date

4 passed without my seeing him, he
4

passed without my seeing him, he talked with me on several other subjects

but never on that. When I asked him from time to time what her majesty

said to it, his answer was that she had not finished reading it. The people

to whom I had shewn this second paper of mine, people of as

sound judgment as any in the Empire, and who were well acquainted with the

Empress's disposition, were much struck with the importance of my

observations, and assured me that some extraordinary notice would be taken

of them.

1783 ) S.B. Peteresburgh Apr ) to 23/ ) J.B. Linc. Inn May

2

Connected as I was indifferently with the principal of the clashing parties,

and having thus got to the attention of the Empress herself, I was in the

hope that I should not appear attached enough to anyone to raise a motive in

any other to take pains to oppose me. But I was mistaken. Potemkin after

telling me repeatedly that the Empress had ordered him to bring me to

her, put off the time from day to day & from week to week,

till I began to despair at the thought that, after

having taken so much pains to do what I thought would give her

majesty satisfaction,

she would even not give me the audience she had of her own accord

intended to give me before I had done any thing material to distinguish

myself. Princess Dachkoff was now made director of the Academy of

Sciences and was very high in favour. I had planned a chart for exhibiting

a comparative & absolute state of the Population of the several parts

of the Empire. I showed it her she was struck with the Utility of it &

presented it immediately to the Empress telling her it was by the same

person who had given her his observations on the mines & .

The Empress told her that as yet she had not received
Similar Items
  • Title: [Petersburgh Jan y 20 th 1784 O.S.]
    Description: Petersburgh Jan y 20 th 1784 O.S.

    No time was as yet fixed for the departure of the English Courier who

    has been here some months and by whom I have given you to expect

    news from me, but as another is just arrived with the news of the change

    in the ministry M r Fitzherbert dispatches one of them as soon as

    possible. A small part only of what I had written in readiness for the

    opportunity will be to be sent now as my circumstances of late

    are entirely changed.

    First I have to tell you that my love

    affair is entirely put an end to. Gen: Landskoy [The Empress's favourite] immediately on

    the death of the Uncle without any application on my part to him

    had interested himself so much in the affair as to let the aunt

    & mother know that the Empress thought they did wrong to oppose

    the young Countess's inclinations and promised that her

    Majesty would promote me and do anything to give them

    satisfaction. This only irritated the Aunt the more. When the

    Uncle & father came the girl was watched more closely than ever:

    yet she found means to write to me frequently and every body

    seemed to be in our interests. She was ill, kept her room, and

    her bed, and allarmed her friends, but could not soften them.

    she offered to make her escape with me, or take any steps which

    I would point out, could She but escape the vigilance of her keepers.

    She offered money & diamonds to one of her chambermaids,

    but could not gain her assistance. When things were in this situation

    the parents summoned all this force against her, and at length

    after having her Mother at her feet foaming at the mouth

    through despair, She, after half an hour's reflection sat down

    and wrote to me a renounce. telling me that all had been tried

    and that a sense of the unhappiness She caused in her family
  • Title: [Petersburgh Jan y 20 1784 O.S. No]
    Description: Petersburgh Jan y 20 1784 O.S.

    No time was as yet fixed for the departure of the English Courier, who

    has been here some months, and by whom I have given you

    to expect news from me; but as another is just arrived with

    the News of the Change of the Ministry, M r Fitzherbert

    dispatches one of them as soon as possible; a small part

    only of what I had written in readiness for this opportunity

    will be to be sent now as my Circumstances of late

    are entirely Changed.

    First, I have to tell you that my Love-Affair is entirely

    put an end to. General Landskoy, immediately on the death

    of the Uncle, without any application on my part to him

    has interested himself so much in the Affair as to let

    the Aunt and Mother know that the Empress thought

    they did wrong to oppose the young Countess's Inclinations

    and promised that her Majesty would promote me and

    do any thing to give them satisfaction. This only irritated

    the Aunt the more. When the Uncle and Father came

    She was watched more closely than ever; yet She found

    means to write to me frequently, and and every body seem'd

    to be in our Interests. She was ill, kept her Room, &

    her Bed, and alarmed her Friends, but could not soften

    them. She offered to make her escape with me, or

    take any Steps which I could point out, could She

    but escape the vigilance of her keepers. She offered

    Money and Diamonds to one of her Chambermaids

    but could not gain her assistance. When things were

    in this situation the Parents summoned all their force

    against her, and at length, after having her Mother

    at her feet "foaming at the mouth through despair,

    She, after half an hour's reflection, sate down and

    wrote me a Renounce, telling me that all had been tryed
  • Title: [My conversation with the Empress leaned chiefly]
    Description: My conversation with the Empress leaned chiefly on the state of the mines

    and on the Chinese frontiers. Her questions were very general and the way

    much disposed to

    make out a compliment in what I said to her when I

    meant none. She talked about the brilliant State of our Navy.

    Spoke with terms of great regard of the Lord Keppel, and with great

    contempt of the French.

    She thanked me for my observations and said she thought they might be

    exceedingly usefull.

    Sunday April PS 1783

    This sheet & part of the other was written at Sir James's, upon his

    telling me, that the Courier is setting off in a quarter of an hour;

    whereas he had before told me, he did not go till tomorrow,

    & other people had told me the day after. This sudden departure not

    only prevents my writing more as I had intended to have done

    tonight after coming from the Field Marshal's, but it also

    prevents my sending some other papers I had prepared and which now I

    cant get at. I have not even time to write any separate

    letter to endeavour to assure you of the strength of affection and duty

    with which I am sure ever to remain S. B.