expected from such a series of fuccefs: For, the enemy making it their first care to lay waste the countries through which the Ruffians were to march, the difficulty and hazard attending their receiving provifions, would have difpirited almoft any other troops in the world. And, when we confider them many hundred miles in an enemy's country, depending on no other fuccour or fupply than what reach'd them by the fame tedious rout themselves had taken, to find them vanquifhing armies far fuperior in number to their own, must fufficiently evince their abilities for war, and the advantages they would have procured for their Imperial Mistress, had they been employed to fubdue countries as eafily kept as conquered.

took Perecop when opposed by an army double the number of his.

The Bafhaw taken at Oczakow, and another brought by Count Lacy from the Crim, are both prisoners at large in A Petersburg.

The affairs of the GERMAN empire are at prefent in an indifferent fituation. At the opening of laft campaign, the Imperial armies marched into the B field with loud declarations of retrie ving the credit of the German army, faid to be loft by the ill conduct of the valiant and greatly unfortunate Count Seckendorf: but, inftead of gaining ho nour or advantage for his Imperial MaCjefty, his forces feem to have given ground almost as fast as the Ottomans came to take it; while the governors of the garrisons they left, deftitute of men and provifions, to the mercy of the enemy,fell victims to their friends, for taking the best steps left in their power.In this place it is fcarce poffible to avoid dropping a tear to the memory of the brave and long-experienced General Doxat, who was executed at Belgrade for the furrender of Niffa; and E the valiant Count Cornberg, whofe big heart broke under arreft, for delivering up Orfova, when he had only 150 men left to bring out of it. Hard is the foldier's lot, who can only fave his life by victory, when he is deftitute of every F thing necessary to obtain it!

Velt Marshal Munich (under whom the Earl of Crawford ferved voluntier laft campaign) stands confefs'd the great eft General Europe can now boaft: that great commander having display'd fuch D courage and conduct; fuch boldness to attack, and wisdom to avoid an engagement, when not promifing of victory, as equals what we moft admire in the greatest heroes of antiquity: And every action of this General discovers fo much caution and preventive care, that it is not eafy, on fome occafions, to know which deferves most praise, the politician or the foldier.

Whatever were the motives of his Imperial Majefty for commencing hoftilities against the Turks, the fortune that has hitherto attended his arms cannot any way have anfwered his expeGetation; for, befides the lofs of feveral thoufand fubjects, if we believe fome accounts which came with great appearance of truth, a confiderable diftrict of country has been loft on the fide of Tamifwaer, &c. And 'tis allowed, by advices from Vienna, that the Turks, after having affembled an army in the neighbourhood of Belgrade, have demanded contributions of that province, and also of Croatia.

Velt Marshal Lacy has likewife fupported his character with great honour, through the various, difficult and dangerous expeditions he has been employed in; in all which he has acted as much for the honour and interest of his Imperial Mistress, as the nature of the operations affigned him would admit. The two laft campaigns he was engaged with a very fierce and active army of Tartars, headed by a large body of veteran Turkish troops, who used their utmoft fkill to diftrefs and harass this General in a country that was their own, while H his whole army had not a pint of water without obtaining it by the fword: yet, under these, and numerous other hardfhips, he poffeffed himself of feveral advantageous pofts, overcame those bodies of the enemy which attacked him, and

This infuccefs of the Imperialifts cannot poffibly be attributed to the want A 2

of men, or of skilful commanders; for, notwithstanding the loffes the empire has fuftained of Generals within these few years, his Imperial Majefty is still poffeffed of Count Konigfegg, Seckendorf, Khevenhuller, Palfi, Hilbourghaufen, Wallis, and several others, who have given the world convincing mar1-s of their fitnefs for command.

A

ving been required by one Prince to make Bifhops, &c. and a privilege infifted on by another to be excused the payment of what had hitherto been efteemed a facred tribute; nor has his temporal authority been thought fufficient to prevent the march of fome troops through his dominions, he having been one week glad to furnish provifions for the fame regiments, which the week before he forbad entring his B territories: And, if the humour of leffening his authority fhould continue among thofe Princes who profefs an obedience to his decrees, it is to be apprehended, if he has a kingdom at all, it must not be of this world; but that he will be Cobliged, in good earnest, to seek it in

another.

POLAND was fo reduced by the blood and confufion which attended the election of its prefent Sovereign, that the neutrality fhe has hitherto endeavoured to preferve in the difputes between her neighbours on all fides, is by far the molt eligible conduct of any, in a kingdom whofe ftrength was fo near being exhausted by its own inteftine broils: And this neutrality was the more neceffary for Poland, fince, had that crown Don Carlos appears now to be fixed declared for either of the contending in the quiet poffeffion of the kingdoms parties, its dominions would almost in- of NAPLES and SICILY; he having evitably have become the theatre of the D been acknowledged as Sovereign of war, from its convenient fituation for thefe dominions by moft of the Eurothat purpose, and the known maxim of pean Princes, as well as by his Holiall commanders, to remove the scene of nefs, whofe acknowledgment always action into an enemy's country. trots hard after poffeffion: And these kingdoms, being joined in one Prince, whofe fole care will be their good government, will probably make a confiderable figure in the affairs of Europe; though their strength was scarce difcernible while in the hands of a Prince whofe greater dominions swallowed the F attention neceflary to promote the intereft and advantage of thefe: it being certain, that his Neapolitan Majefty has made feveral regulations tending to the cafe and advantage of his fubjects; and his marriage with the G Princess Royal of Poland has met with the general approbation of the friends of both crowns.

The Grand Seignior has more than once affured his Polish Majefty, that not the smallest injury fhall be done the Polifh territories by the Turkish troops, if he continues to preferve an axact neutrality in the prefent contefts between the Porte, Ruffia and Germany. And the Emperor and the Czarina, tho' fo extraordinarily afifting to raise his Polish Majefty to the throne he now enjoys, have generously confidered the difficulties furrounding him, and have not demanded that affiftance, which he could not well have refused, however fatal it might have proved to his fubjects.

The ftate of the feveral fovereignties of ITALY has called the publick attention for fome years; and, whatever intereils have influenced the Princes poffefled of that country to distress the Ecclefiaftical State, the Holy Father has always, however reluctant, confented to what has been infifted on by his neighbours, as well as to the demands of more diftant crowns; a right ha

E

CORSICA has long furnished fubject of fpeculation to the politicians of EuH rope. The accepting Baron Theodore as Sovereign of that Ifland; his fudden departure from thence; his detainment and quiet release in Holland; his appearance at fome other places; his return to Corfica, and reported cold reception; and the great quantities of ammunition,

i

munition, &c. he fent thither during his abfence, and took with himself; the large fums he must have expended, and the feeming impoffibility of his raifing any fum at all: have baffled the penetration of the moft difcerning: For, as we have been often told, that this itinerant Monarch is fupported by fome crown, which the world little imagines to be concerned in his fortunes, it is natural to think, that the present fituation of his affairs would have discovered the canals of the aids he has from time to time received; but, by what appears by the laft advices from Italy, every thing relating to him remains as much a fecret now as at his first attempts on royalty.

beration, (while the fate of war feem'd precarious) determined on a neutrality in the contests between the Christian Powers and the Turks; probably not a little to their advantage; having thereA by secured their plains from blood, and their trade from interruption.

Some inteftine broils, which threatned the utmost danger to the republick of GENEVA, have been accommodated B by the mediating hand of France, and the cantons of Zurich and Bern; and the city restored to its former tranquility.

A difference has for fome time fubCfifted between his SARDINIAN Majesty The interpofition of his Moft Chrifti- and the Emperor, concerning the pofan Majefty to reconcile, as 'tis common- feffion of fome fiefs in Italy, now in ly phrased, the Corficans and Genoefe, the hands of the Piedmontefe: but it at firft alarmed the friends of Theodore is not probable that his Imperial Mawith apprehenfions of being obliged to jefty will at present be so strenuous in fubmit to the unlimited power of their D his demands as at another time; the former detefted governors: But, when the affiftance of Savoy, and every other alFrench troops were landed, and the arti- ly, being much wanted in the general cles of accommodation came upon the defence of the empire. carpet, their fears in fome measure decreased; it not being eafy to determine, from the tedious method in which this E propofed reconciliation has advanced, what is the real intention of the French court with regard to that island.

The feizure of Theodore at Naples, and his confinement in the castle of Gaeta, has thunder-ftruck moft of our Corfican politicians; as it is not eafily reconcileable with an opinion which prevailed with many, of his being privately fupported by Spain: But, from accounts of his eafy confinement, and his chearfulness under it, there is not great probability of his being under much apprehenfion from either the French or Gencefe.

The acceffion of the Duke of Lorain to the Great Dukedom of TUSCANY, has not yet been attended with the many benefits his new fubjects promise themfelves from the presence of a Prince fo univerfally esteemed.

F

PRUSSIA has not been concerned in the troubles of Europe, any farther than the troops its Sovereign, as Elector of Brandenburg, fent to the affiftance of his Imperial Majefty; though the good order of his Pruffian Majefty's forces is known to all his neighbours; nor are his grenadiers equalled by any nation in the universe.

DENMARK has, within a few years, greatly improved her commerce; the establishment of an Eaft-India company Gat Copenhagen having diffused a fpirit of trade over great part of the Danish dominions. And his Danish Majesty, during the last year, has made several good regulations in the religious ceremonies of his fubjects; having abolish'd H the exorcifms used in their baptism, and removed the confeffion-chairs out of the churches: though the people, ever fonder of ceremony than religion, expreffed fome refentment at first, but are now tolerably reconciled to the altera

The VENETIANS, after a long deli- tion.

The

The trade of SWEDEN has likewife been much increased; an East-India company being established at Stockholm, many improvements made in their manufactures, and a treaty of com

fairs of Geneva and Genoa ; and has also been often earnestly offered to reconcile the Turks and Germans, and, what is ftill more remarkable, the crowns of Great Britain and Spain: But her good

merce concluded with the Grand Sei- A offices, however it happens, are more gnior.

About the middle of last year, his Swedish Majefty's health was fo precarious, that, with the confent of the ftates of his kingdom, he refigned the government to the Queen his confort, who was Queen-regnant at the time of their marriage.

Nothing remarkable has happened in PORTUGAL fince the return of the English fleet from Lisbon; the court of Spain having defifted from thofe measures which gave fuch uneafiness to his Portuguese Majefty, as called for the interpofition of Great Britain.

readily offered than accepted.-Cardinal Fleury continues in the administration with general applaufe from the people, though his Chriftian Majesty's behaviour to the parliament of Paris Bhas no way increafed the liberty of France, nor diminished the prerogative of the crown.

The STATES GENERAL of the United Provinces give the utmost attenCtion to every step taken with regard to an accommodation between Great Britain and Spain: for, fhould a rupture break out between the two crowns, it would be difficult for the States General to avoid being affected one way D or other.

Notwithstanding the powerful alliances of his Serene Highness the Prince of ORANGE, his fucceffion to the estates of his late Majefty K. William is not E yet determined.

SPAIN has, during the last year, been freer from action by fea or land than for fome time before; which some attribute to the difficulties attending the demands of Great Britain relating to the injuries fuffered by the fubjects of his Britannick Majefty from the subjects of Spain; which are faid to have employed the Spanish councils in an extraordinary manner. But it is not improbable, that the full fettlement of Don Carlos in Italy, the appointment of Don Philip to be High Admiral of the Spanish monarchy, and the fixing the Cardinal Don Lewis (aged now above nine years) in the archbishoprick of Toledo, may have given fome prefent fatisfaction to the fortunate mother of thofe Princes. And 'tis certain G that the appearance of the British fleet in the Streights must be a curb to any enterprize by fea, though we have not yet received intelligence of any engage

ment.

The fucceffion to the dutchies of BERG and JULIERS has called much of the publick attention during the last year. And the claimants have lately F fo much increased, that the fettlement of that long-depending inheritance is far from being in any likelihood of pleafing them all.

The attention of the fubjects of GREAT BRITAIN is fo generally bent toward the negotiations with the court of Spain, that as nothing final is yet published on that head, we must refer to fubfequent advices for the determinations relating to that momentous H affair.

FRANCE has been engaged in no war fince the campaigns in Italy and on the Rhine, the expedition to Corfica having foregoing Summary being to ren

been attended with no blood yet: tho' the office of Mediator has diftinguished the Gallick name of late years, in the af

HE principal intention of the

der the accounts we shall hereafter give
of foreign affairs the more intelligible

to

to fuch of our readers as have not been very converfant in the tranfactions abroad, it may not be amifs to add the few following remarks on fuch other countries as will most probably furnish matter of intelligence.

PERSIA, after a long scene of war and 'confufion, was fcarcely fixed in a ftate of peace and ferenity, by the various labours and fucceffes of its prefent Sovereign, Kouli Kan, before the fucceffor of Merriweis, the first of the modern difturbers of the tranquility of that kingdom, raised such a rebellion in the province of Candabar, as has employed the whole force of the nation for fome time; and no advices have fufficiently confirmed the reports of their being yet reduced to obedience.

CRAFTSMAN, Jan. 6.

effay on the New Year, and exhorted them to begin it with political A regeneration. But I cannot boaft of much fuccefs in this attempt, for eleven years paft; though we have fince had several excellent laws made to prevent unlawful gin-drinking, fmuggling and ftageplaying, which I hope have had the deB fired effect, by the affiduous care of our vigilant magiftrates both civil and military. But the greateft, political diftempers ftill remain to be cured.- Luxury, corruption, avarice and ambition are as rampant as ever. Our taxes are as high, C and our debts I am afraid not much diminifhed. Our trade and manufactures continue in the fame languifhing condition, and will every day grow worse, unlefs fome fpeedy remedy be applied. Thefe caufes have spread a face of poverty over the whole nation; especially the diftant manufacturing ones, which hath excited multitudes of poor wretches to feveral acts of violence, notwithstanding our army, as well as the Riot and Black Acts.-Nobody can pretend to fay that they have been worked up to thefe outrages by feditious writings,which very few of them can read or understand; and I have not yet heard any Gentleman malecontent charged with fecretly abetting them. No, thefe tumults are plainly F owing to the want of employment, the finking of their wages, and the dearness of provifions, occafioned by high duties on most of the neceffaries of life; which affect the mafter-workmen, as well as the poor labourers, and difable them to pay G the ufual price.-The fame bad confequences extend to landed Gentlemen, by the breaking of their tenants, or the fall of their rents, which few of them, at this time, are able to bear :-Nay, it may go farther ftill; for where nothing is to be had, the government cannot be fupported, and even the King must lose bis right.

The kingdom of MOROCCO has, fince the death of Muley Ifmael, been involved in one continued agitation of D government, in rapine and blood; the numerous offspring of that Prince having furnished feveral competitors for the throne, of parties fufficient to diftrefs every province of that unhappy nation. Muley Hamet Aebey, and Mu- E ley Abdolmolech, the two firft antagonifts, being dead, the contest lies now principally between Muley Abdallah, who, by his numerous cruelties, has shewn himself a true fon of his fanguine father, and Muley Ben Lariba, who is faid to be the most humane and polite

of all his brothers.

The interest and protection of the PLANTATIONS in America depend fo much on the negotiations now on the carpet, that little can be faid till the difputes with Spain are terminated; and though the many reports of the Spaniards having feized Georgia are without confirmation, there is too much room to believe they are not fo good neigh-H bours as could be wifhed an infant colony, which requires affiftance from all around it; whereas this fettlement can hope for none from the fide of the Spaniards, and not too much from Carolina.

These are truths well known to every Gentleman, who lives the leaft in the country, and does not fatten upon the fpoils of the publick in this town, which

is