The Virginia Gazette

Sept. 17. Letters from Petersburg advise, that an Express is arrived there from Constantinople, with a particular Account of the Conferences which Mr. Obrezkow, charged with the Russian Affairs at the Port, has had with the Turkish Ministry, the Substance of which is, That the said Minister had renewed, in the strongest Terms, the Assurances of the Grand Signior's invariable Resolution to keep up a perfect Harmony with the Imperial Court of Russia: That his Highness was convinced of the Groundlessness of the Reports spread concerning the Affairs of the North, which caused as ill grounded Prejudices at Constantinople: That he was firmly persuaded of the Empress's sincere Desire to cement the Peace with the Swedish Nation by a Renewal of Treaties, and that he was disposed to contribute thereto by his good Offices, &c.- But from Dantzick (where they have no Interest in disguising the Truth, though it may be their Case to be misinformed as well as others) they say, that according to their Freshest Intelligence from the Frontiers of Turkey all Things seem to be very quiet there, or in other Words, that there was no Appearance of the Ottoman Troops going to take the Field; but nevertheless, the Infidels continued repairing and augmenting the Fortifications of Oczakow, Bender and Choczim, and filling the Magazines and Arsenals with all Sorts of Provisions and Warlike Stores.

In regard to the Conduct and Maxims of the Ottoman Court, we may observe, that they have seldom let slip any Opportunity to enlarge their Dominions; and as for all the Assurances given by the Turkish Ministry, concerning their Sovereign's pacifick Disposition, they are to be relied on, provided the Russians and Swedes don't quarrel, and no Broils arise at the same Time in Germany; it being a fundamental Point of their Religion as well as of their Policy, to take Advantage of the Divisions among their Christian Neighbours; and accordingly they conclude their Great Festival called Bairam with a solemn Prayer, That God would please to root out all Christian Princes, or arm them, against one another, that they may have an Opportunity to enlarge the Boundaries of their Empire, and propagate their Law.