The National Register. — London, England, 1811-08-11 00:00:00

1111 THE NATIONAL REGISTER Our bin ConOtitution, anti tatuo. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED AT NO. PICKETT•STREET, STRAND, NEAR TEMPLE BAR. SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, 1811. N°. I€ 9. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. No. 175. • PEACE BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY. A rumour now prevails, which, if true, would stamp with oiliciality the anticipatory disclosure of Russia's intentions, noticed in our list number. It is said that preliminaries of Peace were actuallx signed between the Russian and Turkish Plenipe tetitiaries, on the 11th of July, and that this impor tant information was brought in the short space of twenty-nine days, from the Mediterranean. That period, however, had scarcely elapsed when the report originated, and allowing the necessary time for the conveyance of these tidings from the }lead Quarters, on the Banks of the Danube, to Constantinople; it is evident that if the Prelimi naries had been signed so late as the 11t11 ult. it would have been impossible for the Master of the vessel in question to have heard the news, and con sequently to have communicated it. An error of dates may have been committed, but we think it far more like! ythat th e wholeistmfounded. If, as ru mnur has so frequently told us, Russia will not, as it is true she safely cannot,go to war with Prance until the hostility of Turkey is disarmed ; and if, as we have heard from the same quarter, France is unwilling to enter into a new contest in the North, whilst so large a portion of her military power is engaged in the South, it is our farm belief that Russia will not. be able, unless on the most unfavourable terms, to make peace with the Porte. The secret influence of NAPOLEON pervades the Ottoman Councils g and for several years all the measures he has dictated to the Porte have been faithfully executed. When in 1805 he had to contend with Russia, marching to the assistance of Austria, he gave the expected sig. nal, and hostilities blazed forth in Moldavia and Wallachia, and divided her force. When ALEXAN DER sued for peace, and NAPOLEON saw that his pre. sent interest was to make a tool of a conquered Sove reign, he not only granted the desired boon, but compelled his Turkish Ally to conclude an armistice of long duration. When the Russian power grew once mere suspicious, previous to and during the late campaign with Austria, NAPOLEON loosened • again the Ottoman sword, and since that time, al. though with v trions fortune, it has not rage. If his influence was of so decisive CLXXXIX. • - then, nothing has happened to reduce it since, and it. is therefore not unreasonable to suppose tirtt it still exists in all its force. Nov, if, as molt of our daily political writers assert, the fates of war and. peace between Russia and France depend on the conclusion of hostilities v'irh the Porte, it is plain that they lie, in fact, in NAPOLEON'S own hands.— But, whether he for undisturbed tranquillity in the North, or for an opportunity of eisplaying his military prowess afresh; :against enemies less dan gerous than those he 1,:t; encountered in the Penin sula, it is equally evi J nt that he will not allow Turkey to make peace with Russia, as long as it is in his power to prevent it, and as long as such an event would be productive of renewed hostilities with ALEXANDER, or of an accession of strength to his armies. To make the declaration of war on the part of the latter, dependant on the issue of the present negociations with Turkey, is, therefore, lit tle less than to announce the continuation of peace between the French and Russian empires. For, taught by NAPOLEON, the Porte will raise its de mands in proportion as Russia sinks her claims. Indeed, every account from the shores of the Black Sea demonstrates, that this course has already been successfully adapted by 'the Turkish negociators. After a series of important advantages, and the capture of numerous fortresses, the Russians, who had penetrated far into Bulgaria, and even threat ened Adrianople, at the opening of the negocia tion, proudly demanded the cession of Moldavia and Wallachia, provinces which ALEXANDER had already added to his dominionsby an Imperial Ukase, after having conquered with the sword. The evacu ation of Bulgaria then seemed a great condescension on his part, and he calculated on retaining Servia, which part of his troops occupied jointly with the Servian army, and with the consent of the Senate. Notwithstanding repeated defeats, the Porte, who was probably aware of the jealousy with which NA POLEON beheld the extension of the Russian power, and therefore placed implicit reliance on his secret assurances, remained undismayed, and boldiy re fused to purchase peace on such disadvantageous terms. An instant renewal of hostilities was then threatened, and occasionally took place, for a ,. this distance from the scene of action, and with such in terrupted and scanty information which reaches this it is impossible to ascertain the exact truth a multitude of reports. Yet Turkey con- PRICE 9d• ft 4,t 4 • -•• ceased vig m t - try, 'ln77N, ra I .•% - ' "' ' St , . I )/ • A,