Adjutant General Sten Arwid-
fon, and to the Secretary Klinkowftrom, to accom-
pany the Salohor abovementioned to Poland, both
of them difguifed like Turks, the firft to ferve
him as interpreter, and the fecond to treat of
bufinefs. They all fet out together from hence a
few days ago, and immediately upon their return,
we fhall fee in what ftate affairs are here. Very few
perfons know of this, and 'tis generally believed
here that they are gone to Conftantinople. We
now not only hope that the tranſports will be
already arrived at Pomerania; but we alfo flatter
ourfelves that the Queen of England will fend a
fquadron into the Sound. This morning Brigadier
Eofander (a Swede and a great architect) in the Ser-
vice of his Pruffian Majefty, is arrived here with
Mr. Brünel, Secretary of the Swediſh Embaffy at
Berlin, to propofe, as far as I can learn, an alliance
with the King. I will ſpare no pains to know the
particulars of it, in order to give your Serene
Highneſs an account of it.
LETTER
OOO
XXXVIII.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
·Bender, August 25 --- Sept. 5, 1712.
I
Have received by an exprefs, the refcript of his
Serene Highness of the 6th of June.
Inform me, I beg of you, of the true circumftan-
•
ces
126 ]
ces of the party which our troops have taken in
following the Duke of Ormond, with which his
Majefty has been fo much the better pleaſed, as
the peace between France and England makes the
King hope for good offices from the Queen. Here
they make no doubt but the tranſports will be at
length arrived by this time, after the letters we
have received from Count Stenbok at Carleſcroon,
that he was infallibly to embark, and King Stanif-
laus likewife on the 22d of July. This tranfpor-
tation will undoubtedly change the face of affairs.
Here affairs are always in the
fame fituation. A thundering memorial has been
prefented againſt the Grand Vifir, but we do not
yet know what effect it has had. They are think-
ing of fending again to Poland to demand a paf-
fage, and to cauſe the Mufcovites to evacuate that
country. The King in all probability will pass the
winter here. I hope foon to arrive in Holſtein, and
affure you by word of mouth, how much I am, &c.
.
P. S. September 17. Brigadier Eofander arrived
this morning from Berlin, plainly to propofe
fome alliances, the particulars of which I will en-
deavour to diſcover, and will inform you of them
as foon as I can.
☀☀ ☀☀80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LETTER
XXXIX.
To Count Reventlau.
SIR,
Bender, September 3, 1712.
RECEIVED by Mr. Kempen the packet
which your excellency fent
me, with
of the 19th of July, as I mentioned in hafte in
I
your letter
my
[ 127 ]
28
H
"
my last. He ought now to have been at Vienna
near four weeks with the difparches of the court.
I fhall not fail, after the departure of this post, to
preſent a memorial to his Majefty in virtue of the
orders of his Serene Highneſs, and fuitable to my
inſtructions, in order to obtain my diſpatches. But
this, Sir, needs not hinder you from fending all
my letters to Cronstadt, with the lateſt Gazettes,
from whence General Faber or a Swediſh Captain,
who refides there, will fend them hither to me;
for I am not yet certain when the King will give
me my diſpatches. I am obliged to your excel-
lency for the public news which you ſend me, and
I beg of Secretary Morhof, to fend me every poſt,
an extract of the principal news of Europe, as the
King is very curious to know them. I doubt
whether the news, that the troops of Holſtein
followed the Duke of Ormond, be fa agreeable at
Vienna, as they were here. The King feemed
very well pleaſed with that circumſtance.
We are
much furpriſed here, that the imperial court would
not grant a paſs to Colonel Urbanowitz, who is in
his Majesty's fervice. If your excellency could
affift him in getting one, I would not fail of repre-
fenting your goodness to the King, as I do on
every occafion. Mr. Grothufen, who is greatly in
in his Majeſty's favour, Mr. Duben, and your
other friends fend their compliments to you.
'Tis
believed here, that after the defeat of the Earl of
Albemarle at Denain, there will be no other action
of confequence, and that a general peace may fol-
low this winter. This is wifhed for here, to give
an opportunity to the guarantees of the peace of-
Travendahl and Alt Ranſtadt, to make good their
Stipulations. I make no doubt, Sir, but the King
is accufed at the Imperial court of being in the
French intereft, and of having fome engagement
with France, efpecially, fince Brigadier Fierville
2
has
[ 128 ]
has returned hither: but I can affure you, and
you may depend upon it, that they wrong the
King, and that there is not the ſmalleſt engage-
ments, as I have opportunities to know all that
paffes, you may be certain of the truth of what I
have told you.
As to affairs here, the Grand Signior is in
great wrath againſt the Muscovites for not having
left Poland, and againſt the Grand Vifir for hav-
ing fuffered himſelf to be duped; they have again ſent
a folohor or groom to fee if they are ftill there. In
that cafe the Grand Vifir will pafs his time but badly,
and we will again fee great revolutions, eſpecially,
if the Swediſh tranſports arrive at Pomerania, as
we have flattered ourſelves fince the arrival of ſome
poſts from Sweden. We no longer doubt but the
Danes will invade the territory of Bremen. I be-
lieve we ſhall hear of it by the firft poft. I hope,
though I am not quite certain, to be able to tell
you by word of mouth in October at Vienna, how
perfectly I am, &c.
P.S. The King is at fuch variance with Ra-
gozzi and Berezini, that he would never allow Mr.
Müllern to hear the propofitions of one Papay,
whom Ragozzi fent to Conftantinople concerning
a diſcovery he made in the ftars, that he ſhould
one day be prince of Tranfylvania, and fome-
thing greater. But he has met with the fame re-
eption there as here.
LET-
[129]
1
-1
+
4
LETTER XL.
To the Same.
SIR,
Bender, September 7, 1712¿
I
HAVE fent back Mr. Kempen with the pre-
fent difpatches, partly becauſe he not having
Found things anfwer here, has perfecuted me every
day to difmifs him, and partly becauſe 'tis very
rare that a poft is difpatched from hence, and as I
have found it neceffary to inform the court of our
affairs, and of what paffes here. There is no fa-
vourable alteration to be expected in his Majefty's
affairs, till the return of the Salohor, who has been
fent into Poland, to fee if there are any Mufcovites
ftill there. If there are, 'tis likely we may yet
have war again according to the letters that one of
my Janiffaries brought me this morning from Con-
ftantinople. Mr. Kempen will tell you how ex-
penfive, and how difagreeable an abode we have
here. I am, &c.
P. S. This morning Mr. Eofander the King of
Pruffia's miniſter arrived here, with the Swediſh
fecretary, Brunel, from Berlin, according to all
appearance to propoſe an alliance.
K
LET
[130]
LETTER XLI.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Bender, November 1, 1712.
A
S it is the cuftom here to keep the time of the
fetting out of the poft a great mystery, I can
only fend you this fhort letter under cover to Mr.
Freifendorf (Swedish Envoy) at Berlin. I beg your
excellency will excufe me to his Serene Highness.
I hope you have received my laft which was pretty
full. Affairs here are ftill on the fame footing,
that is, at Conftantinople, they wait for the return
of the Salohor, who has been in Poland to ſee if
there are actually any Mufcovites there. He paf-
fed thro' here a few days ago, and fays, that there
are Ruffians there in feveral places, but that (Sini-
affki) Palatine of Beltz, pretends, to have invited
them thither. Secretary Klinkowftrom, and Ad-
jutant-general Sten Arwidfon are returned with
him, and the laft fets out this night for 'Conftanti-
nople; Mr. Comentojofki, ambaffador from the
republic of Poland, has alfo paffed within theſe
few days to Jazzi, in his way to Conftantinople: but
the party of the republic here, which is compofed
of Prince Wifniowifki, Count Sapieha Bobrowiſki
(between whom, however, there is a great difpute
about the office of grand general of Lithuania)
and the Counts Tarlo and Cryfpin, General Po-
niatowski, and Meffrs. Grudrinski Ubbanowitz,
Bobroniſki, &c. this evening fent the young
Count Cryfpin to Conftantipople to proteſt againſt
the reception of that ambaffador. The news of
the arrival of the tranſports, or at leaſt a part of
them at the ifle of Rugen, and the defeat of
I
the
[131]
ן
the Mufcovites in the defcent that they at
tempted, a little revives the fpirits of the court
here, who on account of the want of money, and
the bad fuccefs, of their affairs at the Porte, had
almoſt loft all hopes. We flatter ourſelves, that
theſe news may again infpire the court of Den-
mark with pacific inclinations, which would ſtill
be very agreeable to his Majefty. There is but
little probability that Mr. Eolander, who is on the
point of fetting out, will fucceed in his propoſals.
A few weeks ago I prefented to Mr. Müllern my
memorial in regard to my difpatches, but as they are
very bufy at prefent, I have as yet had no anfwer.
I expect it, however, without fail next week, and in
that cafe I fhall have the honour to affure you
by word of mouth that I am, &c.
LETTER
XLII.
To his Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Bender, November 10, 1712.
NOW take an opportunity of fending your
Serene Highneſs a third humble narrative fince
my return from Conftantinople, for altho' there is
a regular Swediſh poſt between this and Cronstadt,
the chief uſe of it, neverthertheless, is rather to
receive letters from Germany than to fend any
thither, which hardly happens once in four weeks,
and then is kept fuch a great mystery, that all I
could do, was now and then to fend a letter to
the privy-counſellor Baron Goertz, and to ſend it
fealed under the cover of the court. I wish with
all my heart, however, that they may have hap
pily arrived, that your Serene Highness may know
K 2
the
[132]
==
the fituation of affairs here, which appear ftill very
perplexed. The chief news, fince I wrote laft, is,
that an ambaffador from the republic of Poland,
named Commentojoſki, having paffed thro' Jazzi
to Conftantinople, the fenators of the republic,
who are here, have folemnly proteſted at the Porte
againſt that embaffy, as your Highneſs will fee by
my last letter to the privy-counfellor Baron Goertz.
We will hear by the firft courier that comes from
Conftantinople, what effect this proteftation will
have, and what refolution the Porte will take upon
it. In the mean time the Mufcovite ambaffador,
who has lately arrived at Conftantinople, has not
yet been able to obtain an audience of the Grand
Signior, and 'tis firmly believed here, that when
Once the certain news arrives there, that not only,
a great body of Mufcovite troops are ſtill in Poland
but that alfo a number of their troops are on their
march thither, the new ambaffador and likewiſe
the Mufcovite hoftages may probably go in com-
pany to the Seven Towers. Meanwhile the Cham
of the Tartars, who is encamped within three
hours march of this place, received orders a few
days ago to give an account to the Porte of what
he knew of the affairs of Poland, and if he thought
it poffible or fuitable to conduct his Majefty with
an eſcort of 50 or 60,000 Tartars thro' that king-
dom to his army, in which cafe, if the King would
refolve to depart, money fhould be furniſhed him
for the voyage: the Capizzi Bafhaw, who carried
thefe orders to the Cham, has already returned to
Conftantinople, and in ten or twelve days we may
be able to fay fomething pofitive on this head.
'Tis my opinion the King wilt readily accept the
offer, provided he learns directly that his army has
entered Poland, which would be the beft courſe
that Count Stienbok could follow, and that which
King Staniſlaus in all probability would like beft.
As
[ 133 ]
As to Mr. Eofander, the King will not fail of cul-
tivating a friendſhip with his mafter as much as
poffible, and to give him the moft obliging dif
patches at his departure, which is to be in a day
or two. Mr. Adlerfeld *, who is marſhal of the
court to King Staniſlaus, arrived here likewiſe a
few days ago, as alfo fome of the fecretaries, and
a gentleman of the court named Palenberg. The
firſt will probably return directly after having re-
ceived his diſpatches from the fecretary's-office.
For theſe five or fix weeks paft I have not receiv-
ed a letter from Holſtein, altho' I have written to
Count Raventlau to ſend directly to Cronftadt all
thoſe for me directed to Vienna, as the Swediſh
poft newly eſtabliſhed could bring them from Cron-
ftadt hither. In the mean time we have learned
with grief, that the plague had broke out in fome
parts of Ducal Holftein. His Majefty himself has
been informed of it within thefe few days. We
are even told here, that it has appeared already at
Hamburg, ſo that the great fair of Kiel according
to all appearance will not be kept this year. I have
the honour to be, &c.
P. S. Your Serene Highnefs may fee if you
pleaſe, by the annexed narrative, the great and
happy revolution that has happened here, with all
its circumſtances. I at prefent flatter myself to be
in Germany before the end of the year.
A Narrative of the 12th of November, 1712.
TH
HE foregoing moft humble narrative might
have been fent from hence ten days ago, if his
Majefty had not detained Count Tarlo the bearer
*His inftructions dated at Carlefcroon 16th of Auguft, 1712,
were written wholly by King Staniſlaus's own hand.
of
K 3
[ 134 ]
of theſe diſpatches from day to day, that he might
be able to fend fome account that can be depended
upon to Sweden, concerning the prefent affairs of
this country. And as a courier the day before
yeſterday brought from Conftantinople to Ifmael
Bafhaw, and Serafkier of Bender here, very great,
furprising, and unexpected news; the faid Count
Tarlo will fet out from hence this evening without
fail, to give an account of them to King Staniſlaus.
The following is the fubftance of this great news.
When the Turkish Aga or the Salohor, who had
been in Poland, returned to Conftantinople with
a Tartar Murfa, who had accompanied him in the
journey, the emperor being informed by him that
the Mufcovites, notwithstanding their promiſes,
were still there in great numbers over all the king-
dom, he immediately ordered a great divan. Af-
ter all the members of that great council were af-
femble, the Emperor took out of his pocket the
Hod Ziet (which is a caution written to the act of
guarantee, given to the Emperor lately by the Grand
Vifir the Mufti, and other officers of the Porte, that
the Mufcovites would obferve and execute the articles
of the peace in every point) and afking in an au-
thoritative tone, why the Mufcovites, notwithſtand-
ing all their affurances, had not yet evacuated Po-
land? the Grand Vifir then without anfwering a
fingle word, held down his head with an air of
dejection, while all the affembly kept a profound
filence. At length the Mufti venturing to fpeak,
faid to the Emperor, fince we have been all cheated
fo bafely by thofe treacherous Muscovites, I am wil-
ling, in order to revenge you and ourselves at the fame
time, to give a Fetfa directly. (Fetfa is a written per-
miffion and benediction, without which, the Grand
Signior, according to the laws, cannot begin a
war, and which the Mufti alone has a right to give
him.) Having accordingly written it upon the
fpot,
[ 135 ]
564
fpot, and preſented it to the Emperor, his High-
nefs accepted it, and gave orders directly to guard
the Muscovites more ftrictly, and not to admit
any one whatever to ſpeak to them on pain of death.
Next day the Capizzi Bafhaw, whom the Emperor
had fecretly difpatched hither to the Cham of the
Tartars (the fame whom I have mentioned in my
foregoing letter annexed to this) returning to Con-
ftantinople gave a true report to the Emperor of
the fentiments of the Cham, namely, "that the
66
Emperor was cheated by the Mufcovites; that
"the Grand Vifir acted in concert with them;
"and that the Emperor run a great rifk of being
"quickly depofed, if he did not take the ſtart of
"the Grand Vifir, by depofing him firſt." There
needed not fo much to irritate the haughty Ach-
met. He began with ordering the next day the
two Muscovite hoftages to be fent to the Seven
Towers with .the two ambaffadors, and all the of-
ficers of the Mufcovite fubjects; and likewife the
Major-general Goltz, minifter of King Auguftus;
(but this laſt needs more confirmation) and as to
the fubjects of the Porte, who were found in the
ſervice of the Mufcovites, they were all fent to the
gallies. Next day the Grand Vifir had orders to
appear before the Emperor, whom, nevertheless,
he did not fee, as the mubur, that is the great feal
of the empire was taken from him before he came
to him. He was at the fame time put under arreſt
at the houſe of the Boſtangi Baſhaw, where in all
probability he will be ftripped of his riches, after
which without doubt he will be ftrangled. His
office was thereupon given with the Muhur to So-
liman Bafhaw of the Cube Viſirs, or Vifirs of the
Divan, who after the depofition of the Grand
Vifir Numen Bafhaw had been Caimikan at Con-
ftantinople. This Soliman is the fame with whom
I dined lately at the audience, fo that I know him.
K 4
perfectly
[ 136 ]
perfectly well. He has the reputation of being a
very good man; but is not reckoned a great ge-
nius. War was immediately after declared, in
confequence of which orders were fent throughout
the whole empire, and we expect every day to fee
the tails difplayed, that is, when the emperor pro-
pofes to fet out for Adrianople, (whither he is to
repair the firft moon, as he refolves to make the
campaign in perfon.) In the mean time the 1200
purfes in queftion or 600,000 crowns, are already
on the way thither, and 200 purfes of them have
already been paid to the King a few days ago. And
what is ftill more, they will now acknowledge no
other King of Poland at the Porte than King Sta-
niflaus, nor any other republic than that which is
at Bender, which is compofed of the grand and.
little generals of Poland and Lithuania, Kiowſki,
Wifniowifki, Saphia Bobroniſki, Tarlo, Cryfpin,
Generals and Colonels Poniatowfki; Grudzinſki,
Bobronitſki, Urbanowitz, Eperies, &c. They
have befides feized at Adrianople Mr. Commento-
joſki, whom the republic of Poland at the preffing
entreaties of the depofed Grand Vifir had fent to
the Grand Signior, and 'tis likely enough that he
will be delivered to his Majefty at Bender. 'Tis
alfo faid that his Highness has made an oath to
preferve the King of Sweden as a precious diamond,
and not to agree to any accommodation whatever,
'till he has fent his Majefty under a ftrong eſcort
to his own dominions or elfe to his army, more-
over declaring, that he will treat all thofe who
fpeak to him in favour of the Mufcovites, as he
would treat the Mufcovites themfelves. The
Cham of the Tartars in the mean time has orders
to efcort his Majefty thro' Poland this winter yet,
in cafe he does not chufe to wait till next campaign,
and then not to quit that kingdom till King Stanif-
Jaus be reftored to the quiet poffeffion of his throne
(which,
[ 137 ]
(which, however, is yet a myſtery here.) To con-
clude, it would ſeem that the Porte this time are
warm and zealous in the affair, which you may
eafily believe occafions inexpreffible joy here, not
only among the Swedes, but alſo among the Poles
and the Coffacks, but efpecially among the Turks
and Tartars, who are encamped here, and in the
neighbourhood of Bender. We hope at leaſt that
his Majefty from the occafion of this rupture, will
get money fufficient to pay all his debts, to pro-
vide his equipages, and thofe of his officers, and
then with fatisfaction undertake the journey to his
own dominions. If befides all this the news we
have from Poland is confirmed, that the Mufco-
vites have been defeated in Pomerania by Count
Stienbok, his Majefty's affairs will have confide-
rably a better face than thoſe of his enemies, and
the King of Denmark will do well in good time
to draw his ftake out of the game, and to make a
ſeparate peace with the King, as it is the fureft
means of hindering Count Steinbok from paffing
thro' Holftein into Jutland. I hope at my return,
which will not now be long, to have the honour of
prefenting your Serene Highnefs with fome inftrue-
tions concerning this which may facilitate that peace.
This moment a Swediſh fecretary diſpatched by Mr.
Funk from Conftantinople has arrived, who confirms
all the above account, excepting that Mr. Goltz is
not fent to the Seven Towers, but is only kept
under arreft in his own houſe.
LE T-
[ 138 ]
1
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XLIII.
SIR,
Bender, Nov. 10, 1712.
I
Now do myſelf the honour to write to your Ex-
cellency the 6th letter fince my return from
Conftantinople. I know not whether they have all
reached you, at leaſt I have heard nothing of it,
and even theſe five or fix weeks I have had no let-
ters from Hoftein, altho' in my prefent uncer-
tainty as to my departure, I have begged of Count
Reventlau to fend me regularly by the poft from
Cronstadt, all the letters that came for me.
If the King accepts of the offer to fet out this win-
ter with an eſcort of Tartars under the command of
the Han, the 600,000 crowns will not fail to come,
as we have been affured a few days ago. We may
know fomething certain of this in 8 or 10 days,
when the Capizzi Bafhaw whom the Cham of the
Tartars fent to the Grand Signior, fhall have re-
turned from Conftantinople. I imagine that the
King will accept of the offer, if his army can enter
Poland this winter, as we flatter ourſelves, efpeci-
ally if Denmark will conclude a peace. However
it be, it is certain that the arrival of the tranſports
will change the face of affairs in Pomerania as well
as here, and that a good battle gained over the
Mufcovites, would foon give the King the fupe-
riority over his enemies. We reckon that the ar-
my of Count Steinbok, even tho' the fecond tranf-
portation fhould not arrive, is 22,000 men ftrong,
and the Mufcovites with Saxons and Daniſh Ca-
valry, are 34,000 men. It is ftill believed that he
will infallibly attack the enemy if they do not think
fit
[ 139 ]
fit to retire. I cannot yet ſay poſitively, whether
the Count of Steinbok has orders to enter Holſtein
and penetrate into Jutland, to oblige the King of
Denmark to a peace, which were greatly to be
wifhed for by all the circle of Lower Saxony, or
whether he will follow the Mufcovites; and I be-
lieve that on this point, he has his hands free to
act as he judges moft convenient.
The propofi-
tions of Eofander have not been accepted. He
will return with a few compliments. I ftill reckon
that I fhall be able this winter to affure your Ex-
cellency by word of mouth, that no one can be
more zealouſly your's than, &c.
P. S. Novemb. 19. Your Excellency will fee
by the piece annexed, and likewiſe by the fupple-
ment to my narrative to his Serene Highness, the
great and happy change of affairs in this country,
in regard to the interefts of his Swedish Majefty.
The fourth Grand Vifir is now depofed, and war
refolved upon for the third time, with more ani-
mofity, in appearance at leaft, than ever. The
young Count Tarlo, and Colonel Stael, a younger
brother of ours, are to be bearers of it to King
Stanislaus, now acknowledged by the Porte as
lawful King of Poland. Mr. Eofander is foon
after to follow them, but his defigns will end in
fmoke. I hope to be the next that will be dif-
patched after that, and even with a new conſent of
the King of Sweden for a peace with Denmark,
This is doubtlefs the beft courfe the Danes could
follow, after the rupture and tranſportation have
happened, and fafeft means of faving their king-
dom. There is no doubt but the Queen of En-
gland and the Elector of Hanover defire the fame
thing, which will greatly facilitate the affair. I
will not, however, leave this place till I know
fomething certain touching the departure of the
King,
[ 140 ]
King, who may very likely fet out this winter,
with the Cham of the Tartars and the Bafhaw of
Bender. At all events, I will leave one of my
people with Grothufen, with orders to fend him
off the day the King fhall begin his march, which
will not coft above 50 ducats more than the poft.
We may fee by this great event, with what firmness
and conftancy they bring every thing to bear. Ac-
cording to all appearance, the King will at length
fet out honourably. The fum of 1,200 purſes, ſo
long demanded, is on the road. It comes in very
good time, on account of the great want of money,
notwithstanding which, the King ordered Mr.
Grothufen yeſterday, to give 400 ducats to the Ba-
fhaw's band of mufic. You may judge of the joy
of the King and of all the court. I was almoft all
yefterday with his Majefty, and as I am pretty
well acquainted with the Conftantinopolitan court
on account of my ftay there, I have informed him
of feveral circumftances that he was pleafed with.
It was with this new Grand Vifir, that I dined at the
divan on the day of our audience. The Boſtangi
Bafhaw went in difguife to the houſe of the French
Ambaffador, where he had a long difcourfe with Po-
niatowski, and fome days after the Grand vifir was
depofed, and the Mufcovites fent to the Seven
Towers. General Poniatowski has acted with the
greateſt zeal in the world for the intereft of the
King; and he run the risk 100 times of being
drowned or affaffinated, when I was with him at
Conftantinople. The Vifir certainly acted like a
great fool, not to get rid of him, when he knew
the intrigues that he was carrying on againſt him.
The King is extremely pleafed with his zeal, and
if his Majefty's affairs profper, he will have reafon
to be pleafed with his fortune. All the Poles are
in the greatest joy of heart, and accordingly game
very high. Poor Commentejofki, Ambaffador of
the
[141]
the Republic, has been terribly caught, they al-
moſt killed him with compliments and invitations
to make him come, and he no fooner came than
they put him under arreft. What the devil had he
to do in that Galley. But what is ftill droller;
there arrived yeſterday two Muscovite couriers
with diſpatches for Conftantinople. The Bafhaw
here, inftantly, without any form of proceſs,
made a prefent of them as flaves to his trea-
furer. Never were men more ſurpriſed, it may
be
believed. It was their bad luck to arrive about
two hours after the news of the rupture. All their
letters were taken from them, but they are not yet
decyphered. Another poor devil, a German Lieu-
tenant Colonel named Oertz, whoſe wife was taken
by the Tartars in fome fkirmishes at the Pruth,
had gone to Conftantinople to redeem his dear
half. He returned here yeſterday in the evening,
and in all probability he will have the fame fate.
This manner of proceeding gives us a taſte of their
barbarity. I am but too well revenged of Schaf-
firow. He will write no more Satire, I hope. I
have been an unhappy prophet for him, when I
faid in my letter, that he was nearer a priſon than I,
and that according to all appearance he would not
efcape the Seven Towers, notwithstanding all his mo-
ney. If you judge it proper, I beg of you to
print both my letter and his. The Bafhaw came
here yeſterday in a formal manner to notify the
news to the King, with a great train, and all his
mufic. I am, &c.
4. J
LETTER
[ 142 ]
LETTER XLIV.
To the Same.
SIR,
Bender, Nov. 26, 1712.
A
LTHO' 'tis only about four days fince
Count Tarlo and Mr. Stahl fet out from
hence, I would not however loſe the prefent oppor-
tunity of Mr. Duben, the chamberlain and mafter
of the chapel, who is going to Sweden, without
repeating at all ventures our news here. (Then fol-
lows a fhort recapitulation of the news abovemen-
tioned.) I am, &c.
THÔNG HỒI G
**☀☀☀☀*OOOOOOO
LETTER
To the Same.
XLV.
SIR,
Bender, December 5, 1712.
Α
S Mr. Duben has been detained here day after
day, on account of the poft from Germany
which his Majefty choſe to wait for, I take the
advantage of this delay to communicate to your
excellency, the prefent tranflation of the Grand
Signior's order to all Vifirs, Bafhaws, and Bey's,
(that is to fay, to thofe of three, two, and one
tail) to repair with their troops to the plain of Ad-
rianople on the 21ft of March, of the year 1713.
It would appear that the Grand Signior would go
thither in good earneſt this time. The two Muf-
covite hoſtages are in a dungeon in the Seven Tow-
ers, more than twenty yards under ground, and
their domeftics are fent to the Galleys. But the
two
[ 143 ]
two Muscovite Ambaffadors have only been fent in
the Seven Towers to an apartment, with their do-
meftics. Mr. Commentowſki and Mr. Goltz, the
firft Ambaffador from the Republic of Poland,
and the other the Envoy of King Auguftus, are
put under arreſt at Adrianople till further orders.
The firft, 'tis likely may be delivered to the King
of Sweden, as they did two years ago by an Envoy
of the Republic called Bonbowfki. The tails of
the Grand Signior (which are feven, two of which
always go before, and five of them are attached
to his perfon) have been diſplayed theſe fifteen days
before the gates of the feraglio, which is a moſt
infallible fign of war. A Capizzi Baſhaw of the
Grand Signior, arrived here two days ago with a
letter of his mafter and prefents for the King, which
are a fabre ornamented with diamonds, an egrette,
and a fine fur, and 1000 purfes in gold, which
joined to the 200 that came before, make the fum
of 600,000 crowns, which the King demanded of
the Porte, but of which he owes already 4 or
500,000 crowns. Grothufen alone, owes more
than 250,000 crowns, which he has negotiated for
the King's fervice, and Mr. Poniatowski about half
as much at Conftantinople. The Cham and Ba-
fhaw Ifmael, have alfo received caftans, or robes
and fabres, and the firſt 100 purfes of ready caſh
for himſelf and his fon Sultan Galga. So that it
depends wholly upon the King, whether he will fet
out this winter with an efcort of 50,000 Tartars,
and the houſe of the Baſhaw of Bender, which
would probably amount to 5 or 6000 Turks. The
Porte feems to wish his departure; but I know
not whether he will refolve upon it. Befides the
news which we ſtill expect from Pomerania, (after
thoſe that came yeſterday, that Count Steinbok
had forced Damgarten, and had entered the Duchy
of Meklenburgh) the King has alſo expedited a
[144]
Some good fuccefs in Po-
merania might facilitate the affair. They difpute
here greatly, whether the Muscovites will hazard
a battle, or whether they will retire. It ſeems
probable that Count Steinbok will rather endea-
vour to enter Saxony and Poland, than Holftein
and Jutland. I hear that the Mufcovites quiting
Germany will facilitate the peace with Denmark,
which is much to be wifhed. The King has pro-
mifed me by Mr. Müllern, to caufe my difpatches
to be given me, when once Mr. Duben is gone :
fo that I reckon I fhall be able to fet out in about
15 days, if the King does not depart this winter.
But if he goes with the Tartars, I fhall probably
ftay till his departure. However it may be, no-
thing will hinder me from being with all poffible
reſpect and attachment, &c.
P. S. I wish your Excellency would think pro-
per to print my anſwer to the piece of Schaffirow,
which has made a good deal of noife on one fide
or other. I would not however be in his place;
he will not do me great mifchief for the time to
come, and in all probability the Czar for the fu-
ture will not make ſuch a ſhining figure in Chrif-
tendom.
o☀☀☀☀☀☀c
LETTER
XLVI.
To his Serene Highness the Duke Adminiftrator.
SIR,
Bender, Dec. 15, 1712.
YOUR Serene Highneſs will doubtless have
feen by my laſt moſt humble narrative dif-
patched from hence about four weeks ago, what a
happy change in affairs there has been at Conftan-
YOUR Screne
tinople,
E 145 ]
tinople, in regard to his Swedish Majefty, and how
the Grand Vifir Juffuf Bafhaw, having been de-
pofed, the Muscovite Hoftages and Ambaffadors
have been conducted to the Seven Towers, where the
firft are confined in a dungeon 20 yards under ground,
and the fecond in fome apartments. After this,
the war was declared a-new against the Mufco-
vites. Some days after the tails were displayed,
and the Emperor by this time must have been fet
out five days for Adrianople, where, according to
his orders, the whole Turkish army is to affemble
about the 28th of March to open the campaign.
Meanwhile, a Capizzi Bafhaw arrived here about
15 days ago, with a very obliging letter about
four yards long, from the Grand Signior to his
Swediſh Majefty. He had his formal audience
fome days after. About twenty Swedish officers,
all on horfeback, the principal of whom was a
Captain of the Guards named Buddenbrok, ha-
ving gone to meet him as far as the city, con-
ducted him from thence to the King, and after-
wards attended him to the place where they had
met him. The Capizzi Bafhaw, however, the day
before had had his audience of the Chancellor
Müllern, who is looked upon as the Grand Vifie
of the King. He was prefented by his Majefty
with a valuable fur, a fine Turkiſh horſe magni-
ficentlycaparifoned, which he deferved fo much the
more as he brought with him the 1200 purfes,
or 600,000 crowns, which the King had demanded
of the Porte. They have been delivered within
theſe few days, and Mr. Grothufen is very bufy in
paying all the debts which have been contracted
here, in which are included the debts contracted
by the officers; and altho' feveral of them have
only received 500 crowns, and even lefs, upon
bonds for 1000 crowns, the King has given orders
nevertheleſs that all fhould be payed according to
Ꮮ .
the
[ 46 ]
t
the tenor of the bonds. It is true that in this man-
ner there will be very little left of the fum; but in
the mean time, the King's credit encreaſes, and
will be fupported; fo that it would not be very
difficult at prefent for Colonel Grothufen, in cafe
of neceffity, to negotiate at once 200,000 crowns.
Of all this money, only 100 purfes has been fent
to the Commiffariat, Mr. Grothufen difpofing of
all the reft. The fubftance of the Emperor's letter
to the King, was, "That as the Mufcovites have
"not faithfully executed the article of the peace,
"concerning the entire evacuation of Poland in
"three months, and have thereby hindered the
"return of his Majefty to his dominions, the Em-
peror had again declared war upon them, which
"would even have happened fooner, if, on account
"of fome circumftances, he had not thought
"proper to diffemble for fome time. In other
"refpects he had made all the neceffary prepara-
"tions for his Majefty's departure, and that it
depended upon himſelf to crofs Poland this
"winter with an eſcort of Tartars, or to remain
"till the approaching campaign; that, however,
"it would give pleaſure to the Emperor, if the
King on this point, would agree to the counfels
"and advice that the Cham of the Tartars and
"the Bafhaw of Bender would give him."
66
And to judge by the purchafing of horfes, and
by other preparations, it feems likely that his Ma-
jefty may even fet out this winter yet. The fafeft
courfe would be to decamp from hence, and to
march at leaft with the Tartars to Sniatin, or to
the frontiers of Poland. If after that, it were
poffible to force a paffage with the Tartars, they
would always be ready, 1. To foment fome fac-
tions and infurrections in Poland, and 2. They'
would thereby recommend themſelves to the Porte,
who would at leaft perceive the King's good inten-
66
66
tions,
[ 147 ]
2.5
ī
0
0
J
5,
tions, and that he had made an attempt to paſs.
I have had the honour (as I acquired fome know-
lege of Turkiſh affairs during may ftay at Con-
ftantinople) to difcourfe with his Majefty on this
head, and to reprefent to him curforily, the ad-
vantage that would thereby refult to him, fo that I
make no doubt but he will take this courſe in five
or fix weeks and altho' the 1200 purfes are not
fufficient to make this march, nevertheleſs the
freſh credit which we have at prefent may fupply
that deficiency. The Porte has likewife given to
the four Polish Senators who are here, namely, to
Palatin Kiowski, to Prince Wifniowifki, and to
Counts Tarlo and Cryfpin, to each 10 purfes or
500 crowns. At prefent, I am expecting every
moment my diſpatches.
I ſtill hope,
before the end of the great fair of Kiel, to have
the honour of perfonally affuring your Serene
Highness of the profound refpect with which I
am, &c.
•
P. S. This moment I have received a large
packet from Baron Goertz of the month of No-
vember; but as the courier is to fet out immedi-
ately, I fhall put off anſwering it till the next op-
portunity.
LOLOLOLO O O O O O
LETTER XLVII.
To Baron Goertz.
Bender, January 31, 1712.
FFAIRS here, for theſe eight or nine days,
have been in a very extraordinary fituation.
Your Excellency will have feen by my laft narra-
A
L 2
tives
SIR,
1
[ 148 ]
tives to his Serene Highness of the zoth of No-
vember, and the 15th of December of laft year,
the depofition of the Grand Vifir Juffuf Baſhaw,
and the new declaration of war againſt the Muf-
covites, which made us hope a very happy change
in favour of his Majefly. However, as the King
after receiving the 1200 purfes put off his depar-
ture from day to day, notwithſtanding the preffing
follicitations of the Han and the Bafhaw, they be-
gan at length to open their eyes, and to perceive
that the Grand Signior and his Grand Vifirs had
done wrong to make the King believe that they
would re-conduct him to his dominions with a nu-
merous eſcort, fo far even that the Vifir Baltagi Me-
hemet, ordered to tell him a fhort time before he
marched againſt the Czar at the Pruth, That be
would take him in his left hand, and his fabre in his
right (thefe are his words) and would open a way
for him into his own country at the head of 100,000
Turks and Tartars, thro' Poland, and even Muscovy,
if his Majefty chofe to pass that way. The King
taking this promife literally, infifts ftill upon it,
foreſeeing well that the execution of it would be an
infallible means of renewing the war between the
Porte on one fide, and the Czar on the other, and
even to engage Poland in it, for it is not natural
to think that any power will fuffer fuch an eſcort
to pass thro' their country, without looking upon
it as a defign or an occafion of a rupture.
Turks are not fo blind as not to perceive, they
have done their own bufinefs by the battle and
peace of Pruth, where they facrificed the King's
intereft to their own, altho' they had flattered him
that it was from their regard to him that they had
declared war. This Prince, however, who piques
himfelf upon keeping the promife he gives, infifts
that others fhould behave in the fame manner to
him, and will not hear mention made of any modifying.
The
It
[149]
་།
It is this that has kept us fo long in Turky, and
makes me fear that we will not leave it yet fo foon,
or at leaſt fo much to our fatisfaction as we could
wifh. It is certain that affairs are actually at a
crifis, that can fcarce be got over without fome-
thing extraordinary happening. Your excellency
knows that the 1200 purfes were brought fome
time ago to Bender, by the Chiaous Bafhaw firſt
groom of the Porte, and configned to the Bafhaw,
with fecret orders not to deliver them till the King
fhould be ready to fet his foot in the ſtirrup. The
time of the departure was agreed upon, which was
to be with the firſt froft; but Mr. Grothufen craf-
tily perfuaded the Bafhaw, that to put the King in
a condition of fetting out without fail at the time
appointed, there was a neceffity for delivering the
1200 purfes, as he wanted them to provide things
neceffary. Since that time they no longer fhew fo
much ardour or eagernefs here, as I mentioned in
my laft to his Serene Highnefs, and on the con-
trary they ſeem rather to lay hold on any pretence
to put off the departure. The King pretends that
the efcort of 5 or 6000 Spahis, with about 20,000
Tartars, which the Grand Signior has ordered, is
not ſtrong enough to fecure his perſon againſt the
Mufcovites, who are ftill in Poland. The Turks
in vain reply, that King Auguftus and the Repub-
lic promife, and even offer hoftages to the Porte
for the fecurity of their word, that if his Majesty
will pafs as a friend with that escort, they will join
to it, not only their beft troops to defend him
against his enemies, but will alfo caufe all the ho-
nours due to a crowned head to be given him.
Sometimes he fays that the Han and the Bahaw
have entered into a correfpondence with his enemies,
to deliver up his perfon to them in his paffing thro'
Poland. It is true that the firft appears much in
the interefts of King Auguftus. However, what
L 3
has
[150]
has put the finishing ftroke to the prefent differen-
ces, is the new demand of 1000 purfes made by
Mr. Funk, who having executed his orders, has
received not only a refufal, but has been put under
arreft with Mr. Poniatowski, who was at Adrianople
with all their retinue. The repreſentation of the
pretexts ufed by the King to put off his departure
made by the Han and the Baſhaw, have not a lit-
tle contributed to this, and alſo to the holding of
a great divan at which the Sultan publickly affifted;
I fay publickly, for at the others he generally af-
fifts incognito, placing himfelf behind a fcreen,
without speaking or being feen. His Highneſs
made a long harangue, of which this is the fub-
ftance as far as I have been able to hear, namely,
"That the King of Sweden, with whom the fu-
"blime Porte had never had connection of intereſts
"nor acquaintance, having been reduced by his
"misfortunes to feek an afylum in the Ottoman
"Empire, he had protected him and loaded him
"with benefits, by fupporting him and all his
"retinue for three years, and alfo by giving him
"at different times more than a million of money,
" befides many prefents, and by caufing to affem-
"ble in the neighbourhood of Bender, at a great
<c
expence, a numerous eſcort for the fecurity of
"his perfon and for reconducting him to his do-
"minions; that having afked a thouſand purfes
"for his departure, he had generously fent him
"1200, with all the horſes, waggons and other
"things neceffary for his journey; that notwith-
ftanding all thefe kindneffes and many others,
"and notwithstanding his word given to the Han
"and Bafhaw of Bender to depart at the firft
"froft, and all the preparations made for that pur-
"pofe by the Sublime Port, that Prince fought
"all poffible pretexts to put off his departure, pre-
"tending fometimes that the efcort was not nume-
<c rous
66
[151]
•
rous enough, at other times that he ſtill wanted
"another 1000 purfes, which he had even de-
"manded of the Sublime Porte." His Highness
finiſhed his harangue by demanding of the divan, if
it was contrary to the laws of hofpitality to oblige
the King of Sweden to keep his word, and to drive
him out as an enemy if he refufed to depart as a
friend; and if the Chriftian Princes could blame
him, or look upon it as a barbarous and unjuſt ac-
tion, that he ſhould employ force, after having in
vain uſed mild means. To this, the divan an-
fwered that they could not, unleſs thofe Princes
were unjuft, and enemies of equity and gratitude.
The Mufti added, that hofpitality not being by the
law enjoined to muffelmans towards infidels, ef-
pecially towards the ungrateful, the King of Sweden
had rendered himſelf unworthy of it, and ought to
enjoy it no longer. He thereupon gave his Fetfa
or fentence in writing, to accompany the order of
the Sultan to oblige the King to depart, either in
a friendly manner or by force. This order was
brought hither the 28th of December by the Bouy-
ick Imraour, the grand groom, with a particular
order to the Chiaous Bafhaw, who is ftill here, to
remain and fee the order executed. The Bouyick
Imraour no fooner arrived, than the Bafhaw went
to the King on the 2d of January to preſs his de-
parture, and to beg of him to fix the day for it.
His Majefty received him at firft very graciously,
and affured that it was his earneft defire to ſet out
forthwith; but that he could not name the day, not
having yet got every thing ready for his journey;
that he had ordered another 1000 purfes to be
afked of the Grand Signior, and he waited an an-
fwer, and that he muſt alſo wait for the return of
his officers, whom he had fent into Walachia to
buy horfes to remount his retinue.
L 4
<<
The
[152]
The Bahaw taking all this for mere off-puts, in-
fifted feveral times that the King would be peafed
to fix the day of his departure; but the King on
his fide not chufing to give any other anfwer, but
that he would fet out whenever he was ready, the
Bafhaw after fome time proceeded fo far as to tell
him, that he was very forry to be obliged to de-
clare to his Majefty, that in cafe he refufed, he
had orders to force him to depart. The King bade
him defiance, faying with a firm air, that if hẹ
was a faithful fervant of his mafter, he had no-
thing to do but to execute his orders, and turned
his back upon him.
All who have the leaft notion of the dignity of
a Bafhaw of three tails, governor of ſeveral pro-
vinces, and commander of whole armies when the
Grand Vifir is not there in perfon, will eafily judge
what an excess of paffion the King's anſwer threw
the Bafhaw into, and what rage he was in, on fee-
ing himſelf treated in an infulting manner in his
own province. He accordingly left the King a-
bruptly, mounted his horfe and returned at full
gallop, contrary to his natural gravity, all the way
to Bender, which is diftant a full quarter of a
German league.
As I had forefeen, that the iffue of this inter-
view would be fomewhat extraordinary, I had
mounted my horfe during the time of the audience,
with the intention of meeting the Bafhaw at his re-
turn, as it were by chance, to have fome difcourfe
with him. I came pretty near him to afk him how
matters went; but he paffed on at the fame rate,
and contented himfelf with calling out to me, with-
qut ſtopping, that all was loft, and that we fhould
fee flrange things prefently. I did not think pro-
per to follow him, feeing him in fuch a paffion, and
I returned directly to the camp, where the affair
was no longer a fecret. I found them all in the
ut-
[ 153 ]
utmoft confternation, every one with good reafon
fearing the bad confequences of Turkiſh brutality,
and the too great firmness, or rather obftinacy, of
the King of Sweden. There was not one but his
Majefty, who was, or at leaſt affected to be calm.
He without fhewing the leaſt diſturbance, amuſed
himſelf till night in his ordinary manner, that is
in mounting twice a day on horfeback, in playing
at chefs, in talking with his officers, in fupping at
feven o'clock, and going to bed at nine. The firft
thing that the Bafhaw did on his return to Bender,
after holding a divan with the Han and Buyiack-
Imraour, was to order all the Janiffaries to quit the
camp and come to the city, part of whom com-
pofed the guard which had been given to the King
of Sweden, upon his arrival in Turky, to do him
honour, and for his fecurity, and the other kept
fmall ſhops, with which the camp and the village
was full, and thereby furniſhed us with provifions,
which we wanted every day. That order was exe-
cuted that very evening with no fmall hurry. Next
day his Majefty's Thaim was retrenched, that
is to fay, his provifions which had been furniſhed
him every day fince his arrival, and which con-
fifted in money, bread, meat, wine, poultry, ho-
ney, oil, rice, coffee, fugar and forage, and a-
mounted every day to 500 crowns.
After this all
the Swediſh and Poliſh inhabitants, who lodged in
the village of Warnitza, were driven from thence;
the first retired to the King, the others under the
protection of the Turks, that they might enjoy the
Thaim, which the Porte furniſhed to them likewiſe
for their fubfiftance. At the fame time the Tar-
tars, to the number of feveral thouſands, came, and
not only took poffeffion of their lodgings in the
village, but alſo began to affemble in fmall bodies,
to furround the whole camp at a certain diſtance,
and
[ 154 ]
and to cut off all proviſions, to reduce the King by
famine to capitulate.
To give you a more juft idea of all this, I muft
defcribe to you the fituation of what I call the
camp. You have feen by my foregoing letters, that
the King on his firft arrival at Bender, had pitched
his tent at the foot of the walls of that city, upon
a fine green fpot, adorned with large trees, and
almoſt furrounded by the river, which there made
a circular bend; and that upon the coming in of
winter his Majefty caufed his tent to be cover-
ed with a roof of deal boards, and afterwards to
be furrounded with a kind of wall of bricks, ſo that
infenfibly the tent became a houfe. All the King's
officers and minifters, and likewife the foreigners
did the fame, fo that in a very fhort time there
was a kind of city, of a very fingular kind how-
ever, as the greatest part of the inhabitants lodged
under ground in huts huilt in hafte. This was my
cafe the first winter; but the year following every
one began to build houfes tolerably convenient,
confidering the place, the time, and the finances :
but an overflowing of the river, which hap-
pened in the month of July 1711, forced us im-
mediately to quit that pleaſant fpot, where the
King had lived more than two years, and to remove
about a quarter of a German league from thence, to
a height near a Moldavian village, called Warnitza.
I remember that the King held it out the laft, and
that Mr. Grothufen and I faved ourfelves at his
fide almoſt by fwimming. His Majefty pitched
his tent pretty near a Greek church, which is at a
finall diftance from the village. All the King's
officers lodged in the village, and every one ac-
commodated himſelf in the beſt manner he could,
in the houfes of the peasants, who are Moldavians,
and of the Greek religion. About three months
after the King began to build here a ftone houſe
with
[ 155 ]
with pretty thick walls, perhaps foreboding that
he might fuftain a kind of fiege in it, and with
apartments fufficient for a garrifon of 1000 men.
He caufed the houſe to be raiſed only one ſtory high,
and it has a great hall for dining in, and another
for divine fervice, with a chamber of audience,
and another for his Majefty's bed, with cloſets and
wardrobes, and an apartment of four chambers for
Mr. Duben, marfhal of the court; all this on a
ground-floor. But what is ftill more extraordinary
for his Swediſh Majefty, is, that he has cauſed all
thoſe chambers to be furniſhed magnificently, fome
with cloth, others with damaſk, with Turkiſh ſo-
phas of gold brocade, velvet cufhions, and rich
carpets befides this houfe, the King caufed to be
built at a fmall diſtance from it, barracks for a
battalion of 500 men, a part of the wrecks of the
army of Pultowa, which he has taken a pleaſure in
exercifing almoſt every day fince his arrival in
Turkey. His miniſters, Chancellor Müllern, Mr.
Teiff, and the favourite Mr. Grothufen, have alſo
built here feveral houfes, among which the King's
houſe ftands as the centre of a circle. It is this
place that is called the camp, and which lies be-
tween the Neifter and the village of Warnitza.
As to myſelf I had a couple of rooms in one of the
houfes of the village, where I flept now and then
when I ftaid late at the camp. But, befides, fince
the inundation I have had a whole houfe to myſelf
in one of the fuburbs of Bender, between the city
and the camp, for my domeftics and my equipages,
and whither I retired when the Tartars furrounded
the village of Warnitza, that I might not be fhut
up in the camp with the Swedes, who were very
much crowded in their lodgings, having only the
five or fix houfes and the barracks above-mentioned.
I was in fuch good terms with the King, that I might
have flattered myfelf with one of the beft apart-
\
ments;
[ 156 ]
ments; but not to mention the trouble and incon-
venience I would have been expoſed to there, I
had formed a defign from the firſt appearance of a
rupture between the Turks and the king to create
myſelf mediator. With this intention, inſtead of
fhutting myself up with him, I lodged in my houſe
in the fuburbs. The King in the mean time feeing
the Tartars not only wholly furrounding in great
bodies the village of Warnitza, but that his camp
was blockaded, and might foon be attacked, thought
on his fide of putting it in a ſtate of defence, to
make retrenchments, to draw lines from one houſe
to another, as from that of Mr. Grothufen to the
houfe of Mr. Teiff, from thence to a building cal-
led the New Chancery, where Mr. Müllern was to
lodge, another to the above-mentioned barracks,
and thence to the houfe of Mr. Grothufen, which
formed a kind of irregular pentagon, in the midſt
of which was the King's houfe, of which we fpoke.
Thefe lines, which were about two hundred paces
in length, were made of old waggons, boards
brought from fome old ftables, bedsteads, benches,
old cafks, dung, and in fhort of every thing that
could form a kind of parapet, in winter when the
ground was frozen. But the greateſt pains was
taken to fortify the King's houfe; the doors and
windows of which were ftrongly barricaded, to
give it the appearance of a citadel in the midft of
a retrenchment. After all was finished by working
night and day, the King difpofed his garrifon in
the following manner. A part of the battalion
was to defend that fide of the retrenchment which
looked towards the city; the reft were difperfed
along the other lines; but as thofe 500 men were
not fufficient to defend the retrenchments and the
houſes, all his attendants were armed even to the
fcullions, and every one had his poft affigned him.
For example, the good old man Mr. Müllern had
his,
[ 157 ]
his, at the head of all the fecretaries, clerks of the
chancery, and their domeftics, to defend the houſe.
Marſhal Duben was to be at the head of the gen-
tlemen of the court, and the King's other domeſtics
and footmen, to defend his apartment. Mr. Teiff
at the head of the clerks of his department, and fo
of others. As to the officers, except thoſe who had
been put at the head of the battalion to defend the
lines, they had their pofts in the King's houſe,
where it was reckoned the chief attack would be
made. To conclude, the whole, as you fee, had
ſome reſemblance of a kind of fortrefs, but very
irregular, and very ill furniſhed with provifions,
not having quite enough to ſupport a fiege of twen-
ty-four hours.
While all this paffed at the camp, I had repaired
to Mr. Jefferies the English minifter with the
King, to propoſe to him that we ſhould join toge-
ther in order to bring about an accommodation,
and to give more weight to our mediation. In
hopes of this we accordingly waited upon the Han,
the Baſhaw, the Boujack Imraour, and the Tchia-
ous Baſhaw, upon each ſeparately, to offer them our
mediation, and to afk protections. They received
us very civilly, entreating us to come to a great
divan, that was to be held a few days after at the
Bafhaw's. We did not fail to repair thither at the
hour appointed. We found them already affem-
bled, all four, with the principal officers, among
others the Janiffary Aga, and the Immaum or prieſt
of the city of Bender. After they had made us fit
down upon a kind of footftool, which are the only
chairs to be had in this country, and which better
fitted our boots, which we always wear here, than
the fopha, I began the difcourfe, and told them
in ſubſtance, that we were very forry that affairs be-
twixt them and the King had come to fuch an ex-
tremity; that we fhould be very glad to be able to
accommodate
8
[ 158 ]
accommodate them, and that we offered them our
mediation moft willingly; but that to act effec-
tually, we muſt have not only permiffion to go and
come freely, to have a communication with the
camp and the city, but alfo, as we were minifters
of foreign powers with his Majefty, to whom the
right of nations gives every where an inviolable fe-
curity, we hoped they would have the ſame regard
for us, and would give each of us a guard to pro-
tect us from all affronts and infults. On this
the Han of the Tartars complained much of the
King and his ingratitude towards him, altho' he
had been his best friend, and done him many eminent
fervices, which in fome manner is true; for he
doubtless contributed much to the laft war between
the Porte and the Czar; but it is alfo true that it
was no lefs his intereft than the King's, the Tartars,
whoſe cuſtom it is to live by rapine, aſking for
nothing better than continual wars; however,
he affured us, that he and the Baſhaw would ac-
cept of our mediation with pleaſure, that they
would be delighted if we could perfuade the King
to depart, which was all they afked; and that we
might act with more freedom, they would give
each of us a Janiffary and a Tartar for a guard;
and they affured us that with them we might go or
come day and night between the camp and the city
without being feized or examined by any one what-
ever.
I went thither fome days after, and found the
King very bufy in giving his orders as to the in-
tended defence. He no fooner faw me than he
fmiled, and taking me by the hand he led me into
his cloſet, and afked me whence I came, and what
news there was. I answered him, that in my opi-
nion the news were not very good; that the
Turks peremptorily infifted upon his Majefty's de-
parture,
6
[ 159 ]
parture, failing which they were in danger of lof-
ing their heads, not only for having pofitively
affured the Porte that it would be directly, but for
having, at the perfuafion of Mr. Grothufen, delivered
to his Majefty the 1200 purfes which were ordered
not to have been given him, till he was on the point
of departing. I thought I faw in his eyes a fecret
joy on this; but a moment after he anfwered me
that thofe 1200 purfes were not fufficient, and that
he had ordered his envoy to afk another thoufand.
I replied, that I knew that, but that I was very
much afraid left affairs fhould come to a dangerous
extremity, before he could obtain this new demand
to which he anſwered with a good deal of quickness,
that they durft never attack him; that at all events
he was afraid of nothing, and was prepared for every
thing but that he was fure the Grand Vifir knew
nothing of all this, and that it was nothing but an
intrigue which the Han and Bafhaw had formed
with his enemies; but he would find means of in-
forming the Grand Signior of it, and make them
repent it.
I took that occafion to infinuate to his Majefty,
that in that caſe the beſt means for gaining of time
would be to affure them that he had taken a refo-
lution to depart; and that if it would pleaſe his Ma-
jefty to fix a day, I would undertake to appeaſe
them; that they feemed to defire nothing more than
that; that in a long diſcourſe I had with them the day
before in the divan, they had begged of me to find
fome expedient to make up their differences with
his Majefty; that Mr. Jefferies and I had offered
them our mediation, and if he would honour me
with his orders, I dared to flatter myſelf that I
would bring about a happy reconciliation.
I know not whether the King had already re-
folved to push matters to extremity, or if he really
believed that the Turks would never dare to attempt
any
;
[160]
any thing againft his perfon; but he faid to me
fomewhat with an air of difpleaſure, that we were
playing the part of the English and Dutch mini-
fters at Conftantinople, who had interfered in the
peace between the Turks and the Mufcovites with-
out the confent of their mafters or the parties con-
cerned, that we alfo feemed plainly to want to
become volunteer-mediators; but that there was
no need of it, and that he could bring his affairs to
a conclufion very well without us. He added, ad-
dreffing himſelf to me in particular, that I needed
only tell the Turks what I had feen, which was
plainly the fine fortifications of his camp; that,
nevertheless, if they had any reaſonable propofitions
to make, he would hear them. This was all I could
draw from him. My audience being finifhed, I
went to find Chancellor Müllern, to whom I gave
an account of what had paffed: I fpeak in the
fingular number, for Mr. Jefferies, difgufted with
the contempt that his Majefty feemed to fhew for our
mediation, and deſpairing to ferve him againft his in-
clination, appeared no more before his Majefty on
that affair with me. Mr. Müllern complained
greatly of the King to me, fearing extremely that
the affair would have a very dangerous iffue. How-
ever, he gave me to underftand that affairs might
ftill be accommodated, if I could obtain of the
Turks to make fome new advance, and enter into
conferences with him, which I promiſed to ufe my
endeavours to procure. Before I left the camp, I paid
a vifit to my friend Mr. Grothufen, who knew the
King better than any other, and who was the perfon
moft capable of informing me of the real fenti-
ments of his Majefty. He told me plainly, after a
long difcourfe, that we might fave ourſelves the
trouble, and all our endeavours would turn out to
nothing; that the King wanted to push matters to
extremity; and that already his imagination was
tickled
PV
[161]
tickled before hand with fuch an extraordinary
engagement that he had ufed all the argu-
ments in the world to oppofe that romantic inten-
tion; but instead of gaining in the leaft degree
upon the King's mind, he had only drawn upon
himſelf a kind of reproaches; that he had therefore
refolved not to fay a word more, to run the fame
deſtiny with the King, and to prepare in good ear-
neft to fuftain a fiege, affault, battle, and whatever
after might happen upon it; that in the mean
time they were all in great diſtreſs, and it would
feem the Turks intended to ftarve them out, which
would indeed be very eafy, not having actually in
their camp provifions for twenty-four hours, that
therefore the greatest of all fervices I could do
them, was not to interfere in the mediation, in
which I would certainly lofe my labour, but to pro-
cure them victuals, and to make them gain time;
that I need only fpeak to fome Janiffaries whom
he named to me, and give them money; and that
they would find means of extricating them out
of their difficulties. I promifed to do my best,
and then returned home. Next day I went to the
Turks who were all affembled in the houſe of the
Baſhaw. They waited for me with impatience,
and received me with all the politenefs that thoſe
gentry are capable of. They directly aſked me
with great eagerness the fuccefs of my negociation
and the King's anfwer. I told them that I had a
long difcourfe with his Majefty, and that he com-
plained much of the unpolite manner in which
they wanted to force him to name the day of his
departure. They interrupted me, to tell me, that
it was the abfolute orders of the Grand Signior;
and that they run a riſk of lofing their heads if they
did not execute them literally and with difpatch.
I replied, that I had informed the King of that,
but that he believed, that all depended upon their
remonftrances.
M
[162]
remonftrances. At length, after many replies on
both fides, in which I flattered them as much as
I could, I concluded with telling them, that as the
King was extremely fenfible on the point of honour,
nothing was more likely to gain him than to make
him fome new advance; that Mr. Müllern ap-
peared to me very much inclined to moderation,
and very capable of prevailing with the King by
his prudence, and if they would take my advice,
they ought to afk another interview, by means of
which I dared hope, that they would come to fome
agreement, to hinder things coming to a trouble-
fome extremity, which would do honour to neither
party. They all unanimoufly confented to what I
propofed, promifing to fettle every thing as I
thought proper, and charged me to agree with
Mr. Müllern as to the day and hour of their inter-
view. The Bouyouk-Imraour, who feemed to me
the leaft irritated against the King, faid to me
in a tone equally polite and obliging, that by the
manner in which I went about the affair, he pro-
miſed himſelf a happy fuccefs. I made him great
acknowledgements for his politenefs and for his
good opinion of me. After many obliging things
we faid on this head, and after taking coffee, and
being perfumed after the Turkish manner, I mount-
ed my horfe, and went directly to the camp to
Mr. Müllern, who being very much fatisfied with
my difpatch, obliged me to go with him to give an
account of what I had done to the King. We
turned the thing as tho' it had been the Turks who
had afked an audience without making any men-
tion of the propofals I had made to them on that
point; and on that footing the King agreed, that
they fhould come the next day, the 19th of Ja-
nuary, to confer with Mr. Müllern, and I forthwith
fent my interpreter to give them an account of it,
and that day about two in the afternoon the Bouy-
ouk-
[163]
buk-Imraour, and the Tchiaous Bafhaw came to
Mr. Grothufen's houfe, where Mr. Müllern was.
They had a conference of near an hour, in which
the Turks infifted always upon the neceffity they
were under of obliging the King to depart, or at
leaft to fix a day for his departure, and begged of
Mr. Müllern to prevail with his Majefty to explain
himſelf pofitively on that head. The latter ac→
cordingly went to the King whom he found play-
ing at chefs with one of his officers. After the
game, which continued a pretty long time, was
ended, Mr. Müllern mentioned to his Majefty the
laft propoſal that the Turks had made, but all the
anfwer he could get from him with all his remon-
ftrances, was, that he was not ready to depart, that
he ftill was in want of money and horſes, that he
had written for the firft to the Porte, and that if
he did not receive any from thence, he would be
obliged to bring it from his own country; and as
for the other he had fent officers into Walachia,
and that he could not fet out before their return.
It was in vain for Mr. Müllern, on his return to
Mr. Grothufen, to give the beft turn he could to
that answer; for he could not fo difguife it as to
give fatisfaction to the Turks, who withdrew very
much difcontented.
Next day there was a great divan held in the
the city, in which the Han of the Tartars, who
was the moſt violent, infifted that they fhould im-
mediately execute the Grand Signior's orders, and
diflodge the King by force. In all probability the
Bafhaw would have fuffered himfelf to have been
fwayed by him, if the Bouyouck Imraour and the
Chiaous Bafhaw had not made oppofition. Being
informed of what paffed by a ſpy whom I had in
the houſe of the Bafhaw, I immediately mounted
my horfe, went thither full gallop, and having
given notice of my arrival to the divan, I was ad-
M 2
mitted.
(164)
mitted. After I had taken my feat, without giv.
ing me time to fpeak, they complained greatly of
the King and of his anfwer, which fhewed that he
abfolutely wanted them to ufe violence: I was in
truth greatly at a lofs how to juſtify it, and the
Han of the Tartars ftill continuing to infift upon
an immediate attack, I at length thought proper
to ſay, that I knew the King fo well as to be able
to affure them, that he was not a man who would
fuffer himſelf to be intimidated by threats; that if
they once began to uſe the leaſt violence, there
would then be a neceffity for pushing the affair
to the laſt extremity; that I was certain that
the King and all his people with him, from their
obedience to him, would fuffer themſelves to be
cut to pieces rather than furrender; that it was in-
cumbent on them to conſider whether they had fuch
orders from the Grand Signior, and if they could
anfwer for the iffue that would infallibly be fatal,
and in which all christendom would intereſt itſelf.
1
I am bold to fay, that this being pronounced
with refolution, had its effect, tho' delivered by
my interpreter trembling, for fear of the baſtinado,
a puniſhment very common for interpreters who
ufe too much freedom in their difcourfe to the
grandees of the Porte, for I faw them whifpering to
each other. In the mean time rifing from my feat,
and defiring them again once more to reflect upon ·
what I had faid, they promiſed to think of it. I had
the fatisfaction an hour afterwards to learn from a
confident of the Baſhaw, that in the firſt place they
had refolved to fend the King's anſwer to the Porte,
and have the pofitive orders of the Grand Signior, if
they ought to attack him at a venture, and kill him
with all his People, which might naturally be ex-
pected to be the confequence of the defence they
would make, and next to keep the camp in the
mean time ftrictly blocked up, to endeavour to
oblige
( 165 )
;
oblige that Prince by famine, to what neither the
orders of the Sultan nor their entreaties could make
him do. In fact that evening they fent poft two
choadars or officers of the Porte, the one of the
Han and the other of the Baſhaw. I directly went
to the camp to inform the King of the refolution
that had been taken, and did all that was in my
power to perfuade him to take other meaſures, and
to name the day of his departure, but what I ſaid had
not the leaft effect upon him. On the contrary
he told me, that this exactly confirmed him in his
opinion, that the Grand Signior knew nothing of
what had paffed; that the courier, whom he him-
felf had fecretly diſpatched to the Porte, would
arrive there before thofe of the Han and Bafhaw
that his Highnefs would be informed of all their
intrigues, that then we fhould fee fine fport, and
to conclude, that all would be well before it were
long. I answered, that I wished fo with all my
heart; but that I had ftrong reafons to believe,
that all that had paffed was in confequence of the
orders of the Grand Signior, whom they had found
means to prejudice againſt his Majefty. This was
proved, by what had happened to the Porte, in
regard to his minifters, the envoy Mr. Funk, and
General Poniatowski, who we were affured were
arreſted, and I was very much afraid the new or-
ders of his Highness would arrive at Bender, be-
fore they had time to inform him right. He
anfwered, that he believed nothing of it, and
treated it all as a mere fancy; or at leaſt
pretended to believe nothing of it, to give fome
fhadow of reafon for his defence. It was in vain
for me to difpute with him, or to fupport my ar-
guments with fome fharpneſs. It produced no
other effect, unleſs that he begged of me, if I may
fo fay, to be of his opinion. Seeing that I could
gain nothing on that point, I took the liberty to
tay to him, that fuppofing every thing fhould be
M 3
as
( 166 )
as his Majefty fuppofed it was, there must be time
for the return of all the couriers that had been fent
to the Porte; and that I could not fee upon what
he could fubfift in the meantime, being perfuaded
there was not provifion in the camp for twen-
ty-four hours. He anfwered me, that that was
but too true, but that Mr. Grothufen, he knew,
had already entreated me to endeavour to get fome,
by means of fome of the Janiffaries his friends. 1
told him that the commiffion was fomewhat deli-
cate; that I had obtained my Turkiſh and Tartar
guard, upon the footing of being perfectly neuter;
and that I would run a rifk of lofing it, and even
the permiffion of going to the camp or the city,
if I fhould prefume to fend proviſions into a be-
fieged fortress.
He replied a little fharply, that if that could
not be done, they must go and forage, or make
fallies upon the enemy to endeavour to procure fub-
fiftence. As I faw him a little moved, I affured
him, that notwithſtanding the danger and all the
difficulties that I faw before me, I would do my
best to acquit myfelf of his orders, and after this
affurance we parted very good friends, if I may be
allowed to ufe that familiar expreffion.
Mr. Grothufen, when he came out from the King,
urged me ftill more earneſtly to do it, and after a
pretty long difcourfe, we agreed that he ſhould
give me fome Jews and other traders, of whom he
had always a good number at his heels, to treat
with the Janiffaries his friends, and that I would
facilitate the affair as faft as I could. In effect,
fhortly after, when I mounted my horſe to go
home, I found my retinue enlarged with about a
dozen of Jews, Greeks, Armenians, &c. who ac-
companied me to my houfe in the ſuburb, from
whence each of them went to his acquaintances, to
treat with them according to their inftructions from
Mr. Grothufen. Next morning I had feveral Ja-
niffaries
( 167 )
niffaries at my levee, who offered me to cauſe pro-
vifions to be fent to the camp, provided I would
undertake for the payment. I fatisfied them on
that point, by giving them my word that I would
be bound for it; but at the fame time I pro-
tefted, that if the affair fhould come to the know-
ledge of the Kan and Baſhaw, I would abfolutely
difavow my being concerned in it, either directly
or indirectly. They all fwore upon their beards,
that they would keep the fecret inviolably, and that
they would not betray me if they fhould be difco-
vered themſelves, and told me, that all they aſked
of me was, that they might have recourfe to me in
cafe Mr. Grothufen did not pay them, on which
point we eafily agreed. That night, accordingly,
they found means of carrying and fending by wag
gons, to the camp, a great quantity of all kinds
of provifions and victuals, either by paffing thro'
the Tartar parties without their perceiving them,
or by bribing them with a promife of part of the
profit.
*
Next day upon my arrival at the camp I received
the thanks, not only of Mr. Grothufen, but of the
King himſelf, and this practice was afterwards con-
tinued in fuch a manner, that they were in no want
of neceffaries. I went almoft every day to the
camp, and once every two or three days to the
city. To do juftice to the Turks, and even to
the Tartars, I muft here fay that they had all pof-
fible regard for the guards that were given me,
as I went freely from the city, or from my houfe
to the camp; and likewife returned, without their
raifing the leaſt obftacle or difficulty as to my paf-
fage, altho' I had fometimes a retinue of 30 or 40
perfons, even unknown to myſelf, who went and
came about their own affairs.
On the other hand, the King, whether for his
diverfion, or not to lofe the habit of riding, did not
M 4
fail
[168]
fail to take an airing every day with a retinue of
30 or 40 officers, and to go 20 or 30 times round
all the Tartar pofts that had been ftationed to block
up his camp, as if he had been going the rounds
to fee if they kept guard well. Thefe having a
moft express order not to touch the King or any of
his retinue, gave way wherever they came, and
carefully avoided the committing of the leaft ho-
ftility against them. His Majesty having plainly
acted offensively, and driven fome Tartars before
him to the vineyards, a report immediately ſpread
among the reft, that he was flying towards Poland;
and among the Swedes in the camp, that he had
attacked the Tartars, or was attacked by them.
This produced a very extraordinary effect; for
the Tartars and the greatest part of the Swedes
in the camp, ran confufedly ard pell-mell towards
the vineyards; theſe to defend their King, and thoſe
to affift their comrades; fo that it would have
been very easy for the Turks to have furpriſed the
camp almoſt deſtitute of men, if they had known
how to come to a refolution on the fpot. Imme-
diately upon hearing the noife, I mounted my
horfe, and galloping towards the vineyards, with-
out knowing well what I was doing, I
much furpriſed to ſee the King returning towards
his camp at a flow pace, and furrounded with fe-
veral thouſand Tartars, very calmly, and with fo
fmiling an air, as if he had been making a trium-
phant entry. I could not help declaring to him my
anxiety, on account of fo extraordinary a proceed-
ing; but he only made ſport of it, and fome days
after having diſcovered from the top of his houfe,
half a dozen waggons loaded with provifions and
drawn by oxen; he ordered about 40 men, foot-
men and other volunteers to go and carry off that
convoy, whether they really that day wanted pro-
vifions in the camp, and had fecretly agreed with
the
[169]
15
the Janiffaries to attack them as they paffed, or
whether they really wanted to be the first to begin
hoftilities. However it be, this party offering to
force the Janiffaries who conducted the waggons, to
go directly to the camp, they made a pretence of
calling the Tartars to their affiftance; but as theſe
durft not touch a Swede, according to the orders
which we mentioned above, and the body of foot-
men defended the waggons fword in hand, the Tar-
tars with all their cries and dancing, could not hin-
der the convoy from happily arriving at the camp.
Such is the prefent ftate of affairs here, the confe-
quences of which I am very apprehenfive of. The
Couriers fet out a few days ago, and God knows
what will happen at their return. I ſhall not fail
to inform you of it as ſoon as poffible. Whene-
ver we ſhall have got over this kalabalik, I will de-
mand my difpatches. Adieu, I am, &c.
1
P. S. I ftill doubt they will come to extremi-
ties; in the mean time they feize all the King's
people whom they find without the camp, and
there are already more than 60 Swediſh and Poliſh
prifoners in the City. I fend this at all hazards
by Conftantinople.
LETTER
To the Same.
XLVIII.
SIR,
Bender, Feb. 15, 1713.
THE
HE two couriers I mentioned in my laſt, re-
turned here the tenth at ten at night. Be-
ing one of the firſt who heard of it, I came to town
the next morning very early, and learnt from their
own
[ 170 ]
own mouths that things went on worfe and worse;
that a fecond great Divan had been held, and a
Capigy Bacha appointed to carry the refolutions,
taken there, to the Han, and the Bacha, with
an order for them to compel the King to depart,
on pain of death. I afked them whether they had
any letters for me, in anfwer to thofe I had fent by
them. They told me they had not, but that one
of the Capigi Bacha's fervants had. I afterwards
went to the Bacha, who not only confirmed what
I had already heard, but added alfo, that the King
would have a bad time of it, if he did not come
to an agreement before the arrival of the Capigi
Bacha; and defired me to adviſe him to it. I
affured him I would do all that lay in my power;
and begged of him to difpofe the Han to contri-
bute to it; which he promifed he would: ſeeing
him very bufy with the difpatches he had received,
I went home, and after dinner I waited on the King.
His Majefty had already heard that things did not
look well, and had even received fome propofals of
accommodation from the Han, by Count Tarlo,
to whom they were fent by a Myrfa. The King
feemed more eafy than I could have wifhed him in
the prefent juncture, or rather he was fixed in his
firft refolution of waiting till the very laft extremi-
ty.
I know not whether he flattered himſelf that
the Grand Signor's order was not fo pofitive as
they pretended, becauſe they ſtill propofed gentle
methods, or that, fhould it be fo, the Janiffaries
would not comply with it. Be that as it will, I
went home very little fatisfied with the fuccefs of
my commiffion, and ſpent the night in great unea-
finefs, with my mind on the rack to find out fome
expedient. The Capigi Bacha having made more
difpatch than was expected (being but five days in
coming from Adrianople) arrived the next day,
and at noon I came to Bender. It was confirmed to
8
me
£ 171 ]
me as well by the Capigi Bacha himſelf, whom I
found at the Bacha's, as by the letters brought to
me by one of his fervants, that a fecond divan
had been held at Adrianople, at which the Grand
Signior had been prefent, as at the firft, and where-
in it had been refolved that his Sublime Highneſs
fhould fend an order to the Han and the Bacha,
not only to allow no more delays to the King of
Sweden, but to attack him as an enemy, at the
rifk of maffacring him and his fervants, ſhould they
with rebellious arms oppofe their benefactors: and
that this order, brought by the Capigi Bacha, was,
like the first, accompanyed by a Fetfa of the
Mufti, with great threats to the Han, and the
Bacha, if they did not put it into immediate exe-
cution. In fact, the Bacha, to convince me of
the truth, fhewed me a large paper which he faid
was the hattcherif, or imperial order, and which was
explained to me. However, I begged of them to
give me leave to go to the camp, to make a final
remonftrance; which was granted, pn condition it
fhould be for the laft time; they added that they
would fend a Myrfa with a Turkiſh Aga, to fum-
mon the King to ſurrender.
I immediately made ufe of this permiffion to
fpeak to the King before the arrival of thofe de-
puties. I found his Majefty on horfeback at a good
diftance from his entrenchments, between the city
and the camp. As foon as he perceived me, he
advanced full gallop, and taking me by the hand,
made figns to his people that were near him
to flay behind: he asked me what news the
Capigi Bacha had brought. I gave him an exact
account of all that I have mentioned above:
after listening to me with a great deal of pa-
tience, he asked me, if I was really perfuaded that
this order, which I faid I had feen, was the Grand
Signior's? Having anfwered him in the affirma-
tive,
[ 172 1.
tive, he affured me that it was forged, and that his
Sublime Highnefs knew nothing at all of what
paffed at Bender. We had a great conteft thereup-
on, in which I alledged the ſtrongeſt things that
my reafon and my zeal for his fervice could fug-
geft. After afking him in my turn, whether he
would depart, if I should prove to him that it was
pofitively the Grand Signor's.order; he anſwered
me with more warmth than common, that he would
not depart even if ten other Capigi Bachas fhould
come. I went fo far as to fay, Well, Sir, if your
Majefty will not do what religion, reafon, and your
own glory require, I have no more bufine's here, and
fhall retire. I confefs, that confidering, in cold
blood that I had in fome fort laid afide the re-
ſpect due to Majefty, and feeing that inſtead of be-
ing angry, he aufwered me with mildnefs, This is
not a time for us to be angry and to quarrel; I was
afhamed of my haftinefs; and begged his pardon,
affuring him, that it proceeded folely from my de-
votion to his fervice, and from the intereft I took
in his prefervation. He replied, kindly preffing
my hand, that he was convinced of it; and that he
had always been highly fatisfied with my conduct:
I thanked him for his goodnefs, and our converfa-
tion, which had begun with fo much heat and vi-
vacity, ended with all the mild nefs and coolness
imaginable. We were hardly arrived at the camp,
when the Myrfa and Aga came there: they a-
lighted at Mr. Grothufen's, and I quitted the King,
who went home, to wait for them. Mr. Gro-
thufen and myſelf entertained them with all poffible
civility; and coffee being ferved up, Mr. Müllern,
who had complimented them at their first coming,
went to give notice of their arrival to the King, to
whom he faid all that his rhetoric could dictate,
to foften him; but it was with great difficulty he
could
[ 173 ]
could prevail with him ſo much as to fee them: ne-
vertheleſs he returned to fetch and conduct them to
him. They, with great civility, aſked the King his final
refolution; he anfwered with ſome haughtineſs, that
it was the fame as the firft; upon which they with-
drew, laying their hands upon their breaft, and
bending low, which is their manner of faluting.
The priests and fome officers of diftinction, being
informed of what had paffed, made ufe of all
their eloquence to induce him not to fight
and wage war with the Grand Signior their
benefactor; but instead thereof to thank him,
and depart honourably, fince there was yet time
to do it but whether they did not take pro-
per methods with him, or that his imagination was
fo delighted with the idea of an approaching fight,
and that he was afraid to let the opportunity ef-
cape, they could not prevail; but were ordered to
be filent, and to withdraw if they would not fight
with him. I returned once more to the King, and
feeing that I could not make the fmalleft impref-
fion on him, I told him, that finding him inva-
riably determined to feek death, I could do no less
than follow him and bury myfelf with him in the
camp. After making me a few little bows, which
was a great compliment in his way, he answered me
with a ſmile, that I ſhould be finely caught, if he
took me at my word; I affured him, no, not at
all, and that I would do what I had juft had the
honour to tell him. Finding that I was ferious,
he would not confent to it, thinking me, I fuppofe,
ftill able to do him fome fervice, or to ferve thoſe
of his people who fhould efcape from the fight.
I quitted him to take leave of my friends, whom
I found fo much the more affected with our parting,
as they thought that we ſhould never fee one ano-
ther again; they gave me their purfes, with other
things of moft value, to keep, and to return
in
[174]
in cafe they ſhould have the good fortune to
efcape the threatening danger. I did my beft to
comfort them, and infpire them with as much
courage as the prefent juncture would permit f,
promifing to take all imaginable care for their li-
berty if they fhould happen to be taken prifo-
ners.
As there was not much time to lofe, I went
ftraight to the city, to make a final effort with the
Turks but I found that their refolution was al-
ready taken to proceed in the execution of their
orders, all the ſtreets being filled with Janiffaries,
Topigis, or gunners, Lipkas, or Turks, &c.
It was with much difficulty I paffed through the
croud to the feraglio of the Bacha; who, though
he was very bufy in giving the neceffary orders,
made me come into his chamber, where I found
the Han, and the officers of the Porte who had
brought the orders. I again began to make them
fome propofals, but the Han immediately inter-
rupted me, faying that I might fee plainly there
was nothing more to be done with that head of iron,
(Demir Bache) meaning the King of Sweden; and
therefore he would advife me to go home, and not
return to the camp, for fear of any accident
in the confufion: the Bacha gave me the fame
counfel, which I followed. In my way, I paffed
through a multitude of foldiers with their officers,
who thewed me all manner of civility, though I
was dreffed like their enemies, that is to fay, in
Swedish cloaths, with feveral of my people in
the fame drefs. You may imagine the uneafineſs
with which I waited the event of this day, which,
to all appearance, would decide the fate of our Hero.
Mean while, I had fome of my people in the camp,
and in the city, who gave me notice of what paffed :
but that ceafed all on a fudden, and having fent
to know the reafon, I learnt, that the gates of the
city
[ 175 ]
city had been fhut; and that on the other hand,
the King had ordered that none fhould ftir out of
his camp, and that he would receive no more pro-
pofals. Soon after, I heard great cries of Allab
on the fide of the city, which is the ordinary fig-
nal of the Turks, when they go to an attack,
which convinced me that an attack would really
be made. In fact, an hour after, the gates being
fhut towards the fouth, and the Tartars having
preffed more cloſely on the Swedish camp, the Turks
marched out of the city to attack it in the follow-
ing order.
1. The Janiffaries, in number about three thou-
fand.
2. Ten or twelve field pieces with fome ammuni-
tion-waggons, attended by a number of Topigis.
3. The Bacha, with the Bauyouck-Imraour, the
Tchiaous Bacha, and their retinue, very well
mounted.
The march was clofed by the Han, with the
Sultan Galga, his eldeſt fon, divers Myrfas, Tar-
tars, and Circaffians. Thefe laft were exceedingly
well mounted, and very handfome, as are gene-
rally all thofe of their nation, fo famous for the beauty
of both fexes. In this order they paffed through
a kind of a fuburb, called Lipkana banna, where I
lodged.
Being arrived at a little distance from the
camp,
the Janiffaries put themfelves in battle array; the
artillery was planted before the Bacha's tent, or
at least below his guard. The Han and the Bacha
being encamped, and their troops drawn up, they
fent an Aga to fignify to the King, that every
thing was ready to attack him, if he would not
change his refolution. This Aga addreffed him-
felf to Mr. de Grothufen, who went and acquaint-
ed the King. His Majefty would not fee the Turk,
but ordered him to be told that he alfo was ready
to defend himſelf. However he permitted Mr. de
Gro-
[ 176 ]
66
Grothufen to go to the Han, and the Bacha. The
former eagerly aſked him, whether the King was
willing to depart? To which Grothufen anſwered,
that it was all he defired. But when? added he.
Grothufen replied, when his Majesty was ready,
which he hoped to be able to tell them in three
days; and this was all the delay he asked. The Han
replied in a paffion, "That this was ftill the old
"fong; that agreeably to the orders of the Grand
Signor, it muſt be that hour; and for that purpoſe
"it behoved his Majefty to come immediately to
"them." Mr. de Grothufen, with all his natu-
ral coolneſs, loft all patience at this imperious be-
haviour of the Han, and aſked him, for whom he
took the King of Sweden? whether he thought
him a man to be intimidated, and come and kifs
his papouche or flipper? Eide theik Guiaour," Be
gone, infidel," returned the Han. The Bacha,
who was prefent all the time, and who had a liking
for Mr. de Grothufen, mildly told him, that he was
very forry that the Grand Signor's orders permit-
ted no delay; upon which Mr. Grothufen with-
drew, very little fatisfied with the interview. In
the mean time, the hautboys, drums, kettle-drums,
and other warlike mufick of the Turks, were
heard; and the King, not to be behind hand with
them, had ordered five or fix trumpeters to the
top of his houfe, who answered them.
66
Incenfed by Mr. de Grothufen's reply, the Han
gave immediate orders for the cannon to fire;
which did no other harm than killing one of the
poor trumpetters, who was playing the antick on
the top of the houfe. Mr. de Grothufen, who was
well known to the Janiffaries, as he paffed through
their ranks, took it in his head to harangue them
in their own language, which he understood very
well he spoke to them pretty much in thefe
terms: "I am aftoniſhed to fee you in arms, not
ઃઃ
"againſt
[ 177 ]
"against your enemies, but againft your beſt
"friends; againſt thoſe you have fo often called
"cardafehler, or brothers, who have loaded you
"with prefents. To your mortal enemies the
"Mufcovites, you have given quarter, and
peace, with all things neceffary for their fub-
"fiftance and their return home, at the fame
"time that you refufe to your brothers a fhort de-
"lay of three days, which is all that I have aſked
"of the Han and of the Bacha, who having, it
"fhould feem, refolved to deliver up his Majefty
66 to his enemies, exceed the Grand Signior's orders,
"which, to ſay the leaft, have been obtained from
"his Sublime highneſs on falfe reports." This
fpeech, pronounced with much foftnefs and elo-
quence, by a man fo dear to the Janiffaries, joined
to fome money which he threw among them,
produced a very good effect. Mean time the can-
nonading grew hotter, but without doing any da
mage. The Han, and the Bacha, ſeeing the King
ftill firm in his first fentiments, ordered the
Janiffaries to attack the Swediſh intrenchments
and their captains preffing them on, inſtead of
obeying, they faced about, crying “Olmas, Olmas,
"That fhall not be:" one of them even wounded
an officer who would force them to go on. They went
in a confuſed manner to the tents of the Bacha,
and the Han, declaring that they would not at-
tack the King, and that the time he afked fhould
be granted him; fome added that the order was
forged, &c.
You may eafily judge, how much the Han was
piqued at this change of the fcene: he reproach-
ed the Bafha with his weakneſs for the Swedes, and
want of firmnefs in the execution of the Grand Sig-
nior's orders; adding, that if he knew no better
how to make himſelf obeyed by the Janiffaries,
he would mafter the King of Sweden with his Tar-
N
tars.
66
•
*
[ 178 ]
tars. The Bafha excufed himfelf as well as he
could, reprefenting the danger of irritating fuch
a militia, who had arms in their hands; and bid
him have patience only till the next morning;
and that in the mean time he would find a way to
make them alter their minds. Upon which the
Han quitted him abruptly, and affembling his prin-
cipal Myrfas, held a divan to confider of means
to force the King to depart. Mean while, the
Bafha bid the Janiffary-Aga and the other officers
of the Janiffaries to lead them back into the city,
in the gentleft manner and beft order they could;
which was happily performed, and all returned,
except the Han, and his Myrlas, with the artil-
lery, &c. in the fame order they had marched out.
I had judged proper to stay at home, that I
might feem to obferve an exact neutrality, but I had
my scouts abroad, who had acquainted me with all
that paffed between the two camps; and I foon
perceived the whole Turkish army return back to
the city without having done any thing againſt the
King feveral of the Janiffaries who knew me,
fired their mufkets in the air, in token of joy
as they paffed before my door: fome even came
out of their ranks to fpeak to me, and afked if I
was not very well pleafed with their behaviour,
and their friendſhip for the King of Sweden; ad-
ding, that if they were again urged to attack him,
without firft giving him time, or without fhewing
them the pofitive and indifputable orders of his
Sublime Highnefs, they would proceed to farther
extremities. I anfwered their compliment with all
poffible circumfpection; I thanked them for their
affection to the King, but defired them not to
fpoil things by too much forwardness. I thought
proper to uſe this caution, becauſe I was not fure
but their vifit might be a faare to difcover my fenti-
ments. However, I faid enough, if not to ani-
7
mate
[ 179 ]
mate them against their leaders, at leaft to
attach them more ftrongly to the King. The Ba-
fha, as he came back, feemed more ferious than be-
fore; and I could perceive in his looks anger and
chagrin for what had happened.
This little army being returned into the city, all
the gates were fhut, and a double guard placed,
compofed of trufty Janiffaries. An hour after-
wards I learnt that it had been refolved in the divan
held by the Han, to attack the King by break of
day, without the Janiffaries, and in the mean time
to amuſe him all night with fkirmishes; and that
the feymans, or guards of the Han, and his beſt
troops, were to force the King's entrenchments
fword in hand. But the Bafha, who likewife held
a divan in his own houſe, where the bearers of or-
ders, and the Janiffary-Aga had affifted, having
acquainted him with the refult of it, he fufpended
his orders; and towards nine or ten o'clock at
night, one Savari, of Flemish extraction and inter-
preter to the King, came back from Adrianople,
from whence Mr. Funk and General Poniatowſky
had found means to difpatch him, though them-
felves were under arreft. He brought feveral let-
ters to the King, for Mr. Müllern, Mr. Grothufen,
and myſelf. He applied to a well-affected Turk,
to deliver me his difpatches, being afraid to fhew
himfelf; this Turk brought them to me, and I
entruſted them with the Tartar officer who was given
me for a fafeguard, to whom I gave ten ducats,
and promiſed as many more, if he could find
means to deliver them into Mr. Grothufen's own
hands he promiſed me to do his best. The let
ters of my correfpondents reprefented the melán-
choly fituation of our affairs, "that the Grand
Signior had reiterated his orders, to carry off the
King by force, at all events, into Theffalonica,
_c..
66
N 2
I was
56
ܕ
[180]
I was greatly furprized at feeing an interpreter
of the Han come to me at eleven at night, inſtead
of the officer I had entruſted my letters with (who
had been taken in attempting to paſs to the Swediſh
camp). This interpreter reproached me very much
in the Han's name, for correfponding with the
Swedes, though he had forbid me; and particu-
larly for a note that I had fent with the King's
letters, and thoſe of the other perfons above-men-
tioned. This note contained very ftrong argu-
ments and exhortations to the King to yield to the
Grand Signior's pleafure; but it ended with fome
invectives againſt the Han; which I confefs was not
prudent at this juncture. I had the addreſs to
tear off, unperceived by the interpreter, the laſt
lines of my note, which the interpreter had had the
imprudence to deliver to me, and boldly anſwered,
that the Han was much to be blamed, to reproach
me with correfponding with the Swedes, fince he
might fee by the note itſelf, if he could read Ger-
man, that I laboured only to accommodate matters,
which we all fo ftrongly wifhed. He returned more
fatisfied than he had reafon to be, and took back
the note to fhew it, upon what I had faid, to his
mafter, who knew but too well the contents, and
had given it to him only to confound me, in cafe
I fhould deny it; for the Han had all the letters,
that were found with the note, opened and ex-
plained to him by a German interpreter, whom he
kept. He had not forgot it, but directly per-
ceived, as I have learned fince, that it was not
come back out of my hands whole; and greatly
fcolded the bearer.
A little after this, having difguifed myſelf as a
Janiffary, to go to ſpeak to the interpreter Savari, who
was concealed in one of the houſes in the fuburb, I
was much furprized to hear a great noiſe at my door,
and fending to know what was the matter, I was
much more fo to ſee a Myrfa enter with about forty
Tartars,
[181]
Tartars, who after a very rough compliment told
me, he had orders from the Han to arrest me, and
deliver me up to the Bafha, as foon as the city
gates fhould be opened. I answered him cooly,
that I had nothing to reproach myſelf with, neither
had I any thing to fear; and that I would not only
willingly put myſelf into the Bafha's hands, but even
into thofe of the Han, to give an account of my ac-
tions. I made the Myrfa fit down, and had fome cof-
fee and ſtrong waters ferved up, which he ſeemed not
to diſlike, and afterwards prefenting him with an old
watch, of which the outfide was the beſt, I fo far gain-
ed his favour, that he gave me leave to go out, on
pretence of ſpeaking to Count Tarlo, to the Pa-
latine of Kiovia, and other Poliſh Lords, who had
put themſelves under the Han's protection, and
who, to avoid being involved in the danger that
threatned the Swedes, lodged in the fame fuburb
but it was Savari only whom I wanted to fee. I
reckoned that I fhould learn from him feveral par-
ticulars which might be of fome ufe to me, againſt
the King's obftinacy, in cafe I could obtain once
more the liberty of ſpeaking to his Majefty. This
interpreter confirmed to me, but too ftrongly, what
had paffed at the Porte, in relation to the King.
Between three and four in the morning, I came
home, and found the Myrfa fmoking his pipe, and
more uneafy than when I left him. He made me
fome reproaches upon my ſtaying fo long, but I
foon appeafed him by ſaying that if even the Han
knew that I was gone to thofe gentlemen, he would
take no umbrage at it, fince they were his friends
and under his protection. I adviſed him to repofe
himſelf for a few hours, and that I would do the
fame till the city gates fhould be opened; giving
orders to my people, as he might do to his, to
awake us a little before that time. He agreed to
it, and being awaked by break of day, I put on a
N 3
Swedish
[ 12 ]
Swedish drefs, and we mounted our horfes with his
forty men. Having alighted at the Bafha's, we
found him up, or rather he had not lain down, the
reafon of which I fhall mention by and by. He
was in a little kick of his palace, that looks to the
Niefter: the Myrfa and I went in, leaving the Tar-
tar guard at the door. As foon as he faw me, he
afked the Myrfa what was the matter; and being
informed of it, he made him withdraw, that I
might be at liberty to tell my ftory. I complained
much of the manner in which the Han treated me.
After hearing me with great coolness and gravity,
he warned me carefully to avoid giving the Ban
any reafon to bear me a grudge; for he was vio-
lent and paffionate, and had it in his power to
make me repent it. Afterwards, ordering the
Myrfa to be called in, he told him to make his
compliments to the Han, and that he would be
answerable for my perfon and conduct. As the
Myrfa went away I had the fatisfaction to fee the
rear of his Tartars attacked and driven away, like
a herd of buffalos, by the Bafha's Janiffaries, with
their long ftaves, the only arms they carry when
upon guard the Janiffaries were not only well
difpofed in my faveur, but hold the Tartars in fo-
vereign contempt. The Bafha told me, half an
hour afterwards, that I might return home, and
make myfelf eafy, but not to meddle any more
with the King of Sweden's affairs, fince he very well
faw that he was bent on bringing matters to the
laft extremity. Nevertheless, I begged of him
that I might go once more to the camp, and make
a final effort. He told me I could not do it with-
out the Han's confent, and that it was needleſs to
atk it; fo after thanking him I returned home.
He had not flept all night, as I have faid, but had
employed it in ftriking a masterly blow. The
firft orders he gave after the Janiffaries were return-
ed
( 183 )
[
3
*
16
ed to the city, was, that the gates ſhould be ſhut,
and that after the laft evening prayer, every one
fhould go to his refpective lodgings. He then
held a divan, at which Bouyouk-Imraour, the
Tchiaous-Baſhaw, and the Capigi-Baſhaw affifted :
after which, when every body was afleep, he or-
dered thirty of the moft mutinous of the Janiffaries,
to be ftrangled in their beds, during their firft fleep,
and afterwards thrown into the river with a large
ftone faſtened to their necks. At break of day, a
little before the opening of the gates, he had af-
fembled, according to the refolution taken in the
divan, all the furbagys, odabachis, colonels, and
the principal officers of the Janiffaries, and the
oldeft of the private men, and producing the hat-
cherif of the Grand Signier, cauſed it to be read
by a cady, faying, that any one might come and
examine the feal and fignature, and convince
himfelf that it was an original and genuine order,
not a forged one, as fome had dared to call it,
to countenance their rebellion. That they had
incurred the guilt of high-treaſon, and confe-
quently were looked upon as feparated from their
wives, and ranked in the number of infidels; that
in quality of Serafkier he could not avoid giving
notice thereof to the Sublime Porte, and that
they had nothing to expect but a terrible tempeft,
which hung over their heads, if they did not
repent of their faults, and immediately execute
the orders of the Grand Signior against the King
of Sweden, who was become unworthy of his
favour, and of his imperial friendship, by his
refiftance to his Highnefs's will, who wanted
only to conduct him in fafety to his own country.
• That he himself was very forry to be reduced to
ufe violence; and that he fhould be greatly pleaf-
ed if the King would of himfelf quit the place
where he was, that he might write to the Porte,
N 4
.
6
Calikty
6
6
C
<
6
(
184 )
Calikty (to uſe the Bafha's term) that is to ſay, He
is decamping, he is fetting out; but that having
• never been able to perfuade him to it; to act
fo wife a part and fo agreeable to his own intereſt ;
he adviſed them as a friend, to take advantage
of the confidence which that Prince had always
placed in them, to induce him to take this refo-
lution, whilft it was yet time; by propofing to
him to put himſelf into their hands, and go with
them, if he thought proper, and plead his cauſe
⚫ before the divan at Adrianople, &c. that if in ſpite
of all this, he ftill perfifted in his obftinacy, he
hoped that they would make no difficulty
6 to attack him, and that they ought to confider
what riches were in the Swedish camp, from his
Sublime Highness's liberality, who had made fo
many preſents to the King of Sweden, in horſes,
rich harness, caparifons, fabres, and money: be-
fides which, every private perfon had a great
deal of ready money, jewels, furniture, equi-
pages, horfes, &c. that all this would fall to
• them, as well as the Swedes they ſhould take
priſoners, who would become their flaves. That
he adviſed them once more, to reflect upon it
for their own fakes, and as foon as was poffible
to go and ſpeak to the King, and conjure him
by his plighted word, and by the orders of the
Grand Signior, not to let himſelf fuffer violence
for his obftinacy.' This long ſpeech of the Ba-
fha produced the effect which might be ex-
pected; the Janiffaries anfwered unanimously,
that all that he faid was juft and reaſonable, and
that they would take it upon them to make the King
depart of his own accord, or they would force him
to it.
<
6
When I returned home, I lay down dreffed
and booted, to take a little reft; but my mind
was fo diftracted with what had paffed, and fo un-
eafy
[ 185 ]
NO
*
eafy about what was ftill to happen, that I ſcarcely
flumbered, when about nine in the morning I was told
that a number of Janiffaries defired to ſpeak with me.
I was agreeably furprized, on coming out of my
room, to ſee between fifty and fixty officers of the
Janiffaries, moft of them of my acquaintance, with
their long beards, and each of them a white ſtaff in
his hand. They acquainted me with what had paffed
between the Bafha and them, and added, "that
they were going to the camp, as meffengers of
peace, which their white ftaves, without any
"other arms, plainly fhewed; that they would
"offer their ſervices to the King, and affure him,
"in the name of their whole corps, that they were
$
66
cr
ready to attend and guard him as the apple of
"their eye, whether he choſe to go to Adrianople,
"to ſpeak himſelf to the Sultan, or to return to
"his own country; and that they would
"fooner be cut in pieces, than fuffer any harm
"to be done to him." I applauded their zeal,
and generous principles, and wifhed them all the
fuccefs they hoped for. I wrote to Mr. Grothu-
fen to fecond their offers and propofals to the King,
and I fent my interpreter with them to fee what
paffed. Some time after, I mounted on horſeback
to meet them on their return; but how great was
my furprize at feeing them come back in less than
half an hour, fome with dejection, others with rage
in their looks. I haftily aſked them what was the
matter? one of them anfwered me bluntly: Sueté
Krall deli oldgu, The King of Sweden is turned mad:
others fhaking their heads called him, Demir Bache,
Head of Iron. I was aftonished at their words,
after the converfation I had with them juft before;
but I learnt by my interpreter, that coming to the
entrenchments where General Hordh was, and afk-
ing to ſpeak with the King, to acquaint him with
their errand; that General, who was reckoned to
4
be
·
[186]
be the only one who flattered the King in his de-
fign, of oppofing force with force, went and in-
formed him of their meffage. His Majefty fent him
back to tell them, that, if they did not depart, he
would give orders to fire upon their beards, or to.
cut off their beards. If thole were the King's words,
you must confefs, that it was not prudent for the
general to repeat them, for it was the moſt inſult-
ing anfwer that could be made to the people of the
Eaft, and the moft provoking accordingly, they
were highly incenfed. This chagrined me much,
and confirmed the thought which occurred to me
during the converfation and difputes which I had
with the King, upon his inflexible refolution to
come to the greatefl extremities, namely, that he not
only promifed himself pleaſure and glory in engag-
ing in a battle in which his forces were fo much in-
ferior to thofe of the Turks; but that he had taken
it into his head, to do an action fo aftonifhing, as
to be hardly credited by pofterity. In fact, thofe
meffengers of peace became all on a fudden mini-
fters of war; for no fooner had they entered the
city, than they made ready to execute the Grand
Signior's orders, by girding on their fabres and their
other arms. Some time after, we perceived the
army in the fame order as the day before, except
the Han, who had ſtaid in his tent; and what made
me alſo fear that the affair would prove ferious, and
that we fhould not get over it cheaply, was, a ful-
len filence, which prevailed every where, and that
the mufic was never heard during the whole march.
Upon which the Polish Lords went again to im-
plore the protection of the Han, which they ob-
tained.
The Baſha, when he came near the camp, drew up
the Janiffaries along that fide of the Swedish entrench-
ments which was weakeft; and having ordered the ar-
tillery to be brought to bear upon the King's houfe,
better
[ 187 ]
better than the day before; it began to fire very
brifkly after which he gave orders for the attack,
which were almoſt as foon executed as given, for
the entrenchment was directly forced, either from
the unequality of numbers between the befiegers
and the befieged; or, what is most likely, becauſe
the Swedes made no refiftance; or, in fact, as
I heard feveral people fay, that they fuffered
themſelves to be impoſed on by the affurances of
fome Janiffaries, who were near enough to make
them prefents of tobacco and coffee, affuring them
that things would pafs as on the preceding day.
Be that as it will, it is certain, that all thoſe who
guarded the entrenchments, were the firft who were
made prifoners, or furrounded, without firing a
fhot, or drawing a fword: every thing that was
found in the houfe was plundered.
During thefe tranfactions, the King, who was on
horfeback with a fmall number of officers, was
preſent in all places, where the danger was moſt
preffing, and his people gave way moſt, to ani-
mate them by his example, and by his words.
But feeing them furrender without making any de-
fence, and thouſands of Turks and Tartars pour-
ing into the camp; he found his only refource left,
was to defend his houfe; accordingly clapping fpurs
to his horſe, he made his utmoſt efforts to get to
it; but in an inftant he was furrounded in fuch a
manner with Janiffaries, who wanted to feize his
perfon, that he hardly could advance one ſtep.
Nevertheless, he forced his way through the crowd,
attacking them fword in hand, at the head of a
fmall number of his people who followed him;
cutting, and hacking, on right and left, every
thing that oppoſed them; at length he got to a
door of his houſe, where after he had haftily a-
lighted from his horfe, he fell down. A Janif-
fary who had been wounded, diſcharged his piftol
fo
f
[ 188 ]
K
fo near to his head, though it was aimed at
General Hordh (who was endeavouring to enter
with the King, and who, as he has faid fince, had
wounded him) that the ball grazed his noſe and
the tip of his ear, and finged his eyebrows. The
King found means to get up, and continuing to
keep off with his fword, the crowd of Turks and
Tartars, as did the few who followed him; he got
into his houſe, the door of which was opened to him
by Colonel Chamber, attended by five or fix men,
who defended the entrance of it againſt the Turks,
who had loft ten or twelve men, three of whom his
Majefty had killed, or mortally wounded, with his
own hand. The King being entered, followed by
a gentleman of the court, a corporal of the dra-
bans, and two drabans, feveral inferior officers,
dragoons, and valets, in all about thirty people;
the door was fhut. He was much furpriſed, that
having left in it a garrifon of a hundred men,
he fhould find no more than two and twenty; and
to learn that the Turks and Tartars, coming in at
the windows, had made prifoners of all this gar-
rifon, excepting thefe few, who had retired and
entrenched themfelves, as it were, in the apart-
ment of Marſhal Duben, which they held out a-
gainſt the enemy, who had pillaged the other
apartments.
The King muftered his people that came in with
him, and the remains of the garrifon, which might
make up all together about forty two fighting
men; the chief of which were Colonel Chamber,
already named, the Drabants, Wolberg and Axel
Bofen, Mr. de Cliffendorff, chamberlain to the
King, Mr. Palmberg, a gentleman of the court,
and Mr. Erenpreus, fecretary of the chancery:
After reviewing them, and endeavouring to ani-
mate them by promifes of great preferment, he or-
dered the door of the outer chamber to be opened,
which
[ 189 ]
which he found full of Janiffaries: notwithftand-
ing the inequality of numbers, he did not heſitate
to attack them, putting feveral to the fword, and
forcing the reft to leap out of window. He next
ordered the door of the great hall to be broke open,
which, like the other, was filled with a greater
multitude; to the number I have been told, of a-
bove three hundred Janiffaries, who were plunder-
ing the furniture; amongft which was the King's
plate, which had been faved at Pultowa. Their
number did not hinder his Majeſty from im-
mediately attacking them with his fmall company.
The Janiffaries did all they could to overpower this
battalion, and ſeparate the King from it; and were
actually very near making themſelves maſters of his
perfon, if he had not killed two Janiffaries, and
wounded a third; who being irritated by his wound,
with one ſtroke of his fabre cut quite through a
fur cap his Majefty wore, and would have ſplit his
fcull, if he had not grafped the fabre with his
left hand, on which he received a flight wound.
He had hardly efcaped this danger, but another
body of them furrounded him, and undoubtedly
would have taken him, if feveral of his people
had not difengaged themſelves from thoſe they
were fighting with, and run to his affiftance. See-
ing himſelf again at the head of his battalion, he
charged the Janiffaries with fo much courage, that
in lefs than an hour he made himſelf maſter, not
only of the grand faloon, but of the audience
chamber alſo, and of the whole houſe; after put-
ting to the ſword all who made refiftance. A poor
Janiffary, frighted probably at this tragick fcene,
and who had hid himſelf under the King's bed,
would have ſhared the fame fate, if he had not
embraced the King's knees, crying Aman, aman,
that is to fay, quarter or pardon. The King grant-
ed it, on condition he would go and tell the Ba-
I
cha,
[190]
cha, and the Han, what he had feen: which
having fworn to perform faithfully, the King him-
felf helped him to get out at a window. And here
I muft do the juftice to the Janiffaries in general,
to ſay, that excepting him whom I have ſpoken
of (who was exafperated by the wound he received
from the King) not one attempted his life, tho' by
fparing it, feveral loft their own lives: and this,
from fome remains of affection to him, as they
pretended, or to gain eight or ten ducats, which the
Bacha had promifed to whofoever fhould affift in
taking him alive. Be that as it will, the King,
feeing himself thus mafter of the whole houſe,
ordered the doors and windows to be barricaded a-
new, and had embrafures made to fire upon the
affailants. The Turks, not a little furpriſed at
what had paffed, and at what the Janiffary, whofe
life the King fpared, had reported to them, held
a kind of council of war; in which, readily judg-
ing that it would ftill coft them a great number of
people if they fhould perfift in their defign of car-
rying off the King from his houfe; on a fudden
they changed the fcene. The cannon, which at firſt
had fired but by intervals, now battered the houſe
with the greateſt fury. You will perhaps be fur-
prifed how this houfe was not beat down, and le-
velled with the ground: but you muſt know, that
befides that the walls were of a confiderable thick-
nefs, the bricks were fo foft, that the cannon balls
only made holes, without doing any other damage.
In the mean time, the King, who wanted neither
for powder nor ball, (with which he had found
means, during the blockade, to fill all the ftore-rooms)
made frequent difcharges upon the Turks through
the windows and embrafures, and killed many.
This manoeuvre lafted till towards night; the
Turks were much furpriſed at their fmall progreſs,
and that it ſhould cost them almoft as many people
to
[191]
to attack him at a diſtance, as when they had
tried to feize his perfon within the houſe.
At laft they bethought themfelves of an expe-
dient, which was, to faften matches and other com-
buftibles to the arrows of the Tartars, a fhower of
which was in an inftant poured on the roof of the
houfe; which confifting only of a few thin planks
joined together, it foon took fire, and the whole
in a few minutes was in flames; and, in the iſſue,
confumed to the value of upwards of two hundred
thouſand crowns, in rich prefents made to the King
by the Grand Signor, the Han, and the Vifirs;
confifting of tents, fabres, faddles and bridles a-
dorned with jewels, rich houfings, and harneffes.
The King, afraid left the fire fhould gain the
cieling, went up with fome of his people to ex-
tinguiſh it, if poffible; but having nothing in the
houſe but fome bottles of wine and brandy, and
there being no way to pull down the roof,
he was obliged to return to his apartment, from
whence he fired anew upon the Turks, as if no-
thing had happened. They were the more fur-
prifed, as they imagined that he had a mind to
bury himſelf in the ruins of his palace. At last,
the whole houſe appeared to be nothing but a funeral
pile on fire, in which this hero feemed to live
and gather new ftrength, like a falamander. The
flames having at laſt reached the cieling, in a
few moments feveral pieces of burning wood fell
upon the befieged; who feeing the preffing dan-
ger, befought the King not to be fo cruel to his
perfon as to fuffer it to perish in the flames. He
affured them that there was no danger as long as
their cloaths did not take fire; exhorted them to
have patience, and animated them to defend them-
felves to the laſt man, and rather to die like brave
men, than fall into the hands of their enemies;
promifing, at the fame time, great rewards to thofe
who
[192]
who fhould follow his example and not yield;
but it ſhould ſeem that the heat of the fight and
his heroic ardour, hindered him from perceiving
the contradiction there was between what he re-
quired, and what he promiſed: mean while, the
danger hourly encreaſed, and it was much to be
feared that the cieling falling, would bury them in
flames; fome large coals having already fallen
upon the King himself, every body preffed him
again, to quit the place and force his way through
the Turks and Tartars and fave himſelf, whilſt it
was yet dark, amongst the vines. I do not know
what might have happened, if the Drabant Axel
Rofen had not took it into his head to tell him that
it was far better to die with arms in their hands
like brave men, in the midft of the enemy, than
to perish in cold blood among the flames; that
at fifty paces diftance, there ftood a houſe built of
ftone with a flat roof, called the new Chancery, where
there would be no fear of fire; that if the whole
body would fally out in clofe ranks, each man
with his fword in his right hand, and a piftol in
his left, and clear his way through the Turks and
Tartars, it would be an eafy matter to reach it,
and hold out another much longer fiege. Whe-
ther the idea of this new fight tempted the King,
or that he believed the thing to be really practica-
ble, or that he perceived, he ſhould be no longer
mafter of his people, and that they would aban-
don him in the houſe alone, if he fhould obfti-
nately remain in it, he confented to the propofal.
He then formed a kind of battalion of his little
garrifon, and putting himſelf at their head, fallied
out the firft with his drawn fword; but advanc-
ing with too much ardor, and being by that means
feparated from the reft, he unfortunately fell down;
whether it was occafioned by a piece of wood being
in the way, or, as fome people fay, that a poor
frighted
[ 193]
frighted cook took him by his belt and made him
fall; the Janiffaries, who were upon the watch,
threw themſelves upon him, and at length diſarmed
him, though not without much trouble.
Be that as it will, fuch was the manner, in which
this hero fell into the hands of his enemies; what
is moſt extraordinary, is, that as ſoon as he faw
himſelf difarmed, in an inftant from being all fire,
he became quite calm.
He directly afked who had taken him, and be-
ing told it was the Janiffaries, he ſeemed fatisfied,
for he had a great averfion to the Tartars, and it
was that which made him afk the queſtion.
The Baſhaw received him at the entry of his
tent with all poffible reſpect, and defired him to
fit down, which is always the first compliment a-
mong the Turks at a vifit. The King did not
comply, but chofe rather to ftand according to his
cuſtom; altho' the heat and length of the battle muft
certainly have fatigued him. The Bafhaw then
made a great many excufes to his Majefty for the
extremities to which he had been obliged to come,
and thanked God for his prefervation. The King
on his fide made others, for his people's not having
fought better; adding that if all his retinue had
but done as he and the few that were in his houfe
acted, he would not have taken him for a long
time. The Bafhaw anſwered that they had buc
too well defended themſelves, and that it had coft
him more than 200 flain, both Turks and Tartars;
to which the King replyed, that was nothing in
compariſon of what would have 'happened, if his
people had feconded his ardour. This extraordi-
nary converfation would have ftill proceeded much
farther, if the Bafhaw had not defired the King to
mount a fine Turkish horfe richly caparifoned
in the manner of the country, then at the door
of the tent, which he did, and proceeded to the
city,
O
[ 194 ]
city, furrounded with a great number of Turkiſh
officers and Janiffaries; and there alighted at the
Bafhaw's houfe, who had caufed one of his beſt
apartments to be prepared for him. During the
action, I had remained with Mr. Jefferies, at the
back door of his houſe which looked towards the
King's camp; and we were every moment inform-
ed of what paffed, by fome Emiffaries whom we
had among the Turks and Tartars, but eſpecially
by a gentleman named de la Motraye, whom I
had brought from Conftantinople with me, and
who was a traveller, and very curious to know e-
vents: having gone on horfeback difguifed as a
Tartar to fee the action, he came from time to
time to give us an account of it. My fears and
anxiety now gave place to my hopes, and confidering
the facrifice of more than 100 men that the Turks
had made to take his Majefty alive, without kil-
ling more than 15 of his men, I no longer faw
any thing to fear, excepting as to the purfe, in order
to deliver the prifoners, feveral of whom had already
been offered to be fold to me by their maſters. I
muft confefs indeed, that in refpect to them, it was
to me one of the moſt affecting fights, to fee a-
mong others on the day of the action, feveral
Tartars on horſeback leading their prifoners cou-
pled together like dogs; among theſe were feveral
generals and young Swedish officers of the firſt
quality, as Meff. Sparre, Dahldorff, and Hordh;
the counts Bielke, &c. who addreffed themſelves
to me, to entreat me to have pity on them and
purchaſe them. I gave them all the affurances in
my power, and I promifed to do my utmost to
ferve them. At the fame time I recommended
them to the Turks and Tartars, to whom they
belonged, who promiſed to be reaſonable and to
take care of them. I nevertheless could not help
laughing to fee feveral Tartars ridiculouſly dreffed
like
"
[ 195 ]
like large apes, to which they had no fmall refem-
blance; wearing the fine laced cloaths which they had
feized, above their coarfe fheeps-fkins, in form of a
furtout; hats above their bonnets, three or four above
each other; wigs at their belts, inftead of handker-
chiefs, which they called kill calpas; horfes-hoods,
and other things that they had pillaged.
After this tranfaction I paffed the night more
quietly than I had done for a long time; and next
morning early I repaired to the Bafhaw, who im-
mediately gave orders to conduct me to the King,
where were Meff. Grothufen and Ribbing, the first
taken by the Janiffaries, and the other by the Ba-
fhaw's own people, who had inftantly fet them at
liberty to keep the King company. His Majefty
was in his ufual drefs with his boots,, but his clothes
were fomewhat torn, and bloody in feveral places.
His bonnet was cut in one corner, and his left
hand a little wounded, bet des two fmall fcratches,
one on the noſe and the other at the ear, and his
eye-lid a little burnt. Notwithſtanding all this,
he looked as contented as if he had had all the
Turks and Tartars in his power. I approached
him with my hands joined, faying to him that I
thanked God to fee him again fo well, a happineſs
which I almoft durft not flatter myfelf with, the
evening before, in the midst of all the dangers
that he was furrounded with. He answered me
fmiling, that the danger was not fo great near
at hand as at a distance; to which I replyed,
that appearances muft then have been very de-
ceitful, but that it feemed to me that 30 or 40
perfons befieged in a houfe, againſt which were
fired fome hundred cannon-ſhot, and which was
all in flames, run a terrible rifk; and that no-
thing less than a miracle of providence could
have faved his Majefty. He ftill anfwered that
it was nothing, and infenfib'y the converfation
O 2
fell
( 196 )
fell upon the action itſelf, of which he gave me in
a fomewhat lively manner a pretty long account,
only from modefty avoiding the circumstances
which regarded himself perfonally, and would ne-
ver agree to the current report that he had killed
15 Janiffaries with his own hand, faying that it
was a falfehood, and that we ought never to believe
above one half of what was fpoke. I replyed
that even that was enough, but he ftill leffened
it; faying that he remembered but one, who had
pufhed him againſt the wall, and whom he run
thro' the body with his fword up to the hilt, and
two others in his own apartment whom he believed
dead. This converfation, at which no body was
prefent but Mr. Grothufen, and Mr. Ribbing, who
came in and went out at different times, continued
near two hours, and then his Majesty took me by
the hand to whiſper fomething to me, upon which
the two gentlemen immediately left us quite alone.
He recommended to me the deliverance of the
prifoners, and the Bafhaw in the mean time en-
tering, we changed the difcourfe. I then took
the Bafhaw afide, to tell him that it was a ſhame
to fee the King in that manner without a fword,
and that he ought to return him his own; but he
haftily answered me, that I certainly believed him
a great fool to make fuch a requeſt to him, as the
King would then renew the battle, which he had
no defire to fee. He then led me to his chamber
of audience, where having aſked him what they
would do with the King, he anfwered me that he
had orders to caufe him to be conducted to Ad-
rianople, but he knew not whether they would not
fend to his conductors fome other orders on the
road, to convey him directly to Theffalonica, or to
an ifland in the Archipelago in exile. I then fpoke
to him in favour of the pritoners, for whofe liberty
he promiſed me his authority or affiftance. I af-
ter-
[ 197 ]
་
A
1
terwards returned to the King, who aſked me what
the Baſhaw had faid to me. I only told him the
article concerning the prifoners, with which his
Majefty feemed pleafed, and recommended them
to me anew. I anfwered him that I was directly
going to fet about procuring their deliverance. In
the mean time, Sir, I fend you this account in
hafte, by which you will fee the ſtrange catastrophe
of this great battle, of which there is no example
in hiſtory either antient or modern. It is evident,
that if they had all inclined to fight like the King,
and applyed themſelves only to the defence of the
houfe, that it would have held out againſt 10,000
Janiffaries for feveral days. 'Tis believed that the
King will very foon be fent off with his chief of-
ficers, to be conducted to fome caſtle or ifland.
I hope, however, that all would yet be well, pro-
vided the King inclines to an accommodation with
the Emperor. I am, &c.
P. S. The King has been fick in bed for theſe
two days, rather from his having overheated him-
felf than from his wounds. Nevertheleſs, we are
affured that they will caufe him to fet out to-mor-
row, with a retinue of 40 or 50 perfons. He de-
fires that I would follow him to Adrianople; and if
they conduct him thither, I will follow. Howe-
ver, this night I diſpatch a courier with this letter.
The King is far from being well. Adieu, Sir, the
courier is to proceed to Holftein, to ſpeak to you
by word of mouth.
0 3
LETTER
[198]
LETTER
SIR,
You
To the Same.
XLIX.
Bender, Feb. 18, 1714.
YOUR Excellency will have feen by my dif-
ferent narratives, what has happened here
during the troubles. You will be informed of the
circumftances of all the reft by word of mouth
from Mr. Baumann, nephew of Baron Stralenheim,
whom I think proper to difpatch with this letter,
that his Serene Highnefs may be more exactly in-
formed. Befides, your Excellency will already
have learned by my laft, difpatched by a courier
fome days ago, how much his Majefty had at
heart the deliverance of the Swedih prifoners.
To acquit myſelf of his orders on that point; I
fent, for that purpoſe, feveral perfons into the
country, who foon informed me where they had
hid feveral officers, whom I delivered: Mr. Mo-
traye, the fame whom I mentioned in my former
letter; who has been of great fervice to me on fe-
veral occafions, and who knows the nature of the
country and humour of the Turks, among whom
he has lived continually for almoft 14 years, was
of no lefs fervice to me at this time. He himſelf
procured the liberty of feveral prisoners of the
firft rank, and difcovered feveral others, whom I
took care to fet at liberty. I waited on the
King, to give him an account of that beginning of
our fuccefs, for which he thanked me, and having
defired the company that were with him to retire,
he told me that according to all appearance, they
would conduct him to Adrianople in a few days;
where being more in the way of negotiating in
perfon
[ 199 ]
perfon with the Grand Signior, he was perfuaded
that all would go well, both in regard to his own
affairs and as to his departure from Turky: but
as he plainly forefaw by their way of urging him
to fet out from Bender, that he would be able to
take very few of his people with him, he defired
me to ſtay at Bender for the deliverance of the
reft, and that he would pay me all the expences I
ſhould be at on that account. I anfwered, that it
was certainly my greateft ambition to do a fervice
to his Majesty and to all the prifoners, the care of
whom he recommended to me; and that I had in
truth a pretty large fum of gold by me, but be-
fides that I did not know whether that was fuffi-
cient, I begged of his Majefty to remember that
I had already advanced more than 24000 crowns
on his Majeſty's account, and that the letters of
exchange, which he had given me, had not yet
been payed at Hamburg. I added, that I believed
I muft for the future, take fome precaution, efpe-
cially as we were going to feparate, and no body
could tell either what route his Majefty was to take,
or if I fhould ever have the happineſs of feeing
him again. The King here again interrupted me,
to affure me once more, that all would end better
than 1 expected, and that he hoped foon to fee me
again, if not in Turky, at leaft in Germany;
but that nevertheless it was very reaſonable that I
fhou'd have fecurities, and that he was ready to
grant me all that I fhould afk on that point. I
thanked him moft humbly for his gracious affur-
ances, but I added at the fame time, that I could
not fee how we could fettle it, as it was impoffi-
ble to know before hand, how much I fhould be
obliged to advance, for the deliverance and fub-
fiftance of all the prifoners. After having confi-
dered on this a little, he refolved to caufe me to
expedite a new order to the Senate of Sweden, in
04
the
( 200 )
the most exprefs terms to pay, before every thingelfe,
not only my laid letters of exchange for 2 4000 crowns,
but also that they ſhould pay with the fame diſpatch
and on the fame foot all the fums that I fhould af-
firm were advanced by order, and for the fervice
of his Majefty, without my being obliged to pro-
duce either difcharge or atteftation, or any thing
elſe; but that my word alone fhould be fufficient
for that; and that he ordered the fenate under.
pain of his difpleaſure, not to make any fcruple
or difpute, eſpecially, as I had done moſt impor-
tant fervices for his Majefty, in most preffing oc-
cafions. I produce this circumftance to repeat to
your excellency what I have often mentioned, that
is, the great confidence his Majefty had in me, and
his natural generofity. I did not fail to exprefs my
gratitude to him in the moft exprefs terms, upon
which he immediately fent, for Mr. Fieff, who had
only obtained his liberty about two hours, and,
caufed the order to be expedited in all its forms,
and put it into my hands. Befides, Mr. Müllern
at the fame time gave me a letter to your excel-
lency to ferve in place of difpatches, in cafe I fhould
not be allowed to join the King, of which letter I
have the honour to fend you a copy.
I quitted his apartment a moment after, to go and
fpeak to the Baſhaw, and having told him, that the
King had much at heart the procuring the liberty
of all the prifoners, with which commiflion he had
charged me he antwered me, that he begged of
me to have patience till after the King's departure,
which would be in two or three days at the fartheft;
and that it would be fufficient, in the mean time,
to procure the liberty of forty or fifty officers to
accompany him.
I returned to the King to give him an account of
what the Bathaw told me, and his Majefty named
part of thofe, whom he would wish to accompany
him.
[201]
him.
About mid-day I went home, eat my
dinner in great hafte, and employed the reft of
the day in fearch of the prifoners, whom the King
had named to me, and in treating with their ma-
fters. Meffrs. Jefferies and de la Motraye, alfo
employed themſelves in this affair with fuccef, and
we had the happiness to purchaſe fo many as to make
a retinue of fixty perfons to the King about two
days after.
Next morning I was awaked by the unexpected ar-
rival of a courier from Germany, who having paffed
through Jaffi the capital of Moldavia, there found
King Staniſlaus a prifoner. This Prince, who had
been in Pomerania ever fince the lofs of the battle
of Pultowa, had ufed his utmoft endeavours to pre-
vail with the King of Sweden to abandon his inte-
refts, and to make his peace with King Auguftus.
But as his Swediſh Majefty would never confent to
that, King Stanislaus, after a conference that he
and the Field Marshal Count Steinbok had with
count Fleming, and in which they had agreed upon
a ſuſpenſion of arms, and certain conditions of peace
with King Auguftus, had fuffered himſelf to be
prevailed on to undertake a journey to Turky in
perfon, to uſe his utmoſt endeavours with the King
of Sweden, to obtain his confent, in regard to the
treaty, the articles of which they had before hand
agreed upon. Although there is a great probabi-
lity, that this whole negotiation was nothing
but a political trick of Count Fleming, to gain
time for the junction of the Saxon and Mufcovite
armies with that of Denmark, King Stanislaus,
however, fet out in good earneſt incognito, with a
fingle officer, and a couple of domeſtics, under
the name of a Swediſh Lieutenant-colonel, and
arrived happily as far as Jaffi, where he was known
by fome accident or other, and as he arrived about
an unlucky time, that is to fay, during the action
of
[ 202 ]
of Warnitza, the Prince of Moldavia had thought
proper to caufe him to be arrefted, and to give in-
formation to the Porte, of the arrival of a fecond
King in the Turkiſh territories. I had no fooner
read over my letters, than I dreffed myſelf in great
hafte, and went to the King of Sweden to give
him an account of that extraordinary event. He
had already been informed of it a moment before
by the Baſhaw. I am bold to affirm, that this
event gave him more uneafinefs than all that had
hitherto happened in regard to himself. I found
him in a great rage, efpecially, againſt Count Stein-
bok, to whom a few days after he caufed a terrible
letter to be written, upon his fuffering himſelf to
be duped by the fine words of count Fleming, ad-
ding, that he could not repair that fault, but by
gaining a victory. After he had exhaufted his bile
a little against General Steinbok, and againſt King
Stanislaus; alfo for fuffering himſelf to be per-
fuaded to undertake fo improper a journey, and
efpecially for not taking better meafures not to be
difcovered, he told me, that the moſt preffing bu-
finefs now was to fend fome trufty perſon to him,
to tell him to behave fo that it might not be known
who he was, for fear leaft the Turks fhould take
the advantage of his coming, and even facrifice
him to King Auguftus, if they fhould find their
account in it. I anfwered him, that this was in
truth to be feared; but as his Majefty himſelf had
juft told me, that they already knew him; it was
now too late for him to think of keeping himſelf
incognito. We had on this point a long difpute,
his Majefty affuring me, that he might very well
deny who he was, or maintain even tho' the Turks
fhould know him, that he abfolutely was not King
Staniſlaus; and I in my turn affured him, that
would fignify nothing, as the Turks would rather
believe their own eyes and ears than all the affu-
rances
[203]
rances he could give them to the contrary. At
length having promifed him, that I wloud take
all fuitable meafures with King Staniſlaus, to make
him quit the Ottoman empire before the Sultan
could difpofe of his perfon, that propofal quieted
him, and he charged me to infift chiefly upon his
quick return to Germany, without hearkening to
any propoſals the Turks might make to him in re-
gard to a peace with King Auguftus. I promiſed
to do my best, and we parted both very well
fatisfied, the King with the new proofs I gave him
of my attachment to his ſervice, and I with the hopes
I conceived that my interview with King Staniſlaus
would furnish me with an occafion of doing a fer-
vice to the King of Sweden in fpite of himſelf, by
endeavouring to procure a peace with King Au-
guftus.
I went next day at five in the morning to wait
on the King, whom I found quite dreffed and rea-
dy to fet out. However, his departure was put off
till about ten, and there was a great deal of going
and coming, before every thing was ready. I had
in the mean time a long difcourfe with his Majefty,
which turned upon King Stanislaus, and upon the
deliverance of the Swediſh prifoners who remained
at Bender. He again recommended this laſt article to
me, with all poffible earneftnefs, promifing me, that
I fhould without delay be repaid the money I ſhould
advance for that purpoſe; and that he certainly one
day would not fail to remember the fervices I had
done him. But when I wanted to take my leave
of his Majefty, and aſk his orders for Germany,
he interrupted me, to tell me, that tho' he had al-
ready kept me in Turky longer than I inclined, yet
he hoped that I would not depart in the ftate that.
affairs were in at prefent; and that he wished
greatly that I would come and fee him at Adria-
nople as foon as I could, altho' it ſhould be only
7
for
1
[204]
.
1
for a couple of days, especially, as he was fure,
that I would there find affairs in a much better fitu-
ation for his intereft, than they appear to be at prefent.
I anſwered, that it was very uncertain whither they
would conduct his Majefty, and ſtill more whether
they would give me permiffion to fee him and ſpeak
to him. The King would not hear of that, and
affured me in his ordinary manner, that all would
be well; and that he would never leave Turky to
return to his own dominions without an army of
100,000 Turks and Tartars. Whatever objections
I made on this head, he ſeemed to be more te-
nacious of his opinion than I could be of mine,
and our converfation would never have been ended,
if the Bafhaw had not entered to tell his Majefty
that every thing was ready for his departure, and
that the chariot was at the gate with his people
on horfeback. The King having anfwered, that
he was alfo ready, and that he would fet out im-
mediately, the Bafhaw withdrew to allow us to
fpeak together for another moment. The King
then prefied me again, that I would give him my
word to come and fee him at the place whither
they fould conduct him, affuring me, that I fhould
remain there no longer than I pleaſed; and that it
fhould abfolutely depend upon myfelf to fet out
whenever I ſhould think proper. However defirous
I was of laying hold of the prefent opportunity to
return to Chriftendom, I nevertheleſs could not
refufe his Majefty, who teftified fo much friendfhip
for me, befides the curiofity I had to fee an end of his
adventures in Turky. Accordingly having anfwer-
ed the King's requeſt in ſuch a manner that he was
fatisfied, we parted, he to go into the chariot that
they had prepared for him, and I mounted my horſe
to accompany him to Cauchan, a fmall city, and the
capital of Budziak, within two or three leagues of
Bender. His Majefty lay down at his length in
the
1
[ 205 ]
the chariot, Mr. Grothufen went into it to keep
him company, and fat down at his feet. Befides
this chariot, which was pretty magnificently co-
vered with cloth, there was another for Chancellor
Müllern and Mr. Fief. About fifty officers on
horfeback, without fwords, followed thofe coaches,
the chief of whom were the Generals Daldorff and
Hordh, the Counts Bielck and Poffe, and Meffrs.
Ribbing and Rofen, Marſhal Duben, &c. The
Bafhaw with his court and Turkish mufic, pre-
ceded the cavalcade, which was melancholy enough,
in refpect to the fituation in which that hero was,
who a few years before faw himſelf at the head of
40,000 men, in a condition to hold the balance of
all Europe. I was on horfeback at fome diftance
from the coach-window, out of which he looked now
and then. When he perceived me, he made a fign
for me to draw near that he might ſpeak to me, and
thereby obliged me to gallop almoft continually clofe
to the window all the way to Cauchan. They had
there provided a houfe for the reception of his Ma-
jefty, and apartments both good and bad for us
among the Tartars, Moldavians, and Jews, who
are the inhabitants of that city. In the evening a
fupper was ſerved up to the King in the Turkiſh
faſhion, upon a ſmall table about a foot in length,
which was placed on the fopha on which he was
feated. The King went to bed early, and next
morning fet out on his journey in the fame manner
as before. I took leave of his Majefty, who again
recommended to me King Stanislaus and the pri-
foners, and the laſt thing he faid was, that he
hoped foon to fee me again; upon which having
left him, I clapt fpurs to my horfe and returned to
Bender, where I arrived in a few hours.
'Tis faid that they are conducting the King to
Adrianople, but others fay to Salonichi, to lend
him from thence by fea into his own country, and
others
[206]
others again into fome ifland, where he is to re-
main till he has paid all his debts. We fhall know
the iffue of his journey in a few days. In the first
cafe I will follow the King, and there wait for your
orders; in the ſecond I will fet out poft for Ger-
many by the way of Adrianople; and in the third
I will go thither directly to follow my retinue,
which is to fet out in two or three days. I
reckon that they will fend home all the Swediſh
priſoners here by the way of Germany. I have
in this expectation written to Count Reventlau, in
regard to a paffage thro' the territories of the Em-
peror. I recommend to you Mr. Baumann the
bearer of this prefent letter; he is a lively face-
tious man, very prudent, and who has ferved a
long time in France. I will not fail to inform you
by another courier by Cronstadt of the cataſtrophe
of all theſe extraordinary fcenes. I am extremely
impatient to ſee you again, to tell you by word of
mouth how much I am, &c.
P.S. I must tell you that after fome fearch, we have
found, there are only fifteen perfons in all miffing,
of whom twelve or thirteen were killed in the at-
tack of the houſe. The principal were the Cham-
berlain Dyffendorff and Mr. Palmberg. The run-
ner whom I brought along with me, and who
was Mr. Grothufen's valet de chambre, was killed.
in one of the King's windows, fighting like a lion,
againſt more than twenty Janiffaries.
LET-
[ 207 ]
LETTER L.
To bis Serene Highness the Duke.
SIR,
Bender, February 18, 1714.
THE
HE bearer of this letter, Captain Baumann,
nephew of Baron Stralenheim (whom I have
thought proper to difpatch on account of the ex-
traordinary conjecture of affairs here at prefent) will
have the honour of informing your Serene Highness
fully by word of mouth of all that has been omit-
ted or perhaps forgot in the letters, which I have
written on this fubject to Baron Goertz. After his
Majefty had been detained five or fix days in the
feraglio of the Bafhaw, he at length, on account
of his bad health and wounds, altho' flight, was
put yesterday in a chariot after the Turkish faſhion,
in which Baron Grothufen was placed with him,
and was conducted from hence on the road to
Adrianople to Cauchan, about two leagues from
hence, where he paffed the night. I had the ho-
nour, not only during the days of his confinement
here, to difcourfe with him often for whole hours
by his bed-fide, preferable to his Swediſh domeftics,
but alſo when he fet out yeſterday to accompany
him as far as Cauchan, where he recommended to
me ftrongly both on the road and when we parted
to take care of his people; and to affift, with my
advice, the Generals Sparre and Zulick, to whom he
had given the command of that ſmall and unhappy
corps. As the Bafhaw favours me with a very in-
timate friendſhip, I flatter myſelf that I fhall be of
confiderable ſervice in this point; and to-morrow I
fhall
[ 208 ]
fhall pass the whole day with him, to get an ac
count of the prifoners, and to procure them their
liberty. Befides, the King has not only given me
fecurity for the repayment of 24000 crowns, and
an order to the Senate to fatisfy me directly and
without a receipt, by paying me money of the
bank, without reckoning the currency for all that
on this new occafion I fhould difburfe for his fer-
vice; but likewife the Chancellor of the court has
given me ad interim, a letter to Baron Goertz, (of
which to day I have fent him a copy) that may
ferve me as credentials in cafe that I ſhould not
again fee his Majefty.
They ftill flatter the King that they will conduct
him to Adrianople, there to have a conference with
the Grand Signior, and that all will ftill go well.
God knows what will come of it: as to my felf, I
begin greatly to doubt a good iffue, and I am a-
fraid they will conduct him to Salonichi, upon the
Archipelago; there to embark him, or to fend him
perhaps to fome unhappy ifland. In cafe this laft
courfe be taken, I will fet out poft directly for
Germany, by the way of Adrianople; but in the
firft cafe, I will ftop at Adrianople, there to wait
for the orders of your Serene Highness; and as to
the fecond, if they fhould take it in their heads to
fend off the King by fea to Italy, France or Eng-
land, 'tis moſt likely that all the Swedes that have
been left here will pafs thro' Hungary to Germany;
for which purpoſe I have written to Count Re-
ventlau, to found the inclination of the impe-
rial court, and then afk a paffage for thofe troops.
Meff. Müllern, Fieff, Daidorff, Haerdh, Grothu-
fen, Glafenap, Duben, Klingflierna, Duwald,
Bielke, Ribbing; the Captains of the Guards,
Count Poffe, Adlerfeld, &c. are with the King,
and his Majeſty has fent me to-day a lift of 60 per-
fons
[209]
D
"
3
of
3
fons whom he wants to follow him immediately.
We ſhall fee to-morrow if the affair is practicable:
I hope every thing from the humanity of the Ba-
fhaw. To this extraordinary cataſtrophe is joined
another no leſs fingular, which is that King Stanif-
laus, who was on the point of coming hither with
propoſals known to your Serene Highnefs, was
first made a prifoner without being known at Jazzi,
and afterwards conducted towards this city after he
was known, where we expect him every moment.
We impatiently wait to fee how all this will end.
As to the Poliſh Lords here, they were immedi-
ately, upon the breaking out of the kalabalik, put
under the protection of the Cham of the Tartars,
who is at prefent endeavouring to reconcile them
with the Republic.
I have the ho-
nour to be, with profound refpect, &c.
1
•
OLO OOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOööööööö ÖTOLOLO
LETTER
To Count Reventlau.
LI.
SIR,
Bender, Feb. 19, 1714.
HE bearer of this letter, Captain Bauman,
TH nephew of Baron Stralenheim, whom I have
thought proper to diſpatch to Holftein, will tell
your excellency by word of mouth the circum-
ftances of the ftrange catastrophe that happened
here, if you have not yet learned them from one of
my narratives, which I fent off two days ago. I
find three things very curious in this great event,
of which we have no example in hiftory. The first
P
is
[ 210 ]
is that inflexibility, but at the fame time, extraor
dinary bravery of the King; the fecond, the pru-
dence and honour of feveral Turks; and the
third, the good order that they obferved during
the blockade and the two days of the attack, which
in the whole continued 20 days. The King fet
out two days ago about midday in a Turkish cha-
riot, in which Mr. Grothufen alſo went. The o-
thers followed in chariots and upon horfeback, to
the number of about 60 perfons. A Bashaw of
two tails commands the efcort, which confifts of
about 200 horfe. 'Tis faid they are conducting
the King to Adrianople, others to Salonichi a port
in the White Sea, where they propoſe to embark
him. We ſhall know in a few days what will be
the iffue. I had the honour to accompany his Ma-
jefty to Cauchan, about four hours journey from
hence. He recommended to me his people who
are kept at Bender, and had given me an order to
the Senate, for them to re-pay me all the ex-
pences I fhall be at on their account, even without
a diſcharge, upon my declaration alone. As I am
extremely well with the Bafhaw here, I find my-
felf in a fituation to do good offices to thoſe un-
happy prifoners, great part of whom I have al-
ready delivered. I fent off my retinue in a few
days, and I propofe to go poft by Adrianople, to
fee the King again if it is poffible. It has been
impoffible to get difpatches, as the King's feal and
all his papers are loft: but in the mean time, Mr.
Müllern has given me a kind of letter of credence
to Baron Goertz, with which I have reaſon to be
fatisfied. There has been fuch a general pillage,
that not a fingle Swede has a fhirt or a ducat left.
I beg of you inftantly to diſpatch Mr. Bauman, and
to give him paffports that he may go by Hanover
to Holſtein, by the ſhorteſt road. As I have like-
wife
[ 211 ]
0
wife occafion for all my money on this occafion, I
beg of your Excellency to advance him as much
as he fhall have occafion for in his journey. If
they conduct the King to Salonichi to put him on
ſhip-board, or if they fend him to any iſland or
caſtle; I fet out poft for Germany by Adrianople.
But if the Emperor and he are reconciled, and if
he gets his affairs in good order, I will there wait
the orders of the court. In this unhappy affair, I
have done effential fervices to the King and to all
the Swedes, as Mr. Bauman will tell you. To-
morrow I go to the Baſhaw's, where we are to ſend
for all the Swedes one after the other, to procure
their liberty and affign their quarters. I beg of
you to procure an order to the new Governor of
Cronstadt, to
to fuffer my baggage and all the
Swedes that ſhall be along with it, to pafs freely.
If you could, Sir, under hand, engage the impe-
sial court, to offer to the Porte a paffage both for
the King and the Swedes that are here, to the
number of 500 men, under the command of Ge-
nerals Sparre and Zulick, and Colonels Mentzer
and Hierta, you would do an important ſervice to
the whole nation. Meff. Müllern, Fieff, Daldorff,
Haerdh, Grothufen, Duben, Bielke, Poffe, Rib-
bing, Adlerfeldt, &c. follow the King. You will
find among my equipage fome fine Turkiſh and
Carcaffian horfes, which during theſe troubles I have
had almoſt for nothing: you may take your choice
of any of them. I am, as ufual, &c.
P 2
LETTER
[ 212 ]
LETTER LIÏ.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Bender, March 5, 1714.、
A
BOUT fifteen days ago I fent off Mr. Bau-
man, to inform you by word of mouth in
what manner the King has been taken prifoner by
the Turks, and conducted to Adrianople. As I
was with him during all that affair, and almoſt of-
tener and longer than any of his own people, dur-
ing the five or fix days that he remained in the fe-
raglio of the Emperor, he recommended his peo-
ple to me very ſtrongly; and as I have the honour
to have infinuated myfelf very ftrongly into the
favour of the Bafhaw, I have fucceeded fo well,
that we delivered in one morning more than 700
perfons, upon notes that I gave to the Janiffaries
that they had fet at liberty fo many people. At
prefent, there are more than 1000 people free, to
each of whom, by the Grand Vifir's order arrived
two days ago, is given a thaim, which confifts in
a pound and a half of meat and as much bread to
each perfon. They are, befides, all lodged in the
fuburbs; and as game is free and very plentiful,
they find means to live very well. Befides that,
Mr. Jefferies and I keep open table for 15 or 16
covers, every day; to which is fometimes added
a fmall table of 7 or 8; where perfons of dif
tinction come and dine without ceremony, which
is a great help to them. At the fame time I took
care to cloath all thofe poor Swedes, who were al-
moſt all naked, except General Sparre, who had
the precaution to fend the greateft part of his bag-
gage to my houfe before the kalabalik; fo that they
can-
[ 213 ]
I
cannot altogether be enough thankful to me.
had the happineſs befides, to recover a great many
papers of the King's chancery that eſcaped the
fire; and alſo the plans and accounts of the three
officers whom the King had fent into Egypt *, and
towards Jerufalem.
As we are not yet certain of the King's fate, we
likewife do not know if the people, who are here, are
to wait his return, or are to go by Germany. When
the King paffed the Danube at Smaillo, the Bou-
jouk-Imraour (chief groom) went before him poft
to inform the Emperor of all the circumstances,
and to prevail with him, according to the meaſures
taken on that point with the Bafhaw here, to per-
fuade him to come to Adrianople, and to have a
conference with him. The Imraour muſt have
reached the Grand Signior five or fix days ago.
We expect to learn fomething pofitive before the
end of the week. There runs a report that the
Janiffaries have refufed to eat the forba, or the
rice-foup, which the Emperor gives them, which is
a proof of their diſcontent; that the Grand Sig-
nior has aſked them the reafon of it, and that they
returned anfwer, that the King of Sweden had been
maltreated, and therefore required that all that he
bad loft at the kalabalik fhould be reſtored to him;
and that the Grand Signior himſelf fhould conduc
him with his army to the frontiers of Poland, and
procure him a paffage thro' that Kingdom. Altho'
this merits confirmation, the Bafhaw has affured
me that the King would go to Adrianople, accord-
ing to all probability, and would return here and
pafs thro' Poland. A little patience will foon clear
* Theſe were the Major de Loos, made Major General and
deputy Governor of the city of Hamburg in the year 1737,
where he died the year following; Conrad Sparre, afterwards
made a Colonel; and Captain Gyllenfchip, likewiſe made a
Colonel. The two laft were alive in 1742.
up
P 3
[ 214 ]
up every thing, altho' the road to Salonichi goes
very near to Adrianople. However it be, I muft
wait for certain news about this, before I can leave
this place.
So much as to the concerns of the King of Swe-
den. As to King Stanislaus, you know that he
came into this country upon certain defigns. Ha-
ving informed the King of this, as I mentioned in
my laft, he begged of me at his departure from
hence, to fend a courier to him to make the beſt
of his way back. Upon this, at my return to
Cauchan, I had a great defire to go myſelf to
Jazzi, and I begged of the Bafhaw to give me a
paffport. He anfwered me that that was unnecef-
fary, as he had already fent an order to the Hof-
podar of Moldavia, to fend King Stanislaus hither
with a good eſcort. He was accordingly brought
from Jazzi the firſt of this month, and 12 days
after the departure of the King of Sweden. The
Bafhaw fent to meet him, and to make him a pre-
fent of a horfe magnificently capariſoned; and the
cannon fired when he entered the city, where he
went to a houſe that was prepared for him. Nei-
ther the Tartar Han, nor the Bafhaw, have yet feen
him; as they wait to know upon what footing the
Porte will receive him. The former is entirely in
the intereſts of King Auguftus, fo much that he
propoſes to the Poles here to be reconciled to the
Republic: but as they expreffed fome ſteadineſs,
he to day aſked that the King ſhould give in a
memorial of what he wanted; of which the fol-
lowing are the principal heads.
That the Porte having once declared that they
would not hear mention made of King Auguftus,
and having acknowledged him King Stanislaus by
feveral manifeftoes, &c. &c. he requires of them,
1. That they would not receive any other mini-
fters befides his. 2. That they would addrefs
them-
[ 215 ]
themſelves to him only, as to the affairs and in-
terefts of the Kingdom. 3. That on that footing
he would take meaſures with the Porte againſt the
Mufcovites.
They promife to fend this memorial to the Porte.
I believe, if King Auguftus would promife this laft
point, they would readily prefer him to King Sta-
niflaus. However it be, the fate of the King of
Sweden will decide that of King Stanislaus in this
country; and one may fay that the King of Sweden
will be the moſt zealous minifter that King Staniſlaus
ever could have at the Porte. If affairs turn out ill
for the former, the latter will be happy to be able to
get out of this country. If the King of Sweden
were in a humour to agree to a peace with King
Auguftus, Stanislaus would confent to it and all
would be well; but I am fure he will not hear of
this. At the worst, King Stanislaus may do it
alone, if the King of Sweden does not fupport
him. To conclude, I have fo many things to
ſay to you on this head, that having neither time
nor opportunity to mention them now, I'defer
them all till my return.
The King of Sweden having begged of me at
parting, when I told him that King Stanislaus was
ftopped at Jazzi, to endeavour to fee him, and to
affure him that all would be well. I performed
this without the Bafhaw's knowledge, at a village
within a league of this: where in the difguife of a
Tartar, I faw him incognito. At prefent I am
more in his confidence than any of his Poles. I
manage and flatter him as much as I can, as I
hope by him to puſh
and to diſpoſe
the King of Sweden to conclude a peace with Po-
land. I have proceeded on the fame plan with
Poniatowski for more than a year. But the op-
portunity has never yet been fo favourable, as it will
be when I fhal fee the King at Adrianople or Sa-
P 4
lonichi.
·
-
[ 216 ]
lonichi. By the confiderable fervice I have done
theſe people, I have procured their efteem, and
thereby I have reaſon to hope every thing. As we
fhall have fome pofitive news this week from Ad-
rianople, I wait only for that to go thither poft
in fix days, and to give you from thence news of
all that paffes.
I am, &c.
P. S. I have received your letter in cyphers, of
the 30th of December. I have nothing elfe to
fay to you on that point at prefent; but that a
peace with Denmark will always be advantageous
and agreeable to his Swedish Majefty, therefore
you may boldly do your utmoſt to procure it.
☀☀☀☀☀☀ÖÖ ÖÖ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTO
LETTER LIII.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Bender, March 17, 1714.
YOUR
OUR Serene Highneſs will have ſeen both by
my moſt humble narratives, and by my let-
ters to Baron Goertz, how, after the ftrange kala-
balik, his Majefty the King of Sweden has been
conducted from hence towards Adrianople; and
how King Staniſlaus, having been ſtopped at Jazzi,
arrived here on the 1ft of March, under a ftrong
efcort by orders of the Bafhaw. Since that time
we have been in the greateſt uneafineſs as to the
fate of the King of Sweden, till at length 1 re-
ceived to-day by a courier difpatched from Kar-
nabat, about 20 hours on this fide of Adrianople,
four letters at once, from Meff. Müllern, Fieff,
Grothufen, and Poniatowski: by which, after fe-
veral gracious affurances of thanks frem his Swediſh
Ma-
[217]
"
E
Majefty, on account of the Swediſh prifoners de-
livered and fupported by my care; I have learned
to my great joy, that the Porte begins to repent of
the violence committed against the facred perfon
of the King, and feems greatly inclined to repair
it by all poffible marks of diftinction, and an ho-
nourable efcort acrofs Poland; the Emperor ha-
ving given orders, not only to furnish magnifi-
cently a feraglio adjoining to Adrianople, there to
lodge his Majefty, but alſo having fent orders to the
Han and Bafhaw here, to treat King Stanislaus as
the gueſt and friend of the Porte. At the fame
time, his Highneſs has refufed to grant an audi-
ence to Mr. Commentowſki the Ambaffador of
King Auguftus, which the latter flattered himſelf
with obtaining; and has even caufed him to be
guarded more strictly than before, which is a cer-
tain mark that the face of affairs will foon change
in our favour. Befides, we have certain news that
the Emperor is very foon to take the field in per-
fon, having already given orders for that purpoſe
to cauſe bridges to be thrown over the Danube,
and magazines to be formed neceffary for the ar-
my; and it is believed as certain, that the King of
Sweden will return here in four or fix weeks at the
fartheft.
However, in two days I fet out poft for Adria-
nople, notwithſtanding the remonftrances of all
the Swedish Generals and officers that are here,
where I hope to arrive in five or fix days, and from
whence I fhall not fail of fending your Serene
Highneſs true and frequent accounts of every thing
memorable. Major General Rank muft yet be
ftill at Cronftadt. To-day I fend you, at a hazard,
a courier protected by a Fehrman or paffport of
the Baſhaw, to purfue his route fafely thro' Wa-
lachia to Adrianople. At prefent I expect the or-
ders of your Serene Highneſs in a few weeks as to
my
[ 218 ]
my difpatches carried to Holftein by Captain Bau-
man. In caſe you ſhall think it proper that I fhall
ftill remain in this country, I moft humbly beg of
you to cauſe to be expedited for me new letters of
credit upon Conftantinople; Mr. Cook, my banker,
being quite exhauſted by the great advances he has
made for his Swedish Majefty. I have the honour
to be, &c.
P. S. By my money, I found means of getting
out of the hands of the Turks, after the kalabalik,
a great number of very curious plans and deſigns,
which at my return I ſhall have the honour of moft
humbly prefenting to your Serene Highneſs.
30 0 0 0 0 0 0
LETTER LIV.
To Baron Goertz:
SIR,
Bender, March 17, 1714.
I
Take the opportunity of two couriers whom
King Stanislaus fends to Sweden, and to the
army of his Excellency Marfhal Count Steinbok,
to inform your Excellency that to day I received
letters from Meff. Müllern, Fieff, Grothufen and
Poniatowski, from Karnabat, about 20 hours
from Adrianople; by which the King has fent me
the moſt obliging compliments in the world, af-
furing me of his favour, and of the repayment of
all that I fhall have advanced on theſe occafions,
and inviting me to come and fee him. But what
is more aftonishing, is the happy change in his
Majeſty's affairs. They have fent a Capizzi Ba-
fhaw to meet him, that he might be well treated on
the road. General Poniatowski is come from Adria-
nople
[ 219 ]
"
辅
​:
nople to Karnabat, to affure the King that the Em-
peror defires to renew their antient friendſhip, to
make amends for what is paffed, to conduct the
King in perfon back to Bender, to ſend with him
an army thro' Poland; and laftly, not to give an
audience to Commentowfki, the Ambaffador of
King Auguftus and the pretended Republic. A
fine feraglio is preparing at Adrianople, or in its
neighbourhood, for the King. But Poniatowski
(who after ſtaying two days at Karnabat, is return-
ed to Adrianople) believes that he will not remain
there fifteen days, as the Emperor is to begin his
march againſt the Mufcovites; the orders for build-
ing bridges over the Danube, and forming the ne-
ceffary magazines, being arrived here to-day. Be-
fides all this, the Bafhaw here has been ordered to
treat King Stanislaus, (who by my former of the
ift of March, you know is arrived here) as a friend of
the Porte. Thefe, Sir, are very unexpected revolu-
tions, and what I had not the leaft thought of, tho' I
have for fome time been acquainted with the incon-
ftancy of the Porte. To day I have difpatched a
courier to Mr. Rank, who muft already be at
Cronftadt, with a Fehrman or order of the Bafhaw,
by which he may with all fafety come and join me
at Adrianople, for which, after to-morrow I fet
out poft, and where I fhall be in five or fix days
at the lateft. I hope alfo that this courier, who at
the worst will come and join me alone, will bring
me the news of Germany, about which I am very
anxious. I know nothing of what has hapened
fince the battle of Gadebusch *, except that Count
Steinbok has marched towards Holftein. Since
that time ſeveral reports have prevailed; fometimes
that the count has defeated the Mufcovites; fome-
There is an exact account of this victory in Lamberti's
Memoirs, vol. VII. p. 636.
times
[220]
times that they have fhut him up in the narrow
territory near Tonningen; that he has aſked that
fortress for a retreat, but that it has been refuſed
him, that the court might keep an exact neu-
trality. God knows what is in it, but all is well,
provided the Mufcovites are not in Holſtein. I
believe it is a no leſs troubleſome affair, than the
Tartars were at Warnitza. At Adrianople I ex-
pect an order to return in cafe of need without any
further diſpatches; altho' I have reaſon to expect
them even very favourable, and likewife new let-
ters of credit at all adventures on the Engliſh Am-
baffador or fome English merchant, as Mr. Cook,
by the money he has advanced to the King, is not
able to make me large advances.
I chiefly expect news of the fuccefs of the
peace
with Denmark. King Stanislaus is come hither,
as you know, to make his peace with King Au-
guftus, and he ſeemed even willing to renounce all
pretentions to Poland. But fince the late declara-
tion of the Porte, he will not agree to a peace but
on condition of keeping Poland. It is certain,
that none could better fupport King Staniſlaus than
the Porte, if they would do it in earneſt; and
perhaps in that cafe King Auguftus would be in the
humour of restoring the Peace of Alt Ranſtadt to
fave Saxony. In that cafe we might intermeddle
in the affair, and get great thanks from King Sta-
nilaus. Perhaps my brother could be of good
fervice to us in this affair. I fhall write to him
a fhort letter on that head. I have nothing more.
at this time to fay to your excellency, except to
afk of you the continuance of your friendſhip,
and to affure you that no one can be more than
I, &c.
**
Privy Counsellor to the Elector of Brunswick Luneburg,
George I. King of England.
LET-
[221]
•
LETTER
To the Same.
SIR,
Bender, March 20, 1714.
Yok
OU know by my preceeding letters, that the
King has ordered me by word of mouth,
and by writing to take care of his officers, that
they may not die of hunger and mifery. The only
means to prevent this is to get them fome money.
A perfon here has furniſhed me with fome.
I fet out this moment to fee the King at Adriano-
ple.
I am, as uſual, &c.
·
·
O O O O O O O
1
SIR,
LV.
•
FOTOTOTOTO
LETTER
To the Same.
Adrianople, March 29, 1714.
A
Courier, that fets out this moment for Vienna,
hardly gives me time to tell you in two words,
that I arrived here yeſterday from Bender, and that
this afternoon I mount my horfe to go and fee the
King, who is arrived at Demir-Tocca, about fix
hours from hence; where they have furniſhed a
feraglio for him, and where he will remain for
fome time. His affairs begin to put on a good
face. The Grand Signior to perfuade the
public that he had no hand in what paffed, pro-
mifes all imaginable fatisfaction, and to procure
him a paffage thro' Poland againſt wind and tide.
The Tartar Han is on the road, and it is not
doubted but he will be depofed before his arrival.
The
LVI.
[ 222 ]
The fame thing will happen to Ifmael Baſhaw of
Bender, and feveral Agas will there be ftrangled.
Befides, the Grand Signior has difgraced his fa-
vorite Ali Bafhaw, and taken his daughter from
him; depoſed the Mufti, the Kiflar Aga, the Caf-
fegi Bafhaw, and the Hafnadar Bafhaw. All theſe
revolutions and difpofitions promiſe a happy iffue
to the King's affairs, and will largely fill the coffers
of the Grand Signior; as the favourite alone,
'tis faid, was in poffeffion of no less than 15,000
ducats in gold, and that the Kiflar Aga will have
very little lefs.
Send me, Sir, a
letter of credit hither by Mr. Thalman, upon the
Secretary of the Emperor Mr. Fleiſchman, who is
here. They oblige me to conclude; therefore I
am, &c.
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 o
·
LETTER
To the Same.
ooo ooo a for
LVII.
SIR,
Adrianople, April 4, 1714.
I
Add to my foregoing, that the Tartar Han,
upon his arrival within 30 hours of this place,
was depofed by the Boujouk Imraour, and is con-
ducted to Rhodes, or the iſland of Scio in baniſh-
ment. His brother Carplan Gherai has got his
place. The Imraour fome hours after, was alfo
depofed upon the road; and the Chiaous Baſhaw
here. Two days ago at ten in' the morning, the
Grand Vifir, Soliman Bafhaw, had the fame fate,
and is fucceeded by Ibrahim Captain Bafhaw, or
chief Admiral. He is a bold, enterprifing and
honest man, much beloved by the Grand Signior,
and hitherto a friend of the King of Sweden.
But
[223]
0
1
But as it is not feven years fince he was a caiki or
common waterman*, he ftill preferves a little of
his former rough manners. We muft fee what
he will do for the King in his prefent poft. With-
in theſe two days, they have begun to talk of peace
with the Muscovites, whoſe hoftages have been
fent for hither; to cauſe Poland and Pomerania to
be evacuated by the Muſcovite troops; to demand
20 fenators of Poland as hoſtages that the King
may fafely paſs to his own dominions with an
army of 6 or 8000 men, and to make a confidera-
ble army advance to the frontier to open a paffage
for the King by force, if thoſe hoſtages fhould
not come, of which there is no great appearance.
We muſt ſee whether the King will be fatisfied
with this Plan, or if the Vifir will be of the hu-
mour to do ſomething more for him.
I was with the King three days at Demir Tocca,
within fix hours of this place, where he is very
well lodged. He continues always abed, under
pretence of fome indifpofition, altho' he was ne-
ver in better health. He received me very gra-
ciouſly. I was two evenings fucceffively with him
and Grothufen alone, feated on the fopha till mid-
night. I return to him to-morrow, and I fhall
afk my diſpatches before his departure from this
country. We have had no news of a long time,
fo that we know nothing of what paffes in Hol-
ftein. I fear much that the Swedes, and perhaps
alfo the Muscovites, have difturbed the fair of
Kiel. I wait with impatience for news concerning
my diſpatches, by Mr. Bauman; and I am, &c.
I am affured that my friend Ifmael Baſhaw at
Bender is ftrangled.
His hiftory may be found in Motraye, vol. II. p. 155.
LET
[ 224 ]
LETTER LVIII.
To bis Serene Highness.
SIR,
Adrianople, April 14, 1713.
I
Hope your Serene Highneſs is ſatisfied with the
moſt humble narratives that I have the honour
to fend you, and with the letters I have written to
the Privy Counſellor Baron Goertz; both from
Bender and this place, in relation to what has paf-
fed, as well at the kalabalik, as fince the depar-
ture of his Majefty from Bender; and how the
Emperor, to convince the public that he was not
concerned in the laft violence, has given all the
fatisfaction imaginable to his Majesty, by depofing
fucceffively the Mufti, the Kifler Aga, the Tartar
Han, the Baſhaw of Bender, the Boujouck Im-
raour, the Tchiaous Bafhaw, and at length the
Grand Vifir. The new Vifir Ibrahim Baſhaw,
who within thefe feven years was nothing but a
common kaiki or failor, and made fince Captain
Bafhaw, is however reckoned, not only a very ho-
neft man, very brave, and very enterprifing; but
alfo a great friend to the King of Sweden; and
fince it is certain that the Turkish Emperor is fo
well inclined to his Majefty, we have all the rea-
fon to hope a happy Iffue of his affairs, both from
the great preparations that they ftill continue to
make underhand, and from the great defire that
his Highness expreffes to put himfelf at the head
of the army, notwithstanding all that has been
given out in favour of the Mufcovites; when the
Emperor, fome time ago, gave orders to cauſe
their hoftages to be brought hither. On the con-
trary, we flatter ourfelves in favour of the Swedes,
2
that
[225]
that their arrival here will be any thing but fa-
vourable to them. We even pretend to have cer-
tain news on this point from the feraglio, and that
the war being infallible, will be puſhed with the
utmoſt vigour, and that his Highness is firmly
refolved to reſtore his Majefty fecure and fatisfied
into his own dominions. In a few days we will
know for certain what will become of it, as his
Majefty fets out to-morrow from Demir-Tocca,
which is about fix hours journey from hence, to
come and lodge at Demir-Tafch, in a feraglio of
the Emperor, which is only about a fhort quarter
of a league from Adrianople, where, as 'tis faid
the new Grand Vifir, and the Tartar Cham, Car-
plan Gaeray, have orders to receive him on the
part of his Highneſs. 'Tis believed the Emperor
will go there incognito to fee the King, and even
that they will talk together a little. His Majefty
ftill keeps his bed; he is however very well, and
it ſeems to be a fham diftemper to avoid the cere-
monial. I will go to-morrow with Mr. Ponia-
towſki to meet him at fome hours diftance from
this; altho' we arrived together from Demir
Tocca only yesterday.
By the
laft news from Vienna, we have learned that Ton-
pingen is again in poffeffion of the Swedes, their
army having taken it by furpriſe. His Majefty
has expreffed great fatisfaction at this, being much
afraid for that army if it had not found that re-
And altho' I took all the
pains imaginable to perfuade his Majefty that the
army would find itſelf greatly ſtraitned there, and
would meet with infinite difficulties in recovering
that falſe ſtep, if not affifted by fome foreign pow-
er; he would not believe me, altho' he told me,
he would fee with pleaſure whether the guarantees
of the peace of Travendal, would at all meddle
in that affair, would push it with vigour, and endea-
·
treat.
е
vour
·
·
[226]
1
vour to diflodge the enemy from his German pro-
vinces. I expect now at length to receive my dif-
patches in a few days, and to have very foon after
the honour of declaring to your Serene Highness
by word of mouth, that none can be with more
profound refpect than I am, &c.
là nó có năng
TER LIX.
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, April 23, 1713.
Tof
O-DAY's declaration is to decide the fate
of his Majefty in this country, as the new
Tartar Han and the Grand Vifir have caufed tents
to be raiſed near the feraglio of the King, within
half an hour of the city, to confer with his Majeſty
touching his departure from this country. But as
thefe Gentlemen have infifted, that the King ſhould
come to the tent, and the King has refufed this
under pretence of his diftemper, the interview has
been they fay put off to another time. I fear this
claim of theirs is a meer evafion to difpenfe with
the eſcort which the King demands. We fhall fee
in a ſhort time what will become of it, and at my
return I will bring you pofitive news. It is a
difficult matter to fend any thing certain from
hence, as the affairs to day alter before to-morrow,
and one no fooner fends one piece of news, than he
is obliged to contradict it next poft. Befides, the
King begins infenfibly to be convinced of the bad
ftep taken by Count Steinbok in paffing the Trave.
I am terribly afraid of that affair, unleſs the gua-
rantees interfere and cry ftop. I fhould wish to
know by one of your letters before my departure
from
[ 227 ]
拜
​J
from hence, what is doing in Holftein, as we know
nothing hitherto but what the Gazette tells us, that
the King of Denmark has difmiffed all the fervants
of the Ducal Houfe, and has put others in their
place; that his Highnefs has fent Count Reventlau
to the court of Denmark; and that your Excel-
lency was to go to Hanover to afk leave of the
Elector, that his Highness the Adminiftrator might
live at Zell during theſe troubles. As the impe-
rial fecretary at Adrianople has fent to tell me this
moment, that it was impoffible to ftop the courier
any longer, I have not time to write to his High-
nefs, or to ſay any thing more to your Excellency,
but I am, &c.
P. S. As Count Reventlau is ftill in Holftein,
and the court may in the prefent conjunctures have
fomething to infinuate to the imperial court, I
could perhaps as I pafs at Vienna execute the orders
of the court, if I found inftructions there at my
arrival.
LETTER
LX.
To his Serene Highness the Duke.
SIR,
Adrianople, May 3, 1713.
I
Have had the honour moſt humbly to mention
to your Serene Highneſs in my laſt narrative,
how, after feveral expedients agreed to, to give
fatisfaction to his Majefty as to the violence com→
mitted at Bender, the Emperor had alfo depofed
the Grand Vifir Soliman Bafhaw, and given his
place to Captain Bafhaw Ibrahim, formerly a com-
Q 2
mon
[228]
/
mon caiki or failor, who feemed inclined at firft to
continue the war with vigour againſt the Muf-
covites, and to conduct the King of Sweden with
a confiderable efcort acroſs Poland into his own
dominions. His reign however was of very fhort
duration, having been not only depofed a few days
after his promotion, but alſo ſtrangled. It would
be hard to tell the true reafon of this. The Muf-
covites, however, flatter themſelves, that the new
confirmation of the peace is the cauſe of it. The
Swedes on the contrary pretend, that this misfor-
tune has happened to him, for not having finiſhed
the affair fo foon as he had promiſed to his High-
nefs. But the true reafon of it ſeems to have been
his imprudence in expreffing an over fondneſs for
popularity, which gave umbrage to the Emperor,
who is of an exceffive jealous difpofition *. His
place is not yet filled up, but the favourite who
was but lately difgraced, and who is fon-in-law of
the Emperor, and named Ali Bafhaw, has been
made vekil or vicar in waiting. It is even believed
that the vifiriat will not be filled up fo foon. Mean
while the new Tartar Han, after the death of Ibra-
him Bafhaw, has treated with the King by orders
of the Porte, and propofed to his Majefty to march
with a confiderable army to the frontiers, where
they might then treat with the Mufcovites and
Poles, both about making a good peace, and alſo a-
bout a paffage thro' the territories of the republic. But
as the King has declared, that he does not chufe to
depart till the number of the eſcort be determined,
and the Emperor's hatcherif be given thereupon
for his fecurity, there is fo much the more reaſon
to believe that the treaty is at prefent broke off, as
the French ambaffador, who was very earneft in the
*Mr. Theils in his memoirs has affigned another reaſon
different from all thefe, p. 84, and 85.
affair,
[229]
affair, has received orders from the Porte to return
to-day to Conftantinople. The Mufcovites on this
flatter themſelves that there is no longer any hazard
of the peace's not being adhered to. The King on
the contrary conftantly maintains, that this has no-
thing to do with it; and he even pretends to have
pofitive affurances from the Grand Signior, that
every thing fhall turn to his advantage, when the
new Grand Vifir fhall be arrived, whom we do not
yet know, but who 'tis believed will come here
in about fifteen days. The iffue of all this will
appear in a few weeks, during which, however,
we live in the greateſt uncertainty in the world,
being obliged to contradict one poft, what we
wrote in a former. Mean while, I have with grief
been informed by the letters of the privy-counfellor
Baron Goertz, and of Count Reventlau, dated at
Hamburg and at Hufam, and brought hither by
an officer diſpatched from Count Welling, in what
manner Count Steinbok is fo blocked up with the
Swedish army at Tonningen, that it will be de-
ftroyed in a ſhort time with famine and diſeaſes,
if ſpeedily fome means be not found by the media-
tion of the guarantees to get it out of that narrow
territory where he has imprudently incloſed it, and
from whence all endeavours must be uſed to bring it if
poffible. I did not fail directly to make reprefen-
tations on this matter to Chancellor Müllern, and
to his Majesty himſelf, fhewing them there was no
other means of preferving that army, and of fav-
ing the territories of the young Duke, than by
making the guarantees interfere in it. Notwith-
ftanding all I could fay on that head in the warmest
and moſt preffing terms, his Majefty ftill continues
in the miſtake that fome people with wrong inten-
tions have put him into, namely, that Count Stein-
bok may keep his army a long time yet in Ton-
Q3
ningen,
1
[ 230 ]
ningen, not being able to imagine that the danger
which threatens him is fo great as I reprefent it.
What feems more especially to give the King
a diflike to the plan that I have propofed to him,
and hinders him from approving it, is his regard
to his fortreffes in Pomerania, which thereby he
he fays would run a great riſk of being loft, unleſs
the guarantees effectually interpofe their good of-
fices in the treaty to be made, by compelling his
enemies entirely to quit the empire, and confe-
quently to evacuate Pomerania. We have greatly
flattered ourfelves here with the actual affiftance of
England in this affair, and 'tis likewife greatly
wifhed, that your Serene Highness would make
caufam communem, a common caufe with Sweden,
and perfift in preffing the guarantee. There has
even been a letter on this point in the Chancery
thefe feveral weeks, ready to be dispatched to your
Serene Highneſs, but I fear in this refpect it will
arrive too late. At prefent they begin plainly to
obferve the confiderable fault the Count committed
in quitting the Trave, and fhutting himfelf up in
that confined country which has no outlet. They
however at the fame time complain of Major-Ge-
neral Barner at the Hague *, for having infifted
only upon the evacuation, and not upon the im-
portance of the guarantee. I answered, that the
maritime powers were plainly not in a condition,
or not in an humour to furnish their guarantee, as
Sweden afked it; and that confequently Mr. Barner
had only endeavoured to obtain what appeared to
him practicable. I wifh foon to know fomething
certain about it. I have the honour to be, &c.
* In the fervice of Holstein Gottorp, and then at the
Hague, where he was charged on that occafion with the cha-
racter of envoy extraordinary of the adminiftrator. See Lam-
beati, tom. vii. where may be found the different memorials
that he prefented to the flates general.
LE T-
[231]
đó có con có
XLI.
#
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, May 23, 1713.
B
Y an officer diſpatched hither by his excellency
Count Welling, I received about three days
ago two letters of your Excellency, the firſt from
Hamburg, the 15th of December, 1712, which
Mr. Rank, (who is at prefent for the fecond time
on the road to Belgrade, about feven days journey
from hence) ought to have brought me, and the
other from Hufam of the 20th of April. I doubt
whether Mr. Rank will fucceed, I have the honour
however to know him on the footing you speak to
me of, and altho' he had not all the good qualities
which you mention, that of his being your friend
would be fufficient for me to do my utmoſt to ſerve
him. I have already provided apartments for him
near me in the village where I lodge, about a quar-
ter of an hour's journey from the King's quarters,
and as much from the city. I am even going to
fend as far as the firſt poft to meet him, becauſe it
it is no fmall embaraffment to a ftranger who is
ignorant of the cuftoms of a country, to come
to a place, without having any one to apply to.
I expect him in feven or eight days at fartheft.
Here we have been not a little difturbed, upon
hearing the bad condition to which Count Stein-
bok and his army are reduced, eſpecially the King,
whom his court had thought proper to flatter, that
the Count would be at no lofs to ftay there a con-
fiderable time. On account of this prejudice, he
will
Q4
[ 232 ]
will be far from approving of this evacuation.
I answered to this, that plainly
the fituation in which the count found himſelf,
had fuffered him to think of nothing else but the
prefervation of his army; and that he would never
have agreed to the propofal for an evacuation if
there had not been a neceflity for it. That as to
meaſures not having been taken conjointly, it was
not my fault that they had not been taken, as I
fpoke of it immediately upon the entry of the Muf-
covites into Holftein; but that they had always
deferred from day to day to explain themſelves on
that head. That after all it is not the fault of the
miniftry of Holftein, that the guarantees will not
do what Sweden afks of them, and that in a cafe
fuch as that of Count Steinbok, one muft do what
they can, and not what he would. Your excel-
lency has great reaſon to ſay, that although even
they could fave that army, that the King's affairs
in the general would not be a whit the better, while
he does not make a peace with King Auguftus. I
every day preach on this point; and that it is
the only means of making affairs profper both here
and in Chriftendom: but they are backward to
hearken to me. I believe, however, that fooner
or later they must confent to this. You fee, Sir,
by my account, our news here, or rather you
do not fee them, for we are always in
uncertainty, where all this will end.
covites after Ibrahim Bafhaw's being ſtrangled, the
conferences broke between the King and the new
Han, and the departure of the French ambaffador,
flatter themſelves with a peace as certain. The
King on the contrary pretends to have good advice,
that all this amounts to nothing, and that the ar-
rival of a new Vifir will greatly change the face of
affairs, in which he is confirmed by the march of
the troops towards the Danube. I know not what
to
the greateſt
The Muf-
[233]
to fay of it; only, I can never believe that the
King will pass through Poland in the manner he
defires. All this muſt be cleared up in a few weeks.
I wait to ſee the laft determination, and then I
have nothing more to hinder me from fetting out.
I am with all imaginable attachment, &c.
LETTER
To the Same.
FOSOSO
LXII.
SIR,
Adrianople, May 30, 1713.
SI know, that in the prefent fituation of af-
A you are very to have pofitive
anxious
fairs,
news of what paffes here, I would not fail to inform
you by the way of Tranſylvania, that fince my laſt,
which I have fent away a few days ago by Belgrade,
affairs have again taken a new face here. The Muf-
covites having refufed in a very haughty manner
an annual tribute of 40,000 ducats, which the
Porte afked of them for the Tartar Han, the trea-
ties have been broke, and after many anafina fick-
tim, which are the fcolding of this country; they
have been made prifoners in their houſes. They
will be fent to Conftantinople to the Seven Towers,
if fomething worfe does not happen to Meffieurs
the hoftages. At the fame time, orders have been.
fent to all the Bafhaws to repair hither, and to the
troops to affemble at the Danube. The King ac-
cording to all appearance will fet out in a few days
for Bender, to go through Poland with an eſcort,
according to his old plan. We hope alfo that the
Port will give him the 2000 purfes which he has
6
afked,
[ 234 ]
afked, (a purfe is 500 crowns). We will know
fomething of this very foon.
The King always pretends to be perfuaded, that
his affairs will fucceed according to his wifh in this
country; and that Count Steinbok will not be
driven to an extremity. I am terribly afraid of
this laft. Mr. Rank is not yet come, but I now
expect him every day, fince I have heard that he
is fet out from Belgrade. I have nothing to add,
but to affure your Excellency that I am, &c.
OTOTOTOTO
LETTER_LXIII.
To his Serene Highness the Duke
SIR,
Adrianople, June 22, 1713.
THE
HE Ottoman Porte having forbid for thefe
two months, (as affairs are at an extraordi-
nary criſis, and in great confufion) to give Febr-
manns or paſs-ports to any one whatever; I have
not been able fo often as I could have wifhed, to
fend my moſt humble narratives to your Serene
Highness. Mean while, I take the happy oppor
tunity of the departure of a Spahis, which the Eng-
lish nation dispatches fecretly to Belgrade, to in-
form your Serene Highneſs that affairs are not yet
come to maturity, appearances being always fo
ftrong for and againft, that one is greatly at a lofs,
to fay any thing pofitive, as on one fide the troops
are all in motion towards the frontiers, while on the
other fide the Mufcovite hoftages are ſtill here, and
the Porte treats with them daily about a peace.
Before yesterday it feemed almoft concluded; fo
that the Mufcovites and the Poliſh Partifans of
I
King
[ 235 ]
King Auguftus flattered themſelves with a public
audience. But fince yeſterday and to-day their
hopes feem again to have vanished, the Emperor
not only fuffering no mention to be made of peace,
but alfo declaring that he was firmly refolved to
put himself at the head of the army, to march to-
wards the Danube, and to ſend the King of Sweden
with a ſtrong eſcort, and in a remarkable manner,
through Poland. They have alfo talked a great
deal about publicly acknowledging King Stanislaus.
We fhall fee if all thefe fine appearances are laſting,
in the mean time I comfort myſelf with the hopes
of feeing all affairs finiſhed next week, and then I
will be able to fay fomething pofitive. As far as I
can penetrate, his Majefty muft certainly have
very ſtrong affurances of a happy iffue of his affairs,
which feem to be fo much the better founded as it
known that the Emperor himſelf is quite of a different
opinion from his miniftry in regard to them, which
will very foon be evident. However, the letters
that came yeſterday by the poſt of Cronstadt, in-
form us, that the conferences about a reciprocal
evacuation of the Schlefwick and Holftein were
broke off, and that the Privy-counfellor Baron
Goertz was returned to Hamburg without having
concluded any thing.
I have
nothing else at this time to inform your Serene
Highness of, but to repeat to you the profound
veneration with which I have the honour to be,
&c.
P. S. Major Baumann, who arrived here yefter-
day, has ſent me the diſpatches that were entruſted
with him, but as I have been wholly employed
hitherto in decyphering them, and reading them
with attention; I have not been able yet to
talk to his Majefty about them. For a few days
I therefore put off to fend a full anfwer to them, till
7
the
[ 236 ] ·
the Emperor's refident fhall difpatch a courier to
Vienna. Mean while Major Baumann is not very
welcome here, as he left Bender without the King's
permiffion, and he is accuſed here of having talked
pretty freely about the kalabalick or fplutter at
Bender. I will do my utmoſt to obtain his pardon.
We flatter ourſelves fince yeſterday that the Muſco-
vite hoftages, will be fent to the Seven Towers.
LETTER
LXIV.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, July 13, 1713.
Yletter about the plan of a negotiation for peace
OU have fo flattered my honour in
laſt
between the King of Sweden and his enemies, and
a particular accommodation with King Auguftus,
that I have moved heaven and earth within theſe
fifteen days to bring the King into your plan. Af-
ter talking to him very long on that head, and
reading to him all the pieces which you
fent me,
and which relate to that, as your Excellency will
have ſeen by two of my letters, I prevailed on Ge-
neral Poniatowski, Mr. Müllern, and General
Rank to talk to him of it one after another, the
one in the name of King Stanillaus, the other by
virtue of his office, and the third as from his Ex-
cellency Count Welling, and after I had been at
pains to prepare the King, the day before yeſterday
I
put ino his hands a long memorial, which all thoſe
gentlemen have feen and much approved, and
which contains many folid reaſons, drawn in part
from your Excellency's letter, that ought to pre-
vail with the King to give his confent to this plan
of
[ 237 ]
of peace, and afterwards to an accommodation
with King Auguftus. To-morrow Mr. Müllern is
to afk the King his refolution upon that memorial,
to communicate it to me. He does not quite de-
fpair of obtaining fomething. On the other hand, I
have written two letters to King Stanislaus, and
have fent him a cypher that he may give me his
anfwer I inform him in thofe letters, that Mr.
Baumann has told me from his Excellency Count
Fleming, that notwithstanding all the advantages
which the allies of the north have gained in Holstein,
the King his mafter is fill inclined to agree to the plan
formed by them in Mecklenburgh. I exhort him to
embrace that plan, to prevent the total ruin of
Sweden, and to prevent the Porte from facrificing
him to their intereft. Count Tarlo who is a man
of abilities, and who for thefe two years has wiſhed
for nothing more than this accommodation, being
obliged to repair to Bender with all the other Poles,
there to confult upon propofals which the Tartar
Han is to make to them in the name of the Porte,
has promiſed me to do his utmoft to infpire King
Staniſlaus with fentiments favourable to this. He
has begged of me alfo to acquaint his Excellency
Count Fleming with this. To conclude, the
whole fuccefs of this affair will depend upon the
propofals of the Tartar Han, while the Porte feigns
only a defire of fupporting King Stanislaus, by
their caufing an army of 60,000 Turks to march to-
wards the frontier, and by the depoſition of the old
Reis Effendi, a great friend of King Auguftus and
the Muscovites, which happened two days ago;
there is nothing to be expected of the King of
Sweden in this affair, but if on the contrary the
King lofes this hope, we may very likely fucceed
in our defign. Though we will not be able to tell
justly how it will be in fifteen days, yet we will be
able to form fome conjecture. I am now going
to
[ 238 ]
to mention to you an affair of the laſt importance,
but for God's fake let no one know it. It is this,
that the King by means of Poniatowski corre-
fponds with the mother of the Sultan, who affures
him that all things will fucceed to his admiration.
I know not whether they deceive him, but I know
very well that the expreffions of thofe letters are
very strong. Müllern even knows nothing of this
correfpondence *.
I fhall now fpeak to you of the affairs of Mr.
Baumann, he has given me your diſpatches, and
has told me by word of mouth all that he pretends
to be charged with. But as he left Bender without
the King's permiffion, he was forbid the court, at
his arrival. If he had inclined to prefent a requeſt,
he might perhaps have obained his pardon, altho
he has been accufed of talking very difreſpectfully of
the King about the affair of Bender. However it
be, as he was afraid the Pardon would be more
troubleſome to him than advantageous, fince, if
the King fhould even forgive him, he might make
him trot all his life after him, without ever giving
him any fatisfaction, he chofe rather to retire to
Conftantinople, where he will embark for France,
as in the prefent conjunctures it is very difficult to
obtain a fehrman of the Porte to go by the poft to
Germany.
A letter from count Gyllenbourg from En-
gland, who commends Count Dernath extremely,
and begs that your Serene Highnefs would be
pleafed to continue him; the King declared to
me that your Excellency having quarrelled with
Mr. Wich the English Refident at Hamburg, it
were proper that Count Welling fhould endeavour
So that M. Motraye was wrong to criticife Mr. Voltaire
in his hiftory of. Charles XII. about this correfpondence with
the Sultan Validé, which however is well founded.
to
[ 239 ]
to accommodate the differences, as the rupture
may do hurt to the affairs of Sweden and Hol-
ftein. I was charged to ſpeak of it to your Ex-
cellency.
I muft alfo inform you, Sir, that by the laſt
courier that was fent to Germany, orders were
given to Mr. Welling, to enter into an alliance with
the King of Pruffia againſt the Czar and King
Auguftus. I believe in that cafe Stettin will be
ceded to him, or fome confiderable advantage pro-
cured to him in Poliſh Pruffia; but I doubt much
whether the court of Pruffia will engage againſt
King Auguftus, however they flatter themfelves
with this here. This hope, joined to the pre-
tences that the Turks make, will hinder the King
at prefent from hearkning to an accommodation
with King Auguftus. All that Mr. Müllern hopes
to obtain is, his confent for a general peace, which
may be fettled without preliminaries at Hamburg
or Dantzick. He reckons, that afterwards he
may, as conjunctures appear, be prevailed on, as
to the other point. Mr. Müllern preffed him
yefterday as to his refolution upon my memorial,
but he made as tho' he could not find it, and
when he aſked him the contents of it, he anſwered,
It contains nothing particular; the Administrator afks
only, that we would not conclude a peace without the
indemnification of the Ducal Houfe, and reftitution
being made to it, which is but just and pleads for
itself; afterwards he gives me advice in regard to
King Auguftus. Mr. Müllern pretended to ac-
quiefce; but we have agreed that to-morrow if the
memorial cannot be found, that I fhall preſent a
copy of it, to push him to give his refolution.
This memorial, however, was drawn up in
pretty ftrong terms. "The introduction con-
"tained a requeft not to make peace with Den-
"make, before entire reſtitution ſhould be made to
"the
[240]
the Ducal Houfe. I then propofed an accom-
<modation with King Auguftus, as the only
"means to procure fuch a peace. I mentioned
"all the advantages that might be drawn from
"that accommodation, and that to give an op-
"portunity to King Auguftus to quit the alli-
"ance, a negotiation for peace muſt be fet on foot
"in the north, by the mediation of two powers
"whom you know, which was fo much the more
"neceffary, as, befides the great advantages that
"might be drawn from it, it might perhaps be con-
86
cluded, without his being included in it, while the
"Porte on the other fide, might perhaps force King
"Staniſlaus and the Poles of his party to come to
an accommodation with King Auguftus, and
thereby take out of his hands thoſe advantages
"he might have from himſelf, if he would but
t apply them. I at length concluded, with aſk-
"ing of him full powers for his Excellency Count
"Welling, for the carrying on of that negotia-
cc
tion, and an order to take all neceffary mea-
"fures with your Excellency for that purpoſe."
I do not defpair of obtaining theſe laſt points.
If it were in Mr. Müllern's power, he would en-
deavour to get your Excellency named Ambaffador
to that congrefs, on the Part of the King of Swe-
den. But as I know not whether the King would
incline fo, or whether your Excellency would ac-
cept of it in the prefent conjunctures, and only
puſhed this affair under hand, and in fuch a man-
ner, that it may always depend upon your Excel-
lency either to accept it or refuſe it.
Before I conclude, I muft mention a word to
you of our troops. If the alliance with the King
of Pruffia fucceeds, they propofe to make a new
tranſportation of troops, to join them to our
forces, thofe of Meklenburgh and fome other pro.
teftant princes, as thofe of Caffel, &c. and in
that
•
[241]
1
that manner form a confiderable army. For this
reaſon they do not wish that our troops fhould be
engaged in the Emperor's fervice, unleſs in ſuch a
manner that they may be withdrawn in two
months. They wish, befides, that the Court of
Hanover could be brought to enter into the alli-
ance. I have even an order in writing in anſwer
to a memorial I prefented fome time ago, to cauſe
his Electoral Highneſs to be founded by the court
of Holstein, whether he would not enter into fome
offenfive alliance with the King, to reftore tran-
quillity in the circle of Lower Saxony. Count
Welling will have full powers as to this, and they
will endeavour to procure the houſe of Hanover
fome advantage at the future peace.
General Rank, who is greatly your friend, and
who does all juftice to the Serene Houſe, reckons
to fet out from hence whenever the anfwer ſhall
arrive from Bender, as to the propofitions made
by the Tartar Han to King Staniſlaus. I know
not whether he will fucceed in the plan of mar-
riage, upon which, 'tis faid, he was come. But
he pretends that he is not concerned at that, and
even that he does not intermeddle in it. He lod-
ges with me in a village about a quarter of an
hour from Adrianople, and as much from the
King's quarters.
I yeſterday received a letter of your Excellen-
cy's, dated the 3d of June, in which you tell me,
that notwithſtanding the ordinary proceeding of
Count Steinbok, his Serene Highnefs and his Mi-
niſters engage their particular credit to find money
to tranfport the Swedish troops. I read the whole
letter to the King: he was charmed with this paf-
fage, and repeated feveral times, That's well; it
were to be wished that Baron Goertz could fucceed in
this affair; and at the fame time fave the German
regiments, for which we are not a little afraid. I
R
have
[242]
have promiſed that we will do our utmost to fuc-
ceed. He blames Mr. Steinbok much for not
having taken more care to fecure Tonningen. To
conclude, you may affure yourſelf, Sir, that you
are extremely in his favour. Secretary Morhof
writes me from Vienna, that the imperial court
has promifed him Mandata inhibitoria & executoria
against the King of Denmark, and Commifforia
for the directors of the circle. It were to be
wished that the court of Hanover, and that of
Pruffia would take this affair to heart, and that
the allies of the north were obliged to evacuate all
the cities of the Empire.
The bearer of this letter, Mr. Motraye an En-
glish merchant, is going to England about his
own affairs. As he is well acquainted with the
Ottoman court, and alfo with that of Sweden, he
will be able to tell you by word of mouth, cir-
cumſtances concerning both of them, that will
perhaps be interefting. He has done fome confi-
derable fervices to the King, and to me likewife.
I beg of you therefore to grant him, in cafe of
need your protection. He is a merry little fellow,
intriguing, bold, and honeft. I recommend to you
my fmall concerns at my return, and I am, &c.
POSTSCRIPT of the 20th of July.
Chancellor Müllern having defired me to come
to him this morning, told me that having had a
long converfation with the King about entering
upon a negotiation for peace, his Majefty had de-
clared that he was ready to agree to a reaſonable
peace, and that it was with that view that he had
written about 15 days before, to the King of
France and the Queen of England with his own
hand. But that the English Miniftry fhewed too
great partiality, by pretending that the Queen ful-
filled
[243]
filled her engagements to Sweden by offering her
mediation, by which pretext, they want to fhift
off the obligations they are under by alliances and
guarantees. That not openly to affront her by
difdainfully refufing her mediation, and by de-
manding that of France alone, or of any other
power; his Majefty was inclined to agree to a
fufpenfion of arms for a year or thereabouts, of
which the Bishop of Briſtol * had ſpoke fome
time ago to Mr. Engelbrecht † at Utrecht; that
this armistice may either be general, or only in re-
gard to the Empire; that the powers who were
guarantees, had a right effectually to force the
enemy to accept this armistice, and to oblige them
to evacuate the Duchies of Schlefwick, Holſtein,
Mecklenburgh, Bremen and Pomerania; that ſuch
a fervice would entirely reſtore the confidence
which we formerly had in England, and that dur-
ing the fufpenfion of arms, means might be found
to remove all the difficulties that happen at the
conclufion of a general peace. As the court of
Holftein would find its account in the prelimina
ries of that armiftice, the Chancellor believes that
we would do well to give inftructions to our Mi-
nifters in England and Holland, to labour under-
hand to promote this plan, but in fuch a manner
that it may feem not to come from the Swedes,
but as a thought that has come into the mind of
the guarantees, thereby to facilitate a general peace.
Theſe are the King's fentiments, which on this
occafion are communicated to Mr. Engelbrecht at
Utrecht, and to Count Gyllenbourg in England.
* Mr. Robinſon, who had been a long time at the court of
Sweden, in quality of Engliſh Ambaffador.
Chancellor of the peace of Bremen for his Swedish Ma
jefty, and Envoy of the circle of the Upper Rhine at the cons
grefs of Utrecht.
Ano-
L
R 2
[244]
Another Poftfcript. If you pleafe, Sir, to give a
fmall preſent to the bearer of this, Mr. Motraye,
of 200 crowns or fo, on account of the
court, for the trouble he has taken in going as
far as Hamburg, to put into your own hands the
letters I have entruſted him with; it would not be
thrown away, as he is a good honeft fellow, in-
triguing and faithful, and one who has done me
feveral good officss in this country. He is a mer-
ry little fellow, who does not want fenſe, and who
will be able to tell you many pleaſant circum-
ftances of our tranfactions here; altho' he is other-
wife a comical little figure, and particularly
good at making fine bows.
I forgot to mention in my large letter, that I
cannot follow the King, among many reafons, be-
cauſe I have ſent away my equipages, and to pur-
chafe others, I would need more than 5 or 6000
I hope that having fucceeded
pretty well in executing my commiffions, the court
will not expofe me to remain here. I am always
moft zealously, &c.
crowns.
·
•
•
LETTER
LXV.
To bis Serene Highness.
SIR,
Adrianople, July 18, 1713.
You
YOUR Serene Highnefs will have feen by my
laft moft humble narrative of the 22d of
June, how Mr. Baumann has delivered to me the
diſpatches he was charged with.
The bearer of this letter, Mr. Motraye an Engliſh
merchant, who goes from Conftantinople to Ham-
burg about his own affairs, will have the honour
to
[245]
to inform your Serene Highness by word of mouth
of the fituation in which affairs are here, knowing
perfectly well the beings of this country, and
what paffes here; and having been uſefully em-
ployed by the court of Sweden on different occa-
fions. The peace recently concluded between the
Turks and Mufcovites *, (which almoſt in every
point agrees with the former treaty) feems not
very folid or defigned to laft; as on one fide there
is no great appearance that the Czar, fince the un-
happy fituation of the army of Steinbok, reduced
to ftand at bay in Holftein, will confent to ratify
this peace; and as
and as on the other, the Grand Sig-
nior feems meditating fome defign of great im-
portance, that no body as yet can penetrate into,
but which is made evident by the continual marches
of the troops of Afia and Europe, both Janiffaries
and Spahis, who are all in motion towards the
frontiers, followed by a numerous artillery.
Moreover, the Porte has taken the refolution
of maintaining King Stanislaus upon the throne of
Poland, for which purpoſe the Tartar Han ac-
companied with all the Polish Lords here, fet out
for Bender 15 days ago. The reſult of this confe.
rence on one fide, and the ratification of the Czar
on the other, which ought to be here within 30
days, reckoning from the figning of the treaty;
(a term that will expire about the beginning of
September) will throw greater light upon all theſe
affairs. Meanwhile the Reis-Effendi has been de-
pofed fome days ago, and the Mufti was degraded
yeſterday. The Swediſh party rejoices at the dif-
grace of the former, he having been always a
great friend to the Mufcovites and King Auguftus.
The prefent Grand Vifir, or rather he who does
his office, Ali Baſhaw, fon-in-law of the Empe-
A copy of this treaty is inferted in Theil's Memoirs.
R 3
ror
[246]
ror is extremely hated by the people, ſo that even
his Highness runs a great riſk of being dethroned,
or even worse, if he does not quickly diſmiſs him.
Your Serene Highnefs will befides fee, by my
letter of to-day to Baron Goertz, the plan upon
which Meff. Müllern, Poniatowſki, Rank and I,
were acting in concert.
More-
over, your Highnefs may be affured that the King
will never make a peace with Denmark, without
procuring to the Serene houfe an entire reftitution
of its dominions, which it has facrificed from its
affection for him, and a perfect indemnification
for what it fuffers, and has fuffered on this occa-
fion. At the fame time, his Majeſty has ordered
me to give his thanks in a particular manner to
your Serene Highnefs, for the care you have taken
in the ranfoming and tranfporting of the army of
Steinbok; altho' Steinbok, he faid, no way de-
ferved that care which had been taken of him, af-
ter the imprudent conduct he had followed.
I have the honour to be, with a profound reſpect,
&c.
•
To Baron Goertz.
་
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LETTER
LXVI.
SIR,
Adrianople, August 4, 1713.
TH
HE Emperor's refident having acquainted
me yeſterday that he is to diſpatch a courier
to Germany, I lay hold of this opportunity to in-
form your Excellency of the continuation of our
news here.
The Porte feems at length in good earneſt re-
folved to reftore King Stanislaus to the throne of
Po-
[ 247 ]
Poland.
It is with this view that the Tartar Han
is gone to Bender about a month ago, to take the
neceffary meaſures with the King and the Poles.
After fome conferences, in which they feem to
have been very well pleafed with each other, it has
been refolved to march with an army that may a-
mount to 40,000 Turks, without reckoning the
Tartars, to Chozim near Kaminiec, under pre-
tence of fortifying that important place. King
Staniſlaus, according to the news I have received
from himſelf and from Count Tarlo, was to fet
out from Bender as yefterday, and the Serafkier
Abdy Baſhaw, the fame day with the troops of
Ifaccia on the Danube, from whence it is ten days
march to Chofim. There the Republic is to be
invited to acknowlege their lawful King, and
thoſe who refuſe to ſubmit to him to be threatned
with the refentment of the Porte. As - - -
is
actually with .. he flatters himſelf that
affairs will fucceed wonderfully, and that with fome
he would be able to gain over
Notwithſtanding all this, Count Tarlo ftill flatters.
me with the fuccefs of our fcheme, and promiſes
me pofitive news of it in 20 days. The following
are my fentiments of this affair. If the Porte on
one fide has a fincere intention of reftoring King
Stanislaus, and if he on the other finds means to
draw over Siniaffki to his party, then the revolu-
tion may take place more eafily than is imagined:
but if on the contrary the intention of the Porte
is only to gain fomething from the Poles, as they
have done from the Mufcovites; and if the Re-
public adheres firmly to King Auguftus, then all
will end in an accommodation. But however it
be, the affair is at a crifis, that it must end either
one way or another. I believe however, that the
true defign of the Porte is to restore King Stanifi
laus, if the Poles themfelves are inclined to it,
R 4
and
-
[248 ]
and if it can be done without drawing them into a
war with that kingdom. But if things fhould not
turn out fo, they will probably endeavour to gain
fome thing from King Auguftus, and facrifice the
interefts of King Stanislaus. We fhall know in a
ſhort time what will happen; but in the mean time,
we may obferve that the grand intention of the
peace lately concluded, feems to be the reſtoration
of King Staniflaus, as in one of the principal ar-
ticles, the Czar engages not to interfere in the leaft
with the affairs of Poland. Now as the Czar
will never ſuffer that restoration, a war with the
Mufcovites is almoft again certain, and the Porte
feems already to expect it. We muſt alſo confider
that if a peace be concluded between the Roman
Emperor and France, that all theſe projects will
end in fmoke, from an apprehenfion of a war with
Germany, which the Turks are terribly afraid of.
I every day remonftrate that the true intereft of the
King and the kingdom of Sweden, requires an accom-
modation with King Auguftus, for fear left the for-
wardness of the Turks fhould only render the
chriſtian Princes more backward, fed furdo narratur
fabula. There runs a report that money will be
given to his Majefty next week, and that he will
be defired to go to the monaftery on the Danube
with the Janiffaries to be more at hand. I wiſh
with all my heart this may happen. As Chozim
will foon be a kind of Utrecht, and the center of
great news, I fhould wiſh to be able to go thither ;
but I fear the King will not agree to it, from an
apprehenfion left I fhould infpire King Staniſlaus
with fentiments of an accommodation.
I have a
conftant correſpondence with him by letters, and
I will endeavour to effect what I think will be moſt
conducive to the intereft of the moft Serene Houſe,
but with all the circumfpection imaginable. I
am, &c.
P. S.
[249]
P. S. The King of Sweden has had a kind of
continued fever theſe three weeks. I faw him two
days ago, when he feemed to me much funk.
He hopes it will foon be over.
IIIII
LETTER
2525
LXVII.
To his Serene Highness.
LL
SIR,
Adrianople, August 6, 1713.
Α
S I doubt not but my most humble narrative
which I diſpatched about 15 days ago has
reached your Serene Highneſs, I would not miſs
the opportunity of the departure of a courier
which the Emperor's refident diſpatches to Vienna,
to give you the continuation of the news of this
country.
It now almoft evidently appears, that fince the peace
concluded with Mufcovy, the Turks have a fixed de-
fign of attempting to reſtore King Staniſlaus to the
throne of Poland, for which purpoſe, they have
not only cauſed an army of 40,000 men (exclufive
of Tartars) to march to Chozim on the frontiers
of Poland, under pretence of repairing the decayed
works of that fortification; but alfo the Han of
the Tartars, after feveral conferences with King
Stanislaus and the Poliſh Lords of his party, has
fet out for Bender with that Prince and his retinue,
on their way to the fortress of Chozim, there to
invite the Republic fo named, to acknowlege their
lawful King, by promifing them in that cafe all
protection, and on the contrary, by threatning all
the rebells with fire and fword. Notwithſtanding
all theſe fine appearances, the intention of the
Porte feems at bottom to be to force the Czar
(who
1
d
[ 250 ]
(who doubtless would oppofe the dethroning of
King Auguftus) to break the peace with the Turks,
which by making him the aggreffor, would be the
only means of making the effendis or lawyers, and
thereby the people, to approve of the war, a thing
which the Grand Signior moft earneſtly wishes.
However I know not, and I doubt greatly, whe-
ther the Porte would have refolution enough to
execute with a high hand, notwithſtanding their
prefent fwaggering, a defign of this importance.
As far as I can penetrate into this confufed chaos
in which affairs are, it feems to me that this reſto-
ration will depend entirely upon the difpofition of
the Poles, who form the oppofite republic. If
they declare for King Staniſlaus, or if he is fo
lucky as to engage in his party a good body of the
troops of the crown army, or that of Lithuania
(as he is actually already in treaty with the chiefs
of thofe armies) the Porte may perhaps pufh their
great defigns into execution, eafier than is ima-
gined. But if on the contrary (which is very
Jikely) King Auguftus fhould happen to enter into
more ftrict engagements with the Republic, and
that King Stanislaus fhould find no adherents, the
Roman Emperor alfo inclining to fupport the party
of King Auguftus againſt the Porte, it might
then facrifice the intereft of King Staniſlaus to the
advantages it would hope to draw from King Au-
guftus, and acknowlege this laft for King of
Poland. This will appear in twenty days at the
fartheft. Meanwhile we are expecting here every
moment the ſecretary of the Grand General Kiow-
fki, to learn from him the refult of the conferences
at Bender.
Your Serene Highness will fee by all this, that
there is little appearance of an accomodation on
our part with King Auguftus, fince his Majefty.
now flatters himfelf to be able to maintain King
Sta-
[ 251 ]
His
•
Stanislaus againſt wind and tide.
Majefty for theſe three weeks paft has fuffered
much from an almoſt continual fever, which has,
pulled him down greatly. Within theſe few days,
however, he begins to recover, fo that now he
feems out of danger.
We are in-
formed here, to our grief, that the King of Den-
mark ftill continues the blockade of Toiningen.
We greatly wish that the guarantees of the peace
of Travendahl, would act conjointly with the
circle to calm all theſe diſturbances, and to oblige
the enemies of Sweden to a fufpenfion of arms in
the provinces of Germany. I have the honour to
be, with a profound refpect, &c.
****
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
****
LXVIII.
SIR,
Adrianople, August 20, 1713.
I
Doubt not but you have by this time received a
very long letter that I did myſelf the honour to
write to you by an Engliſh merchant.
Affairs here are again at a ftand thefe 15 days,
as it is the news on the frontiers that are to decide
every thing. We expect them in three weeks at
fartheft, as King Stanislaus muft by this time be
arrived at Chozim with the army. We flatter our-
felves that the Poles in great numbers will declare
for that Prince; but I can hardly believe that this
will happen fo foon. However it be, affairs are
at fuch a crifis, that they muſt end fome way or
other and I make no doubt, but King Stanislaus
will confult his fafety, if he perceives that the Turks
don't act fincerely, or are not in a humour to puſh
the
[ 252 1
the affair with all neceffary vigour. It is on theſe
news that the departure of the King of Sweden
entirely depends. In 35 days the Turkish Lent
begins it lasts 30 days, and after that there is
three days of Carnaval. I doubt not but all will
be finished before that, as the ratification of the
Muscovites ought alfo to arrive in four weeks. I
always believe that the Grand Signior wiſhes for
war, and that by this affair he wants the Czar to
become the agrgeffor.
Colonel Baffewitz is arrived here within theſe
three days; but as he has been more than ten
weeks on the road, he brings no news, but a letter
from his brother, who informs him that the troops
of Brandenburgh, Hanover, and Wolfembuttel,
are on march to caufe Pomerania and Holſtein
to be evacuated, and to fequeftrate them by the
Emperor's order; but that the commanders of the
Swedish fortreffes will not confent to this without
an order of the King, which will be very difficult
to be obtained, tho' in my opinion he had better
fee his provinces fequeftrated than loft. I muſt do
Colonel Baffewitz the juftice to fay, that he ſpeaks
as he ought of the conduct of Count Steinbock,
and commends him greatly for not furrendering at
the firſt capitulation propofed by your Excellency.
I am with much refpect, &c.
P. S. The Gazette of yeſterday ſays, that the
King of Pruffia is going to befiege Stettin. We
can hardly believe this.
LET
[ 253 ]
LETTER
LXIX.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Adrianople, August 28, 1713.
A
LTHO' fince my laſt moſt humble narrative
I have nothing new to write you from this
place, as all depends wholly upon the news which
we hope to receive in 10 days from Bender, I
would not however fail to renew the proofs of the
profound refpect which I have for your Serene
Highnefs. As far as I can penetrate into the po-
litical mifteries of the Ottoman Porte, its true in-
tentions ſeem ftill to be to reflore King Staniſlaus
to the throne of Poland, as it finds that meaſure
convenient for its own interefts. However, I
greatly doubt whether it will have refolution en-
ough to finish that great work: and I believe that
all will even depend upon the Poles or the pretend-
ed Republic. If it declares for King Staniſlaus,
they will not fail to fupport it; if on the contrary
it firmly adheres to the interefts of King Auguftus,
and will acknowlege no other fovereign than him,
the Porte will then likely enter into a treaty with
this Prince, and prefer his interefts to the reſtora-
tion of King Stanislaus.
We may, ten days hence, be able to ſay ſome-
thing pofitive on all this, as King Staniſlaus, ac-
cording to our calculation, fhould arrive as to-day
at Chozim, accompanied by the Cham of the Tar-
tars, and the Serafkier, Abdy Baſhaw. We now
expect, in five or fix days, the ratification of the
peace concluded with Mufcovy, as the Ambaffa-
dor who brings it had arrived at Bender when the
4
1.ft
[
254 ]
laft poft came away. The Turks who favour the
Swedes maintain, that after the arrival of that ra
tification, the Emperor will no longer delay to
make his intention public, fince the Czar being
obliged by the late peace no longer to interfere in
any manner with the affairs of Poland, will make
himſelf the aggreffor if he refuſes to ratify what his
Ambaffadors have concluded with the Porte on
that fubject. I hope to fee an end to all this bu-
finefs before the beginning of the Turkiſh Rame-
zam, which commences with the first new moon,
and confequently in lefs than 23 days; and that in
the mean time, his Majefty the King of Sweden,
who at prefent is much better, will at length begin
his journey to quit Turky in good earneſt.
•
Colonel Baffewitz, in the mean time arrived
here about 15 days ago, charged with ſome letters
from Count Steinbok.
I ought, howe-
ver to do him the juftice to fay, that he talked
very fenfibly to the King on all that has paffed in
Holftein, and that he even publicly disapproved of
the conduct of the faid Count Steinbok. A few
days ago, there likewife arrived here a Captain of
a fhip name Teiff, and one named Lowenheim,
Secretary to General Meyerfield. The laft has
been difpatched exprefs from his general, to make
a merit with the King, of his not having obeyed
the orders of his excellency Count Welling, and
not having confented to the entry of the Pruffian
troops into Stettin. Altho' Chancellor Müllern,
and feveral others, take all imaginable pains to
prevail with the King to approve of the treaty
made with Pruffia, I fear they will not fucceed;
but however, that this forward impertinence and
refufal of General Meyerfield will meet with great
approbation. Altho' I have no inftructions about
this affair, having received no news from Holſtein
fince the arrival of Captain Bauman, I do not fail
howe-
[255]
however to defend to the utmost of my power this
treaty with Pruffia, and often to remonftrate, that
Sweden would be in a manner wholly undone, if
to crown their misfortunes, the King of Pruffia
fhould declare against her, which is much to be
feared if the King refufes to ratify fo advantage-
ous a treaty, and which is a lucky ftroke in the un-
happy fituation in which his affairs are. I have
the honour to be, with moft profound refpect, &c.
P. S. A courier arrived yeſterday in the even-
ing with the news that King Stanislaus has been
fent back to Bender, and that the Tartar Han is
gone by himſelf to the frontiers. This confirms
me in the opinion that I have always held, that the
Turks will undertake nothing extraordinary if the
Poles do not declare for King Staniſlaus.
soto o
ÖÖ☀☀ÖÖÖLÖLŐ Ő O
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
LXX.
SIR,
Adrianople, August 28, 1713.
You
OUR Excellency will fee by the annexed
narrative to his Serene Highnefs that affairs
here are still quiet, and that all depends upon the
news that ſhall come from the frontiers, which we
expect here in 10 or 12 days. If the Poles act
according to our wishes, affairs may fucceed very
well for King Stanislaus, if not, we need make no
doubt but the Turks will facrifice the interefts of
King Stanislaus to their defire of gaining fome-
thing from King Auguftus. I have not failed
however, agreeable to my orders, to write feveral
times to King Stanislaus, That affairs are at fuch a
crifis
7
[ 256 ]
erifis, that they muſt finiſh ſome way or other; that
if he does not fee a great appearance of his reftora-
tion, he ought abfolutely to think of an accommoda-
tion, and in that cafe, he ought only to confuit his
intereſts and his prudence, without giving heed to all
the false hopes that they will always be giving him
from this place. I doubt not in the leaft but he
will reflect upon what I fay. To-day, one named
Spiegel in the fervice of King Auguftus, called at
my lodgings, and confirmed to me from his maf-
ter, nearly what Mr. Baumann told me from Ge-
neral Fleming. At another time I ſhall enlarge
upon this affair, if the news from the frontiers are
not fuch as we could with. I will leave this coun-
try with fatisfaction if I fucceed in this; for your
excellency knows already by my former letters, that
it is not my intention to follow the King. Mr.
Rank, who fets out this week, will tell you from
me fifty folid reafons for this. All the favour there-
fore, Sir, that I afk of you is, not to urge, that I
ſhould ſtay yet longer, after fuch a difagreeable re-
fidence as I have had for near three years and a
half, in fo barbarous a country, and at ſuch a
troubleſome court.
The Secretary of
General Meyerfield is arrived, to make a great
merit to his maſter for his refufing to obey the or-
ders of Count Welling. I fear they will rather
approve this ill timed refufal, to loſe every thing
in forma, rather than the treaty concluded with
the King of Pruffia, of which I have no intelli-
gence, either from your Excellency or from the
Court. I am, as ufual, as much as any one can
be, &c.
· •
P. S. A courier arrived from Bender, brings the
news that King Stanislaus has been fent back thi-
ther, and that the Cham of the Tartars marches
alone towards the frontiers. He fays alfo that
Mr.
[ 257 ]
Mr. Tornchild minifter of the King of Sweden
with King Staniſlaus is on the road. I doubt not
but this laft feeing the difficulties that oppofe his
reſtoration, begins again to talk of an accommo-
dation,
☀ 0 0 0 0 0 0
to to to to to
LETTER
To the Same.
SIR,
Adrianople, September 12, 1713.
I
F General Rank is arrived before this letter, he
will have informed you by word of mouth
of many circumſtances which I mentioned to him.
Affairs inftead of changing for the better, go every
day from bad to worſe. On the one fide Ali-Ba-
fhaw, fon-in-law of the Grand Signior and Grand
Vifir, feems not at all a good Swede: but I am
greatly deceived if he is not a very fenfible man,
and one who will put an end to affairs one way or
other. The Mufcovite ambaffador arrived with
the ratification two days ago, and yeſterday he had
an audience of the Grand Vifir with the hoftages.
They reckon they fhall have their audience of the
Grand Signior on Sunday or Tueſday firft; but
others think it will not be before the 15th of the
moon. Meanwhile, upon an order from the Porte,
King Stanislaus has been made to return to Bender,
which has ſo ſpoilt affairs in regard to the Poles, who
were expected to join them (although I never had
any great opinion of it) that they are not repair-
able even if the Porte fhould incline it. Befides,
they have obliged Mr. Funk and Mr. Poniatowſki
to retire from the city to Demertafch, although
they are all fick, and more than eighteen Swedes
have
S
LXXI.
[ 258 ]
have died there. Yeſterday they fent the Swediſh
interpreter, who was a German renegado, into exile,
without doubt for having fpoke too freely of the
prefent miniftry, and even of the Emperor. To
conclude, according to all appearance affairs here
are taking a bad turn. But what on the other
hand is ftill worſe, all thefe affronts cannot yet
bring the King to take any falutary meaſure.
Every body talks to him on this point, and I my-
felf have preſented to him two very ftrong memo-
rials fucceffively upon the affair which your Excel-
lency knows. But hitherto no anſwer, under pre-
tence that he must first wait for the return of the
courier, who has been fent to Count Welling, with
fome propoſals to the court of Pruffia. Mr. Mül-
lern believes that then the King will come to fome
determination but Grothufen thinks, that will not
happen till he is on the frontiers. Perhaps they
are both miſtaken perhaps he will not depart in
that manner. However it be, the lethargy and
infenfibility in which every one feems buried,
makes me mad fometimes that I fhould give my-
felf more trouble than I need. But I begin alſo to
be difgufted. My only comfort is, that according
to all appearance we are got to the VIIth fcene of the
Vth act of the tragedy, and that confequently that
it will foon end either one way or another. I doubt
not but after the audience of the Mufcovites they
will propofe to the King to agree to an accommo-
dation with King Auguftus, to go home by Bel-
grade, or by fea, or even to ſtay in one of the
iflands of the Archipelago, or cities of Afia, as
long as he pleafes. I know not what courſe he
will take, but I know what courfe he ought to have
taken long ago. I am as ufual, &c.
P. S.
[ 259 ]
P. S. Mr. Meyerfield makes a great merit of his
refufal, and of his great promiſes of the defence he
is to make at Stettin.
TOTOO
OOT
SIR,
LETTER
LXXII.
To bis Serene Highness the Duke.
A
Adrianople, October 6, 1713.
FFAIRS here in Turky turn every day
worfe and worſe for his Majefty, fo that
there is no longer any hopes of a rupture with the
• Muſcovites, nor of any fuccours to King Staniſlaus
for his regaining the throne of Poland. The Muf-
covites have already had their audience, and the
Poliſh minifters have had conferences of eight hours
at a time for fome days with the Reis Effendi, in
which 'tis faid they difputed about the ſmall bit of
the Ukraine belonging to the republic, but ufurped
by the Muscovites, and ceded by them to the Ot-
toman Porte. When both parties have once agreed
the difpute, they will receive their audience immedi-
ately after. As the Porte and the King of Sweden now
both pique themſelves upon not making the firſt
propoſal, affairs, it is likely, will continue in their
languishing courſe, and his Majefty perhaps not
refolve fo foon to quit Demirtafch, although
there are a great number of fick there, and of the
150 Swedes who have their reſidence there, 22 are
already dead. I have the honour to be with a moſt
profound refpect, &c.
logo nón
S 2
LET-
[260]
LETTER LXXIII.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, October 16, 1713.
TH
HE pieces here annexed will fhew you
almoft word for word, the propofitions which
the Porte has at length made, both by word of
mouth and by writing to his Swediſh Majefty, with
the answers that have been given to them. But I
beg of your Excellency to take fuch care of them,
that we may not fee them again in the Gazettes, as
has happened to feveral pieces of news that I have
written to Chriſtendom; as there are not above
four or five perfons at the moſt who get intelligence
of what paffes in the conferences between the Porte
and the King, in the number of whom I have found
means to be.
Your Excellency will fee by this, that according
to all appearance his Majefty will fet out from hence
in a fhort time, to repair to fome place upon the
road to Poland, where he will pafs the winter.
The little appearance there is of their giving him a
numerous efcort, or of his Majefty's trufting to a
ſmall one to croſs Poland, and the courſe which
he has choſen notwithſtanding all this, makes Mr.
Müllern and Poniatowſki believe, that by thus ap-
proaching the frontiers he intends to agree to an
accommodation with King Auguftus. But Gro-
thufen, who is more fhrewd than the reft, believes
no fuch thing; and as he knows the King better than
any one, he fuppofes that he is feeding himſelf with
vain hopes, and extravagant deſigns; and that
he keeps on good terms with the Porte, only to
gain, or rather to lofe time. I am almoſt of the
6
fame
[261]
fame opinion, though I wiſh with all my heart I
may be deceived. I had a few days ago a conver-
fation of three hours with the King on this fubject.
Among a hundred good reafons, which it would
be tedious to repeat here, I told him, that his Ma-
jefty being known to the world as a great King,
and an expert general, it would now be neceffary
to make himself known by fuch a ftroke to be.
not lefs a great politician. He answered me in Ger-
man, that it did not correfpond with his former
conduct. I offered to procure him the affurances
of almoſt all the chriftian Princes, that it would do
no injury to his glory. Afterwards having told me
a few particulars about raiſing a new army, and I
not feeming to affent to them, he told me, that
the fire which for fome time had been hid under
the afhes, might yet burn out anew, provided
they knew well how to blow it. To this I anfwer-
ed, that it was rather to be feared, that by fuffer-
ing it thus to lie under the afhes, and blowing too
much, it fhould happen entirely to go out.
All
this tended to nothing. However it be, they have
promifed me a pofitive refolution, upon which I
always prefs them earneſtly. If I were but fure
that he would agree to the plan, I would ftill fol-
low him, although to my great inconvenience and
lofs. If not, I will wait at Conftantinople for your
laft orders, and nothing then fhall oblige me to ſtay
any longer here.
I hope that this
will convince him of the fincere attachment I have
to his perfon. I am, &c.
·
Adrianople, October 13, 1713. After the audi-
ence of the Muscovite ambaffadors and hoſtages, and
fome conferences between the Reis Effendi and
Meffrs. Commentowski and Goltz, the Teffterdar
Muftapha Effendi having by order of the Grand
Vifir Ali-Bafhaw, caufed the Capichi-Bafhaw to be
called,
S 3
E
[262]
called, who is with the King of Sweden, put into
his hands the annexed writing, fealed, to be given
to his Majefty, and to tell him by word of mouth
at the ſame time, that he might be certain that the
Porte would continue to fatisfy him as far as they
could, provided the King afk fuch things as they
could execute; that having had a conference with
the ambaffador of the King, and of the republic of
Poland, they would be very glad to know the fen-
timents of the King, as to his paffage through that
kingdom as a friend; that in truth the feafon was now
too far advanced to fet out directly, but next ſpring
it depended upon his Majefty to go through Poland,
by any route he pleafed; and that in the mean time
he fhould be furniſhed with money for his expences.
His Majefty having granted an audience to the
Capichi Bafhaw at feven in the evening, anfwered
him, that he was ready to fet out that Winter, hop-
ing that the Porte would take fuch meafures as would
render his paffage fecure. But if that could not
be done, he would go to any place the Porte ſhould
propofe, provided it was ſuch that he would have
all his people about him, their being feparate oc-
cafioning a good deal of inconvenience and expence.
As to money he had nothing to fay, and that the
Porte might do in that as they thought proper.
The Teffterdar having alfo caufed Count Cryf-
pin the envoy of King Stanislaus to be called, told
him that the Porte fince the peace concluded with
the Czar, being on the point of renewing the treaty
of Carlowitz with the King and the republic of
Poland all the Poles here and at Bender muft hold
themſelves ready to fet out for Poland, where no
injury fhould be done them. Count Cryspin hav-
ing faid that they would rather all become flaves,
and having afked leave to acquaint King Staniſlaus
with that, the Teffterdar having anſwered, that
the Porte would take care of that; adding, why.
were
द
[263]
were they fo averfe to return to their own country,
fince the conquefts the Mufcovites were every day
making from Sweden, left them no longer any
hopes of fucceeding in their plan.
Since thefe conferences nothing has happened on
account of the ramezzan or lent of the Turks, but
as it is finiſhed this week by the Bairam, the Grand
Signior is foon to go to Conftantinople, and the
King to fome other place.
PROPOSITIONS
Ο Ν
Of the Ottoman Porte delivered in writing to the
King of Sweden, drawn up 27th September.
October 1713, at Demirtafch.
I. T
HE ambaffador of the republic of the
King of Poland, being come to the Su-
blime Porte to confirm anew the peace of Carlo-
witz, upon which point, as they are actually hold-
ing conferences they want to know,
II. If it will be neceffary to treat with that am-
baffador concerning a friendly paffage through Po-
land for his Majefty, who is actually in this coun-
try; that in this cafe it will be abfolutely neceffary,
III. That his faid Majefty declare his fenti-
ments of this affair, and that he do not as formerly
make very difficult propofitions, but fuch as the
Porte can confent to, when the time of his depar-
ture fhall come.
S 4
The
[264]
The
ANSWER
Of his Majefty to the Propofitions.
H
IS Majefty perceiving that the Porte
inclines to an accommodation with
King Auguftus, and his Party in Poland; and that
King Stanislaus has no longer any thing to hope
from them, his Majefty will no longer infitt upon
his restoration; but he hopes they will not put
any constraint upon that Prince, whofe interefts are
infeparable from his own.
To II. art. His Majefty being very glad that
the Sublime Porte ftill continues in their resolution
of procuring him a fafe paffage to his own do-
minions, begs the Porte will communicate what
they refolve upon, before they ratify it, that he
may be able to give his opinion of it.
To III. art. To conclude his Majefty's being
very forry in not being able to prevent his being a
burthen to the Porte hitherto, now afks nothing,
but will rely entirely upon the generofity of the
Grand Signior, who knowing what is needed, will
think of making him leave his empire honourably
and arrive fafely in his own dominions, by which
he will make his Majefty for ever indebted to him.
XXXXXXXXXXVAJOAVANA
To I. art.
LETTER
SIR,
A
To Baron Goertz.
Adrianople, November 5, 1713.
LTHOUGH fecretary Hahn fet out for
Bender the ift of this month, and I gave him
a letter
LXXIV.
[ 265 ]
a letter for your Excellency, however, as I believe
that this which goes directly by Belgrade will ar-
rive fooner, I would not fail to inform you, that
after fix weeks labour and attention on my part, I
have at laft received an anfwer; that in regard to
Our affairs, his Majefty promiſed not to make a
peace unleſs we were included, and unleſs the moſt
Serene Houſe were entirely indemnified, and to
order his minifters in foreign courts to take the
fame care of our affairs as of thofe of Sweden. But
as to the great affair, all the anſwer I received was,
that it was of too great confequence to be able
to give an anſwer about it fo foon. As this laft
anſwer determines nothing and it feems they de-
fer thus only to lofe time, I have thought proper
to diſpatch Mr. Hahn. I make no doubt but
King Stanislaus will take this courfe, and renounce
all claim to the Crown of Poland, thereby to
oblige the King of Sweden, to enter, whither he
will or not into this plan. Poniatowski alone knows
of the journey of Hahn, and he ſupports the affair
with all his intereft,
I will
endeavour in the mean time to have my recreden-
tials next week, to go to Conftantinople to wait
the anſwer from Bender, and the return of Hahn
from Germany. This plan is to procure me a full
power from the King of Poland, to conclude a
feparate peace with King Staniſlaus on condition,
however, that the King of Sweden ſhall have liberty
to accede to it at any time, to which an obliging
letter from the King of Poland to the King of Swe-
den, and another from Count Fleming to Chan-
cellor Müllern, would do no harm, and might per-
haps produce a good effect. I know not whether
this plan will be executed, but I ftill beg of you to
procure me in regard to it the orders of his Serene
Highness my mafter, with ample inftructions, in
which you will tell me alfo whether it will be ne-
ceffary
↓
[266]
ceffary to get the Porte to enter into it as a medi-
ator or guarantee. Above all, I beg of you not to
oblige me to return to the court of Sweden, for the
reafon above-mentioned, unless I fhould find it pro-
per, and it fhould become a part of the plan; as
it plainly appears that his not taking part in it pro-
ceeds from his flattering himſelf with vain hopes.
The Grand Signior having declared, that within
twenty days he will return to Conftantinople, after
having caufed the King of Sweden to fet out in an
honourable manner, nobody doubts but his Ma-
jeſty will depart in eight days, to pass the winter
at Demotica, within fix hours of this, or at the
monaftry on the Danube. The Mufcovites and
Poles will follow the court to Conftantinople, un-
lefs affairs happen to take fuch a turn here, as to
occafion fome new kalabalik. Before I conclude,
I must tell you, fir, that the laft Gazette having
made mention of the delivery of Stettin, and fome
particular letters having ſpoken of feveral intrigues
of Mr. Baffewitz *, in debauching the burghers
of that place, the King is in a great paffion againſt
him. I faid that
and to con-
clude that his Serene Highneſs would not fail of
giving his Majefty fatisfaction, when he fhould
complain of the faid Baffewitz. I am, &c.
·
P. S. I have given 300 ducats to Mr. Hahn for
his journey, for which he has forgot to give me a
receipt, by reafon of a little debauche that we made
at my lodgings the evening before his departure
with Meffrs. Müllern, Duben, Poniatowſki, and
Afterwards first minifter to his Royal Highnefs the reign-
ing Duke of Slefwig-Holstein, and created a count by the Em-
peror in whofe fervice he entered, having been diſmiſſed by his
mafter in a manner very well known to the world.
Fleishman.
[ 267 ]
Fleishman. I expect your orders at Conftanti-
nople as foon as poffible.
oooooooooooooooooooooo
LETTER
To the fame.
Adrianople, November 12, 1713.
THE moft freſh piece of news
we have here is, that the
King fets out to-morrow, or the day after to-mor-
row for Demotica, there to pafs the winter, and
perhaps fome time longer too. The Mufcovites
have had their audience of leave and ratification.
However, the two hoftages follow the court to
Conftantinople. The Polish ambaffadors will have
theirs the day after to-morrow, and 'tis faid that
the Porte has defifted as to its pretentions to the
Ukraine. The court fets out in fifteen days at the
lateft. Such at length is the end, or rather will
be the end of all theſe kalabaliks and revolutions.
SIR,
•
LXXV.
Adrianople, November 13. The Refident,
Fleiſchman, received a courier two days ago from
Germany, who confirms the furrendery of Stettin;
but as he has brought no letters for me, I can-
not exactly tell all the circumftances. He has
orders likewife from the Emperor to make
advantageous and obliging offers to the Swediſh
miniftery, in regard to the return of the King thro'
his dominions, and in regard to a mediation be-
tween him and his enemies. I introduced him
yeſterday to Chancellor Müllern, with whom he
had a conference about two hours; but as his Ma-
jefty fets out for Demotica to-morrow morning,
Mr.
1
1
J
[ 268 ]
Mr. Fleiſchman will take a tour thither in eight or
ten days to have the refolution of his Majefty, and
that he may be able to ſend back his courier. The
Poles will hot have their audience here as was be-
lieved, but will follow the court to Conftantinople.
I expected to have obtained my re-credentials.
here, but the King having wifhed that I ſhould
come to Demotica to take my leave, I believe
I fhall accompany Mr. Fliefchman thither, and
that afterwards we fhall go to Conftantinople to-
gether, where I will wait for an anſwer to my laſt
difpatches, and then baida at a gallop to Hamburg.
The affurances which your Excellency gave to
Madam Kielmanfegge, that my departure depended
upon myself, make me believe that I fhall be hof-
kie di, that is, welcome. I am more than any one,
&c.
oooooooooooo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LETTER LXXVI.
To the fame.
SIR,
Conftantinople, December 28, 1713.
M
Y two laft from 'Adrianople, will have ſhewn
your Excellency in what manner I proceeded
to get our plan to bear in fpite of the King of
Sweden, and to force him infenfibly for his own good
to give his confent to it; and alſo the reaſons which
induced me to abfent myſelf from the court under
fome fpecious pretence, and to come hither to wait
quietly the return of the courier and your inftruc-
tions, that I may have an opportunity of acting
with freedom, and in the manner I liked beft with-
out giving umbrage to any one. Stanislaus's an-
fwer to your letter, which Poniatowski by his or-
der
[269]
der communicated to me, will fhew you what are
his fentiments. He flatters himſelf that fome au-
thentic piece from the King of Poland, would in-
fpire the King of Sweden with fuch fentiments as
as we could wifh. I who alfo pique myſelf upon
knowing him a little, can hardly perfuade myſelf
that he will yield. Yet I do not defpair but that
in the end he will fuffer the thing to take place,
to have a pretence for excufing himſelf to the
world, by faying that King Staniſlaus having con-
cluded it without his knowledge, he was obliged to
confent to it. The return of the Janiffaty who ac-
companied Mr. Hahn to Bender, and a very ſtrong
letter from King Stanislaus, have difcovered to
him the intrigue, and the fecret journey (of which
I had informed no one but Poniatowſki that it might
not be prevented.) He appeared greatly diſpleaſed
with Hahn, and Poniatowſki tells me, that if he is
not accompanied with fome other perfon at his re-
turn, he will not be very agreeable to the King,
although he conducted himſelf here very prudently.
My friends at court tell me, that the King did not
at all appear difpleafed with me, on account of the
zeal which he believes I have for his interefts; but
that nevertheleſs he can never perfuade himſelf,
that this journey was undertaken without my
knowledge, as I wanted to make him believe,
by a pretended letter from Hahn, which I fent to
court. However it be, I have done my duty by
endeavouring to perfuade him, and he his in not
believing me. I ftill continue my correfpondence
with King Staniſlaus. Marſhal Adlerfeldt has
informed the chancery, that I have adviſed his ma-
fter to fettle his own affairs, independant of thoſe
of any other. Which, however, is only in fome
meaſure true, having only adviſed Stanislaus to
threaten the King fo to act, to oblige him thereby to
give his confent. To conclude, Sir, you may de-
pend
[270]
pend upon it, that I ufe all the endeavours in my
power, to bring this great affair to fucceed, and Í
beg of you to affure Count Fleming of this. I
have also a very regular correfpondence with Poni-
atowski, Grothufen and Müllern, and I conceive my
letters in fuch terms, that they may be always fhewn
to the King, writing upon a ſmall billet apart what
I do not judge proper that the King fhould know.
You already know, Sir, that the Emperor has
cauſed an offer of his mediation to be made to the
King, in the moſt honourable and moft obliging
terms. However, as it is not the faſhion ever to
take any refolution, and they have given almoſt
the fame anfwer, as in our affair; that they
muft defer till the arrival of fome courier from
Pomerania, to know what ftate affairs are in there.
To-day Mr. Fleiſchman fends back his courier. I
have informed the court of this, that they may
have their letters ready, and give ſome poſitive
anſwer by Mr. Stiernbok at Vienna, with which
Mr. Morhoff may acquaint him. 'Tis faid that
the congrefs of Brunfwic is begun, and that if the
King will not give his confent to it, they will pro-
ceed in affairs without his concurrence. I fear that
if he does not give fome attention to direct his af-
fairs, they will direct themſelves; and I do not
know his intention. Some believe that he will not
leave his country 'till he has concluded a peace,
and all his debts are paid, which amount to half a
million of crowns, and others think that he will
fet out incognito. I believe he will pass the winter
at Demotica, in the best manner that can be done
without money, to wait for fome great revolution.
He is to quit his bed, which he has kept fince the
month of February, in a few days; that is, as foon
as his houfe, his table, and his equipage fhall be
regulated, and fome money procured. I believe
that as Mr. Cook has been very well paid hitherto,
7
that
[271]
that he will ſtill furniſh fome money to fupply their
moft preffing wants.
I expect with impatience fome certain intelligence
about the fequeftration of Pomerania, (againſt
which they at firft cried out greatly, although af-
terwards by my continual remonftrances they came
a little to approve of it) and alfo as to my inftruc-
tions. I am as much as poffible, &c.
P. S. affairs here are in the utmoſt tranquillity:
An audience has not yet been granted to the Poles,
that they may thereby gain fomething; and the
Muscovites will not depart till the limits be fettled,
which is put off till the following ſpring, under
the frivolous pretence that at prefent it is too cold.
The Tribute to the Tartar Cham, which is not yet
regulated, will alſo ſerve as a pretence to the Porte,
ftill to find fault and take offence.
Another P.S. I received yours of the 16th of
September from Gottorp, only a few days ago.
Since that time I have had no news or intelligence
of what is doing at home. I have written to Mr.
Morhoff, to addrefs all my Packets to Mr. Fleiſch-
mann, which is the moft certain way. The King
of Sweden has been very bad, but not to extre-
mity. Mr. Steinbok ought not to exclaim againſt
us, but against himſelf. Thanks to my affiduity,
they are perfuaded of this at the court of Sweden,
and the adjutant whom he has fent, will loſe his
latin if he endeavours to perfuade them to the
contrary. I took the precaution to leave in the
chancery all the copies and pieces that may ſerve
for our juftification.
LET-
[ 272 ]
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
LXXVII.
SIR,
Adrianople, March 28, 1714.
Α
SI have only once had an opportunity of
writing fully to you fince the arrival of Mr.
Duhring, on account of the great difficulty of
fending couriers, or even letters to Germany under
this Grand Vifir; therefore for the direction of
your Excellency, I judge it neceffary to begin with
a fhort detail of the ftate of affairs here, referving
any fuller information till I fhall have the honour
of feeing you in Germany this fpring, to which
his Majefty has confented. I fhall begin with our
troops. I have not failed to ſpeak to his Majefty
himſelf, and afterwards agreeable to the orders
I received, to preſent a memorial to him con-
cerning the maintaining of the horſes of the
dragoons that are at Stettin, and for the fubfift
ance alſo of the troops which are come from Bra-
bant. The thing was, I perceived, upon the
point of being refufed, if I had not upon reflec-
tion, inferted in the memorial that his Majefty
might use the troops as if they were his own. He
upon this took a fancy, That they should take the
oath of fidelity to him, upon his affigning them their
quarters, their rations, and fuitable pay while they
Jhould be in bis fervice, and that the most Serene Houfe
would confent to leave them in his fervice. He even
wanted forthwith to conclude a treaty with me on
that head; but as I have no fuch orders, and as
my long abfence and diſtance from the court pre-
vent me from knowing if fuch a treaty would be
convenient for us, I excufed myfelf; however, as
I
[ 273 ]
j
I perceived that without that, there was nothing to
be done, I begged of the King to fend a full power
to Count Welling, to treat on that head with the
moft Serene Houfe. That was agreed to; but
next day it was judged proper to addreſs that or-
der to General Ducker at Stralfund, and to give
him a full power to take into his Majesty's fervice
the whole regiment of Count Dernath, with as many
infantry as the most Serene Houſe ſhould be pleafed
to offer: it being likewife his Majefty's intention,
to ſend out the dragoons who are in garrifon at
Stettin, and to replace them by the battalion that
was in the pay of England: or elfe, what would
ftill be more agreeable to the King, to perfuade
the Pruffians, to make a number of their troops
to go out of Stettin, equal to that of the dragoons
who are to evacuate the place, that they may be
the lefs burdenfome to the city. In this cafe, if
Pruflia would confent to it (which however I
greatly doubt) his Majefty is alſo very willing to
take into his pay that called the Holftein battalion.
This, Sir, is all that I could obtain. It belongs
to you at prefent, to judge if this treaty would be
agreeable to us, or if we can find any other means
of keeping up thofe troops. I alfo required, as a
condition fine qua non, that thoſe troops ſhould
be diſcharged whenever the moft Serene Houſe
fhould defire it; and I know that Mr. Ducker will
agree to it, if it be ſtrongly infifted upon. As to
the other conditions, fuch as the nomination of the
officers, &c. I did not judge it proper to talk of
them, as you can agree with Mr. Ducker about
- them much better than can be done here. At the
worst, if you do not judge it proper to conclude
the treaty, this order (which is fent off by this
courier in the packet to Mr. Friefendorff) will pre-
yent Mr. Ducker from diflodging our troops from
Pomerania.
Before I entirely leave this
af
T
"
•
[ 274 ]
affair, I will tell you, that having learned that
they were endeavouring to do Major General Horn
bad offices, and even to take his regiment from
him for having taken that title; I fhewed the ad-
vantages his Majefty would even draw from that,
and the neceflity there was for it, in fuch terms as
I hope would put a stop to an order that had even
been committed to paper, that he muft either re-
turn to his regiment or quit the fervice. They
readily agree that the regency was in the wrong,
to addrefs themfelves rather to the Pruffian Go-
vernor than to ours; but as they feem inclined to
referve to themſelves, to what purpoſe I know not,
the right of difapproving what has been acted in
Pomerania, they avoid concerning themſelves in
this affair.
I now come to the memorial which Adjutant
General Duhring put into my hands. I have had
occafion to read it to the King from one end to
the other, with the two pieces annexed; and to
.fpeak to him on that head fo clearly and in fuch
ftrong terms, that I am much deceived if he has
not entirely quitted any ſmall fufpicions that might
have remained. What confirms me in this is, that
he has afked that memorial from me. I left out
fome fatirical expreffions, and others that might
fhew refentiment, and then delivered him a copy.
My intention at prefent is to return to Demotica
whenever I fhall have difpatched this poft, and to
oblige him by a ſmall memorial, which I will pre-
fent to him, to declare exprefsly, whether he does,
or does not, defire us to intermeddle in his affairs for
the future? that I may be able at my return to in-
form his Highness and the Miniftry of his inten-
tions. If he chufes the firft, which I make no
doubt of, I will endeavour to bring fome pofitive
reſolution as to the plans which we have laid for
him. Till I arrive at Berlin (which will probably
8
not
[ 275 ]
not be till the end of May) we muſt ſtill traverſe
and feek to gain time, as fuch is the fituation of
conjunctures, that I fhall certainly be able to bring
you ſomething decifive.
On one fide, General Liewen is arrived from
Sweden with difpatches of the utmoſt confequence,
and which intreat the King's return in the moſt
preffing terms on the other, the Porte is on the
point of coming to a conclufion with Mr. Com-
mentowfki, as to his Majefty's paffage thro' Po-
land with 6000 men; fo that, according to ap-
pearance, they will without delay make fome pro-
poſals on that head; and what is more, they have
juft granted leave to King Stanislaus to go whither
he pleafes, which will give him an opportunity of
retiring to Cronstadt in Tranfylvania, under the
protection of the Roman Emperor, there to wait
the iffue of his affairs, as by this time he has re-
- folved. All thefe circumftances will naturally oblige
the King to take fome courfe or to fhew evidently
that it is not his intention to leave this country;
either of which will put it in our power to take
our own meaſures.
As to a peace with the King of Poland, I dare
almoſt poſitively affure you, that nothing about it
is at prefent under confideration, and that hitherto
they have entered into no other courie to procure it,
as you
fear. I have done all that was poffible to
difcover the affair; but all that I could learn is,
that King Stanislaus acts from himſelf, and has
difpatched the chamberlain Tornchild, and after-
wards Colonel Menzer, not to treat, but to preſs
the King of Poland to fend fomething real, by
which the King of Sweden, may be convinced of
the fincerity of his intentions; which is always the
only thing that prevents them here from hearkning
to any propofal. The Han of the Tartars has
alfo made the fame propofals for fome time paft,
T 2
having
[276]
having offered his mediation and that of the Porte,
and the anfwer has been given almoſt in the fame
tone, and in general terms. Meanwhile Müllern
and Poniatowski, make not the leaft doubt of fuc-
cefs in this affair, provided Hahn returns with fome
plenipotentiary. I have notice of his arrival by
your Excellency's laft letter; but it does not men-
tion a word of his return, on which account I am
very uneafy, as it is the only thing that ftill keeps
me in this country. At the worft, if he does not
return before my departure, I will endeavour to
obtain fome commiffion on that head.
As to the alliance with Pruffia, it feems to me
that hitherto they have no great liking to it, whe-
ther it is that they will not facrifice Stettin, or
whether from the opinion that the Miniſtry here
are very tenacious of, that nothing effential will
ever be concluded at Berlin; the defign of the
King of Pruffia, being folely to gain fomething
without risking any thing. In the mean time, I
informed your Excellency in my laſt, that if that
court, as a proof of its good intentions, would
procure reftitution to be made to us; they would
then in all likelihood come to an accommodation
with it, especially if France and England would in
good earneſt make the fame propofal. I have la-
boured much in this affair, and alleged the ftrong-
eft reaſons in the world, without being able to
obtain any thing elfe, than a permiffion to your
Excellency to flatter Pruffia, provided that can
contribute to our obtaining reftitution; and an or-
der to the Miniftry of Sweden not to contradict it.
I will alfo endeavour to bring fome decifive refolu-
tion with me on this head.
General Liewen (whom the Boftangi Baſhaw firſt
obliged to go to Conftantinople, from whence he
was fent back on the 21ft of this month to Demo-
tica, and to whom I found an opportunity of do-
2
2
ing
[ 277 ]
ing fome fervice during this kind of impriſonment)
has told me in confidence that -
He alſo begged of me above all things to hinder
Mr. Baffewitz from being fent to Sweden, becauſe
he would be affronted there, on account of fome
very imprudent and infolent fpeeches he made in
public concerning the fucceffion of the young Duke,
faying that he was foon to go to Sweden to put
the crown on the head of that Prince. I can
hardly think this poffible; but I very well know
that here they are not at all well pleafed with his
conduct. It belongs to himſelf to justify it.
This Mr. Liewen, moreover, appears to me to
be a man of good fenfe, and one who will tell
things as they are. The great defign of his com-
ing here is, doubtlefs, to endeavour to get the
King out of this country, or to procure to the
Princess and the Senate a full power.
Befides, they afk another Admiral, another Gene-
ral, and a Prefident of the treafury. Some tell
me that the Hereditary Prince of Heffe wants the
fecond poft, but I doubt whether it will be grant-
ed him. His marriage is a fecret that even Mül-
lern knows nothing of. I have my ſpies upon
duty, and upon my return I will endeavour to in-
form you of every thing.
I am forry that the court of Hanover fhews fo
little good-will towards us and Sweden, eſpecially
as the King feems rather inclined to conclude an
alliance with it than Pruffia. It feems to me that
they reckon here a little too much upon France,
and in thoſe hopes neglect taking meaſures with
the other powers.
The King feems not diſpleaſed that the Princess
has taken her feat in the Senate, after the folid rea-
fon for it, which have been mentioned to him;
but he did not confent to it before hand, as Mr.
Rank believed. 'Tis faid that the diet in Sweden
T 3
has
[ 278 ]
has determined in every thing to the advantage of
the King, and that all depends upon his Majefty's
quick return into his own country, if he does not
want to fee all their refolutions overturned.
The plan of a peace between Sweden and Den-
mark, will never be relifhed here upon the footing
of an exchange of the Duchy of Bremen, &c.
for thofe of Slefwick and Holſtein, for they will
not even hear the propofitions that Denmark wants
to make on this head. I fee by the extract of a
letter of Count Reventlau from Hanover, which
Mr. Morhoff has communicated to me, that the
King of Denmark wants to quarrel with us, on
account of the attempt made to fend in proviſions
to Tonningen, and that he refufes to keep to the
treaty concluded on that head. I fear this will
greatly retard the reftitution we expect, unless Pruf-
fia oblige him to it. I fee plainly that he will with
difficulty confent to it, as long as it is not known
upon what foot he is with the King of Sweden. I alſo
perceive that he has fome foundation for this, but
I cannot make them comprehend it here. It feems
to me that they would like Harlequins divifion
very well here; all on one fide, and nothing on the
other; altho' I have often told the King that the
bafis of all contracts is do ut des, facio ut facias.
But the worst of all is, that they always delay till
cras, cras, the most preffing refolutions. Befides,
money is a thing fo rare here, that they have al-
moft loft the uſe of it, and almoft do not know
whether the coin be round or fquare. Without
the Thaim of the Turks, which however confifts
only in a portion of bread, wine, meat, rice, &c.
and Mr. Cook who furnishes wherewith to fupply
his Majefty's table, I know not what would become
of them. At Bender, the fcarcity, if poffible,
muft ftill be greater, and he that gets ten crowns
upon a remittance of an hundred, thinks he has
made
[ 279 ]
made a good bargain. No body knows what the
King owes, fo great is the confufion; but I be-
lieve that it will amount to half a million, exclu-
five of the letters of exchange which are to be
payed at Hamburgh; and I know not how the
King can leave this country if he piques himfelf
upon paying his debts before his departure; efpe-
cially as I fee no appearance that the Grand Sig-
nior will again empty his coffers to fill thofe of his
fubjects, which is quite contrary to the genius of
the Turks. However it be, you may eaſily judge
from this fcarcity, what they are likely to effect in
a country where no body can make a ſtep without
money.
A fehrman of the poft, which is properly a
paffport to leave the country with the poft, will
cot at least 30 or 40 crowns, and befides, there
is no fmall difficulty in obtaining it under this
Grand Vifir. You know by my foregoing, that
the firft Mr. Duhring was happily brought to
Conftantinople; I fay happily, as I juft then ar-
rived at that city. The fecond was detained here
at the houſe of the Boftangi Bafhaw, till an an-
fwer ſhould be received from court, which was ten
days in coming. General Liewen has been obliged to
make a tour to Conftantinople, from whence he was
afterwards fent to Demotica. My valet de Cham-
bre is the only one that has happily eſcaped, and
who has come to me directly. I have, however,
found means to get all their letters; not only thoſe
for my felf, but thoſe alſo for the court of Swe-
den, but this could not be done without prefents,
fometimes to one, fometimes to another.
clude, Sir, a man that would do the leaft thing in
this country, ought almoſt always to have his
hand at his purfe. Befides, there must be Janif-
faries, interpreters, and fo many other kind of
gentry, quite ufelefs in our country, but which
To con-
T 4
ne-
[ 280 ]
nevertheleſs coft money. All the ſmalleſt conve-
niences which are needed by the Franks, are ex-
ceffively dear; but what cofts more than all the
reft are, the couriers that muſt be dispatched upon
the ſmalleſt affair, as there is no regular poſt in
this country. I do not doubt but this article will
ſtand-me in 4000 crowns during my abode in this
country. You may judge in proportion of the
reft, and whether it is to be wondered if a perfon
fpends a good deal of money. I am willing to
confefs between ourſelves, that I am not quite
the beſt œconomist in the world; witneſs, that I
have twice difmiffed all my domeftics, fold off my
horfes and furniture, that I might be able to go
poft, once after the battle of the Pruth, and
another time after that fine affair of Bender; and
that afterwards, extraordinary conjunctures and
the orders of the court, obliged me ftill to remain
and to purchaſe every thing anew. But befides, I
defy the moſt expert œconomiſt to remain four
years in this country, and at a court where mo-
ney is fo rare, without fpending large fums, eſpe-
cially if one wishes to make any figure, and to
fathom what is going forward. As to the advan-
ces I have made to the King, and which amount
in all to about 30,000 crowns, it was impoffible
to keep myself clear of that, on account of the
credit which they knew I had at Conftantinople,
and of the affurances the King gave me that all
fhould be forthwith paid at Hamburgh; befides
that part of that money, was fo charitably employ-
ed in faving fo many perfons of rank and honour,
that I could not help advancing it, even at the
hazard of lofing it entirely. However it be, Sir,
I hope that at my return they will fo order mat-
ters that I fhall have no room to complain, that
over and above the bargain, I have been obliged
to ruin myſelf in a journey that has made me lofe
my
•
[281]
ve-
EX-
he
on
in
this
the
fon
to
ite
al
my
go
and
and
and
a10
I
ur
0.
ல்
De-
to
an
unt
Sele
the
DILA
all
des
52
75
t
at
my time, my youth, my pleafures, and perhaps
my fortune; and all this in a barbarous country,
and at the most troubleſome court, without doubt,
in the world. I hope your Excellency will have
greater attention to this than any one, as you can-
not imagine how earneft I have always been that
justice fhould be done to your merits and fervices,
in which I may almoft reckon that I have at length
fucceeded; and truly no one is with more zeal and
attachment than I, &c.
P. S. The following is the order to Mr. Gene-
ral Ducker in regard to our troops, which I have
thought proper to afk of the Chancery, to addreſs
it to your Excellency. I fend along with it a letter
to Baron Horn, which doubtlefs regards his own
affairs. I fend this packet alone by one of my
domeftics to Peter waradin, to put it into the poſt,
for not having yet got the Fehrman of the poft, I
could not fend back Mr. Duhring. But as they
have juſt promiſed me one, I will fend him off in
ten or twelve days, with difpatches of confequence.
To-morrow I will go to Demotica, where they
want me to push the King to fome refolution in
regard to the plans I prefented to him. We act
all in concert, and by that means we preſs him fo
much, that we will either get from him a wing of
a feather.
LET-
[ 282 ]
LETTER LXXVIII.
To the Same:
SIR,
Adrianople, May 6, 1714.
Write this to you at all hazard by General
I
Poniatowski, who fets out this night from my
lodging to Bender to fpeak to King Stanislaus;
who has obtained at length, after the audience of
Mr. Commentowſki, permiffion to retire where he
pleafes. I will mention to you in hafte, that our
affairs go on well, and that his Majefty being per-
fuaded of our zeal, does not approve the defigns
of making the Duke be looked upon as of age in
Sweden. What is more, his Majefty feems deter-
mined to fet out at length in good earneft; to
which the revolutions to be feared in Sweden, and
the remonftrances of Meff. Müllern, Feiff, Liew-
en and Poniatowski have greatly contributed. I
fay nothing of my own, but I believe they have
done no harm.
We fhall know fomething more pofitive about
it in ten days, after which I fet out from hence
with General Liewen, having my diſpatches alrea-
dy in my pocket. I believe his Majefty will even
refolve to pafs thro' Germany, if the Porte per-
fifts in ftarting new difficulties as to the paffage
thro' Poland, as there are difficulties in reality. I
believe alſo, that they are not far diftant from en-
tering ino a negotiation for a general peace, by the
mediation of the Emperor and of France, as they
are already engaged to it in a manner, by the an-
fwer made to the former. If your Excellency
judges this may be for our advantage, I can pufh
the affair in paffing thro' Vienna, if I there find
orders
[283]
orders for it at my arrival. This letter is fhort,
and written in a great haſte, but I believe it is not
the leaft comforting. I fhould be glad to receive
fuch another from your Excellency as to the ex-
pences, which I cannot help making in this coun-
try. I am, &c.
LETTER LXXIX.
To the Same.
SIR,
Adrianople, May 12, 1714.
I
Set out to-morrow for Demotica; 1 hope this
will be for the last time, as my diſpatches are now
ready and figned; but alſo as General Liewen, who
is to go with me, has told me, that he will have
his diſpatches in a few days. I am extremely glad
to have contracted a ftrict friendship with this ge-
neral. We may draw confiderable fervices from
it upon his return to Sweden, as he is an honeſt
man, and has, fenfe and courage. Befides, he is
not to fet out from hence without knowing exactly
when, and in what manner the King is to depart,
and the orders that he gives in the mean time to
the regency. And as I will conduct him to Berlin
to have ſome diſcourſe with your Excellency, I am
perfuaded we may take meaſures together that will
be very well fuited to our intereſts. Beſides, your
Excellency will know by my laft letter, which I
committed to the care of General Poniatowski about
eight days ago, when we went to Bender, to fee
the King his mafter before his departure from Cron-
ftadt; that Mr. Commentofki has at laft had his
audience in which nothing elſe was ftipulated than,
I. That
[284 ]
1. That the Mufcovites fhall never for the fu-
ture enter Poland:
2. That they will no longer oppofe the King's.
paffage through that Kingdom.
And that the Vifir may be no longer troubled
with the bufinefs: this laft affair has been remitted
to the Tartar Han to regulate it with King Au-
guftus. But as they eafily perceive, that in this
laft manner it will never turn out to the advantage
of the King of Sweden; and that the affair will be
protracted to a dreadful length; they have endea-
voured to perfuade the King to take another route,
and they believe they have fwayed him a little, as
within theſe few days he has cauſed a declaration
to be made to the Porte by the French ambaſſador;
that if they were any ways embaraffed with his
paffage through Poland, they need only mention
it, and he would think of fome other courfe. It
is the anſwer to this, that we are at prefent ex-
pecting, and which is to determine every thing.
What is certain, is, that the King having received
a great number of remonftrances, reprefenting the
neceffity of his prefence in Sweden, feems to have
refolved in good earneft to depart at last. This
muft certainly be fact, fince I Thomas begin to
believe it. I ftill flatter myself that 'tis likely I'
may receive a commiflion to make fome propofals
at Vienna, as to his route through Germany.
Moreover, Sir, as the King after the peace can
no longer refufe to confent to the Emperor's medi-
ation, and as a congrefs for the peace of the north-
would doubtlefs turn out to our advantage; my
plan is to infinuate to the court of Vienna, by the
bye that the King will not refufe that mediation if
the Emperor cauſe a fecond offer of it to be made.
In the mean time, as I would not chufe to do any
thing at a hazard, I beg of your Excellency to
fend forthwith to Mr. Morhoff inftructions on this
2
point
[ 285 ]
"
4
point for me. I have a very favourable occafion
to infinuate what I want on this head, by means of
a letter which his Majefty's refident at Conftanti-
nople has written in my favour to the vice chancel-
lor of the empire.
•
I defer difcourfing of the affairs which intereſt
you 'till my return. I fhall only fay in general,
that the King is perfuaded of your zeal; that he
does not approve of the proceedings of the fenate
with Denmark, and in regard to the young Duke's
being reckoned of age; that he will never conclude
a peace at our expence, and to conclude that we
may flatter ourſelves with his particular protection
upon his return, upon which alfo will depend the
accommodation which you know of.
The regency of Stettin complain of us, and the
King would have given fome heed to their com-
plaint, if I had not happened to fay to him that it
was the cuſtom of lawyers and magiftrates to be al-
ways complaining of the poor foldiers. I was
obliged to read to him more than three times the
paffage in your letter about the revolutions to be
feared in Sweden, and it had a good effect. I am,
&c.
P. S. The plan you have propoſed in Sweden,
is quite agreeable to the King, provided it does not
coft him what you know. He will take all our
troops, it being his defign to form a new army.
He is very glad that Mr. Ducker is not gone, and
ftill more that he of himſelf aſked for our Dra-
goons.
LE T-
[ 286 ]
LETTER LXXX.
SIR,
Demotica, June 16, 1714.
T
ANDEM bona caufa triumphat. The
King gives all due juftice to our attachment,
and to your zeal in particular. Thanks to your
letters and memorials, and to my remonftrances.
But what makes our court more
than all the reft, are the indefatigable pains taken
by Count Von Denrath and General Ducker, to
have an army on foot in Germany by the time his
Majefty arrives there. He talks to me every day
of our troops, and eſpecially of the regiment of
dragoons, and I doubt not but he will be very glad
to take them all into his fervice.
·
To the Same.
Let us now come to the great affair.
I cannot deny, but that the memorial you know
of, is mine but I can prove by the character of
Hahn himſelf, and the teftimony of Poniatowſki
and Müllern, to whom he faid the fame things,
that he has not only advanced thofe propofitions,
but alſo two or three that I did not think proper to
add. It only remains then that I ſhould juſtify
the ftile. As to this, we ought firſt to confider
the title which fays, advantages to be expected, &c.
and fecondly, that piece was never given with the
intention of being fhewn to the plenipotentiaries of
King Auguftus.
After this pream-
ble, you must know, Sir, that Tornchild was
folely diſpatched by the vivacity of King Stanislaus.
and addreffed to Lagnafco against all rules, and
without the King of Sweden's knowing a word
of it. At prefent his Majefty pretends, that King
Auguftus
[ 287 ]
Auguftus having difavowed my memorial never
had a fincere intention in that refpect. To unde-
ceive him, I have cauſed another memorial to be
prefented by Mr. Müllern, in which I prove to
him; that the affair being almoft become public,
King Auguftus could not do otherwife, that he
might not fall out with the Czar before the time,
nor Fleming likewife to keep off Lagnafco, who
plainly was to know nothing of the affair; and that
at prefent to get the fox out of the hole, the King
of Sweden need only declare by me, that if King
Auguftus has a fincere intention he is ready to treat.
We muſt fee if I can obtain this point. At the
worft Müllern believes that it is abfolutely necef-
fary, that you be upon good terms with Mr. Torn-
child, as it is an infallible means of bringing the
matter to bear, and that it ſhould paſs through
the channel of King Stanislaus, with whom you
would do well to keep a correfpondence of letters,
or even to fend fome perſon to him. I do my ut-
moft to bring him to what I want, and whatever
he does is well executed here. The letters hereto
annexed, and open, will procure you an oppor-
tunity. I am particularly well acquainted with Mr.
Tornchild he is a very honeft man, who does not
want underſtanding and knowledge; but as he was
formerly not in the King's good graces, and con-
ſequently was not employed, he has no experience.
Befides, he has a certain ftiff formal air, tho' in truth
very noble ſentiments, which, however, are ſet off with
a grave and Spaniſh deportment, fitter for the Pre-
fident of the council, than for a negotiator, who
ought to have an infinuating behaviour and eaſy
I told all this to the
King the other day, and alfo laughing I
However it be, I take the liberty again to adviſe
you to leave every thing in ftatu quo, till my ar-
rival, as I can give you great information in every
manners.
thing.
·
[ 288 ]
thing. I have my difpatches and my credentials
quite ready. I wait only for the return of one of
my Janiffaries from Conftantinople, who is to
bring the decifive anfwer for my mounting my
horſe, and being the forerunner of the King of
Sweden. After a good deal of difputing and de-
lay, from whom the first propoſals fhould come,
the Porte has afked, that the King fhould fend
fome perſon with propofals and demands, figned
with his own hand, and fealed with his feal: but in-
ftead of that the King has declared by Mr. Defal-
leurs, That fince the Porte will not give him the pro-
tection of the escort fo often promifed, he now aſks
no more than the fehrman or palport. As it is I
that diſpatched the couriers, and as Mr. Defalleurs
is my intimate friend, I am informed of every
thing. It is not doubted but the Porte will give
the febrman in a few days; and that his Majefty
will then find himſelf obliged to pass through Ger-
many. They would without doubt alſo give more
money, if they would fet about that affair in a pro-
per manner. It would certainly do no harm, as
they owe here to Turks, Greeks, and Jews, be-
tween 5 and 600 purfes, which they might then
be able to pay with 300, as a great part of that
money has been negotiated at Bender, where they
give at the rate of 20 for 10, and fometimes for
5 crowns a receipt for 100 crowns. Judge by
this if the intereft or exchange, which we pay to
Mr. Cook, and which amounts to about 25 per
cent. is fo exceffive in this country, where the richeſt
man pays ordinarily 15 per cent. per annum.
You doubtless by this time know, that King
Stanislaus has fet out from Bender for Cronstadt,
accompanied by Count Tarlo and Mr. Adlerfeld,
and fome others. 'Tis believed that he will go to
Deux Ponts. Poniatowski is gone to join him,
and I believe he will follow him. He is without
doubt
[ 289 ]
S
doubt one of the honefteft men in the world, and
very much my friend. The moment that the an-
fwer comes to Conftantinople, I will diſpatch a
courier to Cronstadt, which fhall be charged with
a copy of this, and others letters for Chriftendom.
As I write this by a French merchant, who is to
leave Adrianople this afternoon, I beg of you to
make my excufe to his Highneſs, and to fend him
the contents of this. Inform alfo Count Welling
of the news hereto annexed; Duhring and I will do
him good fervices. As there is no better means
to prevail with the King to confent to a negotiation
for the peace of the north, than by the mediation
of the imperial court; I could carry on fome in-
trigues as to that buſineſs, when I paſs at Vienna,
provided I find my inftructions for it with Morhoff.
I will have a fine opportunity for it. I am, &c.
P. S. Our young Duhring is very much in the
King's favour. By my example you may fee, that
blundering fpoils nothing. I told his Majefty, that
his mother being afraid that ſtudy would ſpoil
the foldier and the martial air, took great care
that he ſhould not know a word of Latin, in which
fhe had fucceeded to a miracle. This is an anſwer
to your two letters of the 10th of March and 17th
of April.
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
TO O
LXXXI.
LETTER
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Adrianople, June 21, 1714.
HE great difficulty of fending letters fafely
to Germany, and the continual deferring of
the King's departure from day to day, are the rea-
TH
U
fon
[ 290 ]
fon, that I cannot fo often as I could wiſh fullfil
my duty. In the mean time the privy-counſellor
Baron Goertz will not have failed to give an ac-
count to your Serene Highness of what I have had
the honour to inform him of from time to time,
concerning the prefent fituation of affairs here.
Chancellor Müllern has received the letters of your
Serene Highnefs, both for himſelf and your Ma-
jefty, and he communicated them to me before he
delivered the laſt to the King.
His Majefty not only expreffed himſelf in the moſt
gracious terms in regard to it, but has alfo given
an anſwer to your Serene Highnefs, and promifed
to fend peremptory orders, concerning the bufi-
nefs to the fenate at Stockholm. His Majefty,
moreover, is perfectly convinced of the uprightneſs
of your Serene Highness's intentions, and of your
attachment to him and the kingdom of Sweden.
I have, befides, the honour to in-
form your Serene Highness, that the King defires
to take all the troops of Holftein into his pay,
that by the affiftance of thofe regiments, he may
be enabled to form a new army in Germany:
General Ducker will without doubt receive his laſt
orders to day on that point from his Majefty. But
what is ftill better, he will in all probability be him-
felf very foon in your neighbourhood, where it will
then be more eafy to fettle every point. The hopes
of a fudden departure from this country is now
greater than ever, as fince the renewal of the
treaty of Carlowitz with the republic of Poland,
by its ambaffador Commentowiki *; the Turks
having afked the King for his requeft in writing,
fubfcribed by himself; his Majefty only answered,
that there was no need of it and what confirms
* By which, however, the Turks referved to themſelves
the liberty of condusting the King through Poland.
this
[291]
this probability of an approaching departure, is,
that his Majefty immediately after that refufal fent
an order to Conftantinople to the French ambaf-
fador the Marquis of Defalleurs, by one of my
Janiffaries, to afk only from the Porte a fehrman
or paffport for himſelf and his retinue, which
makes us conclude that he is refolved to paſs through
Germany, although nothing pofitive as to this can
yet be affirmed. Theſe fifteen days we have been
expecting the anſwer of the Porte as to this point,
and no later than yesterday I fent another exprefs
for this purpoſe. Mean while, we make no doubt
of foon obtaining this fehrman, and perhaps the
Porte will alſo add to it a good fum of money,
provided they only afk it in a decent manner; fo
that his Majefty may quit this kingdom with ho-
nour and diſtinction. I wait only for this anfwer
to take poft immediately after, to be the forerun-
ner of his Majefty, fo that with my diſpatches and
credentials, which are now all ready in the chan-
cery; I hope at laft, after fo long waiting, to en-
joy the happineſs ſo much wifhed for, of declaring
to your Highnefs by word of mouth, that no one
can be with more zeal and refpect than I am, &c.
P. S. The Porte waits for the opinion of the
Han of the Tartars, as to the fehrman which his
Majefty demands, as I learned yeſterday from the
French ambaffador.
U 2
LET
[292]
LETTER LXXXII.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, June 23, 1714.
BY
Y this opportunity, by the way of Cronstadt,
fend you the duplicate of my two laſt letters
of confequence. I alfo add to them a letter for his
Excellency Count Fleming, with a memorial which
your Excellency will have the goodness to caufe to
be decyphered, and then to fend him a copy. It will
clearly fhew that I advanced nothing, but that
with which I was at leaft commiffioned by Mr.
Grund, and if there is a fincere intention to bring
this work to a conclufion, they must follow the
plan contained in the laft page of the piece joined
to the letter of his Excellency Count Fleming. As
Poniatowski who without doubt is one of the
honefteft men in the world, is throughly in the
favour of his Swedish Majefty, he will be able to
perform very important fervices in this affair. Your
Excellency would do well to addrefs yourſelf to
him, for which the letter that I have fent with this
will give you an opportunity. I have nothing to
add fince my laft, but that the answer is not yet
arrived from Conftantinople about the fehrman
which the King has demanded, as by a letter that
I have received this night from Mr. Deffaleurs,
the Porte has fent to know the fentiments of the
Tartar Han in this affair. However, we flatter
ourfelves that all will go well; and that money
will be given by the Porte, if they go about it in
a proper manner. Mr. Liewen waits only for this
answer to carry it to Sweden. He is a man of
merit and refolution; but I believe that I fhall
·
6
take
[ 293 ]
take the poft, and fhall go before him to wait for
him at Vienna, where I hope to find my inftructions
in regard to the congrefs for a peace. A report
prevails that Pruffia will in the end do fomething
in good earneſt for us. 'Tis fomewhat late, but
better late than never. If that happens, and the
King of Pruffia fhould fhew fome fpark of good
will to the King of Sweden, we may hope to bring
about fome treaty. I am perfectly, &c.
LETTER
To the fame.
LXXXIII.
SIR,
Without a date.
I
Kept the Packet which was defigned to have
been fent to Cronstadt, to fend it by the preſent
courier of Mr. Fleishman, and I keep the Hunga-
rian of Cronstadt yet eight days, to fend by him
other news. I have kept this packet quite ready for
three days, and I only write this to your Excel-
lency, to tell you, that my Janiffary returned this
morning from Conftantinople, and brought me
letters from Meffrs. Deffalleurs, Fierville and Cook,
by which I learn, that although a meffenger fent
to aſk the opinion of the Tartar Han, they, how-
ever, inform us that his Majefty ſhould write a
letter to the Grand Signior, without ceremony
(that is to fay, without an envoy's being obliged
to deliver it at a public audience) concerning his
departure, and they promife that he will have the
neceffary paffports; and all that he will have occa-
fion for at his departure, and even a good ſum of
Money. They alfo wish that he would write to
U 3
the
[ 294 ]
the Vifir, and they affure us, that that would bring
his affairs to a quick and happy conclufion.
I fet out in a gallop for Demotica, whenever I
have fealed this, to urge the King to agree to theſe
propofals, and to make him fend to Conftan-
tinople with the letters a man of parts (and this
ought certainly to be Grothufen, who fince the
departure of Poniatowski, is the moſt proper for
the affair) and who knows a little how to manage
the Turks. I am fure in this cafe they would
have all, and more than they could wifh. I doubt
not even but they would give a thouſand or two
thousand purfes, if they go about it in a proper
manner. Some fmall affairs that I have here to
regulate yet, oblige me to conclude, and I fhould
do it here, if that could be done without firſt af-
furing you that nobody is with more veneration
and zeal than I, &c.
P. S. As the King is in Challach (that is to fay
in good health) all will be well with us.
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O O ROX
LETTER
LXXXIV.
To bis Serene Highness.
SIR,
Demolica, July 16, 1714.
I
Had the honour most humbly to mention to
your Serene Highness in my laft narrative,
how his Majefty had fent an interpreter to Conftan-
tinople, to afk permiffion of the Porte to ſend
them an envoy. When that interpreter returned
to Demotica by the poft the day before yeſterday,
and when I received the news of it by my refident
there, I went thither at a gallop, and immediately
after
[ 295 ]
.
6
after
my arrival I had a converfation with the King
of near four hours continuance quite by ourſelves;
during which I had he honour to read to him,
from one end to the other, all the letters that the
French and Engliſh ambaffadors and the Emperors
refident wrote to me on this fubject; and alfo that
of the envoy of France to his interpreter. They
contained in fubftance that the Grand Vifir upon
the declarations made by the French ambaffador,
and the refident of the Emperor, That their re-
fpective mafters would with pleaſure ſee the King of
• Sweden pass through their territories, anſwered,
that his Majefty was at liberty to fend to Con-
ftantinople a minifter with a public character,
and with a letter for the Emperor, which may
be preſented to him at a folemn audience, but
that he begged of the King at the fame time to
acquaint the Porte with the route he would be
pleaſed to take, that they might be able to take
their meaſures accordingly (a route which ac-
cording to all appearance he will chufe through
Germany.' Next day Baron Grothufen was
named envoy extraordinary to Conftantinople, and
they are now working at his equipages which will be
magnificent, and are preparing his difpatches. I
am overjoyed that the King has made that choice,
there being nobody here that is better acquainted
with the Turkiſh genius than he, and there is a
probability, that by his infinuating behaviour, he
will gain the Grand Vifir, who is a fenfible man,
and perhaps thereby gain the King a thoufand
purfes, to pay his debts before his departure. The
fehrman or paffport is to be delivered to the envoy
on the day of audience, fo that his Majefty ac-
cording to all appearance will be able to fet out in
forty or fifty days.
The anfwer
of his Majefty to the last letter of your Serene
Highneſs ought to have been expedited two days
U 4
ago
C
C
<
C
[296]
but it has been put off till after the departure of
the Envoy. General Liewen will fet out very
foon, and I might have accompanied him, my dif-
patches and my credentials being quite ready, if
his Majefty had not done me the favour to declare
that he wished I would remain till Grothufen had
his audience, to determine then for certain the day
of his departure. I have the honour to be, with
profound refpect, &c.
0 0 0 10 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LETTER
LXXXV.
To Baron Goerte.
SIR,
Demotica, July 16, 1714.
I
Have detained the Hungarian, the bearer of
this packet to Cronstadt, for fifteen days, at the
expence of 20 ducats, to inform you by him of the
iffue of the negotiations at Stambull, or Conftan-
tinople. The interpreter whom they had ſent
thither to ask leave of the Porte to caufe a letter
of his Majefty to be preſented by a perfon in a
public character, being returned two days ago;
and I being informed of it by my refident at this
court, I immediately went thither at a gallop from
my place of abode, which is a fine country feat
between Adrianople and Demotica; where I lodge,
defignedly that my face, after two or three days
abfence from the court, may be always new, and
confequently agreeable *. Immediately after my
ar-
* Mr. Motraye, in the fecond volume of his travels, p.
210 fays that Mr. Fabricius then lived at Tartafki, a ſmall
village about nine miles from Demotica; and p. 213 he ſays,
that when he left Conftantinople he went to vift Mr. Fabri-
Cius,
[ 297 ]
ļ
arrival, I had an interview of near four hours with
his Majefty alone, to read to him my letters from
the Ambaffadors Defalleurs and Sutton, the Envoy
Fierville, the German Refident Fleiſhman; Brue,
the firft interpreter of France, and Mr. Cook,
which all in general contained, that the Vifir after
the declaration of the Ambaffador of France, and
the Emperor's Refident; that the paffage of the
King thro' their mafters territories, would be very
agreeable; declared that his Swediſh Majefty
might lend a Minifter with whatever character he
pleaſed, but that they begged of him only to
mention the route by which he would chufe to go..
I believe there will be no difficulty in this, and that
it will be Germany. Next day our chief friend
Colonel Grothufen was named Envoy; and they
are now actually bufy about his difpatches and equi-
page. He will take with him Colonel Rofen, the
Rittmeifter Rofen, Colonel Bielke-Talftrom, ne-
phew of General Rank, and a Captain of the
Guards named Buddenbrock. The two nephews
Duhring, have not yet obtained permiffion to
follow him, the King faying that he muſt not be
partial to his family. I will fpeak for them to-
day, and I hope with fuccefs. This Grothufen is
a fine fellow, and the moſt expert here in Turkiſh
affairs. In a nation of blind men, he fays him-
felf, he that has but one eye is a King. You know
that he has loft an eye at least in regard to fight.
However, as he is perfectly acquainted with the
Ottoman Genius, I make no doubt but he will gain
cius, who had a country houfe two leagues from Adrianople,
where he lived like a prince, with a coach and fix horfes, which
ferved him to go fometimes to Adrianople, fometimes to De-
motica; fix faddle horfes, with a pack of twenty hounds for
hunting in the finest plain in the world, a good table, good
company, &c.
the
[298]
the Vifir, and that this will be as good as 1000
purfes of ready money to the King.
The King having declared to me that he ſhould
be glad I would wait till the audience was paffed,
that he might thereby tell me exactly the day of
his departure, and then fend me poft, perhaps to
the court of Vienna; I did not think proper to be-
gin with fish on the eve of Eafter, after having
waited with patience for more than four years.
The inclofed is a duplicate of my memorial to
his Excellency Count Fleming. If you would
have the affair fucceed, you must manage Torn-
fchild, and especially Poniatowſki.
The only
means is that by which I write to the latter to-day,
the news of this place. I am moft perfectly, &c..
A Supplement. Would you believe it, Sir, I
am become one of the moft famous hunters of the
Eaft? Game is moft plentiful in my territories, and
every morning regularly at fun rifing, I take two
hares and four partridges. In this I never fail.
I have, among others, three hounds, who are the
beſt in all European Turky. I will bring them
with me for a breed.
LETTER
To the Same.
LXXXVI.
SIR,
Adrianople, July 25, 1714.
A Janiffary of the Refident Fleiſchman, who
paffes way, and is to fet out for Ger-
many at three o'clock in the morning, gives me
an occafion of informing your Excellency that the
Envoy, Mr. Grothufen, went hence for Conftan-
tinople
[ 299 ]
tinople two days ago. I was hunting at Hapfa,
which is the firſt Conak, fix leagues from hence,
and there I had an interview with him, to take
meaſures together for promoting the defigns of his
Majefty the King of Sweden. He is to addreſs to
me all the letters that are intended directly for the
King. He, as well as the French Ambaffador,
was very defirous that I fhould have accompanied
him that I might have been there as a fort of
Governor to the moſt extraordinary Envoy. But
as it is poffible that I may receive fome commiffion
to the Imperial court, I did not think it was proper
to abfent myſelf. Befides, Mr. Grothufen is un-
doubtedly more capable, and has a more fincere
inclination, than any man his Majefty could have
found at Demotica, to procure a round fum of mo-
ney, which is the principal hinge on which all
turns at prefent. He has a train of feventy two
people, which, according to my opinion, and our
cafh-accounts, is too much by one half. But if
his Majefty was defirous it ſhould be fo, the Envoy
never faid nay, eſpecially about fo great a trifle as
the throwing away money to no manner of pur-
pofe; and we may venture to fay (begging pardon
for the compariſon) that the King and he under-
ftand one another in this point, like pickpockets at
a fair. I cannot fufficiently exprefs to you how
much reafon I have to be fatisfied with the con-
duct the King begins to obferve in refpect to me,
to my affairs, and to his own. For, ift, he re-
ceives me in the moft gracious manner imaginable.
2dly, he is entirely inclined towards the moſt Se-
rene Houfe; and 3ly, he is fincerely and truly
impatient to depart. The letters he has written on
this last head to the Grand Signior, the Grand Vi-
fir and the Mufti, are conceived in the very beſt
terms. He fays in the firft: That destiny having
detained him in this country till now, he fends his
Mi-
[ 300 ]
Minifter to return thanks for the good reception he has
bad; he referves to himself the teſtifying his acknow-
ledgments till his return to his own dominions: He de-
clares that he has a mind to pass through Hungary and
Germany, and entreats the Grand Signior to hear his
Minister's proposals concerning what may be requifite
for his departure. In this letter to the Grand Vifir,
be entreats him to procure a speedy audience for his
Minifter, affures him of a perpetual friendship for the
Porte, and of a perfonal regard for him in particular.
The letter to the Mufti contains nearly the fame,
mutatis mutandis. We owe this great change to
General Liewen and the Chancellor: my endea-
vours alfo have done no hurt. As foon as his Ma-
jefty's departure fhall be fixed I fet out poft, and
am always with the fame regard, &c.
P. S. The wife conduct of the Grand Vifir, has
alfo contributed much to the King's departure.
LETTER
LXXXVII.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Adrianople, Sept. 4, 1714.
I
Have nothing to add to the moſt humble nar-
rative that I fent off laft week for Peterwara-
dein*, by a courier of the Emperor, except that
I have fince made a vifit to Demotica, where I
ftaid four days, to endeavour to diſcover the com-
miffions that Mr. de Lowen has brought here. As
far as I could learn, the only reafon of this journey
*It is not found among the other diſpatches,
muft
[301]
must be the affair of Baffewitz, although he will
by no means confefs that he has it in charge. In
the mean time, no body yet has got at the fecret
of this affair, and we ftill lefs comprehend what
reaſon could induce General Ducker to meddle in
it, by fending here the inftructions and papers of
Baffewitz, as he has done. They were addreffed
directly to the King, who opened, and gave them
to Chancellor Müllern without reading them. It
feems clear from hence, that his Majefty gives no
attention to it, knowing Baffewitz fo well as he
does. This too, appears through the whole, as
far as I can learn; becauſe Mr. Lowen, who re-
turns as a courier to Stralfund, is to carry no an-
fwer to his diſpatches. They even flatter me that
the orders that are fent to Sweden with regard to
Baffewitz, will be very far from being agreable to
him.
I am likewife perfwaded, Sir, that all thofe flight
fufpicions of no importance, by no means change
the fincere and true friendſhip that his Majefty has
for his Serene Highnefs: quite the contrary, his
Highness will with pleaſure fee the effects of it at
the firft interview in his Majefty's dominions,
where a perfect harmony cannot fail to be re-eſta-
bliſhed. As for other things, we learned yefter-
day by a courier from Conftantinople, that Gro-
thufen has had his audience of leave from the Turk-
ish Emperor, in which that Monarch's anfwer to
the King's letter was given to him*. After this
audi-
*Mr. Grothufen was at Conftantinople only in quality of
Envoy extraordinary from the King of Sweden, and by no
means invefted with the character of Ambaffador extraordina-
ry, which Mr. de la Motraye attributes to him in his 2d vol.
page 211. He left Demotica July 20th, and arrived at Pera
the 28th, with a train of Gentlemen, Officers, Secretaries, and
Dometticks, 72 people in all. He alighted at Mr. Cook's,
who gave him his houfe; whether the Porte fent, according
to
1
[302]
audience, he will likewife have one from the Grand
Vifir, after which he will fet out directly on his re-
turn hither, where we expect him without fail in
the end of next week. Then in all probability his
Majefty will take a firm refolution to depart from
hence in 15 days, to be joined in Wallachia on his
route, by fuch of his people as flaid at Bender,
and afterwards croffing Hungary and Germany to
return to his own dominions. According to all
appearance his Majefty will take poft on the con-
fines of Germany, to go incognito to Stralfund.
In the mean time, the Porte has named the Capigi
Bacha, who is to eſcort the King to the frontier,
with the relais neceffary for tranſporting his atten-
dants. But as for the money with which we had
flattered ourſelves, that hope is vaniſhed, and only
Mr. Cooke has refolved to advance from forty to
to cuftom, velvet cushions and other furniture of a Sopha.
The day after he caufed his arrival to be intimated to the Mi-
nifters of all fuch powers as were at peace with the King his
mafter. When he had got ready his equipages in the magni-
ficent manner the King had defired, he took his firft audience
of the Grand Vifir, Auguſt 13th, with the ufual ceremonies.
There nothing was fpoken of but the departure of the King,
who would have it fixed for the beginning of October. The
Grand Vifir promifed the neceffary eſcort to the frontiers of
Tranfylvania, but without mentioning any advance of money,
for which there was fo urgent occafion. Upon this, Mr. Brue
had orders to found the Grand Vifir on that article, but got
for anfwer, that it was needless to speak of it, fince the imperial
dignity and the law of true believers did not permit the lending of
money. Mr. Grothufen, after a fecond attempt, which fuc-
ceeded as little as the firft, entirely defifted from that demand,
and no more mention was made of it. Auguft the 18th, he
was admitted to an audience of the Grand Signior, and next
day received and returned the vifits of the foreign Minifters.
On the 21ft he had a third audience of the Grand Vifir, and
on the 26th his audience of leave of the Grand Signior. Hav-
ing ftaid fifteen days longer at Conftantinople, he had a fourth
interview with the Grand Vifir, and having taken his audience
of leave of him, he left that place Sept. 10th, and was at De-
motica on the 16th.
fifty
[303]
fifty thoufand crowns to the King. The fame day
that the Envoy had his audience of leave, the
Prince of Walachia, (who was arrefted fome
time ago) with his fons, and fon-in-law, had
their heads ftruck off. His wife and daughter
were given as flaves to the Boftangi Bacha, who
has put them in his harem.
As foon as the Envoy is returned, I will take
poft to come in perfon to affure your Serene High-
neſs, that none can be with more reſpect and zeal,
than I am, &c.
*The following is the account that Mr. de la Motraye gives
us of this affair in his 2d tom. p. 112. The day of the audi-
ence of leave, and immediately after the audience, the Grand
Signior went to one of his kiofks on the fea fide, and having
caufed the Prince of Walachia to be brought to him, with his
two fons, his fon-in-law, and his maitre d' hotel, or chamber-
lain, who had been in priſon for two months, on account of
the accufations I have mentioned elſewhere, he ordered them
to be beheaded in a ſmall fquare in the front of the Kioſk,
which was put in execution before his eyes in the following
manner, and in little more than five minutes.
The Executioner made them all kneel down on their knees,
at a certain diſtance from each other, and take off their caps;
and after having allowed them to fay a fhort prayer, he firft
ftruck off with one blow of a fabre, the head of the Maitre d'
hotel, then that of the fon-in-law, and afterwards that of the
eldeft fon. But as he was raifing the fabre to ftrike the youn-
geft, who was about fixteen years of age, the youth feized with
terror, beg'd his life, offering to turn Muffulman. The father
on this reprimanded him, and exhorting him rather to die a
thouſand deaths if poffible, than deny Jefus Chrift for the fake
of living a few more years on the earth; he faid to the Execu-
tioner, I will die a chriftian, ftrike, and inftantly he was treat-
ed as the others had been. Laftly, he beheaded the father,
after which their bodies were thrown into the fea, and their
heads expofed to view before the great gate of the feraglio,.
where they remained three days. Such was the end of this
unfortunate Prince, after having governed Walachia for twen-
ty
fix
His name was Conftantine Beffarabas. See the
reft of his history and the caufe of his misfortunes, in la Mo-
traye, tome 2d, P. 206.
years.
LE T-
[ 304 ]
LETTER
LXXXVIII.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Adrianople, Sept. 4, 1714.
I
Have nothing to add to my long letter of Au-
guft 29th *, which I fent off the day after for
Vienna by a courier of the German Refident, ex-
cept that I made a trip to Demotica, to difcover
the fubject of Mr. Lowen's journey. Almoft eve-
ry body fays that he comes only for the affair of
Baffewitz, altho' he himself will by no means al-
low it. What is certain is, that he has brought all
Baffewitz's papers, and among others, his firft in-
ftructions; the whole in a packet directed to the
King, who however gave them to Mr. Müllern
without reading them. It is faid that the Admi-
niftrator has once more had an intention to feize
Baffewitz, but that General Ducker caufed him to
be fafely eſcorted to Stralfund, from whence he is
to go to Sweden. Meanwhile, no body knows the
true circumftances of this affair; but we are fure
enough that all honeft men, and the King at the
head of them, does juftice to Baffewitz's intrigues.
I have even been affured, that no anſwer is given to
all theſe diſpatches, at leaſt not by the courier that
is to carry this, (who I believe will be Mr. Lowen,
as he is furniſhed with money for the journey,
which it would be hard to find here at prefent.). I
am alfo flattered that they are to fend orders to
Sweden, which will not be agreeable to Mr. Baffe-
witz. .
In the mean time, I am al-
ways reproached with having hid from the King,
•
*It is not found among the difpatches.
or
1
1
[ 305 ]
·
or at least from Count Welling, the propofals with
which we had a mind to deceive the Czar. Indeed
we ought to have informed them of it, as we know
not, at preſent, how to act in it. .
I am
even perfwaded that all will go well, when the Ad-
miniftrator (for whom the King always preferves a
true friendſhip) and your Excellency fhall fee the
King in Pomerania, and that we fhall then find
means of eſtabliſhing a folid harmony.
We received yeſterday a courier from Conftanti-
nople, by whom we learned that the Envoy had
had his audience of leave from the Grand Sig-
nior, Auguſt 26th, and had received his High-
nefs's letter for the King. They have already
named the Capigi Bacha's who are to accompany
his Majefty to the frontiers, with the horſes
and carriages requifite. Grothufen was to fee the
Vifir once more and then to fet out, fo that he may
be here next week. There is no probability that
the Porte will give money to the King, but Mr.
Cooke will furnish from 40 to 50,000 crowns.
The beſt news is, that there can be now no doubt of
the King's departure, and that his Majefty will fet
out in lefs than fifteen days after Grothufen's re-
turn. His people at Bender, to the number of
700, under the orders of General Sparre, will
join him in Walachia, and they are to take the
route of Hungary. After having paffed the
Turkiſh frontier, his Majefty will go poft incogni
I am, &c.
to.
A
LET-
[306]
LETTER LXXXIX.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
2
Demotica, Sept. 17, 1714.
HA
TAVING gone to meet the Envoy Grothu-
fen, at his return from Conftantinople, I
arrived here yesterday in the evening, and found
Mr. Lowen ready to step into the coach on his
way to Adrianople, and from thence to Germany;
fo that I have only time to tell you, that I have
received your Excellency's four letters, dated the
16th, 18th, 22d, and 25th of Auguft. I could
have wished your Excellency had been always at
Vienna, on account of the pleaſure I would have
had in receiving your letters. I have already this
morning had an opportunity of reading the moſt
effential paffages in them to the King himself:
but I cannot yet fay any thing pofitive about the
fending to Vienna, becauſe the Chancellor is dan-
gerously ill; and in the mean time nothing is done.
For the fame reaſon, I can ſay nothing of the com-
miffions with which I expected to have been charg-
ed. I know only that the King is much fatisfied
with the court of Vienna, and that we hope this
will induce him to keep on good terms with it.
We all labour to have the title of King of Spain
given, and to have his Imperial Majefty's media-
tion accepted of. I may be able to tell you more
about all theſe things at my arrival. Next week
the King will fet out by Walachia, and by Cron-
ftadt in Tranfilvania, from whence perhaps he
may proceed incognito. I fhall go before him fome
days; but as I fhall go poft, I reckon that I fhall
be
[307]
2
M
be at Vienna perhaps as foon as General Liewen,
who travels flowly on account of his indifpofition.
The queftion put to General Horn, relates to
himfelf perfonally, and not to the moft Serene
Houfe. Mr. Meyerfield, his enemy, has done him
ill offices at court, and it is taken amifs that he
has accepted that poft, without intimating it to
the King. I am about to fet all theſe things to
rights. As the King has promifed me an anſwer
for the Adminiftrator, we fhall get certain intelli-
gence as to this point.
I am, with
much refpect, &c.
P. S. Mr. Cooke has advanced to the King
above 100,000 crowns: the Porte has given no
money, altho' we wanted more than a million; but
in requital, they treated the Envoy very well. We
have heard of the death of the Queen of England.
LETTER
To bis Serene Highness.
XC.
OOO
Demotica, Sept. 19, 1714.
SIR,
Had the honour of receiving your Serene High-
nefs's letter to the King of Sweden, dated the
15th of last month, together with what was in-
clofed, and I neglected not to deliver it this morn-
ing into his Majefty's own hands, who inftantly
opened it, and read it from beginning to end. I
have already, beforehand, and by way of precau-
tion, often talked to his Majefty on that head;
but as he has been prejudiced against Major Gene-
ral Horn, for having accepted that poft, without
X 2
giving
[308]
•
giving him the leaft notice of it, all my reprefen-
tations were fruitlefs, and they conftantly infifted
that they would wait for the declaration of the faid
Mr. Horn. This morning I again introduced that
fubject, in prefence of Mr. Feiff, Counſellor of the
chancery, who warmly efpoufed the caufe of Mr.
Horn: but I could draw no other anfwer from his
Majefty, but that he would write about it to your
Serene Highnefs, and that anſwer will finally de-
termine the fate of this affair, and what are the
King's fentiments.
In other respects,
Sir, I can do myſelf the honour again to affure
you, that the King on all occafions teftifies a ten-
der friendship for your Serene Highness; and his
Majefty appears full of gratitude for all that the
moft Serene Houfe has done in favour of his in-
terefts. But at the fame time, I take the liberty
to recommend the affair of Stettin to your Serene
Highness, chiefly, and before every thing elſe, as
we have certain and reiterated advices, that the King
of Pruffia artfully endeavours to feize that town, by
defiring to reinforce his quota of the garrison, and to
Send into it a great quantity of ammunition. His
Majefty has repeated to me feveral times, that I
fhould write to your Serene Highneſs, and urge
you earnestly, to be extremely on your guard on
that quarter, and vigilantly to watch the ſteps of
the Pruffians.
The Envoy Grothufen had his audience of his
Majefty the day before yeſterday, and then pre-
fented the Grand Signior's letter with the ufual ce-
remonies. Yesterday was brought hither from
Conftantinople, the fum of 60,000 crowns, that
Mr. Cooke and others have negociated for the
King: fo that according to all appearance his Ma-
jefty will fet out from hence next week, taking his
route by Walachia and Hungary, although there
has not yet been any intimation given at Vienna of
what
1
[ 309 ]
A
NI
what route the King will take. I fhall fet out be-
fore him by poft, and will wait at Vienna for your
Serene Highneſs's orders, having the honour to be,
with profound reſpect, &c.
LETTE
R XCI.
To Baron Goertz.
SIR,
Demotica, Sept. 19, 1714.
I
Have received your Excellency's letter of Au-
guft 3d, with the poftfcript, the letter from
Count Dernath, and other pieces annexed. I went
next day to meet the Envoy Baron de Grothufen,
who is returned loaded with honours and civilities,
but without any of the Porte's money, altho' no
lefs than 2000 purfes were aſked. Í have only
time to tell you, that I read to the King this
morning, the moſt effential paffages of the packet.
Although the Chancellor is in a
manner at death's door, and confequently no bufi-
nefs is done, the King has, however, promiſed
me to make Mr. von Kochen diſpatch an anſwer to
the two letters of the Adminiftrator, of which one
regards
the other is con-
cerning the affair of Major General Horn, who is
in difgrace with the King. I forgot in my former,
to recommend to you by a N. B. a very exprefs
order from the King: That our Garrison of Hol-
Steiners at Stettin, ſhould be equal to that of the Pruf-
fians, for fear of any furprize, as their eagerness to
be mafters of that place, difcovers itself more and
more every day. I believe the King will fet out
next week by Walachia, where his people from
Bender will join him; and perhaps he will go in-
cognito
X 3
[ 310 ]
cognito through Hungary. Hitherto, we have not
yet made any compliment to the Emperor; we
are labouring to have it in the due forms. I fet out
poft in a few days, and I reckon that I fhall be at
Vienna, perhaps before this letter. I am, &c.
0 0 0 0 0
LETTER
To Baron Goertz.
XCII.
SIR,
Adrianople, Sept. 22, 1714.
I
Forgot to tell your Excellency in my former,
that the King approves of the marriage of his
fifter the Princefs Ulrica Eleonora, with the
Prince of Heffe-Caffel: fo that now there is no
doubt of it's being a match. They depend on
having 6000 Helian troops, for augmenting the
army in Pomerania.
Mr. Liewen has been detained here three days
for want of horfes, fince all that can be found are
taken up for the King, who is to ſet out from
hence next week. I fet off before him by poſt on
Thurſday next. I expect your orders at Vienna,
where I will come directly to wait on your Excel-
lency, before I go to my family. The King muft
have written to the Senate by the laft courier, that
they would have done much better to have come
to an explanation with his Serene Highness, before
they fent to their Minifters in foreign courts, the
orders that we complain of.
I am, moft
perfectly, &c.
•
LE T.
[ 311 ]
LETTER
To Count Reventlau.
XCIII.
SIR,
Adrianople, September 30, 1714.
THE
AHE bearer of this, my valet de chambre,
will tell your Excellency by word of mouth,
the reafons that hinder me from paffing by Peter-
waradin, as I had always flattered myfelf. He is
charged with letters of confequence for the imperial
court, the chief of which is in the packet annexed
and addreffed to your Excellency, fo you will have
the goodness to dispatch him as foon as poffible.
The King fets out from Demotica to-morrow.
It will take him fourteen marches to Rufgik on the
Danube, and ten to the frontiers of Tranfilvania,
ſo that he will be in the territories of his imperial
Majefly before the end of October. I recommend
myfelf to your Excellency, and am, with much re-
fpect and zeal, &c.
P. S. of the fame date. I refer myſelf to the
bearer of this, my valet de chambre, who will in-
form your Excellency of the reaſons of his being
fent to Peter waradin, and from thence to Vienna.
I have received a letter from Baron Goertz, in
which he acquaints me of his arrival at Vienna
juft at the time when I had taken leave of the
King, and was going to take poft that I might not
fall behind him on the journey. I have fent my
man to Peterwaradin, and I myfelf will follow the
King to Rufgick on the Danube, where I ſhall
take poft for Cronftadt. His Majefty fets out to-
morrow from Demotica, and his firſt ſtage is
to
[312]
to be at Demirtafch near Adrianople. In thirteen
days he will paſs the Danube at Rufgick, and be-
fore
On the 1ft of October, the day fixed for the King's de-
parture from Demotica, a Capizzi-Baſhaw cauſed a very fine
tent quite new to be fet up near Demirtafch for the first Conack
or ftage of the King, and then went to Demotica to conduct
the march with fix chiaus, 300 horfe, and fixty waggons,
which were all ready. His Majefty before his departure re-
jected the propofal that was made to him, to caufe the bonds
to be altered, which feveral Janiffaries, Jews, and others, who
had taken advantage of the neceffity of the Swedes, both at De-
motica and Bender, and had given them only very little, at the
fame time exacting from them bonds for fix times as much.
Notwithstanding all that could be reprefented to him in behalf
of the debtors, by alleging the Turkish law fo fevere againſt
ufurers, and by remonftrating to him, that if all the debts
were reduced to their juft value, they would be fo fmall, as to
render it unneceffary for the creditors to follow his Majeſty to
Sweden, as feveral of them were preparing to do, fince they
could then be paid at Conftantinople; his Majefty, great and
generous in every thing, anfwered, to this proposal, If any of
my officers or dragoons have given a bond of 100 crowns for
10, I will caufe them to be paid in Sweden. He then pre-
fented each of the creditors with a horfe worth ro crowns to
follow him. They mounted their horfes about ten o'clock in
the morning of the
fecond of October, and
arrived at the above-mentioned tent about four in the after-
noon. Meanwhile Apli-Bafhaw, Senafkier of Bender, in the
room of Ifmael-Bafhaw, had orders to do the fame thing for
the Swedes at Bender, under the command of General Sparre,
as was done for thoſe at Demotica, that is to fay, to furniſh
them with horfes and waggons for the journey, and to defray
their expences to the frontiers. Thole orders were actually
executed, and they were in march on that fide to join his Ma-
jefty at Walachia.
The King arriving the fift at the tent which the Capizzi-
Bafhaw had erected, alighted, and entered it, which he had
no fooner done, than the Capizzi-Baſhaw made him a compli-
ment from the Emperor his maller, who wished him a good
journey, and fent him that tent with a fabre, the handle of
which was enriched with jewels, and eleven horfes. His Ma
jefty inclined his head, and faid that he thanked his Highness
for all his civilities, and then went out of the tent to fee the
horfes, which were all Arabs. The Capizzi-Bafhaw was pre-
fented in his turn with a fine fable. His Majefty paffed the
night
[ 313 ]
fore the end of October the frontier of Walachia
in Tranfylvania. I believe he will perform the
whole
night in that tent, and next morning early continued his jour-
ney, the course of which was directed towards Rufgick. They
did not proceed above four leagues a-day, the civil and Aeg-
matick gravity of the Turks retarding the march from their
refpect to the King. They encamped generally at night near
fome villages marked for the conack or flage, but always too
fmail to lodge fo many people. A chiaus and a quarter-mafter
of his Majefty with an interpreter, preceded the march to pre-
pare every thing, both in regard to lodging and provifions for
the men and horles, and all at the expence of the Grand Signior,
and in good order. But the King, who began to be tired of
that wearifome gravity of the Turks, wanting a little to dif-
compofe their flegmatic difpofition, on the 6th of October, or-
dered the trumpet to found for their making ready to march
at one in the morning. The Capizzi Bafhaw, the Chiaus and
the other Turks, being awakened by the found, were greatly
furprised that the King fhould chufe to fet out at fuch an
untimeous hour, but durft not however contradict him, and
accordingly they all mounted their horſes in one of the darkeſt
nights, in which they were obliged to light torches to find their
right way among feveral narrow defiles, which were formed
by the mountains and woods, of which Bulgaria is full. In
this very comical manner, which, above all things, made the
Turks, mad, they arrived at day-break at a village named
Commorowa, marked for the flage, where his Majefty, inſtead
of taking any repoſe, no fooner faw it full day-light than he
re-mounted his horfe to take an airing till mid-day. On his
return, Mr. Fabricius having given him an account of what had
happened during the night, and how feveral waggons had
broke down, and adding, that the Turks who were not much
accuſtomed to thoſe nocturnal marches, feemed very dull and
ſleepy, Ah! ſaid the King ſmiling, 'tis good to rouſe them, and
to learn them to wake fometimes. The greateſt part of the wag-
gons that were detained by the difficulty of the roads did not
arrive at the ftage till the afternoon. The King having gone
early to bed, at two in the morning ordered the fignal to be
given for marching as before; and in this manner, fometimes
a little fooner, and fometimes a little later, continued his
journey during the night, till he came to Rufgick, where he
arrived on the 17th of October.
The King having there learned, that the Emperor was mak
ing great preparations for his reception, faid to Mr. Fabricius,
who was to go before him, that he would be obliged to him
if
[ 314 ]
whole journey incognito. The advances of friend-
fhip which the imperial court continues to make,
are very agreeable to his Majefty. By the bearer
of this an order is fent off to Mr. Steirnhock to
return a great many thanks and compliments on
if he would publish every where, that he defired to pass incog-
nito, and would look upon it as a favour if they would take no
notice of him, if they fhould even know him on the road.
Mr. Fabricius ufing the freedom of fpeech, which his Majefty
was pleafed to allow him, faid to him, " Sir, if your Majefty
"abfolutely defires to pafs incognito, I believe I could put you
66 upon an infallible method." What's that?" anſwered the
King. It is, Sir, replied Mr. Fabricius, to take one of Mr.
"Grothufen's black wigs, to buy a night-cap and a night gown,
66 or to borrow them from Mr. Müllern, from Mr. Duben, or fome
"other body that has fuch things; and when your Majefty
paffes through any city, to lodge always in the beft inn,
directly to call for wine, to be often thirfty, to chat with the
"landlady if fhe is young and handfome, or with any other
"buxom gir's of the houfe, to have your boots pulled off,
"to call for your night-gown and flippers, and after eating
"and drinking heartily, to go to bed and fleep till late in
"the morning. If you do this, I defy all the world to diſcover
"the King of Sweden." His Majefly fmiled, " Ah! very well,"
faid he, "I fhall follow your advice, if not wholly, at leaft
"in fome part." The King, in the mean time, having crof
fed Walachia, left all his retinue behind on the 7th of
November at Pedely in Walachia, and when he found
himfelf on the Emperor's territories, being accompanied alone
by Colonel Duhring, he paffed through Tranfylvania and
Hungary, near to Vienna and Nuremberg, and through Caffel
and Brunfwic, and arrived on the 22d of November at Stral-
fund, having put on an old peruke that he might not be known
during his journey, and calling himself a Swedish cornet.
He croffed all that country in less than fifteen days, and ne-
vertheless, on his arrival at Stralfund, he did not appear in the
leaft fatigued but on the other hand, Mr. Duhring was excef-
fively wearied, and had all the difficulty in the world to fup-
port the fatigue to the end of the journey. Compare Lumer's
Hiftory of Charles XII. Lamberty's Memoirs of the year 1714,
p. 852. Moraye, tom. 2. Voltaire, &c. The whole route
of Mr. Fabricius is to be found in the 2d vol. of Motraye's
travels, who has given an account of all the particulars except
the dates, in which he is very defective, as in many other things.
66
66
this
[ 35 ]
this head. But I doubt whether the King will
write to the Emperor, before he enters his ter-
ritories; though I will not be pofitive but he may
fend fome perion with a compliment when he has
paft the frontier. Unfortunately the Chancellor is
fick, which in a manner puts a ſtop to every thing.
I fhall be at Vienna before the end of October, and
fhall then have the happineſs to tell you by word
of mouth, that I am with much refpect, &c.
Another, fupplement. They are much inclined
here to contract a friendfhip with the new court of
England. The Grand Signior has fent eleven horfes
to the King, with a tent, and a ſabre.
US US US US US US US US Us as
25 25 VS 25. UT VT VS US F F
LETTER
XCIV.
To his Serene Highness.
SIR,
Zelle, November 22, 1714.
Yi
OUR Serene Highnefs will doubtlefs have
learned my departure from Vienna on the
18th of November, by a letter which Baron Goertz
did himſelf the honour to write to you in the end
of laft week. I am now arrived at Brunſwick
[the famous congrefs was then held there] where I
have ftopt for fome days to endeavour to fathom the
fentiments of the imperial minifters, and the other
miniſters of the Kings and Princes intereſted in
the affairs of the north, and I flatter myself that I
have been of fome fervice to his Swediſh Majefty,
by a reprefentation of the true notion they ought to
form
t 316 ]
*form of the magnanimous intentions of that great
Prince. I arrived here at my father's yeſterday;
and as I have fome preffing affairs to fettle with
him, I cannot fet out for Hamburg till to-morrow
evening, to enjoy the happineſs I have fo much
defired, of paying my refpects there to your Serene
Highness, and to inform you of fome news, that
perhaps will not be difagreeable to you, having
the honour to be, with profound reſpect,
SIR,
Your moſt Serene Highness's
moſt humble, moſt obedient,
and moſt faithful fervant,
FABRICIUS.
The E N D.
!
E
:
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