Folio 56: Rondeau to Townshend. Courier sent to Vienna to report death of late Czar...

Folio 56: Rondeau to Townshend. Courier sent to Vienna to report death of late Czar has returned with instructions from the Emperor to his ministers here, to solicit this court to prepare 30,000 troops to march. When or to where not fixed. Consequently, Count Wratislaw, Hochholzer and Baron Crame worked hard to persuade this court to have the troops ready when wanted. General Matushkin is to command them. He is unwilling to do so as he looks on it as an honorable exile for attempting to alter form of this government. Plausible excuse will be found not to fulfil promise to dispatch them. Memorial from duke of Liria will finish arguments dissuading Russia from present dispute, leaving Emperor to fight his unjust quarrels alone. Baron Mardefeld has reported that HM has sent envoy to Berlin with certain undoubtedly acceptable proposals. Friends of Vienna mortified, believing that king of Prussia will abandon Emperor when he is reconciled to Great Britain. This should deter Russia from helping the Emperor. Without cypher Colonel du Bourgay's demand for information cannot be granted, as too hazardous if letters intercepted. When he has it I will supply information to him of what goes on here. Westphal insinuates that the Emperor is greatest enemy of duke of Mecklenburg and that if it were not for HM the entire administration of the duchy would have been in the hands of the duke's brother. If the Czarina would write to the Emperor in favour of the duke before the 30,000 men were sent, his answer would show that he never designs to re-establish the duke in his duchy. The duchess will be irritated with the court of Vienna and this will serve us well. This court uneasy at frequent interviews between kings of Poland and Prussia, recognising their plan to attack Danzig which is to be Prussias' if taken, in order to assist the Electoral prince of Saxony to succeed his father. If true, the 30,000 will, Rondeau believes, march to Poland to assist that republic rather than go with the Empire. Information received from Persia that Prince Tamas arrived at Ispahan and was crowned. His ambassador has had audience with Czar. Eight ambassadors from Peking are at Selinginsky, first town belonging to Russia reached on way from China. 1500 verst from the Great Wall and 8000 verst from Moscow. Three were to go to Ayooka Chan, king of Western Kalmuk Tartars who live along Volga river. At border they were informed that Ayook Chan not being a sovereign prince they should not go further, so they stayed at Selinginsky awaiting further orders from Peking. They want help to attack the Great Con-Tayska king of the Black Kalmuks, who has been at war for 10 years with Emperor of China, having an army of 100,000 men and obliging the Chinese to confront them with an army three times that number, as they are better soldiers than the Chinese. Dated Moscow, 25 Mar 1730.