BOOK XXI. 1783. the pope to Vienna. His reign nevertheless commenced with an act of beneficence, truly imperial, in the promulgation of letters-patent, granting the free exercise of their religion to the protestants all over the Austrian dominions. By a second edict, he declared all religious foundations in the Austrian Netherlands exempt from all foreign ecclesiastical jurisdiction; and other regulations were adopted for the purpose of. reducing the number of religious houses, and of discountenancing all monastic institutions. Journey of The Roman pontiff, Pius VI., whose zeal for the church was very great, alarmed at these proceedings, declared to the emperor his intention, notwithstanding his advanced age, to make in person a journey to Vienna, in order to confer with his imperial majesty on the subject of these recent and dangerous innovations. The emperor in reply assured his holiness, that his heart was truly catholic and apostolic; but that with regard to the late regulations, they had been made with due consideration and good advice; and that, having already decided upon them, his holiness's journey was in this view entirely superfluous. The pope however would not be deterred from the execution of his design, and on his actual arrival at Vienna in the spring of 1782 he was treated by the emperor with the highest demonstrations of respect and affection: but no alterations whatever XXI. as to public measures took place, as may easily be BOOK supposed, in consequence of this visit, which ill comported with the prescriptive haughtiness of the Vati- 1785. can. The very attempt to effect a change in the imperial system of policy by any personal efforts of argument or eloquence was a certain indication of weakness and vanity. On his return to Rome, the holy father had the mortification to find his journey the object of very general ridicule; and an anonymous pasquinade declared, "that what Gregory VII., the greatest of priests, had established, Pius VI., the most contemptible of priests, had destroyed*." The emperor on his part gained-by The celebrated cardinal de Bernis, whose discernment and knowledge of mankind were of the superior class, used, as we are told, every possible means to dissuade the pope from his preposterous resolution of visiting the emperor. "Every body (said the cardinal in a letter afterwards published) is of opinion, that you are about to take an improper step, which, without being of the smallest advantage to the Holy See, will be a disgrace to the pontifical dignity. Even at Rome it is already turned into ridicule. Now you know with what effect that weapon is used against religion and its ministers. Those who are about your person dare not oppose your wishes. They are ill acquainted with the spirit of courts and the spirit of the age. For Heaven's sake then, holy fåther, suspend the execution of your project, till you know the sentiments of the courts of France and Spain, and of such others whose opinion ought to have any weight with you."-" You see (said the cardinal) that the emperor tells you before hand, that nothing is capable of making him change his determination. Why then should BOOK his multiplied, rapacious, and precipitate reforms, XXI. no increase of reputation with truly enlightened 1783. persons, who clearly perceived that his unbounded love of power was not blended with any just principles of philanthropy or philosophy. The good understanding of the Russian and Ottoman empires had recently suffered great interruption, in consequence of the opposition of interests involved in the election of a khan of the Tartars, with respect to which neither power, agreeably to the terms of the late peace, had a right to interfere. An explanatory agreement at length took place (March 1779), by which the khan Sahim Guerai, elected through the influence of Russia, was acknowledged as lawful khan of the Crimea by the Turkish government. In the year 1782, nevertheless, these disturbances were revived, and the czarina entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, with the emperor, in the evident expectation of an immediate war with the Porte. And haughty memorials were delivered by the ambassadors of both the imperial courts at you take so degrading a step to no purpose?" Finding his bold though friendly remonstrances, which the pope however took in good part, of no avail, he concluded his last note with the expression-" "Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem." And from this time he was accustomed to say, "I see well that the reign of Pius VI. will in the end cost him many a tear.”—Vide Life of Pope Pius VI. XXI. 1783 Constantinople, insisting that the Ottoman court BOOK should not henceforth interpose in the affairs of the Crimea; nor encroach upon the prerogatives of the princes of Moldavia and Walachia; nor oppose the free navigation of the Euxine. Soon after this the khan of the Tartars, in conformity doubtless to the pre-concerted plan of the imperial courts, signified his resolution to resign his crown into the hands of the czarina. After some affected hesitation, her imperial majesty declared by a public manifesto, dated April 1783, her acceptance of this resignation, and her determination to take once for all the peninsula of the Crimea, together with the island of Taman, and the province of Cuban Tartary, on the other side of the Straits of Caffa, extending to Circassia, under her own immediate administration. The court of Constantinople, roused by this new and unexpected attack, replied to the Russian manifesto with unusual animation and energy."What pretensions of right (say they) can her imperial majesty have to territories annexed for ages to the dominion of the Porte? Would such claims on any part of the Russian empire not be instantly resisted? And can it be presumed that the Sublime Porte, however desirous of peace, will acquiesce in what ambition may term policy, but justice and equity would deem usurpation? What Christian BOOK power has the Porte offended? Whose territories XXI. have the Ottoman troops invaded? In the country 1783. of what prince is the Turkish standard displayed? Content with the boundaries of empire assigned her by GoD and his prophet, the wishes of the Porte are for peace; but if the court of Russia be determined in her claims, the Sublime Porte, appealing to the world for the justice of her proceedings, must prepare for war, relying on the decrees of Heaven, and confident of the interposition of the Prophet of prophets, who will protect his faithful servants in the hour of every difficulty." The Russian court however appeared no less resolute to maintain and substantiate, than that of Constantinople to resist her claims; and prince Potemkin, a nobleman of great influence and authority at the court of Petersburg, was delegated to take possession of the countries in question, in the name of the empress. A war now therefore appeared inevitable; but, happily for the interests of humanity, the two leading kingdoms of Europe were at this period governed by wise and beneficent ministers, who sincerely wished to secure to mankind the inestimable blessings of universal peace. Cession of From motives which reflected the highest honor by the on those celebrated statesmen, the comte de VerRussia. gennes and Mr. Fox offered the mediation of their the Crimea Turks to respective sovereigns to effect an accommodation: |