Folio 80: Finch to Harrington. Count Osterman almost disputed that I had ever asked...

Folio 80: Finch to Harrington. Count Osterman almost disputed that I had ever asked for my audiences of leave, therefore suggested he had misunderstood me and I his answers. Now he had no doubt as I have put it in writing. Although my answer has come he delays further by suggesting we wait for one from Bestuzev, and makes plain my presence here is useless. Having heard by an indirect but sure channel that out affair is resolved, he would only say he had voted for it, insinuating mysteriously that Count Golovkin opposes it. The Great Duchess has all along been for it. Bestuzev who was exiled to his father's estate returned here today. French gentleman D'avesne (not Dolmene as in f.58) has returned to France. No one appears to know his reason for coming here. The Persian ambassador appears to be a wet Mahometan, as he drank so much champagne and got so completely drunk as any Christian, even of the Greek Church. Court out of mourning for late Czarine and young Czar's accession to be celebrated tomorrow. Dated St Petersburg, 13 Oct 1741.