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Kremenchuk June 18. 1784 O.S.
S.B. to Pole Carew Esqr (Extract) Received by
J.B. at Whitchurch Sept. 12. 1784
I am just return'd here from a journey
I have been making with Prince Potemkin to visit
the new Government of Taurica Chersoneses. It was
at Karaslavar that I receiv'd your last Letter, and
as it was just before we set out for Bochtebisceras &
Octiar that I received my Packets I had not time to
open your Letter before we got into the Carriage
As however I knew your hand and what was more
to the purpose the great Esteem the Prince has
for you I ask'd him leave to read it before him.
He was very desirous of knowing the Contents but
unluckily there was little which could interest him.
He has more than once desir'd me when I write
to you to remind you of the promise you made
him to visit the Crimea when it should become
annexed to the Russian Empire. Certainly should
you at any time be so dispos'd you would give him
great pleasure. If you choose to be a proprietor
of Land in that charming Peninsula you have
only to say of what kind it should be and He
will give it you. Neither does he seem to make
your visit a necessary condition. You may have
your Estate ready to receive you first.
You know perhaps that we are in expectation
of the Empress's visiting these Countries next
Summer. As I have all reason posible to be
satisfied with the treatment I meet with from the
Prince so the more I see of his Character the more
reason I have to esteem and admire it.
With respect to myself I believe I have told you
if not that I actually was, at least that I was
to be taken into the Army as Lieut: Collonel.
By this means I depend entirely on him and
in the manner He seems to mean to employ me
I shall depend on no one else. The principal
business which I am at present about to undertake
is the Building some vessels of different kinds at
his Estate of Krectchoff on the borders of Poland
where all Materials have their source.
The perfectly unrestrain'd permission which he
gives me to follow my own ideas on that Subject
afford me the best of opportunities of putting
in execution several of my projects: and this
makes me wish much that I could have to
consult those who like your friend Mr. Gore have
taken pleasure in such amounts. Though
I would in no case differ from the present
practice for the sake of Novelty yet at the same
time I shall scruple in no case to disregard the
common rule where I can have a reason for
doing so. I may probably have to do with all
the different varieties of war, transport & Inland
Navigation. A Vessel of the latter division a kind
of rowing Yacht I must have ready by next Spring
when her Majesty will descend the Dnieper over the
water falls and as far as Cherson. I am not yet
decided wether there shall be 50 or 100 oars to this
Vessel; but by some means or other I mean to make
it excel in Swiftness and what is more difficult
in elegance all others. The next concern will be
a kind of Frigate which will scarcely have less
than 60 Guns. but of this I can as yet say but
little as it is but a few days since the idea is
started of my building ships of war according to
my own fancy. The best of all is that I have
nothing at all to do with the Admiralty, workmen
as well as materials, I shall have independent of them.
Consider & recollect if you have any
friend or acquaintance who almost as Shipbuilding
mad as I used to be, could find it agreeable to
pay me a visit and see executed such improvements
as we between us judge expedient. Or who not
being able to come himself is disposed to communicate
any Observations on any branches of the Marine
Department.
Were any of your acquaintance dispos'd to pay me
a visit, you are certain that he would have ev'ry
possible accommodation which I could procure, and
if you should know of any Body who not being in
circumstances to afford such a journey at his own
expence could be of use to me in my pursuits,
I engage to pay his expences here and back again
as well as to give him a small Salary should
he be disposed to accept of it. I could however
give no expectation of it answering to a man in
point of profit, as over & above his expences I
could scarcely Give him more than he could
receive as a workman at home.
As I am sure you will not consider any Assistance
which could be given to my present business as in
the least degree contrary to the Interests of your
Country, therefore from the acquaintance you have
with those of the Naval department it is possible you
may hear of somebody who may come out, if so Riga
is the nearest Port with the advantage of water
carriage for any heavy Luggage up as far as Vitepsk.
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Identifier: | JB/540/064/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 540.
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540 |
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064 |
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001 |
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Correspondence/copy |
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"v" is not in the list (recto, verso) of allowed values for the "Rectoverso" property.
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