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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 leisurder 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 Duiper 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 saidso 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 </del you 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.
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I have
some very important proposals to make to the prince Potemkin
on 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 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
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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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