★ Keep up to date with the latest news - subscribe to the Transcribe Bentham newsletter; Find a new page to transcribe in our list of Untranscribed Manuscripts
The young Dutchess's hand was kissed in the morning and the Old one's in the
afternoon as She did not appear before. Proud was he now who could
get a word from either Duke or Dutchess especially the former, I however
came in for my share. In the evening during the Concert the
Dutchess and 3 of the ladies who were of our party at Pinau attacked
me again upon the subject of the widow's daughter. told me She
was come to town and that if not before I should certainly see her on
new year's day. It is fine diversion for them & for me too.
Sunday/ To day I go to Court: to as indeed I have an invitation
for every day. The post goes out this morning, so I must just
skim over your letters to do something in the way of answering them.
Answer to I.B.'s letters continued.
5.
As to my health 'tis true it has been very indifferent but is
now good. I thought of my fathers medicine the chewing
of th and made use of it a good deal, but I cant
say that it had much good effect.
6
I wish much I had a piece of the new yellow metal as also
another piece of that which is fluid in the heat of boiling
ratio, the duke is curious in every thing.
1779} S.B. Mittau
Dec } to
26 } I.B. Linc Inn
Leaf 1st D. <unclear>oes.
Reced Jan. 17
1780
7.
Ld Mahon's paper which you mention I saw at Mouskin
Pouskin's before I left England. a propos this man is not
yet come here.
8.
Court Calendar.(elson's) yes I wish I had it. as to news
papers I seldom or ever see them I have the news vivâ voce.
but manuscript news tells exceedingly well here cant you find.
somebody who will send me a little by the next post.
Parcel. 9.
Try if you cant send me a little parcel by means of some
of the Russia Merchants who know of everybody's coming this
way and would I dare say charge themselves with it. As to the
things which you are in a doubt about the . I dont want
them.
10.
Thank Charles most heartily for the trouble he took to send me
the Shipbuilding news. The changing of Masts is an old story about
which the Navy people cant agree at all. Tell him I envy him
exceedingly his Medal. Yet a Medal I have also. which Klopman
gave me of the Duke as to the value we must say nothing of that, 30 pence
perhaps as it is of Silver.
The last letter I sent you about a week ago cost me
about 6 Shillings English to frank it to Amsterdam.
You I suppose had to pay 3 or 4 more for it.
The post today has brought me no litters but
I hope by the next post I shall from
some of you again.
Send me Gregory's book
The D has just sent by young Medem
for me to go with him to Sup another
of his cnty huses country houses Adieus
---page break---
If you dont send a copy of Code & Punishments too here
to the Duke the very instant they are published, never see my
face again. He has sense enough to admire them, and
what is still more extraordinary I believe application
enough to read them. You do not say any thing of
the time when Code is to be finished although you tell us
it is to have the preference.
Queries
I have been ting considering the several means of pr
Sailors which might navigate Ships from this place and
who would here be perfect Slavery slaves in this country some of the D's P
from running away or going into the English service when
they are in an english port. The want of the language
would be a great obstacle to their escaping if they were
disposed to run away. But could they not also be
bound by Indentures to the Captain. Yes surely
they might. I will therefore say so quite positively.
Understand by these Half a dozen lines of stuff that want to know is if the Eng
laws could possibly defend a sailor belonging to a foreign ship from b
send onboard again by the Captain. Whether it is possible he should be
free the instant he stept his foot ashore as to refuse to go onboard ag
and claim the protection of the civil magistrates.
While I stay here I mean to apply myself
to the french language for notwithstanding I talk speak it so much
I speak it very badly, and unless I study it a little I shall
never speak it better for I can now find nobody who wi
take either the liberty or trouble of correcting me while
I am in company. The German also I must make a
little progress in. Some of the time which I should otherwise ha
spent in writing to you I must now spend in translating.
I ought to be able to express myself on all occasions more
readily and with more accuracy particularly to the Duke
where it would be very inconvenient to have occasion for an
Interpreter on any account.
You certainly must wish much to have at least some general acc
whether I think upon the whole that I am likely to do any thing h
I I tell you All I can tell you is that we certainly
shall talk about the matter & that I have reason to believe
I am in his good opinion. He has talked to me a little about his
private affairs, upon telling me one circumstance He with his hand
upon his breast vowed to me that I was the first person to whom he
ever mentioned it, and that notwithstanding the short acquaintan
he had had with me he trusted that I should keep it to myse
This you may be sure I shall do and for my conscience sake
should no more tell you even if I saw you than I shall
any body else. His putting this confidence in me cannot but
incourage me to pursue my plans. It certainly is a very
flattering circumstance, but notwithstanding that I shall
think myself even an excellent Courtier if I should suced
There are people whose instinct is to oppose me and whom
it will be impossible to stear clear of.
Be not therefore sanguine in your expectations from this quarter
but expect only that I shall get experience and address which
will be usefull in my making my way on future occasions
|
Identifier: | JB/538/421/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 538.
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
1779-12-19 |
|||
|
538 |
|||
|
421 |
|||
|
002 |
|||
|
Correspondence |
|||
|
Samuel Bentham |
|||