The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter from the Camp at Babadagh, bearing the State of the Negotiations on foot with the Porte.

The Grand Vizier, by every Step that he takes, seems as if his Design was to baffle all that he has to do with. There are positive Advices from Constantinople, that the Grand Signior has sent him Orders to assemble the greatest Part of his Troops towards Bender, to be ready to join the Tartars, in order to act in case of Need against the Russians: Yet, notwithstanding the Certainty of this Order, the Grand Vizier assures the Foreign Ministers that this Motion of the Troops is for no other Purpose than to make them change their Quarters, that they may be sent to such Places where there is greater Plenty of Provision and Forage, than there is on the Banks of the Danube: He said also, that he was going to Bender, for no other Reason but to be near the Place, where the Conferences were to be held for the Peace, and that he might contribute to their Success. He accompanies all those Assurances with the most precious Marks of Sincerity; he even affects not to believe the Reports that the Russian Army has received Orders to make ready for a March towards the Frontiers of Turkey. The Grand Vizier also continues to be exceeding complaisant to the Ambassadors of the Emperor, England and Holland, whose Expences are borne by the Porte; but the Aim of this Behaviour seems to be, by their Means, to prolong the Time fix'd for the Negotiations of Peace; The Emperor's Ambassador, Talhman, is treated with the greatest Distinction; A Company of Janizaries keeps Guard before his House: Besides the Horses, and other fine Things, of which the Grand Vizier has made a Present to him on the Part of the Grand Signior, he also lately sent him several Pieces of those fine Silk Stuffs, mix'd with Gold and Silver, which are made in Persia, and in the Dominions of the Great Mogul. The Grand Vizier has declar'd to M. Talhman, that the Grand Signior always earnestly desir'd to make Peace with the Crown of Russia, if it could be concluded on reasonable Terms; but that, if that Crown insisted on Impossibilities, his Highness hop'd the Emperor would not concern himself with that Power in the War against the Porte: He also gave the Imperial Minister to understand, that if his Master would have that Regard for the Grand Signior, that Prince would gratefully acknowledge it, by more certain Advantages than any that can be promis'd from the Chance of War.