Record

Document ReferencePw2 Hy 1325
TitlePart encoded letter from Charles Whitworth [later Baron Whitworth of Galway], Mosco[w], Russia, to Robert Harley [later 1st Earl of Oxford]; 20/31 Sep. 1707
Date31 September 1707
Extent2 ff
LevelItem/file
Content DescriptionRequests leave to return home; explains that his constitution does not suit the 'excessive colds of this country'; does not think he can be of much use to England in this condition; explains that his distance from the Court and army only allows him to provide 'very late and imperfect accounts of their councills and actions'; thinks that the march of the King of Sweden into Poland will further disrupt their correspondence; believes that Mr Robinson is in a better position to provide information; says he has done all he can for the merchants as the remaining points to be settled await the return of the Court to Moscow; discusses the difficulties he has experienced in his attempts to gain a catalogue of the manuscripts in the Czar's library.

Says that the oldest manuscript is a Greek Testament written in the 'year of the world 6058, which according to the Russian Computation is 1157 years ago, they reckoning now 7215'; stresses that, were the Czar in Moscow, he would allow him access as he [the Czar] wishes a survey to be made; reports the Czar desires 'correct maps' of his Empire; says the Czar wishes to investigate whether there 'be any passage to the Indies by the North East of his Dominions which His Majesty believes to be one continued Continent with Greenland'.

Part of this document is written in cypher.
Termdiplomacy, with Russia
health, Charles Whitworth
exploration, Russia, north east passage to Greenland
royalty, Russian, movement of court
trade, with Russia
manuscripts, Moscow, of Peter the Great
maps and plans, of Russia
manuscripts, Greek Testament, 6th century
libraries, Moscow, of Peter the Great
weather, cold
postal service, international
military campaigns, Swedish, invasion of Poland 1707
cyphers, use of

Click the links below to view related name indexes

Persons
CodePersonNameDates of existence
NA29447Charles XII (1682-1718 ); King of Sweden; (acc. 1697)1682-1718
NA29448Robinson; John (1650-1723); Bishop of London; Lord Privy Seal 1711-13; appointed first English plenipotentiary at peace conference at Utrecht1650-1723
NA6169Peter I (1672-1725); Emperor of Russia; ( succeeded 1682)1672-1725
NA30006Whitworth; Charles (1675-1725); Baron Whitworth of Galway; envoy-extraordinary to Russia 1704-10; cr. 17211675-1725
NA893Harley; Robert (1661-1724); 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; M.P.; speaker 1701-1705; P.M. 1711-17141661-1724
Add to My Items