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14]    ANNUAL REGISTER For the YEAR 1772. [15

May 30th. suspension of hostilities and a congress were soon agreed upon, and an armistice was accordingly signed for that purpose at Giurgewo. 
   By this armistice, the suspension of arms was immediately to take place in the neighbouring parts, and as soon in the more remote, whether by sea or land, as expresses could be forwarded to the Mediterranean, Cuban Tartary, Georgia, and other distant feats of the war; that the great armies were to continue in the fame situation that they were at that time, during the suspension, and the Danube to be the common boundary between them; that no new fortifications should be erected on either side, not those repaired that had been demolished, and that the Turks in particular should make no additions or repairs to the fortresses of Oczacow or Kilburn, nor fend any fresh troops into those places. That the place for holding the congress should be appointed within eight days from the time of signing the armistice; that the commissioners there should determine the length of time for continuing the suspension of arms, on the Danube, and in the neighbouring provinces; but in the distant countries, it was to continue, without farther instructions, to the first of the ensuing October. Other regulations were concluded with respect to the navigation on the Danube and the Black Sea; and nothing was left undone that could be contrived, to keep both parties as nearly as possible in their present state during the suspension, and to prevent any advantage from being taken if the congress failed of effect.
  The Grand Signior having complimented the Empress of Russia with the choice of a place for holding the congress, Foczani, about fifteen miles north of Bucharest, in Walachia, was fixed upon for that purpose. The minister appointed on the part of Russia, was, Count Gregory Orlow, master of the ordinance, and attended by M. Obrescow, late minister at the Porte; and Ofman Effendi, attended by some other Ministers of rank, was the principal Turkish plenipotentiary. The Austrian and Prussian ministers at the Porte, having received present of fifty purses (amounting to about 25000 dollars) a piece, from the Grand Signior, besides a fixed daily allowance for their expences, attended also at the opening of the congress. July 15th. 
   Nothing could afford a stronger contrast, than the magnificence of the Russian ministers, opposed to the Ottoman simplicity. The former approached in four grand coaches, preceded by Hussars, and attended by 160 domestics suitably habited. The Turkish ministers were on horseback, with about sixty servants, as plainly habited and accoutered as themselves. Count Orlow was all over a blaze of Jewels; on his breast was the Empress's portrait, together with the ensigns of the different orders with which he had been invested, all of which, as well as his buckles, and several other parts of his dress, shone with diamonds. On the other hand, Ofman Effendi was clothed with a robe of green camblet faced with ermin, and had nothing to distinguish him but a gold headed cane. It would appear as if riches and magnificence had taken up their abode in the wilds of Scythia, and that
For the YEAR 1772.                        [15
that ancient simplicity had retired to the voluptuous nations of Asia. 
   After many conferences, which continued till the ensuing month of September, the congress broke up without effect. The public are not yet well informed of the particular propositions that were made or rejected on either side. It is said that Russia insisted upon the payment of a fum equivalent to four-score millions of livres, as an indemnification for the expences of the war; that the Crimea should become an independent slate; that the Mufti, however, should retain a certain degree of spiritual dominion in it; but that Russia should also retain two strong fortresses with garrisons there; to which were to be added, the perpetual possession of Asoph, and an unlimited navigation of the Black Sea. We are not informed what proposals were made with respect to the other conquests; it is however probable, that the Turks would willingly have given up all claim to them, as an indemnification, and to avoid being pressed upon the more dangerous articles. 
    On the other hand, it is said that the Turks denied the injustice of the war, and refused the payment of so great a sum of money, which would be putting weapons into the hands of their enemies, to be turned against themselves; that they made many objections to the navigation upon the Black Sea, as a measure that would keep the city of Constantinople in continual terror, and make it at all times liable to sudden invasions and danger; but that the dismemberment of Poland, and the independency of Crimea, were utterly rejected, as proposals totally inadmissible, both bow and at all future times. 
   It seems evident, that though the public are not acquainted with the particulars, there must have been some qualification of these articles on both sides; as otherwise it seems almost inconceivable, to what purpose the congress should have been assembled, or how it could have continued to long, when the views of the principal parties were so widely different as not to admit a hope of reconciliation, and the demands made by the one of such a nature, as must, if complied with, include the inevitable destruction of the other. However this was, neither of the contending parties seemed much disposed for an immediate renewal of the war, and as the armistice did not expire till the 21st of September, the season was too far advanced for any military transaction of consequence, if they had been otherwise. 
    The court of Petersburg did not seem pleased with the conduct of Count Orlow upon this occasion. Though the repeated accounts of his being actually disgraced were not verified, and he has since received great honours, there were certain marks for some time after, which sufficiently shewed that he was in no high degree of favour. The transactions, intrigues, and revolutions, in a female and despotic court, are frequently of such a nature, as to be totally inexplicable; even to those, who are not the most concerned in their consequences, and who vainly imagine that they are at the bottom of all affairs, till a fatal experience convinces them of their error. It would be therefore ridiculous to pretend to assign any cause, either for the seeming disgrace of Count Orlow, or for his ascent since to a greater degree of favour. 
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