Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

LONDON

DISMEMBERMENT OF POLAND.

The dismemberment of Poland, is much opposed, from motives of policy, by some of the powers of Europe, and by none more than the Ottoman Porte; with whom, and Russia, a rupture may be expected, should the latter insist on the possession of the late dominions of Stanislaus. [The following affords much light on this subject.]

LONDON, Feb. 25.

From Constantinople, our letters of the 10th of December last, state, that the Russian Minister, Kutzerbey, had obtained several conferences with the Reis Effendi; & that he therein laboured to convince him it was the interest of the Sublime Porte, that a neighbour so unquiet as Poland, should be subdued. He expressed the hopes of His Sovereign, that the Sultan would persevere in the neutrality he professed, and that he should not be found to have furnished the Poles any secret assistance.

The Reis Effendi, delivering the language of a Christian, from a Turk expressed it as the sentiment of the Grand Signior, that he had wished, long ere this, to have seen an end put to so many ravages and massacres of humanity; and that his desire would have been, that the Constitution of May 3d, 1791, should be guaranteed, the most certain mode of obtaining the pretended object of Russia. He desired these sentiments to be immediately conveyed to the Empress, and he hoped speedily for a categorical declaration.

To the Prussian Minister, a similar declaration was made. The Imperial Envoy kept back; but it was thought they acted in full intelligence with each other.

The Austrians know, in case of a rupture, they must receive the first blow; and therefore they manage the Porte as long as possible. However, there is no dissembling, that every acquisition of Russia in Poland, is a thunder-stroke to the Ottoman Empire, whose very capital, is exposed to an invasion, whenever the Empress shall risk the measure.

In this state of disquiet, the Porte is desirous of other eclaircissement, which no very distant time may afford her.

Descorches has laboured much to convince the Ottoman, that France will never grant peace to the Allied Powers, unless the Independence of Poland and its Constitution of May 3d, be guaranteed.

This seems to be the cause that the Porte continues incessantly those preparations for war, which have long been in forwardness.