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PREFACE.

TH

HE year of which we treat has been more favourable to the general tranquillity than many preceding circumstances feemed to indicate. It has not, however, been deftitute of interefting events. The difmemberment of Poland, the neceffity of which produced a ratification of that act by the King and the Republic, and the precarious state of the remaining part of that unfortunate country, prefent a leffon to others, which might be ftudied with advantage. The favourable change which has taken place in the Ottoman affairs, and the infurrections which have happened in Ruffia, seem rather to increase the probability of a peace, than of a long continuance of the war. The final diffolution of the Jefuits would alone distinguish the present year; and as that measure restores fecurity to the territorial poffeffions of the

court

court of Rome, it may be supposed to have a confiderable effect in preferving the peace of Italy. The entire ceffion of the Dutchy of Holftein to Denmark, whether confidered with respect to its political value, or commercial confequences, is alfo a matter of public importance.

The great revolution which has taken place, in the ftate and conftitution of the Eaft-India Company, has rendered our domeftic affairs particularly interefting. Indeed, the natural importance of the subject feems to be increased, by the ability with which it was difcuffed, and the difference of fentiments and opinions it produced, among the most eminent perfons in the pation.

We have endeavoured to ftate these and other matters in as clear a manner as our means of information would admit, and ftill hope for that indulgence to our imperfections, which the kindness of the public has rendered habitual to us.

THE

THE

ANNUAL REGISTER,

For the YEAR 1773.

THE

HISTORY

O F

EUROPE.

CHA P. I.

General fate of affairs. Poland. Ruffia. Retrofpe&ive wiern of the war, and its confequences confidered. Ceffion of Holstein. Revot in the Crimea. Infurrection in the government of Oremberg. Ottoman empire. Preparations by the Grand Signior for carrying on the war. powers. Revival of obfolete claims. State of the empire. Abolition of the Jefuits. Commercial failures. Dearths. Earthquakes.

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while their mafters have endeavoured by negociation and new arrangements, to obviate the fatal confequences of their collision.

It must however be acknowledged, that thofe heavy clouds which overhung the political horizon are far from being difperfed, and that whenever they burst it must be with a dreadful violence. The extraordinary power and uncommon activity of fome of the continental princes, the jealoufy of others, and the ambition of all, are ill calculated for the prefervation of the public tranquillity. Nations are now become foldiers, and muft find employment. Like the ancient Marauders of the Northern Hive, their countries are become too narrow for the fupport of fo many armed men. The prefent flate of quiet, or rather of inaction, is more to be attributed to mutual diftruft and apprehenfion, and a fagacious caution, that waits for favourable circumftances or accidents, than to a love of peace, or regard for justice.

The ftate of Poland is ftill undetermined. A diet indeed has been held, delegates appointed, and treaties of ceffion and difmemberment ratified; and yet it would he difficult to fhew that any thing has been really concluded. On one fide, the lofers are obliged to fubmit to an inevitable prefent neceflity, ftill hoping that fome unexpected intervention of fortune may enable them to reclaim their rights; on the other, the demands of the armed claimants, feem to increase with their acquifitions and the facility of obtaining them. Thus they both continue in their former fituations; the one having obtained no additional fecurity in his new, nor the other in his old poffeffions.

This has been fufficiently fhewn fince the conclufion of thofe treaties, by the late conduct of the Pruffians with regard to Dantzick. And though the other two partitioning powers have not yet taken any steps of the fame nature, there is little room to doubt that in proper time and feafon they will follow the example. Indeed the measures they have all taken for a continual interference in the affairs and government of Poland, fufficiently explain the nature of their future defigns.

Distracted and torn as this unhappy country continues, it has not during this year prefented those thocking feenes of calamity, which had long made it a fpectacle, as much of horror, as of compaffion. The vast armies with which it was. covered, having rendered all oppofition impracticable, the pretences for cruelty were taken away; and the multitude of spectatojs, compofed of different nations, and under different commands, being a mutual check upon the enormi'ties of each other, the rage for blood dwindled into regular oppreffion. Upon the whole, the condition of Poland is not worfe than it has been; nor are the poffibilities fewer, in its favour.

The fortune of Ruffia has not at all been predominant this year with refpect to the war. Their enemies become daily more habituated to arms, and have been beaten into order and difcipline. Distance and fituation were alfo much against them; and they have been taught by experience the difficulties of a Bulgarian campaign; a fervice, which can fcarcely be carried on with a probability of fuccefs, without the affiftance of fuch a fleet, as can maintain a fuperiority on the Black

Sea.

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