XXIII. 1788. Cassel, accompanied by the prince of Denmark in BOOK person, passing over to Norway, were joined by a strong reinforcement of Norwegians-a simple and generous people, maintaining amidst their rocks the purity of their antient manners, and the sacredness of their antient rights, in no respect degenerating from the virtue or the valor which had rendered them famous in the times of Margaret of Waldemar. The combined forces suddenly and unexpectedly entered the Swedish province of Wermlandia, and advanced to the city of Gottenburgh with trivial opposition. Alarmed at this formidable invasion, the king of Sweden repaired in person, with expedition almost incredible, to the defence of this important place, which, being attacked thus unprepared, seemed very unable to resist the force of the Danes. But at this critical moment the courts of London and Berlin interposed their powerful mediation in favor of Sweden. Early in October, Mr. Hugh Elliott, envoy at Copenhagen, addressed himself first by letter and afterwards personally to the prince regent, requiring him, in the name of the allied courts, to consent to an immediate cessation of hostilities. "War," said the ambassador," is perhaps at this very moment declared with Denmark by Prussia and England. But if your highness will consent to what I propose, I will immediately dispatch couriers to stop, if possible, the invasion of a Prussian BOOK army in Holstein, and the sailing of the British XXIII. fleet." Under these circumstances the resolution 1789. Death of the grand of the prince was soon taken, and a suspension of arms signed on the part of Denmark, October 9, 1788, which, after an interval of delay, was converted into a treaty of neutrality. The beginning of the following year, which was signor Ach- the 1202d of the Hegira,* was signalized by the accession of death of the grand-signor, Achmet IV. a prince met IV. and the sultan Selim III. *The flight of Mahommed from Mecca to Medina was eighteen years afterwards established by the caliph Omar, as an epoch to which the dates of all the transactions of the faithful should have reference. The year of the Mahommedans consists of 12 lunar months, each containing 29 days, 12 hours, and 792 scruples-1080 scruples making an hour. So that the year contains 354 days, 8 hours, and 864 scruples. In order to reduce this year to an integral number of days, a cycle of 30 was chosen as the most convenient period, because 30 times 8 hours and 864 scruples precisely constitute 11 days; and in this cycle there are consequently 19 years of 354 days, and 11 of 355. The intercalary days are added at the end of the 2d, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, and 29th years of the cycle. The commencement of each year of the Hegira can never fall on the same day of the month, as is the case in our calendar, but will anticipate about 11 days. The first year of the Hegira began Ann. Dom. 622, July 16. The 1201st year of the Hegira, which is the first of the cycle, began Ann. Dom. 1787, October 24. The precision with which the Mahommedans in 622 fixed the lunar month is remarkable; 29 days, 12 hours, 792 scruples, being, according to the most accurate modern observations, only 3′′ 2′′" too little. Vide Philosoph. Trans. A. D. 1788. XXIII. 1789. apparently of good understanding and of benefi- BOOK cent and upright intentions, but whose talents were totally inadequate to the mighty task of restoring the declining empire of the Ottomans to its pristine prosperity and greatness. He was succeeded by his nephew, Selim III., son of the late emperor Mustapha, whose first act of authority consisted in the deposition and consequent death of the grand-vizier, Jussuph Pacha, who had conducted the operations of the last campaign with singular ability and personal success. The real crime of the vizier, for the accusations of his enemies were evidently calumnious, was his immense wealth, which, to the amount of a million sterling, was confiscated to the use of the sultan. Such was the barbarous and wretched policy of this young prince, who quickly and in every part of his conduct shewed himself grossly deficient both in the virtues and talents which are requisite to the arduous task of government. The emperor, sinking under the pressure of disease and disappointment, had retired to Vienna; and the renowned mareschal Laudohn being appointed to the chief command, the operations of the war were renewed with consummate skill and wonderful increase of vigor. After the reduction of Gradisca, this veteran hero proceeded to form the siege of Belgrade; and on the 8th of October, 1789, that important city, the bulwark of the Ot BOOK toman empire, surrendered on terms of honorable XXIII. 1789. Cla capitulation. The remainder of the campaign pre- During this campaign the war in the North was carried on little to the advantage of Sweden: for although the king of Sweden had entirely re-estab lished his authority, and taken a severe vengeance on the individuals who by their audacious and in. flexible contumacy had arrested the progress of his arms, he could not so easily regain the advantages XXIII. 1789. he had lost by that unexpected and unseasonable BOOK opposition. The immense power of Russia was now fully exerted. Sweden was reduced to act upon the defensive in Finland; and various naval encounters took place, in which the bravery and superior skill of the Swedes did by no means compensate for the Russian superiority of force. In the ensuing campaign of 1790, the triumphs Triumphs of the Russian arms over the Ottomans continued sian and of the Rus Austrian without any considerable interruption. The pro-arms. |