The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 3 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
We had, at one time, some hope that an accommodation would have been
effected between the Turks and two empires. Probably the taking Oczakow,
while it has attached the Empress more to the Crimea, is not important
enough to the Turks, to make them consent to peace. These hopes are
vanishing. Nor does there seem any prospect of peace between Russia and
Sweden. The palsied condition of England leaves it probable that Denmark
will pursue its hostilities against Sweden. It does not seem certain
whether the King of Prussia has advanced so far in that mediation, and in
the troubles he has excited in Poland, as to be obliged to become a party.
Nor will his becoming a party draw in this country, the present year, if
England remains quiet. Papers which lately passed between this court and
the government of Holland, prove that this nourishes its discontent, and
only waits to put its house in order, before it interposes. They have
recalled their ambassador from the Hague, without naming a successor. The
King of Sweden, not thinking that Russia and Denmark are enough for him,
has arrested a number of his Nobles, of principal rank and influence. It
is a bold measure, at least, and he is too boyish a character to authorize
us to presume it a wise one, merely because he has adopted it. His army
was before disgusted. He now puts the Nobles and all their dependents on
the same side, and they are sure of armed support, by Russia on the north,
and Denmark on the south. He can have no salvation but in the King of
Prussia.
I have received two letters from Ledyard, the one dated Alexandria, August
the 15th, the other Grand Cairo, September the 10th; and one lately from
Admiral Paul Jones, dated St. Petersburg, January the 31st. He was just
arrived there, on the call of the Empress, and was uncertain where he
should be employed the next campaign. Mr. Littlepage has returned from the
Black Sea to Warsaw, where he has been perfectly received by the King. I
saw this from under the King's own hand, and was pleased with the parental
expressions towards him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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