Folio 114: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Letters from Konigsberg and Danzig mention a recent...

Folio 114: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Letters from Konigsberg and Danzig mention a recent encounter between troops of Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg. Baron Safirov has opposite report. Fault could not be applied to the Russian troops in the duke's service, they only defended themselves against attack by Hanover. We say the Russians were the first aggressors and were beaten. Their demands for free passage out of the country were unwarranted as they were on oath to the duke. Safirov ranted that only our German ministers' animosity had brought matters to this extreme and only because of the duke's kinship with the Czar. I replied this was not an act of HM but a just resentment of the Emperor against the duke. Regarding my demand for a treaty of commerce between Great Britain and Russia he rejoined, as previously, not until a treaty of alliance was stipulated between us. One of the 3 Salofiof brothers had execution suspended on a promise of further discoveries against another of them. Recounts their original misfortunes. Enclosed a new edict against the import of foreign tobacco. Dated St Petersburg, 20 Mar 1718/9.