Folio 18: Wich to Carteret. Mardefeld ordered to join with me in thwarting pernicious...

Folio 18: Wich to Carteret. Mardefeld ordered to join with me in thwarting pernicious views and schemes of de la Chetardie who is making last effort and has made great impression on Czarina. He spent three hours eloquently trying to induce Czarina to unite with France, Sweden and Denmark persuading her that there is no security for her except by that action. He said those measures of HM, the Queen of Hungary and the King of Prussia were only to amuse her and then to betray her, that the whole world could see the aforementioned 3 powers were entirely attached to the unfortunate family at Riga. Also that King of Prussia known to be ambitious and avaricious might prove eventually to be a dangerous neighbour to Russia; therefore necessary for her safety to co-operate with France. de la Chetardie insinuated to Czarina that he had heard she was about to renew a defensive Alliance with HM, and he hoped she would delay, as he had information that the Marshal de Mallebois would soon be ordered to invade HM's Electoral dominions. If so HM would claim Czarina's assistance which the King of France would think prejudicial and undeserved, having lent her large sums of money when she was Princess, to bring about the recent revolution. Offers peace with Sweden on her terms if she would enter into alliance with France and Sweden, and proposed a marriage for Duke of Holstein and the Princess of France. All this should be abortive given time. Dated Moscow, 12 July 1742.