The Virginia Gazette

Petersburg, March 31. A Particular of the Retreat of the Tartars has been sent to the Empress in a Letter from Count Munich, which informs her Czarish Majesty, that after they were repulsed by the Russians upon the Frontiers of the Ukraine, they entered a Part of Poland; burnt Several Villages, and carried a great Number of Inhabitants into Slavery; that the Prisoners taken by the Russians affirm, that all the Horses of the Tartars were in so bad a Condition, that many of their Riders were obliged to walk on Foot; they likewise say, that they have not above 20,000 Tartars mounted in all the Crimea; that Provisions are so scarce, that two Sacks of Corn sell for 20 Crowns, and two Sacks of Rice for 12; that they have but very few Horses and other Cattle in the Country: that every Year, when the Russians entered the Crimea, great Numbers of the Inhabitants retired to Constantinople with their Wives and Children, for want of the Necessaries of Life; and that this Scarcity not allowing the Cham of the Crimea to continue his Residence at Bakhchisaray, he went to Kaffa, from whence he was obliged to go at last to Constantinople, where he actually is.

The French Ambassador having made fresh Instances with the Grand Seignior to conclude a Peace with the Emperor and Russia, was answered, That it was in vain to negotiate on that Head, unless the Court of Vienna would yield up Imperial Walachia, Orsova, with its Dependencies, and the Part of Servia between the Morava and Timock; and unless Russia would restore Azoph, and fulfil the Treaty of Pruth: The abandoning of Oczakow was looked on as Nothing, since the Russians would not have retired from that Place, if they had thought themselves able to keep it. The Ottoman Army designed to act against the Imperialists and Russians, are to consist of above 200,000 Men; and the Grand Vizir, who has taken off the Head of Weli Begli, Seraskier of Bender, is to carry with him Mahomet's great Standard, which has not been taken out of St. Sophia's Church (now a Mosque) these last Hundred Years, and flatters himself that he shall make great Conquests. But if the Persians have again declared War against the Porte, he must content himself, as last Campaign, with acting chiefly on the defensive Part. This is certain, they compel Men by Force, to enter into their Armies, which is contrary to their Law; and they are to use for the future Bayonets, which is contrary to their former Practice. Add to this, five Bashas who commanded, three of them in Hungary, and two on the Dnieper, were sent for to the Seraglio, their Conduct censured, the following Administration administered, and their Bodies thrown into the Sea. So that the Turks seem resolved to act with equal Severity against their own Officers, as Resolution against the Enemy.

As to his Imperial Majesty, not a Day passes, but a Grand Council is held in his Presence: and he seems much embarrassed at the present Situation of Affairs. The Conditions insisted on by the Turks, he knows neither how to grant or refuse. The two last Campaigns were so unfavourable, that he much fears a third, especially as he cannot have the Assistance of the Russian Army, which, how much soever he wants Money, would have been more eligible, because the raw Recruits that he can bring into Hungary either for fear of the Plague, or the Enemy, desert as fast almost as they arrive, or die of the Fatigue; and his Veterans have been extremely weakened by the Sword, the Pestilence, and other Casualties.

The Dutch are not a little alarmed at the Reconciliation and strict Alliance of France and Spain by the double Marriage, which will, 'tis apprehended, make the Infant Don Philip complete master of the Duchies of Parma and Placentia, and the Kingdom of Corsica, nay, those may be thought too inconsiderable for a Prince who has married the eldest Daughter of France; and as the Mantuan and Milanese lie so exposed, how can the Emperor help himself? And if the Duke (late of Lorrain) now of Tuscany, would not have the Opposition of these great Powers, when he comes to succeed to the Imperial Throne, can he expect to hold that great Dutchy?