With respect to the alliance between this and the two imperial courts,
nothing certain transpires. We are enabled to conjecture its progress,
only from facts which now and then show themselves. The following may be
considered as indications of it. 1. The Emperor has made an attempt to
surprise Belgrade. The attempt failed, but will serve to plunge him into
the war, and to show that he had assumed the character of mediator, only
to enable himself to gain some advantage by surprise. 2. The mediation
of France is probably at an end, and their abandonment of the Turks
agreed on; because they have secretly ordered their officers to quit the
Turkish service. This fact is known to but few, and not intended to be
known: but I think it certain. 3. To the offer of mediation lately made
by England and Prussia, the court of Petersburg answered, that having
declined the mediation of a friendly power (France), she could not
accept that of two courts, with whose dispositions she had reason to be
dissatisfied. 4. The States General are said to have instructed their
ambassador here, lately, to ask of M.
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