★ Keep up to date with the latest news - subscribe to the Transcribe Bentham newsletter; Find a new page to transcribe in our list of Untranscribed Manuscripts
Perme Octr 20th 1781
I arrived here the 9th of this month for the purpose of being
present at the Ceremony of opening the new Government
an époque the most remarqable in the history of this country.
On the 12th these Ceremonies began, and on the 18th they
finished. I keep as exact a journal as pssoble of what
passes from which I shall be able to give you shortly some
account of the good effects of the introduction of this new mode
of Jurisdiction and some observations on different branches
of the laws themselves. I stay here now only for the purpose
of collecting such kind of information for you, and writing
a few letters. Although my information on these subjects
will not be complete till I return to Petersbourg yet I
will send you something of it at least before I leave this place.
A Week or perhaps a fortnight longer I may stay here but
shall then set out to extend my journey far beyond
what I had thoughts of when I set out from Petersbourg.
The treatment I meet with every where and the opportunities
I have of furnishing myself not only with all kind of
information respecting the country but also with valuable
specimens of its productions induce me then to lengthen
my journey. The city of Irkutsk the borders of China
The rich mines of Merchinsk and the different tribes
of people which inhabit that part of the country will be
the chief objects of my attention. The making a collection
of minerals is become an object of no small importance
to with me especially as I am enabled to do it at so trifling
an expence. I have at present packed up in cases
ready to be transported to Petersbourg about 4 or 5,000
weight of Copper & Iron ores with different stones and
chrystals all choice pieces which are valuable even
here on the spot. 2 Frenchmen who are come this
far in quest of such curiosities being without the advantages
which I have are obliged to pay dearly for most
they procure. As yet my collection has cost me nothing
but an addition to travelling expences in going after them.
With respect to some mines however the best pieces
are to be procured only for money from the workmen
who when they find a choice piece embezzle it to make
this profit of.
I told you in a former letter that
I had got about 100 weight of loadstones of different
sizes. I have since been again to the mine where
they are found and have at present near 1,000 weight
one single stone weighing 120 pounds. This may be
acceptable either at the Royal Society, Museum or elsewhere.
I have also found & cut myself 2 or 3 much stronger
for this size than have been got from the mine
by any body else. You may ask me what I mean
to do with so much loadstone? That will depend in
great measure upon what you tell me of the value
set upon such things in England according to the queries
---page break---
I have put to you on that subject. If not worth while to
transport so much to Englang I may change a part away
at Petersbourg for any other curiosities of the country
which I may not be provided with. Such loadstones
of different sizes when mounted with a brass or painted
coating sell here for from 1 to 25 or more pounds sterling
Notwithstanding the great tract of country I shall go over
my ordinary expences do not excede my allowance, but
as I shall pass through that part of the country which
produces the greatest variety of furs and shall visit
the great market between the Russians & Chinese I cannot
omit so advantageous an opportunity of making a few
purchases to the amount of 100 or possibly as far as
200 £: more I shall not think laying out unless you
send me any commissions for that purpose which if
you lose no time may arrive before it will be too late.
If you write to me immediately your letter will certainly
find me at Irkutsk. In case then that any of your
friends wish to give me any commissions to make some
purchases for them, the money must be given to Grill
that he may write to Peyrou who is now made Sevedick
Counsel that he may send me the money without delay
in bank notes under the cover of the Governor of
Irkutsk. Remember however that commissions of this
kind will be attended with some trouble and therefore
don't make such offers to all the world.
Early in the spring I shall set out on my return to
Petersbourg but I doubt being able to get there before
the winter, time enough however to return to England the
Summer following if nothing should happen to stop me.
I make no doubt that I shall have acquired in every
respect advantages by my stay in this country which
will not permit my friends to regret the time I shall
have spent here. My new Amphibious Vehicle afforded
no small amazement to the principal people
in the Room today. Just before dinner at the Governmt
it sailed up the river in view from the windows and
after dinner it presented itself on wheels drawn by
3 horses to the door. It is nothing more than a
carriage hung on springs the body
of which is in
the shape of a boat. The carriage part takes to pieces
and with the wheels are stowed within side at the
bottom when it goes on the water, & then serves for ballast.
There is a good deal of work in it and the materials
are costly but Mr Davidoff at whose iron fabrick
you know it was made so far from permitting me to
pay for it expresses himself much obliged to me for
the I shewed to his fabric in having it built
|
Identifier: | JB/539/257/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
1781-10-20 |
|||
|
539 |
|||
|
257 |
|||
|
001 |
|||
|
Correspondence/copy |
|||
|
Jeremy Bentham |
|||