1775 by the treaty, he was now endeavouring, by distressing the merchants, to transfer the vast trade of that port to Elbing, on the other branch of the Vistula. The courts of Versailles and London, knowing that the Russian empress was jealous of the power of Prussia in the Baltic, would gladly have embroiled them in a dispute on that subject. But Catharine valued the king's friendship, and feared his enmity, too much, to become the dupe of these courts, by being made an instrument in dividing and weakening the northern Powers.-The empress's feelings were far different towards the court of Vienna. Some disputes had arisen relative to their boundaries. And, at the instant when these began to render them disaffected to each other, Catharine's indignation was roused by a discovery of the convention which the empress queen and her son were negotiating with the Turks against her in 1771. Even now, she was convinced that they had stimulated the sultan to insist on the cession of her conquests in Moldavia and Walachia, by the late treaty of peace, with a view of extending their own frontier in that quarter.* His Prussian majesty, likewise, had reasons for jealousy towards the emperor. The two monarchs had professed great friendship towards each other at their interviews. But these were nothing more than courtly professions, which answered the temporary purposes of those who made them, and then returned to the light air from whence they came.-Frederic had kept his attention fixed on his young rival. He had observed how indefatigable he was in forming, training, and disciplining his troops; that he was actuated by an immoderate ambition; and that he burned with the desire of military glory. Nor did he think it probable that such a prince would sit down inactive under the loss of those dominions which Frederic had conquered from the house of Austria.—The Russian empress, who knew his majesty's sentiments on these matters, and observed that he was irritated by some differences which had arisen relative to their boundaries, would willingly have made him her champion in a war with the house of Austria. But Frederic however sensible of the proffered honour, having gratified his passion for conquest with unexampled success, was disposed to pass the remainder of his days in repose. He, therefore, contented himself with the humbler fame of preserving the conquests which he had made in his youth; a task which • Mem. de Fred. II. 5. 96. 122. and Grimouard's ap. Soulavie. 5. 44. b Mem. de Fred. 5. 124. which was better suited to his grey hairs. Yet, like a veteran warrior, he 1775 stood on his frontier, firm and undaunted, with the sword drawn with which he had gained his victories, more venerable, if not more formidable, from his age. DENMARK. THE Danish government continues to pursue a cautious line of policy with respect to the neighbouring powers. Conscious of having incurred the displeasure of his Britannic majesty by their behaviour towards his unfortunate sister, who died this year at Zell, a victim to their enmity,† they endeavoured to preserve a good understanding with the court of London by an edict published at this time, forbidding the Danes to supply the revolted Americans with ammunition or warlike stores. a Commerce was the chief object of their attention. Being of opinion that the exclusive privileges of the East India company were prejudicial to the national trade, they declared the trade free, on paying a duty of eight per cent.b 1775 RUSSIA. It would have been happy for Catharine, had not her amours been permitted to influence the affairs of her empire. On the contrary, her masculine understanding was frequently seen to be the dupe of her passions. Resolute and discreet in other respects, she absurdly suffered the reigning favourite to gain an ascendency over her, and to fill the court with cabals and party feuds.-So blinded was she at this time by her love for Potemkin, that, after heaping on him other appointments and honours, she introduced him into the council and made him vice president in the depart ment 1775 a Ann. Regist. 164. + October 4. Idem. 89. 1775 ment of war; an office for which he was not qualified either by his talents or information; and which Czernichef, an aged general, was driven by ill treatment to resign. And this minion, whose handsome person was his only excellence, was now courted as the fountain of honour and dispenser of the empress's bounty.-The disgust which this gave to Orlof was a new source of disquiet to her. He desired her permission to leave the court. But Catharine who, whilst she always appeared with a cheerful countenance, was continually in dread of conspiracies against her government and life, refused her consent, lest his resentment should lead him to afford protection and encouragement to the malecontents, who were very numerous in her dominions. Few men would climb, with toil, the rugged steep of ambition were they aware of the clouds which continually hover round the heights, whilst the sunshine of social happiness and comfort is enjoyed in the lower regions of society. A visit which the empress made, this year, to Moscow was better calculated to display her favourite's greatness, than to gain herself that popularity of which she was so desirous. So indifferent were the citizens still towards their sovereign, that notwithstanding she entered the city in great pomp, with a vast retinue, under two triumphal arches, no acclamations or bursts of joy were heard., A dead silence prevailed. They were filled with astonishment but not with reverence. And their disrespect was seen to be personal, and was rendered more mortifying by the attachment which the people expressed to the grand duke.-Catharine flattered the clergy, and courted the zealots by performing a pilgrimage to a neighbouring convent. But all this was not sufficient to remove the impression made on the minds of her people by the manner of her elevation to the throne. The empress, as if determined to merit the applause with which she had not been gratified, testified her concern for the welfare of her people by immediately abolishing the taxes laid during the war, and others which were detrimental to trade.-She also signalized this visit to her ancient capital by an act the most agreeable to a liberal mind; that of bestowing honours and rewards on those officers who had distinguished themselves by their behaviour in the late war: of these Romanzow, Alexis Orlof, general Panin, prince Dolgorouki, counts Soltikoff and Czernichef, and admiral Greig, were a Tooke. 2. 279. b Idem. 281. were the chief; who were all honoured with the different orders of knighthood, some of them with promotion, and others with pecuniary rewards.Moreover, that her subjects of all descriptions might have cause to rejoice on the restoration of peace, she recalled several nobles from banishment in Siberia, she granted a general pardon to those who had been concerned in the late rebellion, and released a great number of prisoners from confinement. When Catharine had performed these beneficent acts, she took her departure for Petersburg. 1775 POLAND. THE objects which the partitioning powers proposed by the delegation being accomplished, the assembly was dissolved; † its acts were confirmed by the diet; and the kingdom enjoyed an intermission of that misery to which it had been long devoted.-It was some consolation to those who were interested in the welfare of this country, that although the Poles had been sorely oppressed by these confederate monarchs, and their rights violated by them, yet they had lost only the liberty of being miserable in their own way; and the evils of constraint took place of those of licentiousness. They might also flatter themselves that, notwithstanding their oppressors might be expected to be actuated merely by motives of self-interest, even these would induce them to promote the prosperity of the territories ceded to them, as far as was compatible with the exercise of absolute power. Agreeably with these hopes, some transactions of this year promised to contribute to the general peace and prosperity.-A treaty of commerce was concluded with the king of Prussia; which, although the terms are advantageous to his majesty, will be a means of preserving harmony between him and the republic.-And the empress of Russia employed the ascendency which she still enjoyed here in procuring for the dissidents the public exercise of their religion, and effecting some evil regulations in their 1775 + April 13. Tooke. 287. 290. VOL. II. 2 F 1775 their favour; particularly a right of appeal, in all cases of grievance, to a tribunal in which a certain number of their own communion are to be admitted as assessors.* 1775 TURKEY AND PERSIA. EVERY friend of humanity and admirer of heroic virtues who was acquainted with the character of the Sheik Daher lamented the disastrous death of that chief. He had been freed from his inveterate enemy, Aboudaab, in the preceding year. That monster of avarice, cruelty, and ingratitude, after carrying on a successful war with the Shiek and recovering several of the fortresses which had been taken by Ali Bey, died a natural death, to the great joy of the Egyptians.-On intelligence of this event and of the retreat of his troops from Palestine, Daher returned to Aleppo. He did not, however, long enjoy the rest to which he was thus restored. The captain pachâ, who was sent into the neighbouring seas, paid him a friendly visit in his capital, and invited him to come on board his ship, the Capitania.-The Shiek's valour was ever prepared to defend him against an open enemy; but his generous, unsuspecting mind exposed him to the snares of the traitor. He accepted the invitation: and the captain pachâ, after saluting him with every testimony of respect, produced his orders from the Porte, by virtue of which he instantly commanded his head to be struck off and sent to Constantinople, and seized his treasures." The sultan and his divan appear to have been convinced, by the events of the late war, of the advantages which their European enemies derived from their superior skill in the science and art of war. That their arms might not suffer disgrace from this cause in future, the sultan established a military school at Constantinople, under the direction of the chevalier de Tott, who had superintended the engineering department during the late campaigns. Founderies had also been erected and many regulations introduced into the military system by the advice of that able officer. It is a great misfortune to any state to have a frontier too extensive for its a Ann. Reg. 154. 32 Life of Ali. 159. Ann. Reg. 157. b Ann. Reg. 107. |