TURKEY IN ASIA, 19 



toman Porte ; that the basis of this treaty should be a general sur- 

 render of all the conquests made by the former, retaining only Choc- 

 zim as a security till the Porte should accede to the terms of agree- 

 ment; when it was also to be restored. On the other hand the king of 

 Prussia gave up the Belgic provinces, and even promised his assis- 

 tance in reducing them again to submit to the dominion of Austria. 



The king of Prussia was less successful in his mediation with Rus- 

 sia. Catharine had not, like Leopold, an imperial crown at stake5 

 which, unsubstantial as it is, has always its charms with those who are 

 educated in the habitual adoration of rank and dignities. Her con- 

 quests also, on the side of Turkey, were too important to be easily re- 

 linquished ; and she considered her dignity attacked by the insolent 

 style of Prussian mediation. The substance of her answer to the Prus- 

 sian memorial was, therefore, " That the empress of Russia would 

 make peace and war with whom she pleased, without the interference 

 of any foreign power." 



The campaign of 1791 opened, on the part of Russia, with the 

 taking of Maczin, on the 4th of April, by prince Gallitzin ; and in a 

 subsequent victory, on the 12th, by the same general, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Brailow, the Turks lost not less than 4000 men, and up- 

 wards of 100 officers, besides many pieces of cannon. On the 14th the 

 Russian arms experienced a check, by which they lost about 700 men, 

 and were obliged to relinquish their intention of besieging Brailow. 

 After re-inforcing this place, the vizier proceeded to the banks of the 

 Danube, near Silistria ; and by means of a bridge which he threw 

 across the river, his advanced posts were enabled to make incursions 

 on the opposite side. The ability of the vizier, and the valour of the 

 Turks, were however exerted in vain against the discipline and ex- 

 perience of European armies. In the month of June, 15,000 Turks 

 were defeated by a party of cavalry under general Kutusow. On the 

 3d of July the fortress of Anape was taken by general Gudowitch ; 

 and the garrison, to the amount of 6000 men, made prisoners. This 

 event was followed, on the 9th of the same month, by a signal victory 

 which prince Repnin obtained near Maczin over a body of 70,000 

 men, the flower of the Turkish army. The Ottomans left upwards of 

 4000 dead upon the field of battle, and lost their entire camp-equi- 

 page, colours, and 30 pieces of cannon. The Russians are said to have 

 lost only 150 men killed, and between 200 and 300 wounded. 



While the war was thus vigorously carried on, the mediating pow- 

 ers were not inactive. Great Britain and Prussia, in particular, de- 

 clared themselves determined to support the balance of Europe, and 

 to force the empress to peace upon the basis of a statu quo. Of the 

 interference of Britain in this dispute, we have treated more largely 

 in another place. To the first applications of the English minister, the 

 empress answered in nearly the same terms in which she had before 

 replied to the memorial of Prussia ; " That the British court would 

 not be permitted to dictate the terms of peace." In the course of the 

 negociation, however, her demands became more moderate : and as 

 the northern powers, and particularly Denmark, began to exert them- 

 selves for the prevention of hostilities, she confined her views to the 

 possession of Oczakow, with the district extending from the Bog to 

 the Dneister, and even then providing for the free navigation of the 

 latter river. The negociation was protracted to the 11th of August, 

 when at length peace was concluded between the czarina and the 



