[790] Ibid. Ainslie to Carmarthen, 9th August 1787.
[791] “F. O.,” Turkey, 8. Ainslie to Carmarthen, 17th August 1787.
[792] “F. O.,” Russia, 15. Despatch of 22nd September. Fitzherbert was then coming home ill. His place was filled by Fraser.
[793] In view of these facts I cannot agree with the statement of Prof. Lodge (“Camb. Mod. Hist.,” viii, 316) that the action of the Turks “was dictated by passion rather than by policy.” It seems to me a skilful move, especially as they already had reason to hope for help from Prussia and Sweden. Häusser (i, 225) wrongly terms it a “desperate resolve.”
[794] “F. O.,” Russia, 15. Fraser to Carmarthen, 5th October 1787.
[795] See Ewart’s Memorandum to Pitt in “Dropmore P.,” ii, 44–9 for an admirable survey of events; also Wittichen, 130–5, and Häusser, i, 223–5.
The surprise of Prussian statesmen at the outbreak of war seems quite sincere; and evidence is strongly against the statement of Sorel (“L’Europe et la Rév. franç.,” i, p. 524) that Hertzberg egged on the Turks, and later on Sweden, to war.
[796] “F. O.,” Russia, 15. Carmarthen to Fraser, 18th March 1788.
[797] Ibid. Fraser to Carmarthen, 9th May.
[798] “F. O.,” Austria, 14. On 23rd September Ewart reported that Spain had “positively declined the pressing overtures of France to enter into a Quadruple Alliance with her and the two Imperial Courts” (“F. O.,” Prussia, 14).