date

Perme Dec. 2 d 1781. The greatest
Perme Dec. 2 d 1781.

The greatest part of this Government is the property of the Stroganof

family. The principal of this family is the Count Stroganoff. He & the

Baron were both here at the opening of the new Government. The Count is the

greatest lover & encourager of Science particularly of Natural

history, of any of the Russian nobility of distinction. He has resided many

years in France and made the tour of Europe, He has the greatest extent

of possessions, though not the richest, of any in the Country. He was

mightily pleased with my amphibious Carriage.

After he had seen it on the water, I drove out in it one morning to call on

him at his quarters 9 versts out of Town. We were both engaged to dine

at the General Governor's in Town, and therefore he

would needs return with me in my carriage. From the

vehicles being so exceedingly easy-hung & commodious, but more

probably from the singularity of it, he was highly delighted with his ride.

He told me that of all the curiosities he should give

the Empress an account of his having seen during his journey, my

carriage would be the most remarkable: and he would not for any thing

but have rid in it, that he might have to tell her so. When

we came to the Governor's seeing my carriage from the window, he & all

the company came to the door, and were not a little

surprized to see a blue ribband

disembark. The Count ordered a French painter he has with him to make a

sketch of this vehicle that he might the better be able to give the

Empress an idea of its construction and I have got a drawing of it done

here which I have sent a copy to him at Petersbourg; another I gave

the Gen l: Gowerme, that he may

shew it likewise to her Majesty; a 3 d Copy I have sent to Mr Davidoff; a 4 th I send you either with this letter or probably with a little

box of small specimens of minerals.

The Count was so very desirous of my going to see the Salt

works belonging to him & the other

branches of the family that I could not but promise him to make

an excursion thither. They are situated in the borders of the river

Kama about 30 versts below

Salikainskaja. I had heard much of a subterraneous

Cavern situated about 100 versts

farther from hence very curious stalactites and calcaineous

christals are obtained. The addings to my collection of minerals

and the exploring a subterranean chasm which fear & impatience of

fatigue had prevented anybody's penetrating to the end of, were motives

sufficient to carry me there. I set out upon this expedition in my

vehicle, mounting the Kama against the current, but with a fair wind as far

as the Saltworks. I learnt in my way that Baron Stroganoff who had

left Perme about a week was still at these Saltworks. I therefore gave

him a good salute with my Guns in due form. The English colours flying, I

may safely say, for the first time in that part of the world. As soon

as they could collect their Guns for the purpose my salute was returned

doubly & trebly. I went ashore straight to the Baron's; and after

the first compliments tea was presented according to the custom of the

country. In the same time He ordered quarters to be got ready

for me next to his, and supper to be prepared for me there as the state

of his health obliged him to observe a regimen. It was already dark; so that

after sitting a couple of hours with him talking over my

passage from Perme by water, my desire of insuring

myself thoroughly of the whole of the salt making process, and my intended

expedition to the Cavern, I took my leave for the night.

As the windings of the river had exposed us sometimes to the opposite action

of the wind as well as the current, we were not a little tired; and as we

had pretty well consumed our provisions, the appearance of preparations

for supper was far from disagreeable. My Interpreter and I were soon

seated to a succession of 20 dishes served in Silver by 10 or a dozen

servants

a

with all that neatness as well as delicacies which would

scarcely have failed to have procured us an artificial appetite, had our

natural one not been so keen. The next morning as I wished to visit

the Saltworks belonging to the Crown about 4 versts off on the other side

of the water, and had paid

between 7 & 8 o'clock for setting out, came an officer from the

Baron about 1/2 past 7 with apologies

for his not accompanying me himself on account of the quantity

of ice existing in the sites & c early time of my setting

out, that a carriage was prepared for

me on the other side of the water and the officer was to
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