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representation of his Character it is that I judge whether he is likely to forward
my schemes. Did my brother tell you, Sir, what Fitzherbert's friend who had been
interesting himself for my admission to a place in the dock yard said. He was of
opinion that Russia was the place to exert any talents for improvement at.
Not that it is his saying so that would have any weight with me, because I can
conceive that he may be interested in saying so, in as much as he would by that
means get rid of the importunities of his friend on my behalf.
I am not surprized, Sir, at your not entering immediately into the spirit of such
an expedition. I should expect that the idea of my going out of the country might
alarm you at the first mention of it: but I hope when you take into consideration
the difference of our educations, our pursuits, and our ages, you will not wonder at
my being more enterprising than you might altogether wish. — My education
has been of that kind as to leave very little attachment to any particular country
or custom.
Some time ago you seemed much pleased at the thoughts of my
taking a Russian Pupil. I took one upon trial, but upon finding that it was
not very likely that he would do me credit, I gave up. After that then what
reason can you have to imagine that I would undertake to instruct any others that are
ignorant & totally uninformed — no you may be assured that I would take none but
such as should have had a good preparatory education and who should shew a disposition
capable of great application. It is a great chance if any such should offer: that if they
should, as I certainly should take Apprentices in whatever line of the business I may be
I see no reason why I should not take such by whom I might get the most credit
and who would pay best.
As to what would or would not be likely to be for my improvement; as my business is
of the kind that you have never in the least attended to, I should hope you would trust to
me in that respect. I should might not think that on my own account it would be worth
while to go to Petersburgh merely for improvement, but I must say that I can see
nothing at all absurd in the idea of acquiring improvement there. They have a number
of contrivances there which we have not some indeed are such as we have not much
occasion for, but others perhaps, which it might be to our advantage if we would
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Identifier: | JB/538/323/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
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1779-05-09 |
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538 |
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323 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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