MY DEAR FRIEND,
The Porte having given a decisive answer, relative to the frigates which were brought to Constantinople to be sold, we shall sail for Gibraltar immediately. We have been detained here much longer than we expected, but the hospitality and munificence of Sir Robert Ainslie, have amply compensated this delay; and it is with the greatest regret, that I see myself on the eve of leaving his society, and of quitting a place where the hearts of every one seem to wish to detain us.
Nothing could exceed the animation of the Turks at the moment of our arrival at this capital. The King of Sweden had relieved the Porte from a great part of the force of the Russians, and the accounts of the glorious victories of Meadia and Caransebes, obtained over the Emperor, were confirmed and increased by the hundreds of prisoners who were daily brought in.
So complete a panic pervaded the Imperial troops, that on an alarm of the enemy's approach, the heavy baggage, which had been sent on towards Temeswar, was immediately abandoned, and a great part of it pillaged, and carried off by a corps of Partisans.
But at this moment, when victory, with extended wings, was following the Ottoman arms, and when each day brought them fresh advantages, the Grand Vizir suddenly halted, and then turned to the left. It was still hoped, however, that his operations would continue offensive; but probably reflecting on the danger of not finding subsistance for so immense an army, during the approaching winter, should he pursue the Emperor into the heart of his country, and that the Imperial armies from Transylvania and Moldavia might come down and cut him off from the Danube, he had determined not to lose sight of the banks of that river; and that, instead of pursuing the Emperor at random, wherever he chose to lead him, he had resolved to secure the conquests he had made, which would enable him to winter with safety in the enemy's country.
This opinion was, for some time, strengthened by his subsequent movements; he left a strong garrison in Meadia, and his march was directed through the Bannat of Temeswar, and pointed immediately at Semlin, which, had he taken, would have secured the left flank of the chain of posts, by which it was supposed he would have inclosed the Bannat. All his motions most strongly indicated an attempt upon that fortress, and, as there was no doubt of his succeeding, the inhabitants fled with all their effects. A corps of 3000 men, who were encamped under its walls, to watch the motions of the garrison of Belgrade, retired on his approach. He had been unopposed for six weeks, and his conduct at Illova had given the Emperor so formidable an impression of his vigour and abilities, that his Majesty had gone in person as far as Arad, to put that place in a state of defence.
But now that the Grand Vizir was in sight of Semlin, instead of taking this town, and afterwards wintering in the Bannat, or in the district the Imperialists occupied in the spring, he blasted the hopes of his friends, by withdrawing his whole force out of the Austrian territories[[7]].
I am exceedingly sorry that I am not sufficiently informed to produce those satisfactory reasons which so sublime a genius, and so brave a man, must doubtless possess for this retrograde motion in the hour of victory. Neither can I take upon me to advance, that the success of Marshal Laudohn formed any part of them.
This great General having taken Dubitza on the 26th of August, marched for Novi on the 29th. The Bashaw of Travenick retarded for some time his operations against that fortress, but having too courageously attempted to storm the Austrian trenches, he was repulsed with a heavy loss. The Marshal now pursued the siege with vigour, and on the 21st of September, a practicable breach being made, he advanced to the assault, but was now in his turn repulsed, and the Vienna Gazette acknowledges, that on this occasion he lost 284 men. On the 3d of October he renewed the attack, and the garrison being by this time reduced to 600 men, were made prisoners.
[7]. For which he was afterwards beheaded; but as both his resolution and abilities were unquestionably great, his fate was deservedly lamented by all intelligent people.