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Petersburg April 8th O.S. 1780
Sunday being recovered sufficiently from my second illness
I set out to begin paying my visits. First of course to Sir
James Harris's. He was not at home, next to Mr Shairpes
the Consul. There I dined. In the afternoon I went with
his family to a Concert, and was prudent
enough to return
from thence home immediately instead of accepting any
invitation to supper.
Monday to by 1/2 past 8 in the morning I was at Dr Guthrie's
as I knew that was the only time to find him.
I carried him some books which were new to him as well
as those he had lent me and brought back a few of his
which were new to me. His house is filled with objects of
Natural Philosophy. His rooms hung round with Tables
all sorts, Chemical in particular. He seems to have a
very complete apparatus for experiments on Airs.
I shall probably get some tables from him, as will he
perhaps one or two from me. I staid with him till
10 o'clock so that when I called a second time at Sr James's
he was just gone but again had left excuses for me and
that he should not dine at home but hoped to see me next day.
I went to Kruse's and saw all the family. On One of
his sisters who is very pretty is married to Kickelbecker who
is gone to his father's estate leaving his wife behind him. He
will be back again in 10 days.
Tuesday. I at last found Sr James. Although I had
expected from his character and by his letters which I
carried to him to be received with a great deal of politeness
yet the reception he gave me ever exceded my
expectations. He was engaged to dine at Count
Rasamowsky's one of the Marshal's of the Empire,
and therefore he sent to let them know he should
bring me t with him. This man has not above
seventy thousand pounds Sterling a year to have
the plague of spending. The table he keeps must
use him of a small part of it. There were
several of the foreign Ministers and a good large
company all together, but the dinners are
most intolerably long. Sr James introduced me
James to the about a dozen of the principal
people of the company, the rest were beneath my
notice. In the afternoon he took me to pay 2 or
3 visits to Count Panir, to the Vice Chancellor,
(Chancellor there is none) &c. The next day I was
to call on him at twelve to go and make
---page break---
about 20 more visits to the principal of the
Nobility and then return to dine with him with
a pretty large company which he has regularly
twice a week.
Wednesday therefore I called on him at the
time appointed, but he was not yet dressed
and I had so many visits to make he told me
I might just as well go by myself for that he
should not find anybody at home, his servant
should go with me and give his card with
mine. He gave me a list of the people houses I
was go to and marked the number of cards I was to
leave at each: because the same card wont
do for a man & his wife too nor for the daughter
if she is married, but each must have one.
at once I left so.
The matter of my letter being lost he said he
had settled with Chemichef and would with the
rest: that he could say as much of me as
was probably said in the letters, and that it
was of no consequence.
I asked Sr James about Mr Eaton the great
traveller who is here now. He told me if I would
dine with him again tomorrow he would invite him
to meet me. I did so and he did so, and
Eaton came. This was Thursday eve
more than a smaller company not above
15 or 16 at dinner.
Fryday
I dined at Krase's in consequence
of Char having asked me the day before when
I called on them if I had made a resolution
never to come to dine with them.
Saturday I must dine again In the
evening I went to a Concert at
Rosamofsky's from an invitation the
young Countess gave me the day I dined there.
Sr James came there also. The Dutchess of Kingston
was there and fell asleep every time the musick
played piano, and awakened with the forte.
She served the company to laugh at.
Sr James I think did not speak to her. I staid
to supper and till one o'clock.
Saturday I dined at Sr James's and called on Kruse
in the Evening.
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Identifier: | JB/539/039/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
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1780-04-30 |
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539 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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