I JANUARY, A Summary of the fate of PUBLICK AFFAIRS at the beginning of the year 1743. T is not to be wondered at, that the people of PERSIA are uneafy, and inclinable to rebellion under their present monarch; who has his head too full of new projects and foreign excurfions, to be thoroughly attentive to the domeftick happiness of his fubjects. And yet he has for fome time paft felt a fenfible reverse of fortune, having loft feveral battles with those Tartars that border upon the Cafpian fea; whither he begins (even at the expence of his treaties with Ruffia) to extend his views, and feems bent on making fome fort of a naval fettlement there, which he has long been defirous of attempting But whether the commotions in Perfia, where the Nobility are fufpected of carrying on a treacherous cor refpondence in India, and the confpiracies with which the Shah is threatened by his own army, will make him alter his fchemes, is uncertain however, thefe accidents, and a great desertion of his foldiers, who appear much averfe to a war with the Turks, oblige him to be extraordinarily guarded against all attempts upon his own perfon, and more moderate than formerly in his demands at Constantinople. : Thefe circumftances oblige the PORTE, at all events, to keep large armies in Afia, and carefully to avoid every occafion of falling out with the Chriftian powers; fearing, after the Perfian has gained time, by fham negotiations, to appeafe the diforders of his own kingdom, he may turn his numerous forces upon Armenia, to keep them employed, and make good his former pretences upon the Turkish frontiers. And perhaps this may not a little have facilitated that good understanding at prefent maintained with the court of Vienna, and finally terminated thofe differences, which were fettled after the treaty of Belgrade, but not till lately fully and amicably adjusted. VOL. V. 1743. RUSSIA has been augmented, fince the revolution which placed the reigning Emprefs on the throne, by the entire conquest of the large country of Finland, under the conduct of the brave Gen. Lacy. This would probably have widened the breach with Sweden, had not the contending crowns agreed in courting the acceptance of one fucceffor; who, tho' he cannot fucceed to both, will probably be mainly inftrumental in compofing their differences. By the Duke of Holftein's embracing the Greek religion, his election in Sweden is made void; but fhould the Czarina confent to veft him, in the mean time, with the separate sovereignty of Finland, as is furmiled, that province would become a ftrong barrier to the dominions of either crown, and the Duke would have the most engaging and natural ties to preferve the tranquillity of both. M. Nolcken's journey to Mofcow might have been more fuccefful, for bringing about a peace, had not his inftructions hindered him to act but under the mediation of France. This being intimated, immediately obftructed the negotiation on foot, and he was informed fuch a mediation was not neceffary; M. de la Chetardie being told at the fame time, that only the good offices of his court were requifite, and alone defired. Since which, the French influence there is greatly declined; and the indefatigable endeavours of the British and Hungarian minifters have been very fuccefsful; as appears by the treaty brought about by the former, and the good difpofitions; procured in a great measure by the latter's reprefentations, which her Imperial Majefty has difcovered for the Queen his mistrefs. Al tho' the prevailing power of foreigners at the court of the late Princess-Regent, and their affuming behaviour there, contributed not a little to irritate the native Nobles against her administration,, and raise the right heir to the Imperial feat, the Emprefs continues to pay them all the re A gard gard due to their merit; and, a few months ago, highly refented fome indignities that were offered to certain foreign officers in her fervice, by ordering the aggreffors, who belonged to her guards, to be rigorously punished, and ftrictly forewarning, that no ftranger fhould be illufed upon any pretence whatever, under pain of incurring her higheft difpleafure. And lately, the Generals Lowendahl, Keith and Lieven, having defired to be difmiffed, her Majefty acquainted them, fhe did not approve their defign of quitting her fervice, but was defirous they should continue in it; and the longer they ferved her with zeal, the more willing she should be to give them proofs of her favour. The unfortunate campaign which the SWEDES made in Finland, has occafioned an inquiry into the conduct of the Generals Lewenhaupt and Bodenbroek; the iffue of which is a report of the council of war, whereby it is determined, That Gen. Lewenhaupt very ill difcharged his duty as Commander in Chief, in neglecting properly and vigorously to attack or repulfe the enemy, as occafion offered. In anfwer to which charge, he throws the blame upon the inftructions he received from the council, which, he alledges, directed all his actions. This has given foom to the two orders of Peasants and Burghers, to be very folicitous, that inquiry be made into all the intrigues which gave rife to the war between Sweden and Ruffia; which, if infifted on, will probably lay open a black scene of the under-hand dealing of a certain mediating potentate. Certain it is, the King was very fenfibly affected with the lofs of Finland; having declared in full fenate, that if an honourable peace could not be obtained, nothing should hinder him in the fpring from putting himfelf at the head of his army, in order to improve the little time he had to live for the advantage of his fubjects. It was a chief thing infifted on by the partifans for the Duke of Holstein's election, that it was the only probable method of recovering Finland; prefuming, that the Empress of Ruffia would with lefs difficulty yield up that principality to her nephew, in order to establish a lafting peace between the two nations: whilft the friends of Prince Frederick of Heffe obferved, that as, in the prefent circumstances, Sweden required a prince to be called to the throne ftrengthened by foreign alliances, as well as of confiderable power himself, such was the Prince of Heffe, who would doubtlefs be fupported by his father-in-law the King of Great Britain, and fuch a choice would fet the Swedish affairs in the most advantageous fituation. With arguments of a different nature, fome recommended the Prince of Deuxponts, and others the PrinceRoyal of Denmark. But the Duke of Holftein obtained the majority. However, by changing his religion, the election made in his favour became of no effect, and a fecret committee was appointed to regulate the fucceffion; who, after fome days deliberation, made a report of their opinion, and of the fenate's, in fubftance, That that prince having loft his right of fucceeding to the crown, the new election fhould be put off for fome time; and that any perfon that proposes it before a peace is concluded with Ruffia, be declared a traitor. This refolution being confidered in diet, occafioned great debates, but was at last approved by a great majority: and, fince, the four orders have past a law, That no prince shall for the future lay claim to, or poffefs the crown of Sweden, unless he conforms to the Lutheran religion; and whofoever shall act contrary to this law, is deemed an enemy to his country. In this fituation of affairs, commiffioners are fet out for Abo, in order to open the conferences for a peace; and to be provided for all events, if this meafure fhould prove ineffectual, diligent preparations are making to renew the war with spirit in the fpring. The King of DENMARK's fudden defign of an armament, both by fea and land, is generally thought to fupport a claim to the crown of Sweden, in conformity to the treaty of Colmar, whereby the three crowns were to reft upon the fucceffors of Margaret Waldemar, of whom his Danish Majefty is chief. But certainly this step will meet with great oppofition in Sweden; as it manifefly aims to overturn the conftitution of that kingdom, which at present is elective, and not hereditary; befides its being contrary to the intereft of the Nor thern thern powers, nay of all Europe, that the crowns of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, should rest in one perfon, who would thereby be in a condition of ingroffing the whole Baltick, and fhutting out, at pleafure, any other nation from coming into that fea. For these reasons, this Danish project may be a little too precipitate. GERMANY has in part feen the ruin of its enemies, which was threatened fo lately to be overwhelmed in flavery, with the reft of Europe, by the French allies; whofe rapid progrefs at the beginning against the house of Auftria has not been more injurious to it than to themselves. 'Tis true, they before-hand ravaged the hereditary dominions of her Hungarian Majefty, overturned the fundamental laws of the empire, (without regard to treaties, or the most folemn guaranties), and oppreffed the liberty of Germany; but they have, at the fame time, expofed their ambition and injustice to all the world, rendered their yoke deteftable to thofe they would impofe it on, and not only deftroyed the credit of their arms, but forced the virtuous princess they attacked upon the beft measures the could have taken. Had the allies been lefs in a hurry, the Queen of Hungary must have been undone; the extent of her dominions would have ruined her, and the very expence of a defenfive war might have loft her the hearts of her fubjects. The German patriots, who stood amazed at the perfidy of certain powers, faw, with a fecret pleafure, Bavaria in a worfe fituation than Auftria, and the spoils of Munich once more tranfmitted to Vienna. The Bohemians, Silefians and Moravians were just as well pleased with their new masters,as were the inhabitants of Upper Auftria; who deftroyed more of the enemy's troops, than were killed by Khevenhuller's huffars. The conduct of his PRUSSIAN Majefty in abandoning the allies gave inexpreffible furprise at first; but which foon ceafed, when his reasons for fo doing were publickly known. He found himself made the dupe of France, whofe chief defign was, by drawing him into places of moft difficulty and danger, to weaken his army, and render himself thereby contemptible. He was not long thus infatuated, and the bloody action at Czaflaw entirely opened his eyes, where the bare-fac'd defertion of his French confederates quickly determined him in the measure he was to take; for the news of a peace with the Queen of Hungary foon followed. And his Majefty finding himself thereupon in peaceable poffeffion of Lower and part of Upper Silefia, made it his first care to revive the almoft decayed state of commerce there, by fettling a great fair at Breflaw, and inviting foreign merchants thither with various immunities and advantages. Among the regulations whereby he is endeavouring to make his people happy, there is an ordinance publifhed forbidding the extorting of confeffions from accufed perfons by torture, at all tribunals, which are to pafs fentence of death upon criminals convicted by competent evidence. One of the important projects he is thought to be about putting in execution, is the making good divers pretenfions, particularly upon Mecklenburg, fome towns in Polish Pruffia, and Swedish Pomerania. For fome fuch purpose he has raised his forces by new levies, to the amount of 150,000 men; but it is not abfolutely known where his Majefty will employ them, not being accuftomed to truft his defigns to any body; tho' it is certain he has the purging the empire of foreign troops much at heart, as well as the intereft of the Emperor, and the fixing him in the peaceable poffeffion of the Imperial crown. For the Elector of SAXONY's forfaking the confederates, there were also many weighty motives which concurred to justify his conduct. To avoid the calamities of a doubtful war, and yield to the unanimous wishes of his people, were no inconfiderable inducements. Befides, the Poles, lately delivered from the horrors of a war, were apprehenfive of a renewal of them, if the King, following his first defign, had afforded Ruffia a pretence for marching her troops into the very heart of that kingdom, and bestowing the duchy of Courland on whomever the pleased. But what was yet more preffing, an invafion of Saxony was juftly apprehended, and the King of Pruffia no longer engaged to afford his affiftance. Thefe reafons principally, joined with the natural law of felf-preservati A 2 on, on, forwarded the negotiations with the court of Vienna, from which the offer of an advantageous peace was by no means to be difregarded. Nor did the Queen of HUNGARY lofe by her neceffary conceffions to these princes, having thereby disjointed the formidable union that threatened the total overthrow of her house, and convinced her Bavarian adversary, and his French auxiliary fupporters, how unable they were to fubfift in the heart of her dominions, feparated from the Pruffians, and without aid from Saxony. Hence the drew this double advantage, that her forces became undoubtedly fuperior to the allies, tho' rather in quality than number; and the more fo from their being in or near their own country, whence they might be eafily and speedily 'reinforced with either new recruits of men or fresh fupplies of provifions: and her caufe became alfo the caufe of all the patriot princes of the empire, and of those powers who have fincerely at heart the liberty and tranquillity of Europe. In BOHEMIA the Queen's affairs have gone better than could even be expected. The Auftrian army had much fooner obliged the enemy to quit that country, but for the defperate defence of Prague by the French: and defperate it was indeed, it being a large irregular city, or rather clufter of cities, which no art could fortify to much purpofe, and the people entirely difaffected. In this diftrefs, M. Maillebois was fent for from LowerGermany to relieve his unfortunate countrymen in Prague: but he foon found his measures fruftrated, and faw that it was fimply impoffible to open a paffage for that garrifon in the manner he had been directed; having his army overwhelmed in the narrow paffes in the circles of Egra and Saatz, and by the rigour of the feafon obliged to abandon Bohemia, in a moft wretched condition. As fomewhat of a remedy for this miscarriage, he tried a project of his own; which was, to endeavour, by a fudden and unexpect ed march into Bavaria, to draw the Grand Duke after him in a hurry, and fo give the French at Prague an opportunity of getting to Egra at leaft. This ftep was fo far effectual, that the bulk of the Auftrian army quitted Bohemia, which has fince given M. Belleifle room to put in executi on his late ruinous escape from Prague: and this place is now once again in the hands of her Hungarian Majesty, its rightful owner; who is foon expected there to be crowned, and receive the homage of the Bohemian Nobility. The EMPEROR, who for fome time buoyed up his imagination, under these misfortunes, with the fpecious promifes he plentifully received from Versailles, has lately been convinced of the fallacy of building any thing on the foundation of these hopes, and feems now defirous of a peace, by the more powerful mediation of the Germanick body; and feveral princes have already affured him of the satisfaction they should receive, employed in fo juft an affair, on which the glory of the head of the empire, and the welfare of Germany, fo much depends. The chief of thefe princes is his Pruffian Majefty, who has fent inftructions to his minister at Frankfort, tending to provide for the pu blick fecurity, and propofing a mediation to adjust differences arifen between the members of the empire; to which the maritime powers only are to be invited to concur, and wherein the Electors, circles, and princes of Germany fhall act in concert; who are each to obferve an exact neutrality, and to fupport and maintain the dignity of the Emperor; and, to prevent any disturbance during the negotiations, all fo reign troops are to be obliged to quit, or hindered from entering into Germany, by force or otherwife. This fcheme is what at prefent employs the councils of Berlin, and which is very instrumental in preserving the good understanding between the King and the Emperor : and this may not be the least political reason, for the halt the British auxiliaries in Flanders have made in their march into Germany, and alfo for the orders M. Broglio has received to march his forces with the utmost diligence towards the Rhine. The Emperor may be the rather induced to enter into the above meafure, by a mortifying difappointment he lately met with from M. Broglio, (the very perfon who fome time ago vaunted, that his Bavarian dominions fhould be very foon delivered from the Auftrians): for the combined army of Ba varia curity of his own dominions. As foon as the demise of this prince was publickly known at Duffeldorp, an univerfal confternation fpread through that city and the adjacent provinces, and the inhabitants of the duchy of Juliers began to remove their best effects to Cologn: but these frights were foon removed, by the peaceable fucceffion of the hereditary Prince of Sultzbach; who has received a letter written with the King of Pruffia's own hand, wherein his Majefty condoles him on the death of the late Elector, congratulates him on his acceffion, and promifes him his friendship. varia and France having, pursuant to the. into the duchy of Newburg, for the feconcerted plan of operations, marched in three columns against the Auftrians, and Count Seckendorff having actually begun the attack, the moment he was entering upon action, M. Broglio gave him to understand, that his orders abfolutely forbade him to rifque a battle; infomuch that the Count was obliged to abandon the party, and to retire difcontentedly with fome lofs. His Imperial Majefty received this advice, just after being fatisfactorily informed of the raifing the fiege of Braunau; so that his joy was foon turned in to fadness. The Emperor feemed to have given umbrage to the court of France, in making Count Schonborn, Bishop of Bamberg, his prime minifter. This prelate, who is brother to the Elector of Triers, was Vice-Chancellor of the Empire under the late Emperor, and is well acquainted with all its interefts, its forces, and fprings of action; befides which, his houfe owes its elevation to that of Auftria; and as he is fufpected of being at the bottom of the endeavours for bringing about an accommodation between his mafter and the Queen of Hungary, he cannot be altogether agreeable to the Emperor's allies. Upon repeated remonstrances to the DIET OF THE EMPIRE, by the Emperor's minifters, in relation to the unhappy fituation of his Imperial Majefty's affairs, and the affistance whereof he has need, in order to fupport his dignity, the fifty Roman months have been granted, after abundance of difficulties: but under fuch refervations and reftrictions is this acquifition obtained, that it does not appear when this prince will have the fingering of the amount of them; the greatest part being required for purposes which shall beft tend to the fecurity of the empire, without much regard to the perfonal neceffities of the Emperor at the foot of whofe throne numberless complaints have been laid, in relation to the conduct of the French troops; whofe devastations and irregularities in Bavaria are faid even to have far exceeded those of the Pandours and Croats. The late ELECTOR PALATINE, a little before his death, to guard against any turn that event might give to affairs in Germany, ordered his troops to be withdrawn from the Imperial army, and fent It is the ill luck of the Prince Bishop of LIEGE, that his territories are commodioufly fituated for an entrance into Germany from Flanders, which has tempted the auxiliaries under the Earl of Stair to make a little more free within his fovereignty than he is pleased with; tho' his subjects are not quite fo out of humour, as appears by their chearfully furnishing thefe troops what they want; by which, the payments being pretty regular, they drive no defpicable trade. However, his Highnefs's complaints have reached the ear of his Imperial Majetty; who, in a very preffing letter to the King of G. Britain, as Elector of Hanover, requests him to withdraw his troops from the Prince's dominions; and which concludes with expreffing a firm perfuafion, that his Britannick Majefty will make no difficulty of caufing these evils to be remedied, which have a manifeft tendency to infringe the privileges of the members of the empire. The effect of these remonftrances is not known. The Duke d'Aremberg and the Earl of Stair have been inceffantly earnest in their inftances to engage the STATES-GENERAL to declare themselves openly in favour of her Majefty of Hungary. For this purpofe, they have been reminded of the power with whom the republick has fo long contended, in order to preserve the liberty of Europe; and, on the other hand, the fervices done her by the British nation: they were told, how eafily France might be inclofed in fuch limits, as that the may not be able for the future to domineer and give laws, or in any fort encroach up on |