the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

messengers to Manuk Bey at Bucharest and initially suspected them of spying. 81 He
instructed his diplomatic secretary Joseph Fonton to verify their intentions and was told
that the Turks were seeking negotiations, although they did not want to propose them
officially. 82 Bagration then ordered Fonton to meet Manuk Bey and the Turkish
emissaries. He wrote, “I ordered Fonton to [meet Manuk Bey] for several reasons. I
wanted him to exploit this chance to convey to the grand vizier, through Manuk Bey, the
information that would influence the Porte’s decision to negotiate peace.” 83 Bagration
told Fonton to avoid discussions about the expulsion of the British mission to
Constantinople. Following Alexander’s instructions, Prince Peter informed Fonton, “If
the Turks are willing to conclude peace, they must do it immediately and accept the
conditions presented to their emissaries at the Congress of Yassa. Otherwise, Turkey can
lose all of her European possessions to Russia, France and Austria.” 84 However,
Bagration was already disillusioned in the diplomatic solution of the conflict. He wrote to
Alexander, “At the moment, I do not have even a bit of hope for peace, but with each
passing hour I become more and more convinced that military force is the only means to
force Porte to accept the conditions.” 85
Alexander approved Bagration’s instructions to Fonton and emphasized that
“peace with Turkey will be concluded without any third party, similar to our peace with
Sweden.” Bagration also received newspapers with excerpts of Napoleon’s speech to the
Legislative Corps on recognizing the Russian occupation of the Danubian Principalities
and was instructed to spread them among the Turks “to destroy their hopes for
Napoleon’s collaboration in recovering these Principalities.” 86 Rumyatsev wrote to
81 Bagration to Alexander, 5 January 1810, Ibid., V, 334. French consul also reported arrival
of these messengers to Ruse on 22 December 1809. Ledoulx to Champagny, 30 December 1809,
Documente privitoare la Istoria Românilor, 845.
82 Bagration to Fonton, 26 December 1809, Ibid., V, 684.
83 Bagration to Alexander, 5 January 1810, Ibid., V, 334.
84 Bagration to Fonton, 27 December 1809, Ibid., V, 685.
85 Bagration to Alexander, 5 January 1810, Ibid., V, 335.
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