The season was too far advanced for the Grand Vizir to take the field. Those troops, however, that could be collected on the frontiers, immediately began to act, and in different recounters with the Russians, have been generally victorious.
No enterprize, however, of any moment has as yet been undertaken by the Turks, except an attack upon Kimbourn.
This fortress is situated on the Russian side of the Liman, or mouth of the Dnieper, exactly opposite to Oczakow, and from its situation is of the first importance. The Porte therefore ordered an immediate attempt to carry it by a coup-de-main. A detachment from Oczakow was accordingly landed in the night of the 11th of October, and carried all before them till they arrived at the very scarp of the fort; but by this time the Russians had recovered their surprise, and the Turks, from the nature of the enterprise, being unprepared to attempt a regular escalade against a garrison whose numbers they found were very little inferior to their own, were obliged to retreat.
The loss on each side was nearly equal, and on the part of the Russians, M. Souwarow and M. Reck, two generals of note, were both severely wounded.
The Court of Petersburgh, however, has great reason to rejoice at this escape, since had Kimbourn been carried, none of her vessels could have entered the Liman till it was retaken, which probably would not have happened this year, and consequently, should the Porte even choose to act on the defensive in the spring, the Russians would still be obliged to begin the ensuing campaign with a siege in their own country.
Count Romanzow, with an army, has entered Polish Russia, but the season was too far advanced for him to attempt any active operations, I have not heard any thing else of importance on the land side; but in the naval line, fortune has struck a capital blow in favor of the Turks.
The little fleet the Empress had, with great difficulty, collected on the Black Sea has been entirely dispersed and dismasted, and a line of battle ship, of sixty-four guns, commanded by Captain Teesdale, to avoid being wrecked, was obliged to push for Constantinople, and give herself up to the Turks.
As she is very little damaged, she will sail in the spring, under the banners of the Porte. The Russians were before very inferior to the Turks on the Black Sea; and the loss of one ship to them making a difference of two in favor of their enemies, renders their inequality still more desperate.
The Turks having no idea of prisoners on parole, the Russian Captain is sent to associate with the Envoy in the Castle of the Seven Towers. The rest of the ship's company are disposed of in the Bagnio.
Notwithstanding our impolitic ill usage, so fatal to the Turks during the last Russian war, I think we are the favorite nation of such of them as are at all acquainted with the different powers of Europe: I say, impolitic ill usage, because, depend upon it, the very extensive Empire of Turkey will never be in hands so beneficial to England, as whilst it remains in those of its present possessors.