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deal of the same kind as that I thought of and still think of in
Courland. One or other will most probably take place. That at this
part of the world has great connection with the proposals I have
to make and will depend upon the manner in which they are
received and the information and assistance I get from the quarter
to whom I make them. You will imagine perhaps that I wish
to connect myself with Eaton, this is by no means the case
my plan would be different and if not with all his knowledge
he is the man the worst calculated for commerce or business
in general unless it be to manage the Turks, that you
can conceive. He understands everything very well but can
do nothing. I thought at first he had only my bad properties
in a greater degree; but he has others such also which thank
my stars I have not. Besides this he has picked up a
playhouse girl whom he has married and by whom he is at present
entirely governed. She is a woman who without sense to see either
his interest or her own or even any passion which can induce
him to pursue any one object to please her makes him have
to submit to every whim of the moment. He is nevertheless a man
of a great deal of learning, but very little of the knowledge
of the world as to the properties of the human species who
inhabit it, though he has travelled so much over it.
It will entertain you when I relate to you all my connections
with this pair though it is not worth the writing
about. It is astonishing the different incidents I meet
with which tend to make one acquainted with the world. Mine
may truly be said to be a sentimental journey, and if all
that has passed in my mind in the course of it were noted
upon it would be a very curious one. There certainly is some
thing of an openness in my countenance which gains me the
confidence of so many people, notwithstanding the awkwardness
of the person and distraction of the mind which now and ever
will remain. To this and the desire which I have imbibed
you to be meddling with all matters whomsoever they
may concern where I have the prospect of being of any service
I attribute the greatest part of these incidents.
One thing however there is which I cannot yet break myself
of with all my experience. This is the readiness with which
I am apt to form attachments and my communicative
to these I am attached to. I am not cautious enough
latter article neither would you be.
I have told things which I wish not to be
without being certain but what it may happen
interest to tell them. I have met with
only one person who deserves and to my entire confidence
and to whom I may without fear give it, I mean my
friend in Petersbourg. Not that I have given to any body
that confidence which I have to him, but yet I have given
to these 2 more than was necessary.
These attachments I speak of make me also as you
may well imagine take up their interest too much.
I shall avoid this more & more but I believe I never
shall be able to harden my heart, not even to that
degree which is to be wished that for the purpose of
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avoiding a deal of pain. Every acquaintance I make
who shows me civilities gives me pain in parting. If a
female you may imagine the pain as well the pleasure is by far the greater
Do set out with a determination of hardening your
heart as much as possible. Fear not it will always be
soft enough to procure you the pleasures of sensibility
Our success in America under Clinton and against the French
& Spaniards under Rodney dont tend at all to make the House
popular, nor to make it probable that his Lordship will have
the command. I have never heard anything of Geary's abilities
but I suppose they may be of the same class as Hardy's were
And so you are a little quiet in London again and 'tis to
be hoped I suppose that Lord G Gordon notwithstanding he
is Wilson's countryman will show his face on temple bar
or still better on Newgate.
Tomorrow I go to see the Glass Manufactory and the next day I mean
to set out for Mittau.
Chernobyl 1er August
1780.
N.S. almost a year I have
been gone
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Identifier: | JB/539/074/002 "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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074 |
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002 |
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Correspondence |
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Samuel Bentham |
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