Folio 49: Finch to Harrington. Count Osterman brought up topic of negotiation, with...

Folio 49: Finch to Harrington. Count Osterman brought up topic of negotiation, with my pressing desire to begin, which put him as usual out of temper, fighting me off with excuses both frivolous and tiresome. Then he went off to the subject of `his' king of Prussia, his impatience for the interview. Facility or maybe possibility of the negotiation may depend totally on him. As Swedish diet no longer secret, he repeated the suspicion abroad that the great sum in St. Severin's hand was for secret service in Sweden. He had heard French ambassador pressed to prevail on Cardinal Fleury to defray extra expenses of transporting troops into Finland, securing as lasting attachment Sweden to France. He believed Burnaby insinutated to Bielke that he was enabled and ready to assist, but he was reminded by him of his former conduct which he excused quite adequately. My own idea to help friends regain credit and remove Sweden from dependence on France is for this court to offer aid which could not be accepted, but from England it might. If negotiation succeeds, friendship between two courts will surely occasion sharing equally that expense, which apparently HM offers alone. Gave no complaint to duke of Courland on dilatoriness of Osterman, hinting only that the project had begun in Rondeau's time. This reciprocally desired by both courts. Prince Cerbatov in England, the Dresden channel and the impatience of Russia wanting an English minister had convinced HM of continual good feelings. HM anxious to see happy effects and he could not be satisfied by my negotiation even starting. Duke and Czarina shared same disposition to conclude with HM Duke mentioned Turkish affairs and not souring France and King of Prussia, but at last stated, with Bestuzev in the cabinet, it could be considered. Dated StPetersburg, 30 Aug 1740.