The Russian accounts of their victories
on the Black Sea must have been greatly exaggerated. According to these,
the Captain Pacha's fleet was annihilated; yet themselves have lately
brought him on the stage again, with fifteen ships of the line, in order
to obtain another victory over him. I believe the truth to be, that he
has suffered some checks, of what magnitude it is impossible to say,
where one side alone is heard, and that he is still master of that sea.
He has relieved Oczakow, which still holds out; Choczim also is still
untaken, and the Emperor's situation is apprehended to be bad. He spun
his army into a long cord, to cover several hundred miles of frontier,
which put it in the power of the Turks to attack with their whole force
wherever they pleased. Laudon, now called to head the imperial army, is
endeavoring to collect it; but in the mean time the campaign is drawing
to a close, and has been worse than fruitless. The resistance of Russia
to Sweden has been successful in every point by sea and land, This, with
the interference of Denmark, and the discontent of the Swedish nation;
at the breach of their constitution, by the King's undertaking an
offensive war without the consent of the Senate, has obliged him to
withdraw his attacks by land, and to express a willingness for peace;
one third of his officers have refused to serve.
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