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

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.

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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-

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