Autograph Letter Signed to Sir John Goodricke, Bart, diplomat (see DNB)

Two pages, 4to, vestiges of seals, small sections cut out of conjoint blank (probably postal features) which has address panel as follows: "A Monsieur /[france / Hamburg?] / Monsieur le Chevalier Goodricke, / Envoye Extraordinaire & Plenipotent[iar]y / de Sa Majeste Britannique / Stockholm." Address page has the contemporary note (Goodricke's hand) concerning date received "Recd 2d July 1773 / Answered same day." Additonal pencil notes add that Maddison was "Under Secretary at the Foreign Office", information repeated in anothe pencil note which adds that he was under Sir Joseph Yorke, after Daniel De Laval. An important letter on the major issues affecting British foreign policy at that time, especially the Turko-Russian conflict (1768-1774). His first paragraph is about the speed of the post, Goodricke's improving health and "His Excellency's" opinion on this improvement. The subject of the second paragraph is the Turkey Russia War: "The Accounts from Constantinople represent the Turks as strenuous in their Ebdeavours to push the War with a vigour than they have hitherto done, & the high Language of the Russian Ultimatum (as they have published it, how far exact I know not) has help'd to animate them more. I think however this Spirit will not last long with them, tho' the Church & the Law exert themselves to keep it up. / All Accounts, publick & private, seem to agree in supposing a further division of Poland near at hand, & that the Pruss[ian] Mini[ster] has openly claimed of the small & inadequte Share of his Master, which it is thought cannot be increased without increasing at the same time that of Austria, so that little will be left to Pol[and] in that case. Russia seems to have engaged herself not to extend her Pretensions, & yet surely She will not like to see the others aggrandise themselves more, & she remain as She is. It is however possible these Ideas are only sent abroad by way of Bugbear to the Poles, to compel them to subscribe to whatever Concessions, & Regulations they may dictate to them." The final paragraph concerns the visit of the King at Portsmouth "where the common Market Price for a Bed is, we are told, from 9. to 12. Guineas." [Perhaps a coded remark?]