were by English
contemporaries of Peter the Great, are far from concurring in the common
delusions of later historians. They emphatically denounce England as the
mightiest tool of Russia. The same position is taken up by the pamphlet
of which we shall now give a short analysis, and with which we shall
conclude the introduction to the diplomatic revelations. It is entitled,
"_Truth is but Truth as it is timed; or, our Ministry's present measures
against the Muscovite vindicated_, etc., etc. Humbly dedicated to the
House of C., London, 1719."

The former pamphlets we have reprinted, were written at, or shortly
after, the time when, to use the words of a modern admirer of Russia,
"Peter traversed the Baltic Sea as master at the head of the combined
squadrons of all the northern Powers, England included, which gloried in
sailing under his orders." In 1719, however, when _Truth is but Truth_
was published, the face of affairs seemed altogether changed. Charles
XII. was dead, and the English Government now pretended to side with
Sweden, and to wage war against Russia. There are other circumstances
connected with this anonymous pamphlet which claim particular notice. It
purports to be an extract from a relation, which, on his return from
Muscovy, in August, 1715, its author, by order of George I., drew up and
handed over to Viscount Townshend, then Secretary of State.

"It happens," says he, "to be an advantage that at present I may
own to have been the first so happy to foresee, or honest to
forewarn our Court here, of the absolute necessity of our then
breaking with the Czar, and shutting him out again of the Baltic."
"My relation discovered his aim as to other States, and even to the
German Empire, to which, although an inland Power, he had offered
to annex Livonia as an Electorate, so that he could but be admitted
as an elector. It drew attention to the Czar's then contemplated
assumption of the title of Autocrator. Being head of the Greek
Church he would be owned by the other potentates as head of the
Greek Empire. I am not to say how reluctant we would be to
acknowledge that title, since we have already made an ambassador
treat him with the title of Imperial Majesty, which the Swede has
never yet condescended to."

For some time attached to the British Embassy in Muscovy, our author, as
he states, was later on "_dismissed the service, because the