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Having despatched my Free Masonry business, without any
further invitation I returned the next day to Grunhof
& the Duke. I knew that the rest of the company were
with him and concluded my company might be
agreeable also. From his behaviour as well as from the
he expressed himself to one of the company
I have reason to believe he was much
at with my visit. The next day after dinner all
company and I with them took our leave of his
Highness. He himself returned to Mittau the next a day or
after.
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Jany 28th 1780
I have been putting my things together and making all necessary
arrangements for my departure. It is absolutely necessary that I should
stay till the 6th of next month the Dutchess's birthday: but I
am determined to set off the next day. I cannot say exactly
how long I shall stay at Moscow but I think I shall be
at Petersburg the first week in March at farthest, most
likely the latter end of February.
This country to be sure is the best for trade Manufacturies
and new inventions, such that is which for which the Climate
is favorable. A Gentleman here that is a Nobleman pays
not a farthing duty or tax to any soul living. He rules
with the most perfect uncontrol on his own estates, and if
he calls for the assistance & advice of one or two of his Neighbours
before he condemns one of his Peasants to death it is only because
he thinks it decent. It is however very rare that crimes of any
degree of enormity are committed with respect to robbery unless
it be of fruit wood or such trifles, so little is it feared that immense
sums are carried through the country sometimes in bags
only entrusted to the care of a single man the carrier.
Nobody can buy land here but the Gentleman or Nobleman as they are called
the country: but strangers may become a noblemen by the
consent of the whole body. and this is not uncommon. Two
Livonians were taken into the body last year.
By the purchase of land here one may make also
from 6 to 8 pr Cent but sometimes with good management
half as much more. With an immediate commerce with
England a good deal more: but they are above trading
themselves though many of them have lamented
this kind of obstacle which the custom opposed to it.
The winter is very mild here and there is but just
enough Snow to cover the ground and make
sledge roads.
How much does it cost and by what means may one
get copies of Patents which have been taken out for
Inventions. In this way one might get perhaps perfect
descriptions, so as to profit by them in foreign
countries. The Metal or the wax for example might
be made here but probably. Copies are not to be had
till the expiration of the term.
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We all believe here that poor Captn Cook is murdered
on an Island near Kainshasha.
About 10 days ago I send you in a letter a copy of a
new letter which I begd Lind. to write for me to P. Repnin.
With respect to Code you may satisfy yourself that I
shall have very favourable opportunities of getting it presented
to the Empress. There is not doubt but I shall be presented
to her. I will take the
upon me now the air of all-suffering
and tell you to leave that affair to me and
trouble yourself no more about it than to send me the
book. If you were to wish to give her any manuscript
letter with it, write the letter immediately and send it me
for my appretiation other wise it and correction for it is
ten to one that I let it go in the such as you would have it.</del>
I hope to inform myself before this post goes out whether
the Empress reads English or not in the meantime I
will give you a little account of my views here.
The D you must know wants somebody to do his Mercantile
business for him in England, to execute his Commissions
to send him intelligence of different kinds and in short to be
his
charge d'affaires. M. Poushkin had recommended Newman
to him for this purpose, and the D had accordingly lodged some
money in his hands and given him some Commissions.
The D shewed me a good while ago a letter which he had just received
from N in which N desired to know if he was to
continue to execute his commissions inquiry insisting at the same
time of an immediate answer as he had other things of equal
importance to himself to manage. Upon this occasion D told me that
N was not the man that suited him, that he had made
abominable blunders in executing his commissions, and besides
that as he did not at all like his new master Seniolies, he
wished to have no further communication with him. At the same
time he talked to me of the extension of the trade between
country and England and that he as a reigning Prince
could give a man in that station an appointment at
should be honourable and quelques cents de livres par
I enlarged a little upon the qualifications which a man must
have to fill such a place, and was agreeing and then had almost
proposed Lindgren when as usual we were interrupted and
nothing more was said. Since that time I have had
opportunities of judging what there would be to do for such
a charge d'affaires . He would have to execute the commissions
not only for the D but for the Nobility also by which he would
get so much pr Ct without the least hazard. would have
the direction of the Studies and the superintending of the young
men who may be sent the D may from time to time send
over. He would have to send account of new inventions
and to introduce on all occasions possible English Manufactories.
He would also have other things to manage which
would be profitable but which I cant very well now explain
to you. After a full consideration of the matter I am
of opinion that this place would suit me very well that it
would be a very agreable one and that the D would prefer me
give me the preference to any one he knows. You may think
then that I have nothing to do but to offer my services
and that of course they would be accepted and all be settled immediately.
But this is by no means the case as much management is necessary
to bring such a matter about as if I had no reason at all on my side.
One great thing in my favour is that D consults nobody on any such
matter. I shall write to him from Petersburg when I see how
matters go there: but I am not without hopes of better fortune
further North. Adieu. Work hard at Punishments.
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Identifier: | JB/539/009/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
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1780-01-29 |
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539 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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