lands exempt from all foreign ecclefiaftical jurif diction; and other regulations were adopted for the purpose of reducing the number of religious houses, and of discountenancing all monastic inftitutions. The Roman pontiff, Pius VI. whofe zeal for the church was very great, alarmed at these proceedings, declared to the emperor his intention, notwithstanding his advanced age, to make in perfon a journey to Vienna, in order to confer with his imperial majefty on the subject of these recent and dangerous innovations. The emperor in reply affured his holiness, that his heart was truly catholic and apoftolic; but that with regard to the late regulations, they had been made with due confideration and good advice; and that, having already decided upon them, his holiness's journey was in this view entirely fuperfluous. The pope however would not be deterred from the execution of his defign, and on his actual arrival at Vienna in the fpring of 1782 he was treated by the emperor with the highest demonstrations of refpect and affection: but no alterations whatever as to public meafures took place, as may eafily be fuppofed, in confequence of this vifit, which ill comported with the prefcriptive haughtiness of the Vatican. The very attempt to effect a change in the imperial fyftem of policy by any perfonal efforts of argument or eloquence was a certain certain indication of weaknefs 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 pafquinade declared, "that what Gregory VII. the greatest of priests, had established, Pius VI. the most contemptible of priests, had deftroyed *." The emperor on his part gained by his multiplied, rapacious, and precipitate reforms, no increase of reputation with truly enlightened perfons, who * The celebrated cardinal de Bernis, whose discernment and knowledge of mankind were of the superior class, used, as we are told, every poffible means to diffuade the pope from his prepofterous refolution of vifiting the emperor. "Every body faid the cardinal in a letter afterwards published) is of opinion, that you are about to take an improper step, which, without be ing 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 minifters. Those who are about your person dare not oppose your wishes. They are ill acquainted with the fpirit of courts and the fpirit of the age. For Heaven's fake then, holy father, fufpend the execution of your project, till you know the fentiments of the courts of France and Spain, and of fuch others whofe opinion ought to have any weight with you."-" You fee (faid the cardinal) that the emperor tells you before hand, that nothing is capable of making him change his determination. Why then should you take fo degrading a step to no purpose? Finding his bold though friendly remonftrances, which the pope however took in good part, of no avail, he concluded his last note with the expreffion-Triftis eft anima mea ufque ad mortem." And from this time he was accustomed to say, "I fee well that the reign of Pius VI. will in the end cost him many a tear." clearly clearly perceived that his unbounded love of power was not blended with any just principles of philanthropy or philofophy. The good understanding of the Russian and Ottoman empires had recently suffered great interruption, in confequence of the opposition of interefts involved in the election of a khan of the Tartars, with refpect 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 Ruffia, was acknowledged as lawful khan of the Crimea by the Turkish government. In the year 1782, nevertheless, these disturb ances were revived, and the czarina entered into an alliance, offensive and defenfive, with the emperor, in the evident expectation of an immediate war with the Porte. And haughty memorials were delivered by the ambaffadors of both the imperial courts at Conftantinople, infifting that the Ottoman court should not henceforth interpofe in the affairs of the Crimea; nor encroach upon the prerogatives of the princes of Moldavia and Walachia; nor oppofe the free navigation of the Euxine. Soon after this the khan of the Tartars, in conformity doubtlefs to the pre-concerted plan of the imperial courts, fignified his refolution to refign his his crown into the hands of the czarina. After fomé affected hesitation, her imperial majesty declared by a public manifefto, dated April 1783, her acceptance of this refignation, 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 fide of the Straits of Caffa, extending to Circaffia, under her own immediate administration. The court of Conftantinople, roused by this new and unexpected attack, replied to the Ruffian manifefto with unusual animation and energy." What pretenfions of right (fay they) can her imperial majefty have to territories annexed for ages to the dominion of the Porte? Would fuch claims on any part of the Ruffian empire not be instantly refifted? And can it be prefumed that the Sublime Porte, however defirous of peace, will acquiefce in what ambition may term policy, but juftice and equity would deem ufurpation? What Chriftian power has the Porte offended? Whose territories have the Ottoman troops invaded? In the country of what prince is the Turkish standard displayed? Content with the boundaries of empire affigned her by GoD and his prophet, the wishes of the Porte are for peace; but if the court of Ruffia be determined in her claims, the Sublime Porte, appealing to the world for the justice of her proceedings, muft prepare for war, relying VOL. III. 2 B |