two Rivers carry their Currents within one League and an half distance These two Rivers are invisible in our Maps in lieu of which they have obtruded upon us a suppositious River called Camus which is not to be found thereabouts The Ground betwixt these two Rivers is very convenient for Building of Forts and Fortifications there being but a few small Rocks which may be made passable and convenient enough for such an Undertaking The Turks shewed themselves but indifferent Politicians and who had but a slender insight in matters of this nature when they let slip so favourable an Opportunity of extending their Conquests on that side during the Intestine Troubles which harrassed and almost destroyed the Mustovite Empire in our Age at the same time that the Ottomans were in a most flourishing Condition If they at that time had joined these two Rivers by a Canal and strengthened the same with some Forts or if they had built but one considerable Fortress upon the River Wolga the whole Kingdom of Astracan must of necessity have fall'n into their Hands by which means it would have been no difficult task for them to render themselves Masters of the Caspian Lake or Sea which is the Inlett into the Heart of Persia and at no great distance from the Indies Subject to the Great Mogul and for the rest it is surrounded by a great number of Petty Tartarian Princes who might either have been easily Conquered or at least brought over to their Party to make them instrumental in the Conquest of Asia What would in such a Case have become of the Muscovites who would have been continually allarm'd and harrassed on all sides by an infinite number of Tartars by those of the Crimea of Circassa Bulgaria by the Calmuck and Mogul Tartars who like a Torrent would have over-run this vast Empire and would have rendred the Conquest of all the Circumjacent Countries as cheap and easie to the Turks as these Vagabonds formerly did when they took up Arms under those Renown'd Heroes Ginghis Khan and Tamur Lenek These are two things which prevented the Turks from making use of that critical Juncture to their Advantage The first was that they look'd upon the Muscovites as too inconsiderable to stand ever in Competition with them seeing they had not Courage enough to accept of the Fortress of Asoph from the Cossacks who had taken it by Surprise The second was That the were not so fully satisfied of the Consequence and use of a good Naval Strength by which means they might most conveniently have enlarged their Dominions on that side and carried the terror of their Arms not only along the Wolga but also by the way of the Caspian Sea into the very heart of Asia Bat to return to the Siege of Asoph The Turks had provided the City of Asoph with great Stores of Ammunition and Provision and all other things necessary for a long and vigorous Defence the Garrison consisting of ten Thousand chosen Turks and Tartars notwithstanding which the present Czar Peter Atexiovitz resolved to besiege it in Person His Army consisted of one Hundred Thousand Foot and twenty Thousand Horse all chosen Troops arid among them the whole Body of his Guards or Strelitzes commanded under the Czar by a great many good and Experienced Generals Whilst they were busy in persecting the Lines of Circnmvallation and Contravallation and carrying on the Trenchcs the Czar ordered a smal1 Fort of four Bastions to be made at some distance above the two abovementioned brick Towers on the South side of the River upon a piece of Ground that lies betwixt and is encompassed by two small branches which spring out of that River and re-unite themselves about half ways distance betwixt these Towers and the City All the Communication being cut oft betwixt the Place and the Towers by these two branches it was hot long before the Muscovites made themselves Masters of them and it being judged most expedient to Fortifie that on the South side of the River it was immediately put in Execution accordingly by surrounding it with three good Bastions and an Angle on each of the Courtins on the River side The Fort was called Calansa In the mean while the Trenches were carried on with the utmost Expedition and Vigour especially on the South East side of the Place where the Muscovites being advanced to the top of the Hills which in some measure command the Town they Fired most furiously out of their Cannon and threw a prodigious number of Bombs into the Place by which means they hop'd soon to terrifie the Garrison to come to a Capitulation but those within consisting of old and well Disciplin'd Troops who were not to be vanquish'd at a distance the Trenches were carried on to the body of the Place but not without great Slaughter on the Muscovite side the Enemies by their frequent and vigorous Sallies disputing every Inch of Ground with the utmost bravery The Muscovites were likewise couragiously repulsed in several Attacks before they could lodge themselves upon one of the bastions where the Garrison like desperate Men fell upon them with such an incredible Fury that the Russians after a most obstinate Defence were forced to quit it at last with the loss of a great number of their Men especially of the Strelitzes who as they were most exposed so they bore most commonly the greatest Share in the loss the Czar making use of this Opportunity both to try their Valour and rid his Hands of them in a handsome way though at the same time it must be confess'd to his Immortal Glory that he was not sparing of his own Person but exposed himself to the Enemies Fire as well in the several Attacks that were made as upon other occasions having had several Persons slain by his side in the Sallies made by the Besieged The invincible Resolution of the Garrison thus protracting the Siege beyond all Expectation the Muscovites began to be in want both of Ammunition and Provisions which together with the approaching cold and wet Season obliged them to change the Siege into a Blockade But the Disgrace received before Asoph was in some measure recompensed by the Conquest of Kasiker meen a Tartarian City Scituated on the South side of the River Boristhenes about two Leagues distance from the black-Black-Sea It is encompassed by four strong brick Forts of a quadrangular Figure and an equal bigness adjoining to one another Three of them lye upon a strait Line but the Fourth makes up a right Angle with the Second The first of these Quadrangular Forts lies upon the very Bank of the River Borishenes being Flancked with several good Towers as well as the two others which are upon the same Line But the fourth exceeds the three others in Strength being on one side provided instead of Towers with two large and high Bastions surrounded with a good Ditch Just opposite to the place you see a small Island in the River Boristhenes resembling in
Prince his Son should be fit to Travel he would send him to the Court of Berlix to tarry there for some considerable Time No sooner had their High and Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces received advice that this solemn Embassy was on their way towards their Frontiers but they sent some Deputies who were to receive their Excellencies in the name of the States General upon the Frontiers and orders were given not only to defray them at the Charge of the State but to welcome them with considerable Presents and by the discharge of the great Cannon of all the great Towns through which they passed their High and Mightinesses being willing upon so extaordinary an Occasion to eternalize the Memory of the Honour they were going to receive by so solemn an Embassy the most glorious that ever was seen in respect of Personal Apppearance of so great a Monarch with whom they were Engaged in a most strict Tye of Friendship and Commerce After they had travelled some Leagues in the Territories of the United Provinces his Czarish Majesty left the Embassy that he might with the more speed reach the City of Amsteldam and that by travelling thus in Disguise he might with the more freedom and unperceived take a view of every thing he thought worth his Curiosity Accordingly he came to Amsteldam accompanied only by two or three Gentlemen so disguised as not to be known by any body where he lodged at a Common-Inn for one night only The next day he went to Sordam a large Town on the opposite side of the River of Amsteldam and about two Leagues distant this place being most famous for the great number of Ship-Wrights and others who are there employed continually in building of Ships His Majesty immediately after his arrival there took up with a private lodgings at a Burgher's House which lay much out of the way his aim being to keep himself from being discovered as much as Possible could be His Chief and first empolyment in this place was to inform himself in person from the Work-mens own Mouths and to be an Eye-witness in what manner they built their Ships He bought a small Yacht of about twenty five or thirty Foot long which he took a particular Pleasure to steer himself and to Sail in the Company only of those three Gentlemen that attended him up and down the River of Amsteldam called the Tey where his greatest delight was to make his own Observations and to feed his eyes with that most beautiful Prospect of that vast number of Ships which not unlike a Forrest lie close together in the Road of that City But it was not many days before he was robbed of the Satisfaction of passing away his time thus undiscovered For a certain Lock-Smith who had lived a few years before in the City of Muscow happening to take particular Notice of him one day as he passed by knew him first and having told some of his Comrades the inhabitant flock'd in such Numbers about him when he appear'd abroad that being tired with the Crowd he resolved to leave Sordam sooner than he intended at first This News being come to Ears of the Merchants of Amsteldam Trading to Muscovy some of whom had the Honour to know His Majesty they immediately went in a Body to pay him all imaginable Respest and to pray him to honour them with his Presence in the City of Amsteldam where he arrived from Sordam some days before the Ambassadours who had received Orders to tarry for some time there before they went to the Hague in order to be Admitted to the publick Audience of Their High and Mightinesses In the mean while the Magistrates of Amsteldam took effectual Care to provide every thing for the Magnificent Reception of the said Embassy great store of Cannon being planted upon the Bastions facing the River Amstell which way the Ambassadours were to come All the young Men of the City mounted on Horseback with very splendid Equipages and those of the best Rank and Quality went to meet him in their Coaches The Magistrates deputed some of their Members to Compliment Their Excellencies at their Landing which was about a quarter of a League without the City whither they were conducted in the Yatchs of the State and received with a Discharge of all the Cannon round the Ramparts The three Ambassadours wire conducted by the Deputies into the Coach of one of the Chief Magistrates of the City the Deputies took their Places in the second and the rest of the Coaches were taken up by the Gentlemen of the Embassy among whom as it was reported was His Czarish Majesty But first of all rid the beforementioned Gentlemen on Horseback who leading the Van were followed by the Trumpets of the State and these by some Tartars Armed with Bows and some Muscovites on Horseback After these marched on foot twenty Pages belonging to Their Excellencies the Ambassadours very richly Clad their Coats being of Scarlet Cloth covered all over with very rich Gold and Silver Galloons These went immediately before the Coach wherein sat the three Ambassadours Guarded on each side by twelve Tall and lusty Fellows Cloath'd in a Slavonian Dress carrying each a Silver Ax in their hands and Cimmetars with Silver Hilts on their Sides They had red Cloaks over their Cassacques trimm'd on both sides with large Silver Buttons and large Plated Loops all which together made a very Glorious and Magnificent Show These Coaches were followed by a great many Footmen likewise clad in red Scarlet Cloath trimmed with Silver Galloons His Excellency the General Le Fort appeared that day in an Europian Habit and the other two Ambassadours in a Muscovite Dress but their Apparel was extreamly Rich. Thus they passed in very good order through the Chiefest Streets of Amsteldam to the Lodgings prepared for them where stood a Company of City Trained-bands in Arms to render their Reception the more Magnificent All the Streets through which they passed were crowded with an infinite number of People who were flock'd to the City to be Spectators of the most solemn Entrance that had been seen there for many years before and for several days after their Excellencies were treated with all the magnificence imaginable at the Charge of the City of Amsteldam all which though it amounted to a considerable Summ nevertheless the Magistrates being willing upon this Occasion to give the most ample Demonstrations that possible could be of their Esteem and Respect for His Czarish Majesty's person caused a great Fire-Work to be prepared representing a Triumphal-Arch in Honour of his Majesty It was erected upon the River Amstel which had communicated its Name to the Famous City of Amsteldam in a place where it might be seen at a great distance being of great height and having four Fronts alike to the four principal Corners of the World the whole Fabrick being of the Corinthian Order adorned with the Arms of His Czarish Majesty with Tritons Vessels
applied themselves to the Sea it is no great wonder if they have not neglected the Passage by Water into China by the Way of the Rivers Oby Genessai and Yamour and in lieu thereof have left nothing unattempted to open their Passage thither by Land 'T is true the Heaps of Ice which for the greatest part of the Year are to be met with at the Entrance of the River Oby the many Water-falls of the River Genessai and the Bulrushes which choak almost up the mouth of the River Yamour are Obstacles which though they might have been surmounted by industrious and expert Seamen yet were so terrifying to the Muscovites as to bereave them of all hopes of Success And to confess the Truth considering the Method used by the Russian Merchants and Caravans and the good Order taken for their convenient Passge through these Parts the same contribute not a little towards mitigating both the Trouble and Charge of so long a Journey They set forward most commonly from the City of Muscow in February when the Snow being well beaten they travel in nineteen or twenty days as far as Tobolskoy the Capital City of Siberia eight hundred English Miles distant from the City of Muscow If it happens to thaw about that time which is very seldom they take the conveniency of the Rivers on this and the other side of the River Oby by which means they cross the Country till they come to the Ostiakoi the first of the Eastern-Tartars Subject to the Czar of Muscovy But if the Frost continue they go on by Land the same way where they change their Horses for Renes or Rain-deers which carry them with incredible swiftness over the Snow and Ice to the City of Genessai built by the Muscovites upon the River of the fame Name for the conveniency of their Merchants traveling in those Parts Here it is they take Vessels which carry them upon the Rivers Tongusi and Augara against the Stream to the Lake of Baikala From this Lake they either take Shipping upon the River Schelinga as far as to a City of the same Name owing likewise its foundation to the Muscovites or else proceed in their Way by Land immediately after they have cross'd the beforementioned Lake through the Country of the Mongul Tartars who readily furnish them with Mules and Dromedaries to the Confines of China But for the better understanding of this Famous Passage by Land I will conclude this Letter with giving you the best Account I could get of several of the Muscovites here of the Road lately taken by several Embassy's sent into China They go from Muscow to the Famous Convent of Troitza about sixty English Miles from thence to the City of Peresla as many Miles from Troitza From Peresla they go to the City of Rostof sixty Miles from the last and so to the City of Jeresla near a hundred and twenty Miles distant from thence From Jeresla they go to the Great City of Wologda which lies one hundred and eighty Miles from the last From this place they continue their Journey to the small City of Tottma upon the River Wergno Suchuno and so to Vstiuga a considerable Place upon the River Suchana from thence to a small City call'd Lolowitzgotz upon the River Wietzegda which oxonerates it self in the. River Dwina About fifty Miles from thence they pass through a great Forrest above seven hundred Miles long after which they come to Kaigorod a City upon the Famous River Kama From Kaigorod they proceed to Solokamskoy a City upon the River Vsolsko which thereabouts discharges it self in the River Kama Thus they continue their Journey for one hundred and twenty Miles without any considerable River till they come to the River Lusowa where they take Shipping for stzogorod a goodly City near three hundred and fifty Miles distant from1 Solokamskoy From thence they go forward to Jat a Town upon the River Ajat and so by Romoshora upon the River Resh to Newagorod upon the River Newa the first Town of Siberia From hence they pass through a fertile and well Peopled Country to the Town of Zudna situate upon the River Nietza to the Towns of Niginiskoy Irbitskoy Kirginskoy Subrorawa and Jalaw the last of which lies upon the River Tura where the River Newa discharges it self into the same They continue their Journey from hence to the Town of Krasna to the City of Tumeen and so to the Town of Makoma upon the River Pishina where it discharges it self into the River Tura from thence to the Town of Siltska at the confluence of the two Rivers Tura and Tobol the last being on the right which brings them to the City of Tobolskoy the Capital of Siberia situate upon the confluence of the two Rivers Jotish and Tobol the last of which has given her its name From Tobolskoy they continue their Journey through the Towns of Demian and Samurskoyam and about two Miles beyond the last they meet with a Branch of the Famous River Oby which brings them to the City of Surguto and afterwards to the City of Narim situate upon the Banks of the River Oby Here they quit this River and proceed to the River Kett which brings them to the Town of Kettsway From hence they go to Makafskoy and after they have travelled for two days and nights through a great Forrest they come to the City of Jeneskay upon the River Jeneskay which is both very Navigable and its Banks inhabited by the Ostiaki After they have continued their Journey for some time upon this River they leave it to the Right and take their way towards the River Tungunsi whereabouts are the Habitations of the Tungeses which they leave again to the Right and proceed in their Journey to the City of Ilimskoy situate on the River Ilim the Country thereabouts being pretty well inhabited After they have travelled three days and nights through a Forrest they come to the River Augara which brings them to the City of Irkuskoy situate upon the River About thirty Miles from hence is the Lake of Baikala where the River Augara has its first rise being the utmost Boundary of Siberia From hence they continue their Journey through the Towns of Kabaria Belsko-Saimcko and Ostrog-Vdinskoy in the Province of Dauria inhabited by Tartars to the City of Jerawena situate upon a Lake of the same name After they have pass'd this Lake they are forced to travel through a great Desart which is watered however by the River Vda and at last come to the Lake called Schacks-Oser about two Miles over then they come to the Village of Plothus about a Mile from whence the Rivers Sueta and Onna fall into the River Ingeda which from thence forward is called Schilka and being augmented by the two Rivers Nertza and Arguna produces that Famous River the Yamour From hence they go to the City of Nertzinskoy upon the River Nertza being the last Fortress upon these Frontiers belonging to the Muscovites Then they travel for near three weeks thro' Desarts Forrests and Boggy-grounds till they come to Arguna a small City upon a River of the same name and the last Place under the Muscovite Jurisdiction in the Province of Dauria Here they meet in their way with the Rivers Derby Gann Kailar and Saduma all which discharge themselves into the Arguna till they come to the Source of the River Jal where they meet with he first Out-gards of the Chineses being a very fertile and well peopled Country inhabited by the Targutshini who are Pagans Subject to China Through these they pass to a Village called Suttigarski and from thence to the City of Naun three Miles distant from the former From hence they proceed in their Journey for several days through another Desart destitute of any Springs or other Water till they come to the River Casumur which discharges it self in the River Naun They pass afterwards by the Ruines of a great many Cities and at three days Journey from the Famous Chinese Wall through a Road cut out of the Rocks which brings them to the City of Karakaton After they have pass'd the Chinese Wall the first Place they meet with is the City of Galgan not above a Mile within the Wall from thence they go to Xantuming Xunguxu Xangote and Tunxo to Peking the Residence of the Emperours of China ` Being sensible that I have sufficiently tired your Patience I will add no more but in expectation of your next rest Sir Vienna Feb. 24. 1699. Yours c
betwixt Veranowitz and Asoph as being very deep without any Islands and its Current very smooth being not interrupted by any Sands but the Mouth of this River is so full of Shelves and choak'd up with Sands that at Ebb-Tide there is not above seven Foot Water so that those Geographers who have describ'd us the Entrance of this River as very convenient and one of the moil famous Ports have imposed their own Inventions upon the World for Truth It was for this reason His Czarish Majesty ordered the Coast thereabouts to be founded being willing to find out a convenient Place to make a Port of as near as possibly could be to the City of Asoph When the Turks formerly used to send any Ships of a considerable burthen to that Town they were obliged to unload near the Entrance of the River Mious in the Crim Tartary about five and twenty Leagues distancc from Asoph where at Low Water it is at least fifteen or sixteen Foot deep The Mauscovites sounding along the same Coast came to a certain Cape at about seven Leagues disteance from the Don where at an Ebb Tide there was twelve Foot Water The Coast was hereabouts very high and steep the Ground Sandy but so hard that it resembled both in Substance and Hardness a Free-Stone To the East of the Cape there was a small Bay and at about a Leagues distance from thence to the West there was a small River whose Current turn'd in form of a Half-Moon round that Point of the Land The Shoar from the bay was of an easie Ascent The Czar having been exactly informed Concerning the convenient Scituation of this Place order'd a Fort of Five bastions to be erected and a City to be built somewhat below it likewise defended by a good Fortification betwixt vvhich and the Bay there was a Plain through vvhich vvas to be cut the great Channel which was to dissembogue near the Point of the Land into the Sea and in the midst of this there vvas to issue another less Channel tovvards the Bay for the conveniency of Vessels of less burthen I have seen the Model of the vvhole Design The Port is to be Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Foot long and half as broad Concerning the Conjunction of the Rivers Wolga and Don vve have already mentioned before the advantageous Scituation of the Grounds betwixt the tvvo Rivers and the condition of the tvvo lesser ones which come within a much nearer distance of one another so that the whole design being founded upon very good Grounds it will succeed in all Probability For it is proposed to stop the Waters of these two lesser Rivers which are to be join'd in the Grand Canal by many Sluices to bring them to such a heighth as sha11 be judged sufficient for the passage of Ships of a considerable burthen there are daily above tvventy Thousand Men Employed to dig the Ground besides others who are to bring the vvhole to Perfection As to vvhat relates to the third part to wit his Navy it must be confessed that the Czar made use in this Point of all the foresight and Prudence that could be e expected from the molst refin'd Politician For being immoveable in his Resolution of ridding his Hands of the Strelitzes that used to stand under the Command of the best of the Russian Nobility he judged not vvithout Reason that at this Juncture he could not pitch upon a more seasonable and more glorious Expedient than this to Employ them in the Service of their Country and at the same time to take away from them all opportunities of future Revolts Pursuant to this Resolution he issued his Declaration wherein he told them that the Present State of Affairs being such as required the Muscovites to appear formidable at Sea and he being fully convinced both of their Valour and Fidelity he wished nothing more at this time than to see them apply themselves to the Knowledge of Maritime Affairs to qualifie themselves for the best Commands at Sea That for this purpose he had taken all imaginable care to provide a sufficient number of Sea Officers Famous for their Skill in Maritime Affairs and the managing of Sea Engagements under whose Conduct they might be trained up in this Art and fitted for the highest Commands That he being resolved to try the Foundation of the present Glory of the Russian Monarchy upon its Naval Strength and rendring himself redoubtable at Sea would head them in Person and shew them by his own Example what Footsteps to tread in Accordingly it was resolved that each Subject proportionable to his Ability should contribute to the Equipping and maintenance of a certain number of Men of War the chief Cities of the Empire being like wise obliged to bear a proportion in this Tax By this means His Majesty Equipped a good Fleet without the least impairing his ordinary Revenue and engaged at the same time the Nobility and chief Men in the Cities to take Cognizance of Maritime Affairs to render themselves capable of the Sea-Service which they were to look upon for the future as the main and most durable Establishment of the whole Empire These several Projects were no sooner set on foot with the utmost Expedition by the most admirable Vigilancy and indefatigable Care of the Czar put towards Autumn he set out on his Journey in order to his return to the Capital City of Muscow leaving a great body of his Troops under the Command of the Generalissimo of his Armies the Prince Alekis Simoniwitz Schein near Asoph to cover the Workmen that were Employed in bringing the Works projected thereabouts to Perfection At his Arrival in the City of Muscow he was received with all the Demonstrations of Honour due to a Conquerour Marching along the Streets to the Cattle in Triumph with a great many Chariots loaden with the Spoils of the Enemy and Prisoners before him Among the rest was to be seen the Officer who having Deserted the Czar's Service was surrender'd to the Muscovites pursuant to the Capitulation before Asoph had his Hands tied behind him and was soon after Executed as a Terrour to others It is past Expression with what loud and joyful Acclamations this publick Entry was Solemnized by the People who flocked thither from all Parts to adorn the Triumph of the Conquering Prince Great were the Rejoicings that were made that Night all over the City but the best was reserved till the Winter when a most Glorious Firework was let off upon the Ice The whole was composed of several Artificial Machines inclosed in a double Square surrounded with Rockets of all sorts and Sizes which took up a great space upon the Ice His Czarish Majesty took a particular Delight to be among the Engineers and had himself a Hand in making the greatest Machine which was erected in the very Center of the rest It was a double Spread Eagle who with his left Paw darted Rockets upon an Horrizontal Line at one of
there is all the Reason in the World to believe that he will always Triumph over the Turks at Sea who never did any thing Memorable in that Se'rvice and who according to all outward Appearance are less in a Condition than ever to signalize themselves upon the Watery Element at a time when their Empire appears in a declining State I will leave it to your own Judgment whether it would not shake the very Foundation of the Turkish Monarchy considering its present tottering Condition if the Muscovites should chase the Turks out of the Black-Sea and make themselves Masters of their Ports on these Coasts which from the City of Caffa as far as to the mouth of the Borysthenes must thereby be exposed to the Mercy of the Muscovites And it is not improbable that Constantinople it self might be hardly put to it or at least run the Hazzard of being laid in Ashes by a Bombardment What would in such a case become of the Crim-Tartary which being already enclosed on all sides by a good number of strong Fortesses must of necessity fall without making one Blow into the hands of the Muscovites if all Commerce and Correspondence betwixt the Peninsula and Constantinople should be cut off by the Muscovites becoming Masters of the Black-Sea Besides it is to be considered that as Places are attack'd now a-days they have only Precop and Caffa which are in a Condition to make some slender Defence But Sir being unwilling to tire your Patience with too long a Letter I will come to a Conclusion I must only repeat to you once more what I have intimated before That it was the greatest Over-sight the Turks could be guilty of not to take all the imaginable Precautions against the Muscovites becoming Masters of Asoph who thereby have opened themselves the way into the Black-Sea over which the Ottoman Empire always claim'd the Sovereignty in a most peculiar manner To make some Amends for so unpardonable an Error the most likely means they have left seems to be to conclude an everlasting Peace with the Muscovites thereby to lull them asleep that they may not lay hold of this Opportunity of rendring themselves redoubtable in the Black-Sea The Ottoman Port might thus reap a considerable Advantage by the Commerce with Muscovy by establishing certain Duties to be paid for the passage of Ships through the Channel leading to Constantinople in the same manner as it is practised in Denmark where the King of that Name receives Customs of the Ships that pass and repass the Sound in their going to and coming from the Baltick This appears to me the only most probable Means to plunge them out of that Misfortune which they have drawn upon themselves by their own Neglect it being allow'd by all that have any insight into the present State of Affairs in Muscovy That the present Czar Peter Alexiovitz has taken a firm Resolution not to rest satisfied till he has opened this Passage in order to establish a free Commerce with foreign Nations and to encourage them to come into his Ports near the Palus Meotis This Sir is the present Condition of the Russian Empire which was formerly look'd upon as most barbarous but which now bids fair for the Priority with any in Europe by reason of the Encrease of its Commerce with most Nations of the World by the indefatigable Vigilancy of their present Monarch who being scarce 28 Years of Age what is it that may not be expected from so Great a Prince if God pleases to bless him with a long Life For the Wolga is above five hundred Leagues to reckon from its first Spring to the Canal by which it is join'd with the River Don and this River from thence to the City of Asoph four hundred Leagues more fit for Ships of good Burthen and from the Canal of Communication betwixt these two noble Rivers there is two hundred Leagues distance to Asoph upon a straight Line all extream good Grounds Asoph and Astracan being situtuate under the most happy Climate in the World The Western side of the River Wolga is very well inhabited already and there is no great question but that the Conveniency of Commerce and Plenty of the Country will soon invite some of the Neighbouring vagabond Tartars to follow the footsteps of other more civiliz'd Nations when once they are made sensible of the Benefit of an Industrious and settled Life This is sufficiently verified by the Example of many of the Asiatick Tartars who have by degrees abandoned their vagabond and idle Life and follow'd their Prince into China where they are become Wealthy by their Traffick the like may be said of many of the Crim-Tartars those of Astracan Siberia Dauria and other parts subject to the Muscovites If we cast our eyes upon that Part of Muscovy whereabouts the Port of Arch-Angel is and consider that not above an Age ago these Patts were as little inhabited as any of Muscovy being low Grounds and situate under a very cold Climate But since the Establishment of Commerce in this Harbour the Country all thereabouts is very well stock'd with Inhabitants and many goodly Towns and Villages In the Southern Parts of Muscovy the Cities of Wologda Jeresla Rostof Pereslaw and others owe all their Encrease of Wealth to traffick Add to this the advantage of Commerce betwixt the Indies Persia and Muscovy by the way of the Caspian Lake or Sea all which Commodities may for the future be transported by the newly projected Canal betwixt the two Rivers Wolga and Don into all Parts of Europe what immense Profit and Riches must not by this means be conveyed into Muscouy which being already so considerable for its vast Extent and Advantageous Situation for Trade may in all probability thereby become the most Potent and Redoubtable in the World c. Amsteldam 30th October 1698. I am A LETTER FROM A Person of Quality Residing at the Imperial Court of VIENNA To his Friend in LONDON Concerning the late Solemn Muscovite Embassy AND SOME Other Matters Relating to His Present CZARISH MAJESTY THE Russian Empire and the Great TARTARY LONDON Printed for F. Coggan in the Inner-Temple-Lane MDDXCIX A LETTER FROM A Person of Quality Residing at VIENNA Concerning The present CONDITION OF THE Muscovite EMPIRE AS the late Journey of the present Czar Peter Alexiovitz has been for some time past the surprize of all Europe so I thought I could not make you a more Seasonable Return at this time for the Obligation you were pleased to lay upon me some Months ago in communicating to me your Observations concerning His Czarish Majesty's Stay in England and Holland than to inform you of what has past since his coming into this Court and his Return into Muscovy of which I have been partly an eye-witness the rest I stand indebted for the Correspondence of my Friends upon whose Integrity and Judgment I can fully rely I will not pretend to insist upon the Motives which induced the Czar
to Engage in so Extraordinary an Undertaking it being agreed on all hands that as his Design was to build the Frame of the present Russian Monarchy upon a much more solid Foundation than it was in former times so he judged nothing could more conduce to obtain this Great End than if he should take this Opportunity of being inform'd in Person concerning these Maxims which have rendred some of the European States so flourishing in our Age For whereas the Russian Monarchs used to make the Ignorance of their Subjects the Main Foundation-stone of their Authority so it is obvious to every unbyassed Person that his present Majesty looks upon the Improvements of all Arts and Sciences and the Establishment of a regular Discipline as the Main Pillars of the Greatness of this Monarchy It was in the Prosecution of this Grand Design he appear'd though Incognito in England and Holland and after having satisfy'd himself in those Matters which were the Chief Subject of his Curiosity he resolved to visit likewise the Imperial Court of Vienna where he arrived with the Muscovite Embassy towards the latter end of June last past He had scarce been a few days in this City when he received Letters from Asoph That part of that Garrison to the Number of betwixt seven and eight Thousand Men having receiv'd Intelligence That the Tartars had put a great Number of their best Horses in the circumjacent Pastures under the Guard of three thousand Men were marched out against them had defeated the Guard and brought near thirty thousand Horses into Asoph These Letters were in a few olays after follow'd by an Express from Muscovy with an Account That the Remainders of the antient Muscovite Guards whom they call Strelitzes had Mutiny'd under Pretence of Want of Pay and that being join'd by some others were marched towards Muscow the Capital City of the whole Empire with an Intention to Surprize and Ransack the Place The Strelitzes who formerly might be compared to the Janisaries of the Turks had given such frequent proofs of their Barbarity and Cruelty against the Inhabitants of this City upon such like Occasions that many of them being terrified by so unexpected a Revolt in the Czar's Absence left their Habitations and a general Consternation had seised the whole Empire as dreading the Effects of the Fury of these Insolent Soldiers The Princes Loff Kerilvitz Nariskin Procorofskoi and Boris Alexiovitz Gallizin who had the Supream Administration of the Government during the Czar's Absence were not wanting in their Duty to encourage the Inhabitants both by Words and their own Example and that nothing might be wanting on their side to reduce this rebellious Crew to their Duty sent some of the Nobility back'd by a good number of Troops to endeavour to appease their Fury but they were so far from hearkning to the Propositions offered them by the Deputies of the Governours that they fired at them and forced them to retire to the City Thus all fair means proving ineffectual General Gourdon was sent out with a good Body of faithful Troops Commanded for the most part by foreign Officers who meeting with the Rebels as they were advanced within four Leagues of Muscow Attack'd and totally Routed them killing many of them upon the Spot and carry the rest Prisoners to the City where many of them receiv'd afterwards the due Reward of their Treachery The Czar being over-joyed at the Success of his Arms against these Mutineers resolved not only to stay for some time at this Court but also to continue his Journey from hence to Vienice before his Return into Muscovy I have hinted to you before the Chief Motive which induced His Czarish Majesty to undertake so long and dangerous a Journey but besides this there may be alledged another having a peculiar Respect to the Imperial Courts For the Muscovites having by the Conquest of Asoph opened themselves a Gate into the Palus Meotis and consequently into the Black-Sea had all the Reason in the World to promise themselves the entire Conquest of the Crim-Tartary and the Tartarian Peninsula it self if the War should be carried on but for two years longer by the Confederates against the Infidels there being nothing but the Cities of Precop Crim and Caffa places of no great Strength which could make any considerable Resistance and prevent them from making themselves Masters of all the Coast from Asoph to the mouth of the River Borysthenes where they had already got firm footing by the Conquest of the Fortress of Kasikermeen in the Year 1695 and the Submission of many of the Cossacks upon the Frontiers to the Czar's Obedience His Czarish Majesty who from the beginning of his War with the Turks had had no less in view than the reducing of these Places and making himself Master of the Black-Sea had before his departure out of Muscovy made all the necessary Preparations for the promoting of so Great a Design He had not only strengthned the City of Asoph by some new Fortifications and erected a strong Fortress at some small distance from thence but had caused a new Port to be made for the Conveniency of his Navy This Great Prince who perfectly understands the advantageous Situations of his Dominions for Commerce one of the Main Pillars of the Prosperity of the Commonwealth has ever since his Accession to the Throne left no stone unturn'd to improve it to the utmost Advantage It is to the Muscovites Europe stands indebted for the Discovery of the Way by Land into China and by the frequent Embassy sent by the present Czar into that Country the Way through the Great-Tartary is as well or better known to the Russians than some Provinces of their own Empire Several goodly Cities and Villages have been built for the Conveniency of the Muscovite Carevans And a vast Tract of Ground has been incorporated with the Russian Empire It is incredible of what Consequences the China Trade by Land is to the Muscovites who by the Help of their Sleds drawn by Renes in the Winter-time perform this great Journey with much Expedition Many of the Vagabond Tartars incited by the Industry of the Muscovite Merchants trading in these parts have quitted their Solitudes and have settled themselves in Siberia and some other Provinces of Muscovy which were scarce inhabited within these hundred years The Communication betwixt Muscovy and some part of the Indies as well as the Persian Empire by help of the Caspian Sea as it is obvious to every body that will but cast an Eye upon the Maps so it is no less advantageous to the Russians than the China Trade The Banajans the most Trading People of all the Indies have a very considerable Settlement in the City of Astracan the Boundary of Europe and Asia on that side from whence they furnish Mascovy with all the most precious Things the Indies afford and by the continual passage of Merchants and others trading from the City of Muscow to Astracan and
Hostilities or Depredations such of the beforementioned Tartars or Cossacks whether Muscovites or Turks that shall in any wise violate or act contrary to this Article being to be exemplary punished by their respective Sovereigns I am apt to imagine that considering the small Space of Time concluded in this Treaty for the Truce betwixt these two Potent Princes it will be look'd upon among you who live at so great a distance as a Politick Contrivance of this Court and that of Poland to wipe off the Blemish of deserting so Potent an Ally who has given so considerable a Diversion to the Turks during some Years of this War but I do not question before I come to the Conclusion of this Letter to make it apparent that as the whole was transacted by his Czarish Majesty's Orders and good liking so the same is founded upon a most solid and refined Reasons of State on die side of the Muscovites I told you before That the Czar of Muscovy having by the Conquest of the City of Asoph situate so near the Palus Miotis not only opened his Way into the black-Black-Sea but also to the entire Conquest of the Crim-Tartary and the whole Penirsula as far as to the Borysthenes it self had all the Reason in the World to be desirous of the Continuance of the War against the Turks and that this was one of the Chief Motives of his Journey to the Come of Venna But his Czarish Majesty being made sufficiently sensible that at this juncture of time the Confederates without great Prejudice to their own Interest could not refuse the Advantageous Propositions offered by the Turks he could not pitch upon a better Expedient than this Truce of two years to accomplish his Great Design of either making himself Master of the Black-Sea or at least to oblige the Turks to grant his Subjects a free Trade in their Ports for the Conveniency of Transporting the China Indian Persian and Russian Commodities into Italy and other Parts of Europe This will be manifest if we make a due comparison betwixt the present posture of Affairs betwixt the Turks and Muscovites on that side For not to mention here the present flourishing State of the Muscovite Empire and the declining Condition of the Turks in general it is most evident that the Ottomans lie under no small Disadvantages in respect of the Muscovites on that side The Muscovites by the late Conquests upon the Borysthenes and Palus Miotis by the Submission of the Cossacks and Circassian Tartars by strengthning the old and erecting several new Fortresses in these Parts have so strengthned their Frontiers thereabouts that they seem to be inpenetrable considering the powerful Succours they are able to send to the Relief of any place that shall be attack'd by the Turks the Muscovite Armies by the introduction of a regular Martial Discipline among them and the vast Number of well qualified foreign Officers who command them being at least equal if not superiour to the Turkish Janisaries themselves the Flower and Main strength of their Armies which also has been reduced to a much less number by the Misfortunes they have suffered in the last War against the Christians It is furthermore to be considered that the Turks having hitherto look'd upon the Muscovites as so inconsiderable that the Crim-Tartary was thought a sufficient Bulwark against them their Fortresses and Maritime Towns though of the greatest Consequence to them in respect of maintaining the Dominion of the Black-Sea have been neglected whereas by the Vigilancy of his present Czarish Majesty the Muscovite Frontiers are in a better State than any of his other Dominions by the Addition of several regular Fortifications The Naval Strength of Muscovy tho' scarce worth mentioning a few years ago has by the indefatigable Care of the present Czar Peter Alexiovitz been established upon so good and firm a Foundation that the same is incomparably superior to the Turkish Fleet which has been batter'd so often by the Venetians of late both in respect of number of Ships and the goodness of their Seamen and Commanders of which last the Czar has taken a considerable number into his Service during his stay in these Parts The Treaty betwixt the Christians and Turks being chiefly built upon this Foundation that Matters should remain among all Parties in Statuo-quo his Czarish Majesty had little prospect of obtaining thy Dominion over the Black-Sea or a free Commerce in the Turkish Ports by a long Truce which would have given the Turks leisure to recover Breath and to strengthen their Fortresses and Maritime Places on that side whereas two years cannot be judged in any wise a proportionable time requisite for to put themselves in a State of defence against so Potent a Neighbour as the Czar of Muscovy is at present so that at the expiration of these two years his Czarish Majesty has all the Probability on his side to obtain his aim either by the prolongation of this Truce or force of Arms. That this is his Czarish Majesty's design seems sufficiently probable to me from his vast Preparations at Sea being informed from very good hands that he has at Veroniza only near fourty stout Men of War ready to put to Sea most of which carry betwixt fifty and sixty Guns besides thirty more which are to be ready and fit for Service against the next Spring and a proportionable number of Great and small Gillies Man'd for the most part with foreign Mariners very Expert in the Sea-service What Force are the Turks able to oppose at this time against such a Naval Strength when they have not been able to cope with the Venetians at Sea in this last War I am not ignorant that some of our Politicians in this Court are of Opinion that when by the intended Canal betwixt the two Rivers Wolga and Don a Communication is made with the Caspian-Sea the Czar may with more Conveniency extend his Conquests that way but considering that the Caspian-Sea has few good Ports and that the Muscovite Territories are separated by Land by vast Desarts from Persia and that there is a strict Correspondence betwixt these two vast neighbouring Empires founded upon the Conveniency of their mutual Commerce I see no great Reason why it may not be more reasonably supposed that in case the Turks do not by granting free Commerce to the Muscovites after the expiration of this two Years Truce prevent the Storm his Czarish Majesty should not turn his Arms against them especially in the Black-Sea where every thing seems to flatter him with hopes of Success and great Advantages on his side I am afraid I have been too tedious in these Reflections wherefore I would not tire your Patience if I had not something to add before I come to the Conclusion of this Letter concerning the Grand-Tartary and other Northern Countries betwixt the River Oby and the Chinese Wall in the Description of which as the antient Geographers have labour'd with such ill Success and