Folio 1: Finch to Harrington. Generalissimo and his brother Prince Lewis went two...

Folio 1: Finch to Harrington. Generalissimo and his brother Prince Lewis went two days ago to Kronstadt. The Turkish ambassador went to Peterhof and rumours are that Turkish affairs are not settled, as was suggested here. No dispatches from general Keith's army since Field Marshal Lacy went there. News of small incidents only. Lagerflycht asks daily for his passport which he porbably will only get when departure of Bestuzev from Sweden certain. De la Chetardie unable to join great Duchess at Cards: he was found later to be visiting Princess Elizabeth. Count Osterman pleased with conduct of Sir Everard Faulkener in Constantinople from whom letter received by me this week. Behaviour of new French Ambassador must be less staisfactory to the Count as instead of being mediator between both parties he is the declared advocate for one. Information about Kalmuck embassy mistaken. Several intestine disputes about successor of the late Don Duc Ombo. Accounts of deeds of Krasno Tzockin who commands among Don Cossacks and has rank of brigadier in Russian army. Incident of drunken soldiers and generalissimo giving 1000 rubles to them from Czar and 500 from himself. Count Lynar setting out soon for Leipzig, general Spiegal proposes leaving next week hoping to pay court to HM at Hanover. Cram had audience of leave without seeing young Czar and departs next Tuesday. He fears Swedes may plan invasion into Courland at instigation of France and Prussia, in order to overthrow recent nomination and support Count Saxe's previous election. He says movements in Finland false alarm. Hardly believable as senior officers most depended on by Sweden are in Finland. General Lowendahl commanding Revel, will be wary there and Prince of Hesse Homburg went yesterday to command on the Narva side. No notice taken of your secret intelligence relating to French and Swedish intrigue. Subject broached of de la Chetardie's visits to Count Osterman, inquiring if any progress made which he answered with coldness and indifference. He said the Princess's love of Russia too great to allow her to indulge in such projects. She is much loved, more so than Great Duchess. Count not entirely calm. Count Munnich enemy of generalissimo certain cause of most unrest. Dated St Petersburg, 22 Aug 1741.