draw attention to the vicissitudes of the foreign policy of Russia. Forgetting, perhaps, that autocracy was at times far from prevailing there, he may be tempted from one case to deduce and learn all, since in 1762, within seven months—months most momentous to Prussia—the policy of Russia, or policy from Russia, toward Frederick was at first strongly hostile, under Elizabeth, then cordially and melodramatically favourable under Peter III, and finally, on his deposition, discreetly neutral and watchful under Catherine II.[1] Well may one point to the warnings of the French Government to its representatives at Petersburg,a few years later, to watch over the 'convulsive movements' and warring counsels at the Russian court;[2] and a few years later still we have the vivid
- ↑ For an excellent list of authorities on this revolutionary year, see Recueil des Instructions …: Russie, ii. 195, foot-note.
- ↑ 'Des mouvements convulsifs, une politique changeante rendent ses forces presque toujours inutiles à ses alliés. Il faut, par conséquent, se borner à étudier les facilités que le pays a toujours fournies pour le maintenir dans un état d'inquiétude, de crise et de faction. Cette cour a elle-même pour principe d'entretenir les divisions entre ses différents conseils et ses ministres, précaution à la vérité nécessaire dans un pays despotique.'–Instructions secrètes pour le sieur Rossignol, Consul de France à Pétersbourg, 20 juin 1765, ibid. ii. 249. Cf.: 'La cour de Russie est remplie d'intrigues, de brigues, de cabales. Le baron de Breteuil, sans entrer dans aucune, s'étudiera à les démêler et à connoître ceux qui ont le plus crédit près de la souveraine ou dans la nation.'–Instruction secrète et particulière pour le baron de Breteuil … à Pétersbourg, 1 avril 1760, ibid. ii. 152. See Rulhière (Secretary to the Embassy under Breteuil), Histoire et anecdotes sur la révolution de Russie en 1762. On February 8, 1757, Mitchell, at Brunswick, had written to Holdernesse, Secretary of State for the Northern Department: '… I must … put your Lordship in Mind how fickle the Court of Russia has been, and how changeable their resolutions are. Your Lordship will remember that within these few months, Sir Charles Williams [British representative at Petersburg] has been upon the Point of succeeding in His Negotiations, which was defeated by a remittance of Money from Vienna, and that the late fiery Declarations of the Czarina
