Επιστολή του John Strange προς τον Earl of Rockford (Βενετία 12 Οκτώβρη 1774) όπου αναφέρει τα εξής: the Bailo of Constantinople, whose political abilities are much esteemed here, after observing to the Senate, that, on the third of September last, the ratification of the peace between Russia and the Port was not confirmed from Petersburg, proceeds to make the following remarks. (IN CYPHER) “That the chief power of the Ottoman government being vested principally in four persons, whose sole object was their own private interest, there was great reason to fear the decline of that empire, especially considering the extreme indolence, and indifferent inclinations of the Grand Signor. That upon examination, it did not appear to him (the Bailo) that the exclusive rights, to which the Russians pretended in the Black Sea, were at all well grounded, which of course, greatly changed the face of affairs. That upon nature deliberation, he could not help strongly recommending it to the Republick to send, in a ministerial character, to the court of Russia, a person capable of advancing on the part of the Republick, a commercial and political interest with that Court. …