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1
Had I you or had I Pleschijeff here, how I should enjoy myself
here! So charmingly could we mix the working at our
plans with the luxuries which my present situation affords.
Horses, Carriages, and boats such as they are in abundance
at command. Delightfull rivers, woods, and wild scenes.
Manufactories, Commerce, & Political Anecdotes to inform
myself of. The Situation of this Town is on a River
which runs into the Dniper not far above Kioff. The place
itself is about 120 versts from that city.
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Once more then if you have nothing very particular to detain you
set out as soon as possible, by Sea would be much the cheapest
but if not, go to Rotterdam to your friend Strachan and buy
there what you want dont go to Amsterdam alone we will go
there together. no but find if possible some Merchant who is
going towards if not quite to Petersbourg or inquire if by
going to the Hague you could not go with a Courier.
If you go by Berlin that is the place to take a Servant.
There is a great choice and very cheap, and can all dress hair.
you will get one for 3 ducats a month to keep himself
in all but a livery: his living you are by no means to have
anything to do with, except through generosity now & then on the road.
better your companion should not be an Englishman but whoever
he be, be sure you are as little communicative as possible,
even though he appear to be an Angel.
It may be that as I have already said so much about your
coming that in the letter you may have sent me to Petersbourg
in my absence You may have settled the plan, or it may
be you may be actually set out. One of these is I dare say
the case unless you have given me to understand that it is
impossible or for certain reasons unknown to me unadvisable
to leave England.
I have written to Pleschijeff to desire
him to send me my letter to meet me at Mittau where
I hope to be in less than a Month: much sooner I can
not though I set out in 2 days from here and make no
delay on the road.
As to the motives I have to wish you with me.
First & foremost the your vantage as to the
knowledge and more accurate judgement with respect to
jurisprudence & politics which you would acquire by what you
would see, hear & experience. & Secondly the great use you
would be of to me at the same time. Now particularly.
I have
some very important proposals to make to the Prince Potemkin
at my return or as soon after it as I have an opportunity.
I shall be to talk with him at any rate in consequence of the
kind of offer of services which I made him by the medium of Sr James
I am not however certain that the latter will give his consent to my
making these proposals at least not without conditions, and I have no
thoughts of making them without his consent. If he approves of my making
them he will assist The Empress herself but Potemkin you must know
is all in all. He has the greatest power but at the same time so incredibly
indolent that little is done. I have also a very advantageous plan
of commerce by the black sea with other countries as well as between
Poland & Russia. The hint I have already given of this to my present
note produced promises of all manner of assistance and that in
such terms and under such circumstances as left no doubt either of
the sincerity or ability. Some many however would be wanting not
less than 6 thousand pounds. This plan of trade commerce is a good deal
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4
I believe I gave you in a former letter something of a list of
things which I wished you to bring with you: however it is
no matter if some of them be repeated. Boots for yourself
two pair one if you please made in your cut open
fashion to draw in about the small. Their being unWilsonish
that is contrary to the tan is a good reason for not indulging one's
whims in England, but it is none at all with respect to these countries
especially if there is any utility in the matter.
Shoes for me as well as yourself. The wicked people here
stolen your poor brothers shoes & stockings without mercy.
let them be made by Mariner. Boots & shoes however
though they would be comforts are not objects to bestow much
attention upon. Silk stockings are of the greatest
importance, and of these if I were to have a dozen
pair all white it would be a heart gladdening thing.
They are dearer and much worse here. Buy no coloured ones.
As to cloaths, make up no new frocks. One dress suit
of cloth is sufficient, one or two good waistcoats if you
please. If you come by way of Holland, there you may
make yourself dress suits one of Velvet another of Sattin
and two of Silk. So much is enough for your wardrobe.
NB Mark silk breeches are much worn with dress as well
as undress.
As to linnen a dozen and 1/2 shirts is
enough of which the 1/2 dozen may be plain for laced
& without ruffles. Cambric handkerchiefs may be bought
in Holland. coloured you have enough: but you must buy
a number of map handkerchiefs of such as relate
to these countries 1/2 a dozen of a sort 2 or 3 of Silk if
there any. If there be none of Russia or Poland that of
Europe is very particular and in that case you might
bring a dozen of them. no - 1/2 a dozen. People here were wonderfully
delighted to see Chernobyl in my handkerchief of Europe.
My compass has been so much admired that you would
do well to bring another of them at least which you may
wear as a watch as I do. I found my way by mine
when I was in the desert and the postillion knew not
what road to take.
As to Books, Smith's Wealth of Nations by all
2 or 3 copies of Gregory's Comparative Anatomy of
& other animals. I want one copy of this exceedingly
to a lady as a remembrance. She lives about two
versts from Petersbourg: but that's nothing at all.
See Burkitt if you can, ask him what he has new.
Assure him of my remembrance of him.And If his Mother is
dead perhaps he would come as a Mechanitian which if either
of my plans succeed I should have occasion for.
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Identifier: | JB/539/074/001 "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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074 |
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001 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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