86

THE TAESCHNER COLLECTION (Or. 12.359, cont.)

the request for passports, inspections by customs officials, assistance to Ottoman sailors in cases of shipwreck and so forth. ff. 43a-b. Three passages from a note sent to the Russian ambassador (but still unanswered) concerning the wish of the Porte that Russian sailors should not, while visiting Ottoman territory, don clothes resembling those of the re‘aya inhabiting the Mediterranean islands; the ambassador should also instruct Russian captains not to resist regular inspections by Ottoman officials. ff. 44b-45b. A memorandum from, probably, a grand vizier and addressed to a Sultan, which discusses the implications of a report received from the French ambassador, information obtained from the Swedish envoy through the re ïsülküttab, and articles in French and Austrian newspapers concerning the latest developments in Europe and the prospect for continuing peace; an important point is the marriage of the King of Sweden to either the daughter of the Prince of Mecklenburg or, more likely, the granddaughter of the Tsar of Russia; this could have serious implications for the balance of power. In a superscript (44b) the Sultan informs his vizier that he had read the memorandum and instructs him to strive to seal an alliance with Venice. ff. 45b-49b. A report of the discussions between the Re’ïs Efendi (re ïsülküttab) and the French ambassador in the yali of Emfn Ketfciida on Wednesday 23 Zf l- hicce [1209, 11 July 1795]. It presents a detailed survey of the arguments put forward by the ambassador, Raymond Veminac-Saint-Maur (cf. Représentants, p. 41, in office 1795-7 - the newly, on 14 February 1795, appointed ambassador of the French Republic, [Jean-Baptiste-Annibal Aubert-] Dubayet [in office 1796- 7, cf. Représentents, pp. 42-4] who had not yet arrived - this would happen on 2 October 1795 - is mentioned in f. 48b: 1), for Ottoman support of France against Russia. The ambassador emphasized the latter’s evil schemes against Sweden - the coming marriage of the King is mentioned (see the previous item, above) - and the Porte, and urged the Re’fs Efendi to reinforce its border fortresses, strengthen its Black Sea fleet and to mobilize at least 45,000 troops for a possible war; the Porte should also lend support to Sweden; the new ambassador would bring with him from Marseilles artillery and eighty officers who were able to give technical support to the Ottoman army (cf Représentants, p. 43). He also urged the Porte to join, together with France, in an alliance with Venice; from both a financial and a naval point of view, this would be most profitable. The Re’is Efendi clearly did not want to commit himself on this point and answered that the Porte was