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of what gunpowder of which I have had no experience
nor information from reading, it is probable I should not be
able to judge of the possibility of the success. But as I
have seen a Model of a Sawmill which is to be erected
and which this Mechanician has approved of, I can safely
venture to say that he is totally unacquainted with the main
principles of Mechanics or at least unable to profit by them
in the judging of the most simple machines. It was an Engine
to be workt
by men though in the very banks of so rapid a
river. 2 men they suppose will be sufficient but it will at least
require 12: whereas the same work without the machine would
be done by 10. This Model was bought by a kind of
Former General in this part of Russia who being in favour
with the Minister gets all the contracts establishes all kind
of manufacturies undertakes everything and monopolizes all
trade; it was at the Governor's of the whole province that
I saw it and while I was there it received the approbation
and praises of a young man who is come into that country
as he told me himself to enlighten the people and to
teach the young nobility Natural Philosophy as far as
their comprehensions would be permit. This wonderworker
at the same time received the orders of the Governor to
set about making such a one, one only at a time, on
account of that caution which took the liberty of giving him.
1780 ) S.B. Chernobyl
Sept. ) to
Aug. ) J.B. Linc. Inn
You have I suppose from Lind some idea of the manner in which
the Nobility live in Poland. Some of them are very rich on account
of the fertility of their estates. the do There are I think
but real Counts which These are the principal of the Nobility. They have
their courts like reigning Princes and indeed till their powerfull
neighbours proved to them this dependence they might
be concidered as such. We don't sit down to table with
less than 30 or 40 persons at dinner or supper.
Notwithstanding however the for ceremony which is observed by
people those of the country I am subject to very little. The
dress I have ever worn after the 2 first days has been
a white linen jacket and trousers nothing else on
but shirt stockings & shoes or slippers. The fashion is of
my own invention for the conveniency of travelling and it
pleased people here particularly the Countess when she saw
it the morning I arrived that she lets me wear no other.
This is mighty comfortable this hot weather.
The Count is about 40 and the Countess about 35. They have
5 children 3 sons and 2 daughters the eldest son is about
13 and the daughter 10. From both Father & Mother
they inherit the quickest comprehension and great memory:
and special care is taken of their education. The Son speaks
French German some Russ and some Italian, he besides
Latin and his native tongue. He is also well acquainted
with most of the details of his father's OEconomy. Modern History
particularly of his own country, he seems to me to have
at his fingers ends: of the English history even he knows much
more than I do. In short he has read a good deal and
heard a good deal and I dare to say forgot nothing.
He is quick at Arithmetical calculation and he has a smattering
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in natural Philosophy. The daughter I understand is
cleverer than he: but all I know is that she plays
well on the forte piano in concert and they tell me
she has begun but little more than a year.
The whole family have that insatiable curiosity, and
habit of questioning every body, that with the
nature has given them they cannot but be well stored with
facts. But such dispositions have their disadvantages
unable to attend to my one subject for 5 minutes together
their judgments are hasty and variable. The most
childish questions and the most pertinent ones succeed
each other sometimes alternately: and the same importance
is given to one as to the other.
The Countess is quite the person scavante and a heroine in
politics. She is of the principal family who have kept their
Republican principles. Her father opposed so firmly the practice
of Russia that he was caught up as he was coming out of
the dirt itself and by and Russian Officers and
kept prisoner at a place called I think Caluga for 5
years. At the expiration of that time he was released and
died not a twelvemonth ago. The daughter professes the
same spirit as the father and as you may imagine an
hatred for the Russians. The whole family
indeed have the same disposition towards their
unruly neighbour, though the Count has entered into
that service as Major General and has put his son in
also. This however can be from policy only, to avoi be
able no doubt to protect his estates from the ravages
and his family from the insults which otherwise they
might suffer from every regiment of the Russian army
which comes near them. The present King of Poland's
Grandfather served the Countess's grandfather to look after
his Cattle: hence you may imagine there is some degree
of jealousy. The moral characters of this family seems
to be exceeding good, and I have all the reason to believe that
were I to do have any business to do here they would do me
great services. The vanity of having an english counting house
in the town would be no small inducement, and the advantage
they would reap from it in proportion to its success would do
still more. The Count is not so great a man but perhaps more to be
depended on than my friend in the Baltic. We will however attend to
both and consider well which plan is best. I can determine
upon nothing till I get back to Petersbourg.
I shall certainly want Mosberry. I wish you could tell him
once more that he should hold himself in readiness and
spend all the time he can spare in learning either the French
or german language whichever he has pick'd upon
I hope it is the German. I should also probably want
somebody who has been brought up in a Counting house
in London, and who is either quite poor or has got some
considerable sum which he of money to become a partner
Sir James Harris's friendship to me is maybe of the greatest assistance to me
at Petersbourg.
Chernobyl 1st Augt 1780
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Identifier: | JB/539/073/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
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1780-08-01 |
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539 |
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073 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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