J.C. 1739 nor the powers which he had given had been Heg.1152. followed: he declared, that he had never under

flood that his plenipotentiary was to feparate the cause of the empire from that of Ruffia, and that he had not given a power to give up Belgrade, which was, in the very beft ftate of defence. The marquis of Villeneuve, attacked indirectly in this manifefto, thought he ought to defend himself, and at the fame time to defend the count of Neuperg, who was punished for having well ferved his country, in order to take from the imperial crown the fort of difgrace that night refult from a difadvantageous peace. The French ambaffador demonstrated/in his memorial, that his and the German minister's proceeding with regard to the Ruffians was more advantageous for that crown than that prefcribed them by their inftructions, to fix a time for the czarina to accede to the treaty, fince the peace of Ruffia had been concluded at the fame time as that of the empire, and the abándoning of a piece of land almost a defert,, which the Turks could not even take poffeffion of, could not be of any real lofs to the czarina. The marquis of Villeneuve afferted likewife, that neither he nor the count of Neuperg had exceeded his powers in giving up Belgrade demolished; that they had not only fulfilled the intentions of the court of Vienna, but fatisfied the impatience of its minifters, whofe repeated difpatches were full of fear that Belgrade would be taken before the conclufion of the treaty, and remain fortified in

the

१

Heg.1152

the hands of the Turks. Notwithstanding this .C.17395 memorial, the trial of generals Vallis and Neuperg was continued, but with fo much flowness, that it was eafy to fee that charges fell short against them. They remained in prifon 'till the death of Charles VI., which happened a very short time after. One of the first acts of fovereignty done by the queen his daughter, was to fet the fe generals at liberty, who could be reproached, with nothing but having usefully served their country in unfortunate circumstances. Ruž moi ref Before the grand vizier and the French ambassador were returned to Conftantinople, the news ar rived that general Munich had taken Choczin, and was advancing into Moldavia, Notwithstanding this fuccefs, Charles VI. who had complained fo burun no "Bevie

9

bitterly against the treaty, fent Mr. Monmars, fecretary at war, with the ratification of it to Conftantinople. This officer was folely charged to infinuate, that it would be right for the Turks not to think of raifing the fortifications of Belgrade again. The Turks conftantly refused to make any fuch engagement, and they demonstrated that it was neceffary for the intereft of both nations that powerful barriers fhould be eftablished between them, in order to preferve a conftant peace. Mr. Monmars did not infift on their complying, and the exchange of the ratifications was made at Conftantinople with great folemnity the 5th of November the fame year. The mediator waited with impatience for the ratification

VOL. IV.

3F 2

from

Ratifica

J.C. 1739. from Ruffia, because he was afraid that the taking J.C.1739. Heg.1152. of Choczin and the progrefs made in Moldavia would render that nation more haughty. General Munich had written to the French ambaffador in a manner to justify this apprehenfion; and he was told from the grand vizier every day, that if the ratification from Ruffia did not arrive foon, it would be neceffary to think of making preparations for the enfuing campaign; but the 21st of tion of the November, Mr. Wichniakoff, who had been minifter from Ruffia at the Porte, came with the fo much wished for ratification, infifting only on the title of emprefs, which the czarina claimed, and fome claufes for the ratification of the limits. The exchange of this ratification was made the 28th, with the ceremonies obferved on fimilar occafions between the two empires. The nomination and departure of the commiffioners to fix the limits were put off 'till the fine weather.

treaty with Ruffia.

A decifive reafon had caufed this laft exchange to be preffed. The two brothers fent from Sweden were foliciting the Porte to conclude an alliance offenfive and defenfive with their mafter; and the marquis of Villeneuve had received orders from his court to intereft himfelf in their fuccefs. The grand vizier and the French ambaffador were afraid that, if it were proposed to introduce Sweden into the treaty which was going to be exchanged, the Ruffians, who were suspected of having an intention to arm against that nation, would refufe it. When the Swedish envoys went

to

to propofe to the marquis of Villeneuve to make f.C.1739Heg.1152. but one treaty for the three nations, the French ambaffador replied, that it was impoffible to include in a treaty of peace a power that had not been at war with any one, and he preffed the ratification between the Ruffians and Turks, left his work fhould not be completed; but ftill he did not neglect to affift the Swedes all in his power, and to fulfil the engagements which the king of France had entered into with their mafter. The ambaffador made the minifters of the Porte fenfible how much it was for their interest that Sweden fhould not be weakened, and that obftacles fhould be thrown in the way of the projects of the Ruffians, who feemed difpofed to attack that kingdom. He demonftrated to them that this alliance, if it were only defenfive, would render the peace much more lafting, fince neither the Ruflians nor Swedes would dare infringe it the first.

Treaty be

key and

In confequence of the infinuations of the mar- J.C. 1740, Heg.1153. quis of Villeneuve, who had acquired the confidence of the divan to an uncommon degree, a tween Turtreaty of defenfive alliance was figned with the Sweden, Swedes the 20th of January. The druggerman of the Porte went to tell this ambaffador from the grand vizier, that his highnefs had determined to conclude this treaty, only to oblige his faithful friend the emperor of France. Ruffia appeared displeased with a treaty made with a power that it looked upon as an enemy, not only without its participation, but even without being in

formed

J.C. 1740. formed of the conditions. The minifters of the Heg.1153. Porte and the marquis of Villeneuve replied to their complaints, that the treaty with Sweden had been projected during the war, and that the Ruffians, who had allies, ought not to be furprifed that the Swedes and Turks fought to unite their forces; that the two nations both promised them not to attack them,:

Prefents made by

to the me.

ambaffa

dor.

The pretended difcontent of the czarina did the diffe- not prevent her from offering the marquis of rent powers Villeneuve the Order of St. Andrew enriched with diating diamonds, and repeating to him the offer of thirty thousand ducats as an acknowledgment for the attention which he had paid to the mediation. The French ambaffador conftantly refufed the thirty thousand ducats, and defired time to receive his master's orders as to the accepting or refufing of the Order of St. Andrew. The marquis was written to from Versailles, that the dignity of counsellor of ftate, with which the king had juft honored him, was hardly compatible with a military Order, that moreover, his majefty did not choose to have foreign Orders too much multiplied in his kingdom. The empress of Ruffia's prefents were converted into cloaks and other things of value; and Charles VI., who deferred fending an ambaffador to the Porte, and ftill kept generals Vallis and Neuperg in prifon, fent the mediator however his picture fet round with diamonds, valued at three thoufand guineas. The acknowledgment of the Porte was manifefted

in