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5
such a tour and of learning the language at the
same time.
Baron Medem the Dss's father now
took me by the hand and I perceived all the
company was in motion so followed close up till
we came into the room where the Dinner was d. served.
The old gentleman placed me between the 2 Ladies
with whom I had before found myself a little matter
awkward. The one who looked like a cook maid
but who sat uppermost did me the honour to whisper
2 or 3 very long sentences in my ear of which I
could actually not understand a single word. I really
believe She made use of the jargon of a language
which the common people talk here. The Duke
however and Baron Klopman adressed their conversation
frequently to me. The D. did me the honour to help
me to one or 2 drinks but particularly to a kind
of game they have between a Partridge & a Pheasant
which is I think rather superior to either in taste.
You may imagine there were dishes in abundance:
I am sure I cant tell you how many. I believe
there were near 30 people at table. The plates & dishes
were of Silver nothing very elegant for they looked more
like pewter: D & Dss were distinguished from the company
by gold by their spoons, & knives & forks and the stoppers
of their decanters being of gold. I dont suppose
I eat 10 mouthfulls for I had breakfasted on
my honey milk & bread about 9 or 10 and it
was but twelve when we sat down to dinner.
After Dinner which last scarcely an hour the
Dss retired to her apartments out of one door and
D and me marched into the billiard room.
I was then asked to play at billiards with his
highness and one or two others but that of course
I declined. we staid perhaps about ½ an hour
looking on and then without saying a word
to anybody Klopman & I marched off.
He engaged me to sup with him at his own house
but took set me down at my lodgings and
told me he would call for me at 5 or before
to take me to the concert there was to be at the Court.
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At about ½ past 4 comes the Baron according to promise
to take me to the Palace. We went directly to the Concert
room, and the Duke and Dss came in also presently after
us. As the concert was not began and could not begin
for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes for want of
2 or 3 of the Musicians I got the Duke to myself not
only into the next room where the Dutchess and one or
two more followed, but to the further end of it quite
by ourselves seperated even from his fair consort by
a large Billiard table. The turn of our conversation
was as nearly as I can recollect as follows. The wind
being somewhat high so as to make the windows rattle
a little the D observed to me that he could not help
being concerned in such stormy weather for the safety of the multitude of Ships
which we are now cruising on the Seas, and particularly
for those of the English nation as he considered himself
quite an Englishman in Politics. Of course came
a bow and an acknowledgement which of the honour which
his highness did our nation. For my part says he
I have no Ships to be exposed, if I had I think I
could not but be under anxiety for them. Oui mon
Monseigneur, mais de posseder, d'etre le proprietaire
des Vaisseaux a ce tems ci pendant cette guerre vaut
bien l'anxietè pour leur securitè. Et pourquoi
est ce que votre altesse ne peut avoir une petite marine?
Oh, dit il, en m'interrompant mes finances ne le
permetteroient pas. By this time we had got by
ourselves and without giving me time to say anything
in reply he told me how a former Duke (Duke
Jacques) had built frigates and navigated them to
the Sound where he sold them to the English and
French.
1779} S.B. Mittau
Dec } to
18 } I.B. Linc Inn
Arrival
Sheet 2.
Reced Jan-11
1780
And that at that time he had worked an
Iron mine which was in the country had got a
foundery where he cast guns with it, he had also
a manufactory for Cordage. Et pourquoi donc
est ce que votre altesse ne peut faire le même, ou
au moins vous pouveyz faire construire des Vaisseaux
m pour faire transporter vos propres merchandises.
votre altesse scait bien comment la transportation
coute a ce tems. Oui Monsieur elle est bien chere
en veritè j'ai donnè moi meme 25 Shillings
(I think it was) pr Last pour la transportation du bled.
mais (persuivit il) nous n'avons point de bois
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Identifier: | JB/538/418/001 "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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418 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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