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I was led to ask this from an account I have met with in a small thick
Quarto of Travels through Holland & Italy by Mr de Blainville translated
into English by Turnbull & Gutherie. 1743. Page 543.
There is a most extraordinary woman who lives at this place and has
a house out of Town close to Mr Hanbury's. She is widow to Count Bentinc
father of the late Captn Bentinc. I dare to say you know that She is
a Princess born, She a that She is a woman of an amazing spirit
and possessed of more universal & Political knowledge than most men.
She has been obliged ordered by the King of Prussia to quit his dominions
in 24 hours: and when she went to Vienna She did not stay there
long before She was found to meddle too much with public affairs
there also, and was accordingly obliged to decamp. She has a most extensive
correspondence with ministers in most nations in Europe: and
in short is one of the greatest intriguantes imaginable.
No wonder then that She is the great
personage hereabouts. She is about 64 years
of age, but still is in a constant hurry of bu
with 2 Secretaries to assist her.
Mr Hanbury his son Charles and Mrs Lind
are very great favorites of hers and as She has connections
in some of the countries I am going to and
corresponds with Tüler, Chas H: thought She would
a usefull acquaintance for me. accordingly last
yesterday evening we Mr Hanbury sent in to her to know
if she would receive a visitor: but She had been kep
her bed the whole day. Mr Hanbury then sent word
to her that there was an English Gentleman at his
house an intimate friend of his daughter Mrs Lind
and that She had enjoined him not to leave Hamburg
without seeing the Countess and presenting her respe
1779} S.B. Hamburgh
Oct.} to
19 } I.B. Linc. Inn.
Countess Bentinck
Execution
Sheet 1st
Reced Novr 18
Jerey Bentham Esqr
Lincoln's Inn
London.
upon this came an invitation for Mr Hanbury and me to dine with her the next
day, upon Mr Hanbury's saying he was engaged to go to Town I was invited alone, with a promise
of sending me Town in the afternoon as all Mr Hanbury's family are to quit their
country house in the morning for the winter season. I was desired at the same time
to fix the hour of dinner. I slept that night at Mr Hanbury's counting house but
walked to Town early in the morning as I had several things to do. I understood
that nobody ceremony was to be observed with respect to dress and therefore I took
my Valet de place with me and walked out to pay my visit. The fellow could
not help shewing his surprize at my going on foot to dine with the Princess.
I found her with her 2 Secretaries to whom She had just been distributing the of the the
letters she had received by the post which was just come in. I was received with
that kind of politeness which those who are used to receive so much company
make use of to all, and as I was the only visitor I occupied her whole attention.
She is excedingly fond of a formal bit of a garden She has got there, and therefore
I was placed at the head of the table opposite the folding doors which were left open that
I might feast my eyes with the prospect at at
same time that my taste was to feasted with the din
This situation extorted from me of course repetition
of charmante & superbe which I was well convinced the
prospect was far from deserving. 2 old women
and her 2 Secretaries was the whole of our company at
Table. 5 minutes were spent in expatiating on the accomplishments
and perfections of Mrs Lindegren, and 2 or
more we were spent in the praise of her husband
Politics and luckily for me chiefly Naval Politics
was the standing Subject of conversation.
The King of Prussia certainly is going to establish a
Marine for commerce at least, and She thinks that
will end in having some Ships of war to defend tha
commerce. what I had to tell her about the
Neapolitan Marine was new to her: but Acton
she had heard of. Continue to get what you can from
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Identifier: | JB/538/397/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
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1779-10-19 |
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538 |
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397 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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