date

Petersbourg Oct r 3 d O.S. 1780.
Petersbourg Oct r 3 d O.S. 1780.

I have written a letter by this post to my father, in consequence of my having received one by the last post from my friend M r Barstow a capital merchant of Dantzic informing me of the place of Resident or rather Companythere being vacant on the death of the late one Ld Trevor Cary whom I believe Lind knew also, and putting it into my head to ask for this place myself. The advantages of such a place are so small that he seemed to conceive an idea perhaps justly that especially at this time no attention would scarcely be given to fill it up. Think me not mad but read the letter I have written about it early and then consider what the harm can be in asking immediately if such a place is filled. if so there's an end of it and I have only had the trouble of writing about it. If it is not filled, then .... what then? Why then my father might go to his friend Mr Sneyd or Mr Frazer and shew them my letter. You might ask him to go to L d Stormont yet . In short hold a council with Wilson or if he be in town or Douglas and do that which in your wisdom you may think best. My letter may be shewn which will serve to explain the matter and state my pretensions. If interest has been made for any body else, you will be told the place is engaged and there again is an end of it, but there will be no harm done but your trouble. If it is not engaged perhaps to save the saying no. I may get it. Thus I am in a way of pursuing my projects & studies without the fear of starving before my eyes, not that that fear indeed is very terrible at present. However I am sure you dont want arguments to persuade you of the desirability of such a place. I should then lay close siege to Miss Huzarjewski on whose account I actually hurried away from Dantzic, for fear of being in love with her.
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  • Title: [This affair has kept back the answer to your]
    Description: This affair has kept back the answer to your letter for another post though I have made a great progress in them. I have not the letter in which you promise a continuation of the account of Potatoes. Remember a Consul here as I suppose at Dantzic cannot in his own name nor to open appearance engage in trade Shairpe cannot but his son does. Here is another bit of a letter you shall have with this.

    My letter to my father I have explained in this I hope it will please you as an ostensible one. tell him he shall have another by next post about other matters also Barstow's Letter in case of necessity you might write to him. Dont scold me for all this things go on just as if I had had no such idea and I wont think of it till I have your answer.

    I wrote to my father by last post and shall again by the next.

    Adieu

    1780 ) S.B. Petersburgh Oct ) to 3 ) J.B. Linc. Inn O.S.) D. Consmiss. y
  • Title: [Petersbourg 3 d Oct r O.S. 1780]
    Description: Petersbourg 3 d Oct r O.S.

    1780

    Hon: d Sir

    I received a letter by the last post from a M r

    Barstow a capital merchant of Dantzic with whom I contracted a friendship

    during my stay at that place. He informs me of the death of the late

    English Resident or rather Commissary there, and knowing at the

    same time the attention which I gave to the Commerce and general state of that

    Republic during the time I passed there, he proposes to me my

    applying to succede in that appointment

    myself, giving me hopes at the same time that I should not find so much

    difficulty in obtaining it, owing I suppose to its not being considered as very

    desirable on account of the small profits attending it.

    Dantzic you know I suppose, Sir, used to yield a considerable part of our Naval

    stores: particularly its plank has always been esteemed above all other

    foreign Timber. At present we receive a great deal of such articles from

    thence, and notwithstanding the oppression of its powerfull

    neighbour its Commerce appears to be sprouting out again under the cover

    of its Neutrality.

    With respect to the business of the place of English Commissary there, I do

    flatter myself that the knowledge I have of naval concerns, Shipbuilding

    and Marine

    Oeconomy in general may be considered as qualifying me in a

    particular manner for such an Office. The connections I have made in

    Poland in my late tour are such as might be turned to some considerable

    account. I could by these means procure to the Merchants a trade of Ship

    timber oak plank and even masts through a channel not yet opened, from a

    part of Poland which they have not yet explored and which promises to

    yield naval stores of several kinds. To draw the export of these articles

    to England instead of permitting them to go to the supply of our foreign

    neighbours cannot but at this time be highly desirable. I have an idea also

    with respect to
  • Title: [S t Petersbourg Oct. r 3 th 1780 Why]
    Description: S t Petersbourg Oct. r 3 th 1780

    Why does Anderson give into the Royal Society such papers as that on the distilling a spirit from Potatoes. Why not rather turn it to private advantage if he finds it likely to succeed so well. It may not signify as to this paper in particular because I think I have hard somewhere in my travels of a spirit being distilled fro Potatoes: but any such oeconomical improvement I should know, if he did not, how to turn to a good account, here, or at my friend Chodkiwick's in Poland. Do Potatoes do in a sandy soil? or what is it that a sandy soil may be employed to the in? The corn in general but small in thereabouts.

    since my return from J.B. from Q.S.P. May - 9 th June 5 th gone to Constant- May13 th June 20 th May 11 th for it back, May 15 July 10 th June 27 th

    News Papers

    You will be putting now any Anderson's newspaper for which you will be paid 8 pence a mark under an injunction to spend it in buying newspapers. This is the way I explain the 2 copies which you will get for your trouble. If you had the management of a newspaper and a share in the profits I think it would be mighty well; but you are too much and always have been and always will be too much the servant of other people. You have brought me up also in that habit, so that I do declare I seem on many occasions to attend to the interest of others with greater perseverance than to my own — One time or other I may yield some matter for this paper however, but not as yet.

    Porter may not reach London this month or more for what I know he stops at several places in his way, and some considerable time at Amsterdam. You mention needing some sheets of introd. to May. Why a part? That has the appearance of consulting him upon though at a time when his opinion can be of service. When it is published then I should wish much you would send him a copy but with no long letter. A Complimentary note of 2 lines is quite sufficient. Having omitted to send you Barstow's letter in mine of last post as I promised I tear off this half sheet on which I had written something and make it serve as a cover for which I do not pay double. I have several pieces of paper begun upon for you and my father but cannot finish any by this post. I sent you a letter by last post which after having directed to you I put a foursheet addition to Q.S.P. in case of your not being in the way. The purport of it was that some of you should try to get one the at Dantzig & the letter was ostensible for that purpose. I have since heard that the place had no kind of salary. to it, notwithstanding Sir Trevor Cowry on whose death it became vacant corresponded with the Secretary of State odd that a man should do Government business without