Folio 9: Finch to Harrington. Relating your justification of Burnaby to Count Osterman...

Folio 9: Finch to Harrington. Relating your justification of Burnaby to Count Osterman had no effect. He replied in a dry manner, saying what he had mentioned could only proceed from a motive for the good of the common cause, and, while, glad to find the intelligence ill-founded, he must think HM's service in Stockholm would suffer extremely and that he would never mention Burnaby's name again. He said Burnaby lived at Stockholm at greater expense than I had done, which was such a malicious insinuation that I changed the subject to my negotiation. Four tries at a meeting with Osterman only achieved a short interview because he was in pain, perhaps pretended, and between grunts and groans could only get general assurances such as Rondeau got before he died nearly 12 months ago. HM believed that the signing would coincide with minister's arrival. No change exists on Osterman's part, so if admittance can be got to persecute him till the treaty succeeds I will. Suhm presented with similar diamond to that of Lynar. Sort of ambassador from Khiva, which lies between Caspian Sea and Lake Aral. Another here from Bukharia. Dated StPetersburg, 16 Aug 1740.