JB/539/334/001

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Petersburg
April 23 O. S. 1
May 4.N.S.

The first idea which struck me after having observed the improveable
state of the immense country I had travelled through was the great profits
which might be made by undertaking to introduce improvements in the
Saltworks & mines of private people upon receiving a proportional part
of the extra profits arising from the introduction of the improvements.

I more than once told you, Sir, of the grounds I had to suppose that private
people would be ready to engage with me on such terms: but during my
return from Irkutsk in consideration of the absolute impossibility of
tying down by any contract especially one of so complicated a nature as
mine must be any person in a country where power & protection
overrule justice and where however good the laws may be there is not
one but what means are to be found of evading; I feel It appeared to
me that the getting possession of some mines, Saltworks or both belonging
to the crown were the only means likely to produce me a satisfactory
establishment in this Country, unless upon the event my having
no expectations at home. With respect to the state of my expectations
at home, 1st That letter of my brother's which giving me an account
of Ld Shelburne's offers which I had received at Irkutsk and
had not been counteracted by any other —

2. An offer from Sir James Harris to inclose any letter I might
chose to write to Ld Shelburne in one from him in which he would
represent the advantageous light I stood in here, the offers I had refused,
and how much he thought it need be to be regretted if one of my
abilities should be engaged in any other service that that of my
own country — together with a general disposition to use his interest
in my favour —

3dy The general persuasion I was in, whether with or without grounds

Identifier: | JB/539/334/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 539.
Date_1	1783-04-23	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	539	Main Headings
Folio number	334	Info in main headings field
Image	001	Titles
Category	Correspondence	Number of Pages
Recto/Verso		Page Numbering
Penner	Samuel Bentham	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number
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