The congrefs which was to preserve Germany from the most alarming and dangerous war to which it could have been expofed, was held at Tefchen in Auftrian Silefia, a town and district which the Emperor had generously confented to conftitute into a duchy, under the title of Saxe-Tefchen, in favour of Prince Albert of Saxony, upon his mar riage with an Arch-duchefs in 1765. At that place, the garrifon being previously withdrawn, the Imperial and Pruffian minifters, with thofe of all the princes engaged or interested in the prefent conteft, as well as of the two mediating powers, were affembled immediately after the publication of the armiftice. And fo happy were the difpofitions which now prevailed among the contending parties, and fo efficacious the endeavours of the mediators, that the peace was finally concluded on the 13th of May. ther advantage in lieu of its claims, th Upon the whole, few treaties of peace By this treaty, the late convention between the court of Vienna and the Elector Palatine was totally annulled, and the former reftored all the places and districts which had been feized in Bavaria, excepting only the territory appertaining to the regency of Burghaufen, which was ceded to the Houfe of Auftria, as an equivalent or indemnification for her claims and pretenfions. That court likewife gave up to the Elector Palatine all the fiefs which had been poffeffed by the late Elector of Bavaria; and agreed alfo to pay to the court of Saxony, as an indemnification for the allodial eftates, and other claims on that fide, the fum of fix millions of florins, (amounting to fomething near 600,000 1. Sterling), to be paid in the courfe of twelve years, with out intereft, by ftipulated half-yearly payments. Some ceffions were likewife made by the Elector, in favour of the house of Saxony, and fome equivalent fatisfaction promifed by the Emperor to the Duke of Deux Ponts, on his fucceffion to the double electorate. All former treaties between the court of Vienna and the King of Pruffia were renewed and confirmed; and the right of the King to fucceed to the margraviates in the remote younger branches of his own family, upon the failure of iffue in the immediate poffeffors, (a right which had been only called in question through the vexation of the late conteft), was now fully acknowledged and established. The ducal houfe of Mecklenburg was put off without any o Such was the early and happy termination of the German war; a war of the greatest expectation, not more from the great power than from the great abilities of the principal parties. Many circumstances attending the late war and peace between Ruffia and the Porte, could not fail to fow the feeds of future difcontent, jealousy, ill-will, and litigation, between the parties. Extraordinary fuccefs and triumph on the one fide, with an equal degree of lofs and difgrace on the other, are little calculated to promote any intercourse of friendfhip, or cordiality of fentiment, among men; men; nor will a recollection of the hard receffity under which a peace was fubferbed, ferve at all to render palatable the bitterness of its conditions. On the other hand, the victors are sure to confider the vanquished as owing them too mach. They are apt to think, that they have always a right to claim thofe advantages which they omitted to fecure in the moment of their fortune; and which they look upon as rights exifting, though neglected, as they could not at that time have been refused, if demanded. The navigation of the Black fea, the opening the gates of the Dardanelles and Bofphorus, fo as to admit a free intercourse from the White fea to the Black, the affairs of the Crimea, with thofe of the Greek dependent provinces of Moldavia and Walachia, afforded the grounds of thofe difputes between the two empires, which were now rifen to fuch a height as feemed to render a new war inevitable. With refpect to the first of these artides, we have formerly had occafion to obferve, that nothing less than the most urgent neceffity, under the preffure of immediate and imminent danger, could have induced the Porte to admit Ruffia to the navigation of the Black fea. It might be compared in private life, but under circumftances of infinitely greater danger and lofs, to a furrender of the benefits, navigation, and fisheries of a fine lake, lying in the centre of an estate, into the hands of a powerful and litigious neighbour, who was watching only for means and opportunities to gráfp at every part of the whole manor. It is not then to be doubted, that the Porte ufed every poffible evasion to avoid a compliance with, and threw every obftacle in the way which could tend to render ineffective, that article of the late treaty. It feems, however, that the Ruffians had, notwithstanding, with won derful fpirit and industry, very speedily advanced large capitals, and opened a confiderable commerce on that fea. It may then be fairly prefumed, without an abfolute poffeffion of facts, that com mercial avidity was continually increafed, in proportion to the number, magpitude, novelty, and value, of the objects which were gradually opened to its view; and that thus new, and perhaps unreasonable claims, were as frequently ftarted on the one fide, as an indifpofi tion to comply with the fair and literal terms of the treaty, was prevalent on the other. The fecond ground of difpute feemed ftill more difficult and delicate. The Porte had unwillingly confented, by the late treaty, to admit or acknowledge the independence of the Crimea. That independence must be confidered only as nominal. Between fuch powers as Turky and Ruffia, fuch a power as the Khan of the Crim Tartars, cannot be really independent. The Turks were in hopes, as that Prince and his subjects are Mahometans, to weaken the force of that article, by their natural inclination to the Porte; otherwise they would have confidered their conceffion in a still worfe light. To have thrown that whole country, fituated as it is, with its own and the adjoining nations of Tartars, together with the reigning family, the immediate defcendents of Tamerlane, and in direct fucceffion to the Ottoman throne, entirely into the hands of Ruffia, were circumftances exceedingly grievous to a power which used to give, and not to receive the law. Yet this was already the disagreeable and alarming confequence of that conceffion: for Ruffia, by a judicious, but unfparing, distribution of prefents amongst the Tartars, and by artfully fomenting fome divifions which had originated within themfelves, with respect to the fucceflion, had been able (as we have formerly thewn) to defeat and depose the reigning Khan, and to place a creature of her own, although a prince of the royal blood, in poffeflion of the nominal fovereignty; whilft the government was now in effect more dependent upon Ruffia than it had even formerly been upon the Porte; the dependence being doubly fecured, as well by a predominant faction among the people, as by the difpofition or attachment of the prince. By thefe, and by other means, the Crimea, with Little Tartary and the Budziac, were become scarcely any thing lefs than provinces to Ruffia; or at leaft they were as dependent on that empire as the nature of that fingular people will admit of their being, while they retain any confiderable degree of inherent ftrength. This conduct, and these circumftances, which certainly militated at least with the fpirit of the late treaty, could not but give great umbrage to the Porte; and afforded, if not a clear juftification. a a tolerable ground of controverfy, with of the refpective countries, were still, in refpect to any flackness or non-compli- many inftances, too powerful to be goance on her fide, in fulfilling its condi-, verned. To crown the calamity, the tions. But they alfo afforded caufe of plague had, in the preceding year, made the moft ferious concern and alarm. For fuch horrible ravages in Conftantinople, that peninfula, furrounded as it is by the as had not been before known in that caBlack fea, and the Palus Mootis, and pital (to which it is fo frequent a vifitcommanding the communication between or) fince its first acquifition by the Otboth, would afford fuch a claim of right, tomans. It was computed, that above to Ruffia, with fuch an interest in, and 160,000 perfons perished by that dreadful fuch a ftrength upon those seas, as no- diforder within the metropolis and its thing could afterwards be capable of op- environs. pofing. The difputes relative to the Greek nominal princes, but in effect governors, of Moldavia and Walachia, though not of a nature so immediately alarming and dangerous as the foregoing, yet were, founded on claims, and on an interference, which tended ultimately to the fame point, to the depreciation of the Ottoman power and government, the narrowing of its European dominion, and the finally throwing every thing on that fide of the Danube into the hands of Ruffia. The attachment which the Greek Chriftians who inhabit these provinces had fhewn to Ruffia in the late war, had, along with other motives, induced her to obtain very confiderable conceffions in, their favour at the conclufion of the peace. The effect of the partial advantages granted to these two provinces was foon apparent, by the emigration of Chriftian inhabitants from thofe on the other fide of the Danube, which it naturally occafioned, who, as well as the natives, looked up to another power than that to which they avowed allegiance, for favour and protection. In order to fecure their independence on the Porte, Ruffia made a demand, that those princes fhould not be depofed or punished, (misfortunes to which they were particularly liable), on any pretence or account whatever. In fo unhappy a state of weakness and diforder was that vaft and unweildy empire, that it might be a question of doubt, whether to admire the spirit, or to condemn the rafhnefs,which induced the apparent refolution and vigour with which the prepared for war. The ill fuccefs of the late war had drawn out and exhibited in their utmost magnitude thofe enormous diforders which had for fo many years been acquiring growth, under a weak and wretched fyftem of government. The diftant provinces were ftill torn to pieces by faction and diffention; and the officers of the state, as well as the great men On the other hand, though Ruffia was confcious of the advantages acquired by the late treaty, he was far from defirous of war. That war, amidst its great. and fplendid fucceffes, had discovered fome fymptoms of internal weaknefs, The rebellion of Pugatfcheff was a fit which laid open some defect in the conftitution. Befides, Ruffia probably could never hope, with the confent of other powers, to obtain advantages equal to the victories the might hereafter purchase as dearly as the had done thofe of the preceding war; by which, along with her laurels, the brought the plague into a country exhausted of men and treasure. The Emprefs was therefore very willing to receive any mediation confiftent with her dignity, which in all events she was refolved not to facrifice. France had the addrefs to avail berfelf of this fituation. The French minifter was again the friendly mediator, and the fuccefsful negotiator, in bringing about an accommodation. And his merits and services were again honoured and rewarded with fimilar expreffions of gratitude, and with fimilar marks of favour, from both fides. It was, in the first inftance more efpecially, a matter of no small general aftonifhment, that Great Britain, which had been fo long and fo clofely united in the ftricteft bands of friendship, and apparent political communion of views and interefts, with Ruffia, and which had even gone fome extraordinary lengths in the late war in her favour, thould not have undertaken the friendly office of mediator; by which means the would likewife have had an opportunity of wearing off that not unfounded jealousy which the Porte could not but entertain of her late conduct. On the other hand, a ftrong jealoufy had for feveral years fubfifted between France and Ruia; and their political interests and regards fo much clashed with respect to that war, that Whether it was that we were too feeble in the Mediterranean to appear with any luftre in fuch a negotiation, the effect feemed to be, that France, for fome time at kraft, feemed to attain the afcendant at St Petersburg, and the credit of Great Britain in that court proportionably to declice. We are not entirely masters of the conditions of the new convention, which was igned on the 21ft of March. Conceffions were made on both fides; and matters of claim, interference, and litigation, amicably adjusted. Some conceffions were made by the Porte with refpect to commerce, and fome new regalations made in favour of its Chriftian fubjects. On the other hand, Ruffia re. laxed in fome matters with respect to the Crimea, and the provinces of Moldavia and Walachia, and obtained fatisfaction in others. The new Khan of the Tartars was acknowledged by the Porte, and the apparent independency of the Crimea confirmed on both fides. The Emprefs of Ruffia had an opportunity of displaying her usual magnificence, by the fplendid prefents which she made to the French and Turkish minifters, as well as to M. de Stachief, her own refident at Conftantinople; who received the valuable, but in other countries unheard of gift, of a thousand peasants; a kind of gift which alfo includes the land which they cultivate and inhabit. Upon the whole, this convention feems to have af forded confiderable fatisfaction to both parties; nor has any matter of complaint or difpute fince arifen on either fide. By this arrangement, the Porte has had time to breathe, and to fettle its affairs. With respect to Ruffia, it has afforded her lei fure to direct her attention to her contant object, that of difplaying her au thority, by becoming an arbiter in the public affairs of Europe; although per haps the means of her becoming the greatest monarchy in the universe (if the be not already fuch) do not lie on the fide of Europe. [To be continued.] Memoirs of Lord HAWKE. [vol. 43. P. 557.] THE late Right Honourable Edward Lord Hawke, Baron of Towton in York hire, a place heretofore memorable for a bloody battle, in the wars of York and Lancafter, between Henry VI. and Edward IV. on March 29. 1461, was the fon of Edward Hawke, Efq; a barrifter of Lincoln's- Inn, by the relict of Col. Ruthven, fifter of Col. Martin Bladen, the tranflator of Cæfar's Commentaries, and a Commiffioner of Trade and Plantations. Entering early into the profeffion *, in which he was afterwards so eminently diftinguished, he was made Captain of the Flamborough in March 1733-4, and in the fame year commanded the Wolf. In June 1743, he was appointed Captain of the Berwick of 70 guns; and in the indecifive engagement with the combined fleets off Toulon, Feb. 11. 1743-4, had the honour of taking the Poder, a Spanish 60 gun fhip, the only one that was taken on either fide, by breaking the line without orders, and engaging her within half musket-shot, while feven of our fhips were firing at her at a great distance. "Several officers boarded the Poder," fays an eyewitnefs, "claiming the honour; but the captain pointed to the Berwick, and delivered his fword to her lieutenant, fay ing, he held the others in the highest contempt." He was afterwards, indeed, obliged to abandon her; but the next day she was retaken by our fleet; and burnt t. This gallantry recommended Capt. Hawke to his late Majesty, who styled him, his own Admiral, when he was appointed Rear of the White, July 15. 1747. He had foon afterwards the command of a fquadron of fourteen ships, intended to intercept the French outward. bound Weft-India fleet, having his flag on board the Devonfhire of 66 guns. With this fleet, convoyed by eight ships of the line, commanded by M. de l'Etenduere, in the Tonant of 80 guns, our At his first going to fea his father exhorted him to behave well, and he hoped in time he might rife to be a Captain." A Captain"! replied the boy, "if I did not think I fhould come to be an Admiral, I would never go." ↑ See vol. 6. P. 14%. Admiral fell in, off Cape Finifterre, Oct. 14.; and, after a close and obftinate engagement, in which the Devonshire had the largest fhare, took fix of them, viz. three of 74, two of 64, and one of 56 guns, the Tonant and Intrepid only efcaping. Capt. (afterwards Adm. Sir John) Moore was his captain, and brought home the exprefs. The "drubbing" which the Admiral obferved "the ene my's fhips took, being large," was a phrafe much noticed at the time, as, on its puzzling the late King, he was referred by one of his minifters for an explanation to the Duke of Bedford, who had not long before experienced a fevere cha ftisement at Litchfield races. Two of his captains, who particularly diftinguished themselves in the Eagle and Tilbury, were the present Admirals Rodney and Harland. Capt. Saumarez was kill ed in the action; and all his other captains (fince dead) were afterwards made either Admirals or Commissioners, except Capt. Fox, who was tried and fuperfeded, though afterwards made a fu perannuated admiral. For this fervice, in November following, Adm. Hawke was created a Knight of the Bath, chufing for his motto, STRIKE. He was alfo elected into parliament for Portsmouth, in the room of Com. Legge, deceased. In January 1748, he commanded the Channel fleet; and during his cruize the Magnanime of 74 guns was taken by two of his fquadron, the Nottingham and Portland. In May he was promoted to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue, and continued his cruize till the preliminaries of peace were figned at Aix-la-Chapelle. At the commencement of the laft war, in 1755, he commanded again the Chan nel fleet; and on June 16. 1756, as foon as the account of the disgraceful action off Minorca reached England, was fent out with Rear-Adm. Saunders in the Ante lope, to fuperfede the Adm3 Byng and Weft. But before they could reach that island, Gen. Blakeney had been obliged to capitulate. In 1757, being then Admiral of the Blue, he commanded the fleet on an expedition against Rochfort, in which the fmall ifle of Aix only was taken, Sir John Mordaunt and the other general officers not thinking it adviseable to land on the continent. In 1758, he commanded in the Bay, under Lord Anfon; and on * See vol. 19. p. 627. Nov. 20. 1759, it will never be forgotten, that neither a rocky lee-shore, ftormy weather, nor a fhort winter's day, prevented his attacking, pursuing, and de feating the French armament commanded by Marshal Conflans, off Belleifle, deftroying five of his largest fhips, taking one, and forcing eight up the river Vilaine, where they broke their backs, and were rendered unferviceable *. At his return to England in January 1760, he received the thanks of his Sovereign and the Houfe of Commons, and had 2000 1. a-year fettled on him for his own life, and thofe of his fons, and the furvivor of them. He commanded the fleet again that fummer, and continued his cruize, or ftation in Quiberon bay, from Aug. 26. 1760 to March 10. 1761, having his flag on board the Royal George; and Sir Charles Hardy, as in the former action, commanding under him. In In April following, Sir Edw. Hawke was elected one of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity Houfe, in the room of Sir Cha. Molloy, deceased. In June he was prefented with the freedom of the city of Dublin, in a gold box, by the hands of Lord Farnham. In 1762, the late Duke of York served under him as Rear-Admiral in the command of the Channel fleet, till the preliminaries of peace were figned. In January 1763, he was appointed Rear Admiral, and in November 1765 Vice Adiniral, of Great Britain. In December he was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty; which poft he held till 1771. He was one of the Admirals who fupported the canopy at the Duke of York's funeral, Nov. 3. 1767. 1776, he was advanced to a peerage. His Lordship died at his feat at Shepper ton in Middlefex, Oct. 16. 1781. only furviving fon, Martin-Bladen, now Lord Hawke, was born April 20. 1744. and married, on Feb. 6. 1771, a daughter of Sir Edward Turner, Bt, by whom he has three fons and a daughter. His second fon, Edward, a lieutenant-colonel in the army, died in 1773; and his third son, Chaloner, a cornet in the Scots Grays, was unfortunately killed at Knightsbridge, Sept. 17. 1777, by his horfe running against the pole of a poftchaifet;, a fhock that was feverely felt by his father. His Lordship has also left. daughter. *See vol. 21. p. 589. † See vol. 39. p. 508. His PAR |