XXIII. 1768. with which the trenches were filled. A decisive BOOK superiority in the Black Sea was also obtained by the repeated victories gained on the part of the Russians by the prince of Nassau over the famous Turkish admiral Hassan Pacha. the north. Rupture Sweden and In the mean time the king of Sweden, actuated Troubles in by that spirit of unprincipled ambition, so usually the characteristic of princes as to be deemed scarce- between ly the object of censure, and prompted likewise by Russia. the king of Prussia, and the powers in alliance with the court of Berlin and inimical to Russia,* entered suddenly, at the head of a considerable army, The politics of the court of London, at this juncture, are thus described by the Count de Segur, ambassador of France at the court of Berlin. "England, in concert with Prussia, inflaming the courage of the Turks, exciting the hopes of Poland, instigating the ambition of the court of Sweden, fomenting the troubles of Brabant, deceiving the probity of Spain, and supporting the stadtholder's pretensions against the states of Holland, made all Europe in a short time an immense field of intrigues, of discord, and of carnage." In vain, as the same historian observes of the king of Sweden, had the great Frederic his uncle in complimenting him upon the revolution which had increased his authority, recommended to him to be pacific, and warned him that since there were now four monarchies in Europe, each of which could assemble 400,000 soldiers, a king of Sweden with an army of 25,000 men ought no longer to entertain the hope of playing a great part in Europe. Gustavus had frequently said that a war was necessary in order to characterise a reign: and not contented with repose, be desired at all events to be a conqueror. Memoirs of Frederic William II. vol. I. p. 62. XXIII. 1788. BOOK the territory of Russian Finland, whence the idea of passing by a direct and rapid march to Petersburgh seemed not wholly chimerical. But a subject of bitter chagrin awaited him in the absolute and pertinacious réfusal of his officers to engage in offensive war, on the patriotic ground, or perhaps the traitorous pretext, that the king had not, agreeably to the provisions of the constitution of 1772, obtained the previous consent of the states. The court of St. Petersburgh, on the first intimation of the attack from Sweden, had called for the aid and assistance of Denmark, conformably to the terms of the treaty of alliance subsisting between the two courts. Denmark had been for some years past under the administration of the prince royal, whose knowledge and prudence, far exceeding the immaturity of his age, were the happy result of a good natural understanding, improved to the utmost by an excellent and admirable education. The prince regent, on his accession to power, had restored the former ministers of the Danish court, displaced by Struensee, to their offices, amongst whom was the count de Bernstorf, whose wisdom and firmness have in the course of events been rendered very conspicuous. On the present occasion, the court of Copenhagen entered entirely into the views of the czarina; and in the month of September, 1788, a large body of Danish troops, commanded by prince Charles of Hesse XXIII, 1788. Cassel, accompanied by the prince of Denmark in BOOK person, passing over to Norway, were joined by a strong reinforcement of Norwegians-a simple and generous people, maintaining amidst their rocks the purity of their antient manners, and the sacredness of their antient rights, in no respect degenerating from the virtue or the valor which had rendered them famous in the times of Margaret of Waldemar. The combined forces suddenly and unexpectedly entered the Swedish province of Wermlandia, and advanced to the city of Gottenburgh with trivial opposition. Alarmed at this formidable invasion, the king of Sweden repaired in person, with expedition almost incredible, to the defence of this important place, which, being attacked thus unprepared, seemed very unable to resist the force of the Danes. But at this critical moment the courts of London and Berlin interposed their powerful mediation in favor of Swe den. Early in October, Mr. Hugh Elliott, envoy at Copenhagen, addressed himself first by letter and afterwards personally to the prince regent, requiring him, in the name of the allied courts, to consent to an immediate cessation of hostilities. "War," said the ambassador, " is perhaps at this very moment declared with Denmark by Prussia and England. But if your highness will consent to what I propose, I will immediately dispatch couriers to stop, if possible, the invasion of a Prussian XXIII. 1789. BOOK army in Holstein, and the sailing of the British fleet." Under these circumstances the resolution of the prince was soon taken, and a suspension of arms signed on the part of Denmark, October 9, 1788, which, after an interval of delay, was converted into a treaty of neutrality. Death of the grand The beginning of the following year, which was signor Ach- the 1202d of the Hegira,* was signalized by the accession of death of the grand-signor, Achmet IV. a prince met IV. and the sultan Selim III. *The flight of Mahommed from Mecca to Medina was eighteen years afterwards established by the caliph Omar, as an epoch to which the dates of all the transactions of the faithful should have reference. The year of the Mahommedans consists of 12 lunar months, each containing 29 days, 12 hours, and 792 scruples-1080 scruples making an hour. So that the year contains 354 days, 8 hours, and 864 scruples. In order to reduce this year to an integral number of days, a cycle of 30 was chosen as the most convenient period, because 30 times 8 hours and 864 scruples precisely constitute 11 days; and in this cycle there are consequently 19 years of 354 days, and 11 of 355. The intercalary days are added at the end of the 2d, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, and 29th years of the cycle. The commencement of each year of the Hegira can never fall on the same day of the month, as is the case in our calendar, but will anticipate about 11 days. The first year of the Hegira began Ann. Dom. 622, July 16. The 1201st year of the Hegira, which is the first of the cycle, began Ann. Dom. 1787, October 24. The precision with which the Mahommedans in 622 fixed the lunar month is remarkable; 29 days, 12 hours, 792 scruples, being, according to the most accurate modern observations, only 3" 2"" too little. Vide Philosoph. Trans, A. D. 1788. XXIIL 1789. apparently of good understanding and of benefi- BOOK cent and upright intentions, but whose talents were totally inadequate to the mighty task of restoring the declining empire of the Ottomans to its pristine prosperity and greatness. He was succeeded by his nephew, Selim III., son of the late emperor Mustapha, whose first act of authority consisted in the deposition and consequent death of the grand-vizier, Jussuph Pacha, who had conducted the operations of the last campaign with singular ability and personal success. The real crime of the vizier, for the accusations of his enemies were evidently calumnious, was his immense wealth, which, to the amount of a million sterling, was confiscated to the use of the sultan. Such was the barbarous and wretched policy of this young, prince, who quickly and in every part of his conduct shewed himself grossly deficient both in the virtues and talents which are requisite to the arduous task of government. The emperor, sinking under the pressure of disease and disappointment, had retired to Vienna; and the renowned mareschal Laudohn being appointed to the chief command, the operations of the war were renewed with consummate skill and wonderful increase of vigor. After the reduction of Gradisca, this veteran hero proceeded to form the siege of Belgrade; and on the 8th of October, 1789, that important city, the bulwark of the Ot |