Folio 145: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Danish envoy conversing with Baron Safirov was...

Folio 145: Jefferyes to Stanhope. Danish envoy conversing with Baron Safirov was told that Denmark being so engaged with Great Britain, there could be no discussion of the next campaign for fear that secret would be disclosed by him or his court, to Great Britain. They would rather continue was for 20 years than restore any part of their conquests except Finland. Vyborg, Schusselburg and Kexholm are most important to the Czar. Maybe Swedish affairs will make Denmark come to terms with the Russians, but prolonged war would be better than to suffer so potent and dangerous a neighbour in possession of those places, which are of greater importance to the Swedes than to the Russians: being the inlets to Finland, which, if continued in the hands of the Russians and the fleet together, would make it impossible for the queen of Sweden or her successors to be secure in her capital. Rumoured that the Swedes will submit to some harsh conditions, conjecturing that the Czar has not long to live and that the Russians not loving this place, will abandon it for Moscow, exposing these parts to be won easily by Sweden, I am incapable of believing mere suppositions, since surer methods could be taken, more agreeable to Sweden. Count Golovin has orders for captain-Commodore Hooft to command squadron at Revel. Orders to attack Aland, plunder it and carry away as many prisoners as possible. This may force Sweden to a peace. Dated StPetersburg, 17 April 1719.