date

Aug. r 13 th 1783. O.S. I had not
Aug. r 13 th 1783. O.S.

I had not been for these 10 days at Sir James's for a reason I may

let you may know perhaps hereafter, till just now when

he tells me that he sends off a Courier in 2 or 3 hours. We are here 7

versts from Petersbourg where I have a couple of sheets of letter for you

and I do not think I shall be able to send for it in time. There is however

half an hour before dinner in which I will give you some little

account of myself.

You will know before this that I was obliged to decline being

Charge d'affaires on account of its standing in the

way of my pursuits here. I did not regret this so much as the news from Mr

Fitzherbert promised his arriving before even the departure of Sir J.

Nothing is as yet settled for me here. Upon the Empress's seeming disposed

to give me the choice of the part of the country in which I would be

employed, I gave Mr. Besborotky her Secretary a paper in which I

pointed out the mines & Saltworks in Siberia which I preferred they

were as you may imagine the most important which the country afford.

'tis true She at the same time had mentioned some mines near

Olenitz situated between this and Arcangel at about 450 versts only

from hence which She imagined I might prefer as being nearer. But as I

conceived that the establishments in Siberia by being of greater importance

would
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