81

THE TAESCHNER COLLECTION (Or. 12.359, cont.)

especially pp. 155-90.)

ff. 9b-12b. A report on discussions held in a miliary camp in the plain of Edime between an (unnamed) grand vizier and various officers, mainly retired but experienced Janissary aghas, on military tactics to be followed and logistical problems to be faced in an imminent military campaign against Austria (probably in 1202/1787 when war was declared by the Grand Vizier Koca Yüsuf Pa§a, cf. Shaw’s study, p. 28). The main problem touched upon is the expected involvement of Russia which was even more dangerous now it was in possession of the Crimea (from 1783). The majority of those present favoured moving the main army towards Sofia and a re-inforcement of the garrison at isma‘11 (Izmail, on the Danube in Bessarabia) to ward off a possible Russian attack. The document is signed by twelve officials, among them the kethiida of the grand vizier, Rühï Süleyman Efendi, the defterdar Süleyman Ra§id Efendi, and the re’isülküttab Mehmed Ra§id Efendi (in office 1202-4/1787-8 and 1206-7/1791-2 cf SO 2 IV p. 1356). f. 13a-14b. A hüküm addressed to the mutasarrif of the sancak of Ankara, Mustafa [Beg], who had been transferred to the muhafizlik of Sogucak (Novorossiysk). Referring to the stipulations of the treaties of Kü?ük Kaynarca (of 1188/1774) and Aynali Kavak (of 1193/1779), the decree instructs the newly appointed commander to see strictly to the implementation of the articles concerning the border river, Kuman; upon arrival, the commander must address the leaders of the Abazian and Circassian tribes as well as the local troops and forbid them to trespass accross the border, unlawfully arrest Russian civilians or in any other way infringe on the treaty arrangements. f. 14b-18b. A hpit-i hümayün instructing the Sultan’s officials to maintain law and order in the Empire and cut off the heads of those who break the law; the decree calls attention to be paid to the alarming developments such as greed, absen teeism, fraudulent petitioning and nepotism and emphasizes the necessity to adhere to the old law (kanun), particularly in upholding the detailed regulations concerning the duties of za'im and Umar holders and, in particular, alaybegis; these are also ennumerated in great detail in the decree which is dated $a ‘ban 1191 (September-October 1777, cf. 16b: 14). ff. 18b-21a. A hüküm (emr-i yenf) addressed to the authorities and people of Anatolia issued by the recently enthroned Sultan Selim III with detailed proposals