At a glanceExisting decipherment · complete
- The letter
- C. A. Graaf van Rechteren, Dutch envoy at St Petersburg, to the States General, 23 September / 4 October 1785, marked Secreet. 424 three-digit groups with marks over the digits.
- Where
- Nationaal Archief, The Hague, 1.01.02 Staten-Generaal inv. 7407; DECODE R1039, images 5450–5452 (cipher) and 5448–5449 (decipherment). DECODE transcribed the decipherment as cleartext and the record was catalogued as having none.
- The cipher
- A numerical code of three-digit groups; the marks over single digits are part of the code.
- How it was read
- The decipherment, headed Ont cyfferde Missive, repeats the last group of each cipher row in its right margin, so the clerk keyed it line by line. It is transcribed in full. The key was not rebuilt.
- What it says
- On De Swart’s advice Rechteren withheld his letter to Grand Duke Paul, contrary to his instructions. He is sure every letter is opened, and asks to send couriers and to be answered in cipher.
- Still open
- The cipher was not aligned group by group with the decipherment. The pair is the largest known-plaintext sample of this code, whose key blocks the first 1,928 groups of De Swart’s 1787 letter (R1040); the code is in inv. 158, not online.
01 The record
- Images 5448–5449: the decipherment, in a Griffie hand, ending “(: geteekend :) C. A. Grave van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen”.
- Images 5450–5452: the cipher letter, 424 groups. Image 5451 repeats the lower rows of 5450 cut off at the margin. The groups are three-digit numbers with two dots, a bar or a dot over single digits. The marks are part of the code.
02 The decipherment
From the 1785 decipherment, original spelling:
Hoog Edele Gestrenge Heer! Bij mijn arrivement alhier sprekende met de Heer De Swart over mijn eerste audientie, vraagde mij die Heer of ik ook een Brief aan den Groot Vorst had, waarop ik geantwoord hebbende, raade mij zijn Ed: het zeer af, deezen over te geeven, als niets anders als jaloutsie aan het Hof kunnende verwekken; daar bij voegende, dat zulks de zaaken van den Staat tort zoude doen, en dat ik het gerust konde laaten, alzo er een geval met den Heer Meinertshaagen had plaats gehad, die ook zijn Brief aan den Groot Vorst had te rug gehouden.
De langduurige ondervinding van den Heer de Swart, en de kennis die hij van dit Hof heeft, gepaard met de geruststelling, dat hij er voor verantwoorde, hebben mij dit gedeelte van mijn Instructie niet laaten executeeren. Ik hoop niet, dat mij zulks ten kwaade zal worden geduid, alzo er niets anders als de vordering van ’s Lands belangen meede beoogt, en ik buiten dat wel occasie zal hebben, den Groot Vorst van de goede intentie van Haar Hoog Mog: te verzekeren.
De zekere overtuiging, waarin ik ben, dat alle mijne Brieven geopend worden, zal mij zeer geneeren in mijne depeches, wanneer er eens mogelijkheid is, om de negociatie te hervatten; wes halven verzoek te mogen weeten, of ik, wanneer de zaaken een absolut geheim vereischt, en de publiciteit van dezelve aan de belangen van den Staat, en het vertrouwen dat men in deszelfs Minister behoord te stellen, eenige belemmering zou te weege brengen, of ik alsdan, doch niet als in de hoogste noodzaakelijkheid, een Courier aan U Ho: Ed: Gest: mag afzenden, het welk te meer noodzaakelijk is, alzo in den begin van deeze mijne Commissie meer omzigtigheid als ooit moet gebruiken. Ik verzoek hierop een spoedig antwoord in Cyffer, alzo een ongecijfferd de ontdekking van het cyffer zou faciliteeren.
Ik heb de Eer &c. St Petersburg 23 Sept: / 4 Oct: 1785.
In English. When I arrived and spoke with Mr De Swart about my first audience, he asked whether I also had a letter for the Grand Duke. I said I had, and he strongly advised me not to hand it over. It could only rouse jealousy at Court and would harm the affairs of the State. I could safely keep it back, as Mr Meinertzhagen had done with his own letter to the Grand Duke. De Swart’s long experience and his knowledge of this Court, and his assurance that he would answer for it, led me to leave this part of my instructions unexecuted. I hope it will not be held against me: I had only the country’s interest in view, and I will have other occasions to assure the Grand Duke of Their High Mightinesses’ good intentions. I am certain that all my letters are opened, and this will hamper my despatches whenever the negotiation can be resumed. I therefore ask whether, when a matter needs absolute secrecy, I may send a courier to Your Honour, though only in the utmost necessity. I need all the more caution at the start of my mission. I ask for a prompt answer in cipher, since an uncoded answer would help them discover the cipher.
The Grand Duke is Paul, heir to Catherine II, who kept him out of affairs, which explains De Swart’s warning. Karl de Leeuw cites this letter as the Russian example of envoys complaining that their post was opened. He does not print its text.
03 Method
The record came from DECODE with the saved session cookie: images and the 2020 transcription (DOC_R1039_D3590_3590.txt). That transcription marks images 5448–5449 as <CLEARTEXT>, with gaps in most lines. Transcribed from the scans, they are the decipherment. The dates, the Secreet mark and the margin groups tie it to the cipher. The 310 words of plaintext against 424 groups is a normal ratio for a nomenclator that also spells syllables. As a side test, two partial Rechteren-family keys reconstructed for De Swart 1787 from the 1784 and 1786 crib pairs (R2051, R2052) were tried with the marks removed. They do not produce Dutch and disagree with each other, which confirms that the marks carry meaning.
04 What remains open
- The key was not rebuilt, and the cipher was not aligned group by group with the decipherment. The text given here is the 1785 clerk’s decipherment (grade C for the few words hard to make out in the scan, H otherwise).
- The alignment is worth doing for another target. R1039 is a 424-group known-plaintext pair in Rechteren’s code, and that code blocks the first 1,928 groups of De Swart’s letter of 29 Nov 1787 (R1040). The code itself is Nationaal Archief, legation in Russia, inv. 158, which is not online.
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
R1039, Rechteren, St Petersburg, 23 Sept / 4 Oct 1785 (the Griffie's contemporary decipherment)
Christiaan Albrecht van Rechteren, the States General's new envoy to Catherine II, to the Griffier: De Swart advised him not to hand his letter to Grand Duke Paul, since it would rouse jealousy at court; sure that all his letters are opened, he asks leave to send couriers and asks for the reply in cipher, since an unciphered reply would help the discovery of the cipher.
Transcription
52^.7^. 46^..8 56^..7 76^..5 2?7^..3 365 68^_4 2^_0^_2^_ 43^_6 31^..3 121 50^..6 68^.8^. 55^_3 85^..1 30^_ 50^_9^_ 3^_3^_7 393 94^..4 322 ?54 21^..5 64^..5 66^_4 98^..3 10^_7^_ 23^_6 20^_7^_ 48^..7 44^_0^_ 82^_3^_ 241 31^_2^_ 52^..3 ?0^_? 892 68^..5 98^..6 940 944 623 11^_5^_ 31^..1 8^.7^. 10^_7^_ 75^..7 3^_3^_9 778 55^..2 729 977 21^_1 902 34^..5 94^..4? 97^..1 27^..6 :?8^.. 93^..1 51^..0 8^.. 623 73^_1^_ 67^_3^. 55^_4^_ 60^.3^. 49^.1^. 80^.9^. 328 737 10^_7^_ 77^..7 569 709 30^_ 929 31^_3 30^_3^_ 76^_2^_ 940 709 37^..8 810 23^..9 38^_0^_ 43^..9 571 46^_6 268 77^.3^. 91 34^.9^. 41^_0^_ 62^_3^_ 823 67^..9 80^.9^. 907 210 65^..7 3^_ 390 65^..9 53^.. 47^.7^. 58^..0 122 68^..7 634 52^_0^_ 23^_8 858 26^_8^_ 71^_5^_ 51^_4^_ 68^..5 84^..9 47^..6 10^_8 241 291? 52^..3 20^_0^_ 8?^.92 68^..5 97^..1 656 915 17^.5^. 69^..1 8:? 91^.1^. 55^..1 65^_3 21^_4^_ 38 78^.1^. ?03 375 393 70^_9 70^..8 54^..5 71^_9^_ 56^_2 5^_1^_9:?822 17^..5 34^_8 30^_4^_ 65^_7^_ 122 43^..9 67^..9 527 4^_2^_9^_ 927 915 7^_.2^_1^_1^_ 37^_4^_ 77^_7^_ 28^_5^_ 77^..7 31^.1^. 8^.7^. 222 4^.9^. 47^..5 813 527 36^_6 73^_ 43^_6 204 93^..1 210 3^_1^_3^_ 66^..5 49^.4^. 29^..1 9?_..3^..1 23^..9 222 38^_0 271 30 569 6?_.00 10^_7^_ 4^_7^_7^_? 47^..5 772 3^_ ^..390 65^..9 73^_8 51^..0 8^.. 43^..9 66^_7 940 858 40^_6 727 7^_3^_ 60^_6 931 55^_3 52^..0 65^_8 23^_3 107 4^_ 74^..1 709 31^_3^_ 62^_3^_12^..6 23^..9 187 83^..6 189 87^.. 892 16^_7 38^..2 304 15^.9^. 7^_3^_ 38^..5 46^_0 77^..7 977 80^..8 31^_3 10^_7 977 929 21^_1^_ 709 344 ?03 98^..6 202 1 23^..9 7^.. 73^_5^_ 52^..3 17^.5^.142 867 8^_4^_ 886 23^_6 977 612 37^..8 80^_9^_ 52^_5^_ 54^..1 286 2^_1^_1^_ 31^_2^_ 956 53^_3^_ 709 16 69^..2 30^_6 728 34^_5 93^..0 97^.1^. 19^_ 858 561 26^_8 21^_0 975 4^_5^_4 71^_5^_ 42^_9^_ 76^_5 98^..0 97^..1 124 387 31^_3 24^_0^_ 62^_3^_ 286 10^_7^_ 89 31^_2^_ 4^.. 86^..5 277 61^_0^_ 354 305 7^_3^_34^..5 30^_3 52^..0 65^..8 37^_2 268 1^_2^_ 619 77^..7 74 80^_ 21^_0^_ 60^_5^_ 927 43^.. 23 12^.0^. 6^_7 36^_1 6^_8^_ 23^_1^_ 3^_1^_2^_ 233 61^..8 211 89^.. 53^_7 45^_4^_ 887 46^_0^_ 975 80^_8^_ 915 42^.3^. 236 90^..1 10^..8 14^.9^. 93^..1 8^.. 80^..3 49^..0 76^..9 332 80^_8 15 69^..2 30^_6 31^_2^_ 23^..6 10^..1 88^_0 71^..7 20^..5 77^_3 38^..8 97^..1 20 332 709 15 628 50^..6 390 80^.3^. 61^.9^. 7^_3^_ 707 73^_5 3^.1^. 223 66 20 83^..8 8^.. 84^..1 24 17^..5 24^.. 90^..1 65^.7^. 523 98^..0 12^_1^_ 844 4^_7^_ 1^_1^_ 68 59^.7^. 19^..7 31^.1^. 446 62^..9 50^..6 50^..0 69^..8 5^.3^. 9^.9^. 17^..5 472 451 69^..6 471 479 84^.0^. 452 446 19^..7 7^_3^_ 823 49^..5 472 451 69^..6 91 36^_8 15^_5^_ 48^_2^_ 65^..7 67^.4^. 76^_2 372 8^_7^_4^_ 7^_6^_7 68^.9^.
Transcription
5 2^. 7^. 527 .. 4 6^.. 8 468 .. 5 6^.. 7 567 .. 7 6^.. 5 765 .. 2? 7^.. 3 273 .. 3 6 5 365 6 8^_ 4 684 _ 2^_ 0^_ 2^_ 202 ___ 4 3^_ 6 436 _ 3 1^.. 3 313 .. 1 2 1 121 5 0^.. 6 506 .. 6 8^. 8^. 688 .. 5 5^_ 3 553 _ 8 5^.. 1 851 .. 3 0^_ 30 _ 5 0^_ 9^_ 509 __ 3^_ 3^_ 7 337 __ 3 9 3 393 9 4^.. 4 944 .. 3 2 2 322 ? 5 4 54 2 1^.. 5 215 .. 6 4^.. 5 645 .. 6 6^_ 4 664 _ 9 8^.. 3 983 .. 1 0^_ 7^_ 107 __ 2 3^_ 6 236 _ 2 0^_ 7^_ 207 __ 4 8^.. 7 487 .. 4 4^_ 0^_ 440 __ 8 2^_ 3^_ 823 __ 2 4 1 241 3 1^_ 2^_ 312 __ 5 2^.. 3 523 .. ? 0^_ ? 0 _ 8 9 2 892 6 8^.. 5 685 .. 9 8^.. 6 986 .. 9 4 0 940 9 4 4 944 6 2 3 623 1 1^_ 5^_ 115 __ 3 1^.. 1 311 .. 8^. 7^. 87 .. 1 0^_ 7^_ 107 __ 7 5^.. 7 757 .. 3^_ 3^_ 9 339 __ 7 7 8 778 5 5^.. 2 552 .. 7 2 9 729 9 7 7 977 2 1^_ 1 211 _ 9 0 2 902 3 4^.. 5 345 .. 9 4^.. 4? 944 .. 9 7^.. 1 971 .. 2 7^.. 6 276 .. :? 8^.. 8 .. 9 3^.. 1 931 .. 5 1^.. 0 510 .. 8^.. 8 .. 6 2 3 623 7 3^_ 1^_ 731 __ 6 7^_ 3^. 673 _. 5 5^_ 4^_ 554 __ 6 0^. 3^. 603 .. 4 9^. 1^. 491 .. 8 0^. 9^. 809 .. 3 2 8 328 7 3 7 737 1 0^_ 7^_ 107 __ 7 7^.. 7 777 .. 5 6 9 569 7 0 9 709 3 0^_ 30 _ 9 2 9 929 3 1^_ 3 313 _ 3 0^_ 3^_ 303 __ 7 6^_ 2^_ 762 __ 9 4 0 940 7 0 9 709 3 7^.. 8 378 .. 8 1 0 810 2 3^.. 9 239 .. 3 8^_ 0^_ 380 __ 4 3^.. 9 439 .. 5 7 1 571 4 6^_ 6 466 _ 2 6 8 268 7 7^. 3^. 773 .. 9 1 91 3 4^. 9^. 349 .. 4 1^_ 0^_ 410 __ 6 2^_ 3^_ 623 __ 8 2 3 823 6 7^.. 9 679 .. 8 0^. 9^. 809 .. 9 0 7 907 2 1 0 210 6 5^.. 7 657 .. 3^_ 3 _ 3 9 0 390 6 5^.. 9 659 .. 5 3^.. 53 .. 4 7^. 7^. 477 .. 5 8^.. 0 580 .. 1 2 2 122 6 8^.. 7 687 .. 6 3 4 634 5 2^_ 0^_ 520 __ 2 3^_ 8 238 _ 8 5 8 858 2 6^_ 8^_ 268 __ 7 1^_ 5^_ 715 __ 5 1^_ 4^_ 514 __ 6 8^.. 5 685 .. 8 4^.. 9 849 .. 4 7^.. 6 476 .. 1 0^_ 8 108 _ 2 4 1 241 2 9 1? 291 5 2^.. 3 523 .. 2 0^_ 0^_ 200 __ 8?^. 9 2 892 . 6 8^.. 5 685 .. 9 7^.. 1 971 .. 6 5 6 656 9 1 5 915 1 7^. 5^. 175 .. 6 9^.. 1 691 .. 8 :? 8 9 1^. 1^. 911 .. 5 5^.. 1 551 .. 6 5^_ 3 653 _ 2 1^_ 4^_ 214 __ 3 8 38 7 8^. 1^. 781 .. ? 0 3 03 3 7 5 375 3 9 3 393 7 0^_ 9 709 _ 7 0^.. 8 708 .. 5 4^.. 5 545 .. 7 1^_ 9^_ 719 __ 5 6^_ 2 562 _ 5^_ 1^_ 9 :? 8 2 2 519822 __ 1 7^.. 5 175 .. 3 4^_ 8 348 _ 3 0^_ 4^_ 304 __ 6 5^_ 7^_ 657 __ 1 2 2 122 4 3^.. 9 439 .. 6 7^.. 9 679 .. 5 2 7 527 4^_ 2^_ 9^_ 429 ___ 9 2 7 927 9 1 5 915 7^_ . 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ 7211 ____ 3 7^_ 4^_ 374 __ 7 7^_ 7^_ 777 __ 2 8^_ 5^_ 285 __ 7 7^.. 7 777 .. 3 1^. 1^. 311 .. 8^. 7^. 87 .. 2 2 2 222 4^. 9^. 49 .. 4 7^.. 5 475 .. 8 1 3 813 5 2 7 527 3 6^_ 6 366 _ 7 3^_ 73 _ 4 3^_ 6 436 _ 2 0 4 204 9 3^.. 1 931 .. 2 1 0 210 3^_ 1^_ 3^_ 313 ___ 6 6^.. 5 665 .. 4 9^. 4^. 494 .. 2 9^.. 1 291 .. 9?_.. 3^.. 1 931 .. 2 3^.. 9 239 .. 2 2 2 222 3 8^_ 0 380 _ 2 7 1 271 3 0 30 5 6 9 569 6?_. 0 0 600 1 0^_ 7^_ 107 __ 4^_ 7^_ 7^_? 477 ___ 4 7^.. 5 475 .. 7 7 2 772 3^_ 3 _ ^.. 3 9 0 390 .. 6 5^.. 9 659 .. 7 3^_ 8 738 _ 5 1^.. 0 510 .. 8^.. 8 .. 4 3^.. 9 439 .. 6 6^_ 7 667 _ 9 4 0 940 8 5 8 858 4 0^_ 6 406 _ 7 2 7 727 7^_ 3^_ 73 __ 6 0^_ 6 606 _ 9 3 1 931 5 5^_ 3 553 _ 5 2^.. 0 520 .. 6 5^_ 8 658 _ 2 3^_ 3 233 _ 1 0 7 107 4^_ 4 _ 7 4^.. 1 741 .. 7 0 9 709 3 1^_ 3^_ 313 __ 6 2^_ 3^_ 1 2^.. 6 623126 __.. 2 3^.. 9 239 .. 1 8 7 187 8 3^.. 6 836 .. 1 8 9 189 8 7^.. 87 .. 8 9 2 892 1 6^_ 7 167 _ 3 8^.. 2 382 .. 3 0 4 304 1 5^. 9^. 159 .. 7^_ 3^_ 73 __ 3 8^.. 5 385 .. 4 6^_ 0 460 _ 7 7^.. 7 777 .. 9 7 7 977 8 0^.. 8 808 .. 3 1^_ 3 313 _ 1 0^_ 7 107 _ 9 7 7 977 9 2 9 929 2 1^_ 1^_ 211 __ 7 0 9 709 3 4 4 344 ? 0 3 03 9 8^.. 6 986 .. 2 0 2 202 1 1 2 3^.. 9 239 .. 7^.. 7 .. 7 3^_ 5^_ 735 __ 5 2^.. 3 523 .. 1 7^. 5^. 1 4 2 175142 .. 8 6 7 867 8^_ 4^_ 84 __ 8 8 6 886 2 3^_ 6 236 _ 9 7 7 977 6 1 2 612 3 7^.. 8 378 .. 8 0^_ 9^_ 809 __ 5 2^_ 5^_ 525 __ 5 4^.. 1 541 .. 2 8 6 286 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ 211 ___ 3 1^_ 2^_ 312 __ 9 5 6 956 5 3^_ 3^_ 533 __ 7 0 9 709 1 6 16 6 9^.. 2 692 .. 3 0^_ 6 306 _ 7 2 8 728 3 4^_ 5 345 _ 9 3^.. 0 930 .. 9 7^. 1^. 971 .. 1 9^_ 19 _ 8 5 8 858 5 6 1 561 2 6^_ 8 268 _ 2 1^_ 0 210 _ 9 7 5 975 4^_ 5^_ 4 454 __ 7 1^_ 5^_ 715 __ 4 2^_ 9^_ 429 __ 7 6^_ 5 765 _ 9 8^.. 0 980 .. 9 7^.. 1 971 .. 1 2 4 124 3 8 7 387 3 1^_ 3 313 _ 2 4^_ 0^_ 240 __ 6 2^_ 3^_ 623 __ 2 8 6 286 1 0^_ 7^_ 107 __ 8 9 89 3 1^_ 2^_ 312 __ 4^.. 4 .. 8 6^.. 5 865 .. 2 7 7 277 6 1^_ 0^_ 610 __ 3 5 4 354 3 0 5 305 7^_ 3^_ 3 4^.. 5 73345 __.. 3 0^_ 3 303 _ 5 2^.. 0 520 .. 6 5^.. 8 658 .. 3 7^_ 2 372 _ 2 6 8 268 1^_ 2^_ 12 __ 6 1 9 619 7 7^.. 7 777 .. 7 4 74 8 0^_ 80 _ 2 1^_ 0^_ 210 __ 6 0^_ 5^_ 605 __ 9 2 7 927 4 3^.. 43 .. 2 3 23 1 2^. 0^. 120 .. 6^_ 7 67 _ 3 6^_ 1 361 _ 6^_ 8^_ 68 __ 2 3^_ 1^_ 231 __ 3^_ 1^_ 2^_ 312 ___ 2 3 3 233 6 1^.. 8 618 .. 2 1 1 211 8 9^.. 89 .. 5 3^_ 7 537 _ 4 5^_ 4^_ 454 __ 8 8 7 887 4 6^_ 0^_ 460 __ 9 7 5 975 8 0^_ 8^_ 808 __ 9 1 5 915 4 2^. 3^. 423 .. 2 3 6 236 9 0^.. 1 901 .. 1 0^.. 8 108 .. 1 4^. 9^. 149 .. 9 3^.. 1 931 .. 8^.. 8 .. 8 0^.. 3 803 .. 4 9^.. 0 490 .. 7 6^.. 9 769 .. 3 3 2 332 8 0^_ 8 808 _ 1 5 15 6 9^.. 2 692 .. 3 0^_ 6 306 _ 3 1^_ 2^_ 312 __ 2 3^.. 6 236 .. 1 0^.. 1 101 .. 8 8^_ 0 880 _ 7 1^.. 7 717 .. 2 0^.. 5 205 .. 7 7^_ 3 773 _ 3 8^.. 8 388 .. 9 7^.. 1 971 .. 2 0 20 3 3 2 332 7 0 9 709 1 5 15 6 2 8 628 5 0^.. 6 506 .. 3 9 0 390 8 0^. 3^. 803 .. 6 1^. 9^. 619 .. 7^_ 3^_ 73 __ 7 0 7 707 7 3^_ 5 735 _ 3^. 1^. 31 .. 2 2 3 223 6 6 66 2 0 20 8 3^.. 8 838 .. 8^.. 8 .. 8 4^.. 1 841 .. 2 4 24 1 7^.. 5 175 .. 2 4^.. 24 .. 9 0^.. 1 901 .. 6 5^. 7^. 657 .. 5 2 3 523 9 8^.. 0 980 .. 1 2^_ 1^_ 121 __ 8 4 4 844 4^_ 7^_ 47 __ 1^_ 1^_ 11 __ 6 8 68 5 9^. 7^. 597 .. 1 9^.. 7 197 .. 3 1^. 1^. 311 .. 4 4 6 446 6 2^.. 9 629 .. 5 0^.. 6 506 .. 5 0^.. 0 500 .. 6 9^.. 8 698 .. 5^. 3^. 53 .. 9^. 9^. 99 .. 1 7^.. 5 175 .. 4 7 2 472 4 5 1 451 6 9^.. 6 696 .. 4 7 1 471 4 7 9 479 8 4^. 0^. 840 .. 4 5 2 452 4 4 6 446 1 9^.. 7 197 .. 7^_ 3^_ 73 __ 8 2 3 823 4 9^.. 5 495 .. 4 7 2 472 4 5 1 451 6 9^.. 6 696 .. 9 1 91 3 6^_ 8 368 _ 1 5^_ 5^_ 155 __ 4 8^_ 2^_ 482 __ 6 5^.. 7 657 .. 6 7^. 4^. 674 .. 7 6^_ 2 762 _ 3 7 2 372 8^_ 7^_ 4^_ 874 ___ 7^_ 6^_ 7 767 __ 6 8^. 9^. 689 ..
Transcription
#CIPHERTEXT
#CATALOGUE NAME: NA_1.01.02_SG_unr7407_by_C.A._graaf_van_Rechteren_1785-10-04
#IMAGE NAME: 5448.png–5452.png
#TRANSCRIBER NAME: IB
#DATE OF TRANSCRIPTION: November 5, 2020
#TRANSCRIPTION TIME: 155 min = 2,35 h
#TRANSCRIPTION METHOD: Manual
#COMMENTS: last 2 rows, part of third last row and partial or entire sequences of numbers missing from right margin in 5450.png (added in the transcription of 5451.png).
#IMAGE NAME: 5448.png
#COMMENTS: hard to identify word boundaries, hence <IL> could refer to more than one word and viceversa <IL> <IL> could identify a single word.
<CLEARTEXT NL * R?>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> <IL> Missive van den Heer Grave? van Rechteren tot <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL mingen?*>
<CLEARTEXT NL Dat: den 23 Sept:1785>
<CLEARTEXT NL 4 Oct:>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> 25 Octob? **85>
<CLEARTEXT NL [...]>
<CLEARTEXT NL Hoog Edele <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> mijn arrivement al?h?ier sp****ende <IL> <IL> Heer <IL> <IL> over>
<CLEARTEXT NL mijn eerste audientie <IL> mij? <IL> Heer of? ik? <IL> een Brief aan>
<CLEARTEXT NL den Groot? <IL> <IL> waar**ik? geantwoor* hebbende , <IL> mij zijn>
<CLEARTEXT NL Ed? het? zeer <IL> <IL> over <IL> geeven , als? niets anders als? <IL> aan>
<CLEARTEXT NL het Hof <IL> <IL> , daar <IL> <IL> , dat <IL> *aab?en>
<CLEARTEXT NL van den *aa?* t?o?r?t? <IL> <IL> en dat ik het <IL> <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL al?z?o? er? een geval niet den <IL> *einer* ha*gen *ad? pla?a?ts? geh?a?d ,>
<CLEARTEXT NL die oo?k? zijn Brief aan den Groot <IL> had? <IL> <IL> gehoud?en .>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL> van den Heer de **art , <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL kenn** die hij van di* Hofhee** , gepaard me* de g******elling ,>
<CLEARTEXT NL dat hij <IL> voor verantwoor*e , <IL> mij <IL> <IL> van mijn>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> niet *aa*en <IL> <IL> ho*p niet, dat <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> <IL> <IL> word?en <IL> <IL> <IL> niet anders als de vordering>
<CLEARTEXT NL van de* Land* belangen <IL> <IL> , en ik <IL> dat <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL zal? hebben , den Groot <IL> van <IL> <IL> van <IL> <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> . <IL> over <IL> , waari?* ik? bi?n, dat <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL mijn* . Bri**en <IL> worden* <IL> mij <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL> een* mogelijk**** <IL> om? de nego*iatie <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL hervatten* <IL> ha**en v*rzoc?k? <IL> ma?gen wi?e?t?en o?f? ik , <IL> neer?>
<CLEARTEXT NL de *aa*e*n <IL> geheim <IL> , e?n de , <IL> van>
<CLEARTEXT NL de*e**e aan de belangen van den S?t?aat , en het ver**ouwen , dat>
<CLEARTEXT NL me?n in <IL> Minist?e?r? behoord <IL> s?t?ellen , eenige <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> zo?n? <IL> weege? b?rengen, of? ik <IL> dan? , doch niet als>
<CLEARTEXT NL in de>
IMAGE NAME: 5449.png
#COMMENTS: hard to identify word boundaries, hence <IL> could refer to more than one word and viceversa <IL> <IL> could identify a single word. Symbols ("/", ":", "(") in the last part, but not sure.
<CLEARTEXT NL in de hoogste <IL> <IL> heid , een Cour?ier? aan <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL afz?en?den , het we** <IL> meer *******lijk <IL> <IL> in den **gin van>
<CLEARTEXT NL *ee*e <IL> <IL> meer <IL> heid als? <IL> <IL> geb****en . >
<CLEARTEXT NL Ik ver?z?ock? hier op *en ***edig antwoord in <IL> <IL> den <IL> , >
<CLEARTEXT NL *erd de ont?d?**ing *an het <IL> <IL> fa*il?i*ee*en .>
<CLEARTEXT NL [...]>
<CLEARTEXT NL St. Petersburg 23 Sept:>
<CLEARTEXT NL 4 Oct: 1785>
<CLEARTEXT NL /: gelee*end :/>
<CLEARTEXT NL (: .? t?: Grave van . Rechteren <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL gen >
#IMAGE NAME: 5450.png
#COMMENTS: last 2 rows, part of third last row and partial or entire sequences of numbers missing from right margin (added in the transcription of the next image).Not sure about 2^_ 0^_ 2^_ (Ist row), 1 0^_ 7^_ (IInd and IVth row), 3 4^.. 5 (IVth row), 6 7^_ 3^. (Vth row, line and dot are on top of each other), 4 9^. 1^.(Vth row), 3 0^_ 3^_ (VIth row), — 2 3^.. 9 (VIIth row), 2 6^_ 8^_ (IXth row), 5^_ 1^_ 9 (XIth row), 3^_ 1^_ 3^_ (XIIIth row), — 6 6^.. 5, 4^_ 7^_ 7^_?(XIVth row), 6 2^_ 3^_ , 1 2^.. 6, 1 5^. 9^. and 7^_ 3^_ (XVIIth row), 1 7^. 5^. (XIXth row), 9 7^.. 1, 3 1^_ 3, 2 4^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_(XXIInd row), 6 1^.. 8, 4 5^_ 4^_ (XXVth row).
<CLEARTEXT NL Dati? A? 5? Octob. **85>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> 25>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> . >
<CLEARTEXT NL Hoog <IL> <IL>>
5 2^. 7^. , 4 6^.. 8 , 5 6^.. 7 , 7 6^.. 5 , 2? 7^.. 3 , 3 6 5 , 6 8^_ 4 , 2^_ 0^_ 2^_ , 4 3^_ 6 , 3 1^.. 3 , 1 2 1 , 5 0^.. 6 , 6 8^. 8^. , 5 5^_ .
8 5^.. 1 , 3 0^_ , 5 0^_ 9^_ , 3^_ 3^_ 7 , 3 9 3 , 9 4^.. 4 , 3 2 2 , ? 5 4 , 2 1^.. 5 , 6 4^.. 5 , 6 6^_ 4 , 9 8^.. 3 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 2 3^_ ,
2 0^_ 7^_ , 4 8^.. 7 , 4 4^_ 0^_ , 8 2^_ 3^_ , 2 4 1 , 3 1^_ 2^_ , 5 2^.. 3 , ? 0^_ ? , 8 9 2 , 6 8^.. 5 , 9 8^.. 6 , 9 4 0 , 9 4 4 , 6 2
1 1^_ 5^_ , 3 1^.. 1 , 8^. 7^. , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 7 5^.. 7 , 3^_ 3^_ 9 , 7 7 8 , 5 5^.. 2 , 7 2 9 , 9 7 7 , 2 1^_ 1 , 9 0 2 , 3 4^.. 5 , 9 4
9 7^.. 1 , 2 7^.. 6 , :? 8^.. , 9 3^.. 1 , 5 1^.. 0 , 8^.. , 6 2 3 , 7 3^_ 1^_ , 6 7^_ 3^. , 5 5^_ 4^_ , 6 0^. 3^. , 4 9^. 1^. , 8 0^. 9^. , 3 2
7 3 7 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 7 7^.. 7 , 5 6 9 , 7 0 9 , 3 0^_ , 9 2 9 , 3 1^_ 3 , 3 0^_ 3^_ , 7 6^_ 2^_ , 9 4 0 , 7 0 9 , 3 7^.. 8 , 8 1
— 2 3^.. 9 , 3 8^_ 0^_ , 4 3^.. 9 , 5 7 1 — , 4 6^_ 6 , 2 6 8 , 7 7^. 3^. , 9 1 , 3 4^. 9^. , 4 1^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_ , 8 2 3 , 6 7^.. 9 , ?
9 0 7 , 2 1 0 , 6 5^.. 7 , 3^_ , 3 9 0 , 6 5^.. 9 , 5 3^.. , 4 7^. 7^. , 5 8^.. 0 , 1 2 2 , 6 8^.. 7 , 6 3 4 , 5 2^_ 0^_ , 2
8 5 8 , 2 6^_ 8^_ , 7 1^_ 5^_ , 5 1^_ 4^_ , 6 8^.. 5 , 8 4^.. 9 , 4 7^.. 6 , 1 0^_ 8 , 2 4 1 , 2 9 1? , 5 2^.. 3 , 2 0^_ 0^_ , 8?^. 9 2 , 6
9 7^.. 1 , 6 5 6 , 9 1 5 , 1 7^. 5^. , 6 9^.. 1 , 8 :? , 9 1^. 1^. , 5 5^.. 1 , 6 5^_ 3 , 2 1^_ 4^_ , 3 8 , 7 8^. 1^. , ? 0 3 , 3 ,
3 9 3 , 7 0^_ 9 , 7 0^.. 8 , 5 4^.. 5 , 7 1^_ 9^_ , 5 6^_ 2 , 5^_ 1^_ 9 :? 8 2 2 , 1 7^.. 5 , 3 4^_ 8 , 3 0^_ 4^_ , 6 5^_ 7^_ , 1 2 2 ,
4 3^.. 9 , 6 7^.. 9 , 5 2 7 , 4^_ 2^_ 9^_ , 9 2 7 , 9 1 5 , 7^_ . 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ , 3 7^_ 4^_ , 7 7^_ 7^_ , 2 8^_ 5^_ , 7 7^.. 7 , 3 1^.
8^. 7^. , 2 2 2 , 4^. 9^. , 4 7^.. 5 , 8 1 3 , 5 2 7 , 3 6^_ 6 , 7 3^_ , 4 3^_ 6 , 2 0 4 , 9 3^.. 1 , 2 1 0 , 3^_ 1^_ 3^_
— 6 6^.. 5 , 4 9^. 4^. , 2 9^.. 1 , 9?_.. 3^.. 1 , 2 3^.. 9 , 2 2 2 , 3 8^_ 0 , 2 7 1 , 3 0 , 5 6 9 , 6?_. 0 0 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 4^_ 7^_ 7^_?
4 7^.. 5 , 7 7 2 , 3^_ ,^.. 3 9 0 , 6 5^.. 9 , 7 3^_ 8 , 5 1^.. 0 , 8^.. , 4 3^.. 9 , 6 6^_ 7 , 9 4 0 , 8 5 8 , 4 0^_ ?
7 2 7 , 7^_ 3^_ , 6 0^_ 6 , 9 3 1 , 5 5^_ 3 , 5 2^.. 0 , 6 5^_ 8 , 2 3^_ 3 , 1 0 7 , 4^_ , 7 4^.. 1 , 7 0 9 , 3 1^_ ?
6 2^_ 3^_ 1 2^.. 6 , 2 3^.. 9 , 1 8 7 , 8 3^.. 6 , 1 8 9 , 8 7^.. , 8 9 2 , 1 6^_ 7 , 3 8^.. 2 , 3 0 4 , 1 5^. 9^. , 7^_ 3^_
3 8^.. 5 , 4 6^_ 0 , 7 7^.. 7 , 9 7 7 , 8 0^.. 8 , 3 1^_ 3 , 1 0^_ 7 , 9 7 7 , 9 2 9 , 2 1^_ 1^_ , 7 0 9 , 3 4 4 , ? 0 ,
9 8^.. 6 , 2 0 2 , 1 , 2 3^.. 9 , 7^.. , 7 3^_ 5^_ , 5 2^.. 3 , 1 7^. 5^. 1 4 2 , 8 6 7 , 8^_ 4^_ , 8 8 6 , 2 3^_?
9 7 7 , 6 1 2 , 3 7^.. 8 , 8 0^_ 9^_ , 5 2^_ 5^_ , 5 4^.. 1 , 2 8 6 , 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ , 3 1^_ 2^_ , 9 5 6 , 5 3^_ 3^_ , 7 0 9 , 1 .
6 9^.. 2 , 3 0^_ 6 , 7 2 8 , 3 4^_ 5 , 9 3^.. 0 , 9 7^. 1^. , 1 9^_ , 8 5 8 , 5 6 1 , 2 6^_ 8 , 2 1^_ 0 , 9 7 5 , 4^_ 5^_
7 1^_ 5^_ , 4 2^_ 9^_ , 7 6^_ 5 , 9 8^.. 0 , 9 7^.. 1 , 1 2 4 , 3 8 7 , 3 1^_ 3 , 2 4^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_ , 2 8 6 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 8
3 1^_ 2^_ , 4^.. , 8 6^.. 5 , 2 7 7 , 6 1^_ 0^_ , 3 5 4 , 3 0 5 , 7^_ 3^_ 3 4^.. 5 , 3 0^_ 3 , 5 2^.. 0 , 6 5^.. 8 , 3
2 6 8 , 1^_ 2^_ , 6 1 9 , 7 7^.. 7 , 7 4 , 8 0^_ , 2 1^_ 0^_ , 6 0^_ 5^_ , 9 2 7 , 4 3^.. , 2 3 , 1 2^. 0^. , ?
3 6^_ 1 , 6^_ 8^_ , 2 3^_ 1^_ , 3^_ 1^_ 2^_ , 2 3 3 , 6 1^.. 8 , 2 1 1 , 8 9^.. , 5 3^_ 7 , 4 5^_ 4^_ , 8 8 7 , 4 6^_ 0^_ ,
? ? ? ? ? 1? 5 4 2^. 3^. , 2 3 6 , 9 0^.. 1 , 1 0^.. 8 , 1 4^. 9^. , 9 3^.. 1 , 8^.. , 8 0^.. 3 , 4 9^.. 0 ,
#IMAGE NAME: 5451.png
#COMMENTS: same as the transcription of previous image and, in addition to that, the last two rows, part of third last row, as well as the numbers on the right margin (however, part of the text on the upper part is missing here). Not sure about 2^_ 0^_ 2^_ (Ist row), 1 0^_ 7^_ (IInd and IVth row), 3 4^.. 5 (IVth row), 6 7^_ 3^. (Vth row, line and dot are on top of each other), 4 9^. 1^.(Vth row), 3 0^_ 3^_ (VIth row), — 2 3^.. 9, 8 0^. 9^. (VIIth row), 2 6^_ 8^_ (IXth row), 5^_ 1^_ 9 (XIth row), 3^_ 1^_ 3^_ (XIIIth row), — 6 6^.. 5, 4^_ 7^_ 7^_?(XIVth row), 6 2^_ 3^_ , 1 2^.. 6, 1 5^. 9^. and 7^_ 3^_ (XVIIth row), 1 7^. 5^. (XIXth row), 9 7^.. 1, 3 1^_ 3, 2 4^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_(XXIInd row), 6 1^.. 8, 4 5^_ 4^_ (XXVth row), 8 0^_ 8^_ (XXVIth row), 2 0^.. 5 (XXVIIth row), 7 7^_ 3 (XXVIIIth row),
<CLEARTEXT NL Hoog <IL> <IL>>
5 2^. 7^. , 4 6^.. 8 , 5 6^.. 7 , 7 6^.. 5 , 2? 7^.. 3 , 3 6 5 , 6 8^_ 4 , 2^_ 0^_ 2^_ , 4 3^_ 6 , 3 1^.. 3 , 1 2 1 , 5 0^.. 6 , 6 8^. 8^. , 5 5^_ 3 ,
8 5^.. 1 , 3 0^_ , 5 0^_ 9^_ , 3^_ 3^_ 7 , 3 9 3 , 9 4^.. 4 , 3 2 2 , ? 5 4 , 2 1^.. 5 , 6 4^.. 5 , 6 6^_ 4 , 9 8^.. 3 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 2 3^_ 6 ,
2 0^_ 7^_ , 4 8^.. 7 , 4 4^_ 0^_ , 8 2^_ 3^_ , 2 4 1 , 3 1^_ 2^_ , 5 2^.. 3 , ? 0^_ ? , 8 9 2 , 6 8^.. 5 , 9 8^.. 6 , 9 4 0 , 9 4 4 , 6 2 3 ,
1 1^_ 5^_ , 3 1^.. 1 , 8^. 7^. , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 7 5^.. 7 , 3^_ 3^_ 9 , 7 7 8 , 5 5^.. 2 , 7 2 9 , 9 7 7 , 2 1^_ 1 , 9 0 2 , 3 4^.. 5 , 9 4^.. 4?
9 7^.. 1 , 2 7^.. 6 , :? 8^.. , 9 3^.. 1 , 5 1^.. 0 , 8^.. , 6 2 3 , 7 3^_ 1^_ , 6 7^_ 3^. , 5 5^_ 4^_ , 6 0^. 3^. , 4 9^. 1^. , 8 0^. 9^. , 3 2 8 ,
7 3 7 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 7 7^.. 7 , 5 6 9 , 7 0 9 , 3 0^_ , 9 2 9 , 3 1^_ 3 , 3 0^_ 3^_ , 7 6^_ 2^_ , 9 4 0 , 7 0 9 , 3 7^.. 8 , 8 1 0 ,
2 3^.. 9 , 3 8^_ 0^_ , 4 3^.. 9 , 5 7 1 — , 4 6^_ 6 , 2 6 8 , 7 7^. 3^. , 9 1 , 3 4^. 9^. , 4 1^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_ , 8 2 3 , 6 7^.. 9 , 8 0^. 9^.
9 0 7 , 2 1 0 , 6 5^.. 7 , 3^_ , 3 9 0 , 6 5^.. 9 , 5 3^.. , 4 7^. 7^. , 5 8^.. 0 , 1 2 2 , 6 8^.. 7 , 6 3 4 , 5 2^_ 0^_ , 2 3^_ 8
8 5 8 , 2 6^_ 8^_ , 7 1^_ 5^_ , 5 1^_ 4^_ , 6 8^.. 5 , 8 4^.. 9 , 4 7^.. 6 , 1 0^_ 8 , 2 4 1 , 2 9 1? , 5 2^.. 3 , 2 0^_ 0^_ , 8?^. 9 2 , 6 8^.. 5,
9 7^.. 1 , 6 5 6 , 9 1 5 , 1 7^. 5^. , 6 9^.. 1 , 8 :? , 9 1^. 1^. , 5 5^.. 1 , 6 5^_ 3 , 2 1^_ 4^_ , 3 8 , 7 8^. 1^. , ? 0 3 , 3 7 5 ,
3 9 3 , 7 0^_ 9 , 7 0^.. 8 , 5 4^.. 5 , 7 1^_ 9^_ , 5 6^_ 2 , 5^_ 1^_ 9 :? 8 2 2 , 1 7^.. 5 , 3 4^_ 8 , 3 0^_ 4^_ , 6 5^_ 7^_ , 1 2 2 ,
4 3^.. 9 , 6 7^.. 9 , 5 2 7 , 4^_ 2^_ 9^_ , 9 2 7 , 9 1 5 , 7^_ . 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ , 3 7^_ 4^_ , 7 7^_ 7^_ , 2 8^_ 5^_ , 7 7^.. 7 , 3 1^. 1^.
8^. 7^. , 2 2 2 , 4^. 9^. , 4 7^.. 5 , 8 1 3 , 5 2 7 , 3 6^_ 6 , 7 3^_ , 4 3^_ 6 , 2 0 4 , 9 3^.. 1 , 2 1 0 , 3^_ 1^_ 3^_
— 6 6^.. 5 , 4 9^. 4^. , 2 9^.. 1 , 9?_.. 3^.. 1 , 2 3^.. 9 , 2 2 2 , 3 8^_ 0 , 2 7 1 , 3 0 , 5 6 9 , 6?_. 0 0 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 4^_ 7^_ 7^_?
4 7^.. 5 , 7 7 2 , 3^_ ,^.. 3 9 0 , 6 5^.. 9 , 7 3^_ 8 , 5 1^.. 0 , 8^.. , 4 3^.. 9 , 6 6^_ 7 , 9 4 0 , 8 5 8 , 4 0^_ 6
7 2 7 , 7^_ 3^_ , 6 0^_ 6 , 9 3 1 , 5 5^_ 3 , 5 2^.. 0 , 6 5^_ 8 , 2 3^_ 3 , 1 0 7 , 4^_ , 7 4^.. 1 , 7 0 9 , 3 1^_ 3^_ ,
6 2^_ 3^_ 1 2^.. 6 , 2 3^.. 9 , 1 8 7 , 8 3^.. 6 , 1 8 9 , 8 7^.. , 8 9 2 , 1 6^_ 7 , 3 8^.. 2 , 3 0 4 , 1 5^. 9^. , 7^_ 3^_
3 8^.. 5 , 4 6^_ 0 , 7 7^.. 7 , 9 7 7 , 8 0^.. 8 , 3 1^_ 3 , 1 0^_ 7 , 9 7 7 , 9 2 9 , 2 1^_ 1^_ , 7 0 9 , 3 4 4 , ? 0 3 ,
9 8^.. 6 , 2 0 2 , 1 , 2 3^.. 9 , 7^.. , 7 3^_ 5^_ , 5 2^.. 3 , 1 7^. 5^. 1 4 2 , 8 6 7 , 8^_ 4^_ , 8 8 6 , 2 3^_ 6 ,
9 7 7 , 6 1 2 , 3 7^.. 8 , 8 0^_ 9^_ , 5 2^_ 5^_ , 5 4^.. 1 , 2 8 6 , 2^_ 1^_ 1^_ , 3 1^_ 2^_ , 9 5 6 , 5 3^_ 3^_ , 7 0 9 , 1 6
6 9^.. 2 , 3 0^_ 6 , 7 2 8 , 3 4^_ 5 , 9 3^.. 0 , 9 7^. 1^. , 1 9^_ , 8 5 8 , 5 6 1 , 2 6^_ 8 , 2 1^_ 0 , 9 7 5 , 4^_ 5^_ 4 ,
7 1^_ 5^_ , 4 2^_ 9^_ , 7 6^_ 5 , 9 8^.. 0 , 9 7^.. 1 , 1 2 4 , 3 8 7 , 3 1^_ 3 , 2 4^_ 0^_ , 6 2^_ 3^_ , 2 8 6 , 1 0^_ 7^_ , 8 9
3 1^_ 2^_ , 4^.. , 8 6^.. 5 , 2 7 7 , 6 1^_ 0^_ , 3 5 4 , 3 0 5 , 7^_ 3^_ 3 4^.. 5 , 3 0^_ 3 , 5 2^.. 0 , 6 5^.. 8 , 3 7^_ 2 ,
2 6 8 , 1^_ 2^_ , 6 1 9 , 7 7^.. 7 , 7 4 , 8 0^_ , 2 1^_ 0^_ , 6 0^_ 5^_ , 9 2 7 , 4 3^.. , 2 3 , 1 2^. 0^. , 6^_ 7 ,
3 6^_ 1 , 6^_ 8^_ , 2 3^_ 1^_ , 3^_ 1^_ 2^_ , 2 3 3 , 6 1^.. 8 , 2 1 1 , 8 9^.. , 5 3^_ 7 , 4 5^_ 4^_ , 8 8 7 , 4 6^_ 0^_ ,
9 7 5 , 8 0^_ 8^_ , 9 1 5 , 4 2^. 3^. , 2 3 6 , 9 0^.. 1 , 1 0^.. 8 , 1 4^. 9^. , 9 3^.. 1 , 8^.. , 8 0^.. 3 , 4 9^.. 0 ,
7 6^.. 9 , 3 3 2 , 8 0^_ 8 , 1 5 , 6 9^.. 2 , 3 0^_ 6 , 3 1^_ 2^_ , 2 3^.. 6 , 1 0^.. 1 , 8 8^_ 0 , 7 1^.. 7 , 2 0^.. 5 ,
7 7^_ 3 , 3 8^.. 8 , 9 7^.. 1 , 2 0 , 3 3 2 , 7 0 9 , 1 5 , 6 2 8 , 5 0^.. 6 , 3 9 0 , 8 0^. 3^. , 6 1^. 9^.
#IMAGE NAME: 5452.png
#COMMENTS: not sure about 1 7^.. 5 (Ist row), 4^_ 7^_ (IInd row), 1 7^.. 5, 8 4^. 0^.(IIIrd row)
7^_ 3^_ , 7 0 7 , 7 3^_ 5 , 3^. 1^. , 2 2 3 , 6 6 , 2 0 , 8 3^.. 8 , 8^.. , 8 4^.. 1 , 2 4 , 1 7^.. 5 , 2 4^.. , 9 0^.. 1 , 6 5^. 7^.
5 2 3 , 9 8^.. 0 , 1 2^_ 1^_ , 8 4 4 , 4^_ 7^_ , 1^_ 1^_ , 6 8 , 5 9^. 7^. , 1 9^.. 7 , 3 1^. 1^. , 4 4 6 , 6 2^.. 9 , 5 0^.. 6 ,
5 0^.. 0 , 6 9^.. 8 , 5^. 3^. , 9^. 9^. , 1 7^.. 5 , 4 7 2 , 4 5 1 , 6 9^.. 6 , 4 7 1 , 4 7 9 , 8 4^. 0^. , 4 5 2 ,
4 4 6 , 1 9^.. 7 , 7^_ 3^_ , 8 2 3 , 4 9^.. 5 , 4 7 2 , 4 5 1 , 6 9^.. 6 , 9 1 , 3 6^_ 8 , 1 5^_ 5^_ , 4 8^_ 2^_ , 6 5^.. 7 ,
6 7^. 4^. , 7 6^_ 2 , 3 7 2 , 8^_ 7^_ 4^_ , 7^_ 6^_ 7 , 6 8^. 9^.
<CLEARTEXT NL Ik h*b *e *er m*t <IL> <IL> <IL> <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL St. Petersburg>
<CLEARTEXT NL e?n? 23 Sept*>
<CLEARTEXT NL 4 octb? 1785>
<CLEARTEXT NL Hoog **el?ege*t**ng******>
<CLEARTEXT NL**H?oog****e <IL>>
<CLEARTEXT NL **d?erd?e***** a?ngeh?oor*a?a?****>
<CLEARTEXT NL [...]>
<CLEARTEXT NL <IL> Grave*an?Rechteren>
<CLEARTEXT NL [...]>Decryption
DECODE R1039 — NA 1.01.02 Staten-Generaal inv. 7407
C. A. graaf van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen (St Petersburg) to the Griffier (States General), 23 Sept / 4 Oct 1785
Contemporary decipherment ("Ont cyfferde Missive"), DECODE images 5448-5449; the cipher itself is on images 5450-5452 (424 groups).
Transcribed here from the scans, 21 Sept 2026. Original spelling kept; [?] = uncertain reading.
[margin] Dat: den 23 Sept: / 4 Oct: 1785. Rec: 25 Octob 1785. Secreet.
Ont cyfferde Missive van den Heer Grave van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen.
Hoog Edele Gestrenge Heer!
Bij mijn arrivement alhier sprekende met de Heer De Swart over mijn eerste audientie, vraagde mij die Heer of ik ook
een Brief aan den Groot Vorst had, waarop ik geantwoord hebbende, raade mij zijn Ed: het zeer af, deezen over te
geeven, als niets anders als jaloutsie aan het Hof kunnende verwekken; daar bij voegende, dat zulks de zaaken van
den Staat tort zoude doen, en dat ik het gerust konde laaten, alzo er een geval met den Heer Meinertshaagen had
plaats gehad, die ook zijn Brief aan den Groot Vorst had te rug gehouden.
De langduurige ondervinding van den Heer de Swart, en de kennis die hij van dit Hof heeft, gepaard met de
geruststelling, dat hij er voor verantwoorde, hebben mij dit gedeelte van mijn Instructie niet laaten executeeren.
Ik hoop niet, dat mij zulks ten kwaade zal worden geduid, alzo er niets anders als de vordering van 's Lands
belangen meede beoogt, en ik buiten dat wel occasie zal hebben, den Groot Vorst van de goede intentie van Haar
Hoog Mog: te verzekeren.
De zekere overtuiging, waarin ik ben, dat alle mijne Brieven geopend worden, zal mij zeer geneeren in mijne
depeches, wanneer er eens mogelijkheid is, om de negociatie te hervatten; wes halven verzoek te mogen weeten, of
ik, wanneer de zaaken een absolut geheim vereischt, en de publiciteit van dezelve aan de belangen van den Staat,
en het vertrouwen dat men in deszelfs Minister behoord te stellen, eenige belemmering zou te weege brengen, of ik
alsdan, doch niet als in de hoogste noodzaakelijkheid, een Courier aan U Ho: Ed: Gest: mag afzenden, het welk te
meer noodzaakelijk is, alzo in den begin van deeze mijne Commissie meer omzigtigheid als ooit moet gebruiken.
Ik verzoek hierop een spoedig antwoord in Cyffer, alzo een ongecijfferd de ontdekking van het cyffer zou faciliteeren.
Ik heb de Eer &c.
St Petersburg 23 Sept: / 4 Oct: 1785.
(: geteekend :/ C. A. Grave van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen
English summary: On arriving, Rechteren asked De Swart about his first audience; De Swart advised him not to hand
over his letter to the Grand Duke (Paul), since it could only rouse jealousy at court (Catherine II) and harm the
Republic, citing Meinertzhagen, who had also held back his letter. Relying on De Swart, Rechteren did not carry out
that part of his instructions and hopes this will not be held against him. Convinced that all his letters are
opened, he asks leave to send a courier in cases needing absolute secrecy, and asks for a prompt reply in cipher,
since an unciphered answer would help the Russians discover the cipher.Translation
<!-- English translation of R1039_decipherment.txt (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the contemporary decipherment ("Ont cyfferde Missive", DECODE images 5448-5449) of Rechteren's cipher despatch, transcribed from the scans on 21 Sept 2026. -->
# R1039, Count van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen to the Griffier of the States General, St Petersburg, 23 Sept / 4 Oct 1785: English translation
[margin] Dated 23 Sept / 4 Oct 1785. Received 25 October 1785. Secret.
Deciphered missive from the Count van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen.
Right Honourable Sir!
On my arrival here, speaking with Mr De Swart about my first audience, that gentleman asked me whether I also had a
letter for the Grand Duke; I having answered that I had, His Honour strongly advised me against handing it over, as it
could rouse nothing but jealousy at the Court; adding that this would harm the affairs of the State, and that I could
safely leave it, since there had been a case with Mr Meinertshaagen, who had also held back his letter to the Grand
Duke.
Mr de Swart's long experience and the knowledge he has of this Court, together with the reassurance that he answered
for it, have made me not carry out this part of my Instruction. I hope that this will not be taken amiss, since
nothing but the advancement of the country's interests is intended by it, and since I shall in any case have occasion
to assure the Grand Duke of the good intentions of Their High Mightinesses.
The firm conviction I hold that all my letters are opened will greatly hamper me in my despatches when there is once a
possibility of resuming the negotiation; I therefore ask to know whether, when matters require absolute secrecy and
their publicity would bring some hindrance to the interests of the State and to the confidence that ought to be placed
in its Minister, I may then — but only in the utmost necessity — dispatch a courier to Your Right Honourable Self; which
is the more necessary as at the beginning of this commission of mine I must use more caution than ever.
I ask for a speedy answer to this in cipher, since an unciphered one would make the discovery of the cipher easier.
I have the honour &c.
St Petersburg, 23 Sept / 4 Oct 1785.
(signed) C. A. Count van Rechteren tot Borgbeuningen05 Sources
- Nationaal Archief, 1.01.02 Staten-Generaal, inv. 7407; DECODE R1039, images 5448–5452 (login).
- Karl de Leeuw, Cryptology and Statecraft in the Dutch Republic (Amsterdam, 2000), note on the interception of despatches in Russia, citing this letter.
Transcription, parsed cipher groups and notes: targets/rechteren1785/.