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2
past 2 O Clock a plain looking english
post chaise with 8 horses went by in which was
the new Dutchess.
As soon as I had collected my
things and got a Valet de place I sent him with
a note to Baron Klopman begging to know
when I might have the honour of waiting on him.
The answer was that he was not at home but
was expected in ½ an hour. The ½ hour was
scarcely over before an humble imitation of an
english carriage Chariot with small windows and bad
glass came to the door. and my servant had
just time to tell me that it was the Baron's
carriage before he entered the room in propria
persone. As I heard much of his quick and all-
-seeing eyes it was these I employed mine in
watching their motions as narrowly as possible
while we made our first bows and compliments.
I believe it was I who broke silence first at least
in any intelligible terms by asking if it was to Baron
Klopman that I had the honour of paying my
respects. Apologies were next of course to be made
for the disorder of the room, and he was to be
beg'd to sit down but notwithstanding I used all
the rhetoric I was master of and repeated my solicitations
from time to time during the hour
or half hour which he staid with me I could
not prevail on him to be seated. Whether his
Dignity or the Etiquette forbad him to sit down with me or whether
he had been so much accustomed to stand in
the presence of the Duke his Master as to find
it unnatural any other posture unnatural:
or whether he thought of staying only a minute
or two and on that account kept himself
in readiness to take his leave, I shall not
pretend to determine. We were not absolutely
motionless all the time but I believe the
motions we both made did not excede the
limits of a circle of a 3 feet radius.
But however if our bodies were a little genès our
conversation was far from being so. I gave
him my letter which he stuft immediately into
his waistcoat pocket, and began talking about
something else. To be sure I had rather he had
opened it and talked about the contents.
Our discourse turned chiefly upon the my journey
and upon the different persons from whom I brought
him rememberances. He wished he had known expected
of my arrival as yesterday that he might not
have engaged himself this evening: but he would
do himself the honour of waiti calling on me
at 11 o'Clock tomorrow morning to take me
to court and introduce me to his Highness
the Duke as also to his new Dutchess.
We shook one another by the hand in appearance
most cordially but no mention was made of the
business in question. I on my part did not
choose to begin it especially as he had not
read Offenberg's letter not had the Duke yet
got him the one for him.
However as he
enquired after Simpson of Memel of whom I
have already wrote you, I had occasion to
observe with what alacrity he was applying
himself to Shipbuilding wishing even to employ
the whole of his capital to that. and we
both seemed to agree in the advantages ther
were in having Ships that could pass at these
times under neutral flags.
The Baron is rather small in stature, a very
pleasing and indeed handsome countenance
with small regular teeth which he keeps
perfectly white and shews when he smiles.
One eye looks a little dim and seems to stand
out farther than the other, which gives it a
different turn though not at all the appearance
of squinting. He has a blue ribband the
order of the white Eagle, lately I believe given
him by the King of Poland.
Tuesday 14th.
At eleven o'Clock or a very little after comes
the Baron according to promise to take me
to court. He stopt only while I put on my
sword & Pelise and lockt up my letter case.
I shewed him that I had 2 letters one to Baron
Medem the father of the new Dutchess the other
to a Baron Frank both given me by Immerman
of Lictau by the desire of Simpson at Memel.
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Identifier: | JB/538/416/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
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1779-12-18 |
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538 |
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416 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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