Folio 136. To Kinsky. Gives substance of a letter from Paget of Feb 9 O.S. Nearly...

Folio 136. To Kinsky. Gives substance of a letter from Paget of Feb 9 O.S. Nearly all Turkish ministers have been changed except for the Mufti. Paget had hoped to advance the peace negotiations with the co-operation of the Camaican of Adrianople, an experienced diplomat who, unfortunately, has died. The Grand vizier has not yet consolidated his position, and the Kisler Aga, or head of the black eunuchs, is the favourite and wields undue influence. The Poles sent an agent to the Tartar Cham, hoping, thereby, to make a separate peace with the Porte who, however, rejected the overture and sent the agent back. The Turks would merely agree to destroy Kaminiec [Podolsky] on condition that the Poles handed back all their acquisitions in Moldavia, which the agent was not empowered to agree to. The Turks have reprovisioned Kaminiec and the Tartars are intent on inflicting the maximum injury on the Poles. The Arabs in the vicinity of Aleppo are in a rebellious mood and would pose a problem to the Turks if they were better organised and more resolute. Paget expects to go to Adrianople soon and hopes Stepney will by then have returned to Vienna. Thinks that the Emperor could persuade the Sophy [i.e. Shah] of Persia to break with the Porte if he sent an active and able ambassador. - Stepney also encloses a letter from the Sultan to the King for a recredential of Heemskerck to enable the latter to return to Vienna. He hands this letter to Boineburg who will [upon his return] no doubt inform Kinsky of all else that has happened at Dresden. [Draft].

Date and Place: 1694 Apr 8 O.S.