Folio 52: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Detailed account of discussion with Chancellor Golovkin...

Folio 52: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Detailed account of discussion with Chancellor Golovkin and Vice-Chancellor Safirov that I had not brought a concert or full power from England. Nevertheless orders were given to deliver a draft of the convention sent to Prince Kurakin in 1716 and then I received the scheme which I sent to you in the last post. No agreement for commerce. A plan for the operation of the next campaign must come first. Then commerce might be discussed only if mutually advantageous. It is said that planning this project would be difficult from London or the Hague, so full powers would be prerequisite to anything planned here. Assured of the Czar's sincere intentions and we ask for withdrawal of his troops from Germany, Poland and Danzig if he is in earnest, knowing that he could not have any enemies there, and that those troops annoyed the German princes. Safirov said the Russian troops in Poland are ordered to march but not whether out of Poland or just within it. If the king of Poland wished to be absolute he would have had the Czar, the Emperor and neighbouring princes and England for enemies. Intrigues of the Polish court are too well known. They knew Count Flemming had made overtures to HM to ally with them against the Czar, and entreated that no heed be given to the sinister insinuations of that minister. If the Czar has a mind to punish the Poles again he need only send Tartars and Kalmuks who will make them repent of their intriguing. They may plot in Vienna against the Czar and the king of Prussia, yet he hopes that those two, united, can defeat all designs. We then answered that HM had not entered into any measures against the Czar nor would, provided the friendship confirmed by 2 treaties since his accession held; but that if the Czar contemplated any disturbances in the Empire on account of Mecklenburg, it would be impossible to be sincerely friendly. The Vice-Chancellor, somewhat heated, complained that Mecklenburg had been the beginning of misunderstanding between our two courts; that English ministers had not mentioned the matter, nor had spoken to Wesselowski. I told him that you had made the same declaration as I am now doing and that Wesselowski must have forgotten to pass on the information. My orders were positive. In defence of the Russian troops in Mecklenburg he says they are there in the duke's service, to protect the duchess. We said the duke depended on the Czar and for that reason only he slighted the Emperor's mandates. This he denied and desired us to convey assurances to our court, which we promised. For every protestation we make about the Russian troops, their commander Prince Repnin is ordered to remain another week. Informed that resentment against HM is shown by trying to alienate the king of Denmark and by cultivating the Danish envoy here in concert with that `good Swede' the envoy of Prussia, who is also known to be against British interests. Much alarm caused here by the death of the king of Sweden and disgrace of Baron Gortz. Plans debated at the council of state included stopping provisions reaching Sweden to force Swedes to a peace. The Czar plans to have at sea 15-20 men of war as well as 160 galleys by next spring. Dated St Petersburg, 23 Jan 1718/9.