Folio 158: Wich to Carteret. Orders received and will be instrumented rapidly. Additional...

Folio 158: Wich to Carteret. Orders received and will be instrumented rapidly. Additional article only exception to treaty of mutual defence between HM and late Czar, signed and ratified last year. Asked if they intended to stand by the contract, the ministers promised an early answer. Before confirmation of these intentions from the Czarina arrive I cannot induce count to act in favour of Queen of Hungary. It is well disposed towards her but until now have with reason acted with great caution. No truth that Czarina is inclined to send money or troops to House of Austria as she has untoward thoughts about the Queen and it will be a long haul to erase them. Former dispatches have information about Czarina's mood regarding peace with Sweden. Mediation of France rejected. Nolcken returned to Swedish army. Hostilities continuing in Finland. Particulars of progress of war not available unless favourable to Russia. de la Chetardie's credit entirely declined. No business either foreign or domestic has been transacted since court arrived here and the celebrations continue until next Sunday. Maybe ministers will change things successfully then. Lestock great favourite with Czarina and major collaboration in recent revolution. Would be great asset to us but our arguments could not outweigh the large amount of French gold he has had. Cardinal Fleury spares nothing in those cases whatever is said of his economy. Crie de coeur for more money, regularly paid. Finch had vastly more. Six English ships arrived at Kronstadt. No news of my secretary. Report of 2 Swedish men of war met at Dagaroot convoy for our trade vessels appears necessary. Dated Moscow, 27 May 1742.