date

15 versts from Petersbourg Aug t 21 t 1783
15 versts from Petersbourg Aug t 21 t 1783. O.S.

I am at Sir James's country house where I came this morning on foot to

breakfast. As I walked about 35 versts yesterday and about 10 this morning,

I must stay here a little while to rest myself. Sir James is gone to

dine at Zanko Sells, Lady Harris is not well enough to come out of her

room & Miss Harris is occupied: all books are packed up, and in short

as I have no means of amusing myself anymore than any kind of business to

do, I set me down to write to you without having any particular purpose in

view. I can tell you nothing of any importance about myself that has

happened since the last Courier set off, which was but 5 or 6 days ago, by

whom I sent you a packet.

I told you then that I was to see Besberotky on

Fryday last when I expected to have heard something more certain

respecting my establishment here: owing to an accident I did not see

him: but tomorrow I will go and dine with him, and to day Sir James will

see him and give him a spur.

Sir James and Miss Harris took leave of the Empress yesterday. Lady Harris

was not well enough to go out, but there are hopes she will be able to set

off from hence on Thursday next, the day which Sir James has fixed on for

his final departure.

I do hope you will get acquainted with Sir James, and above all that some

time or other you should go and spend some time with him at the Hague.

There is no man whom I know from whose acquaintance I should imagine you

would reap so much advantage. His character

or rather his talents are

'tis true is widely different from yours; but yet I think you might

become friends.

of for

from the
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    Description: with the great Concern I must feel at having given you any the least uneasiness, could atone for my misconduct, I should not dispair of enjoying again one day or other some shares of your good opinion.

    If I cannot be permitted to have the satisfaction of seeing you, Sir, before you leave this Country, give me leave to take this opportunity of assuring you of the highest Sence I shall ever entertain of the many obligations I am under to you and of the greatest sincerity and respect with which I remain

    Sir Your most obedient humble Servant Sam l Bentham

    Strelna Sunday Morning 13. Aug t 1783.

    To the above, was received the following Answer from Sir James Harris

    My dear Bentham It is so long ago since my Breakfast that I have totally forgot every thing which passed there; I shall be heartily glad to see you at dinner today. be assured that your Letter of yesterday has not diminished that regard I ever was disposed to have for you

    Ever your's J.H.

    Monday 7. in the Morning directed a' Mr. Bentham a' Strelna ou partout ou il est.
  • Title: [Bowood Oct. 2 d 1781 1781-10-2 It]
    Description: Bowood Oct. 2 d 1781 1781-10-2

    It was a cursed foolish thing in me to set myself such a task as that of

    sending you a diary of every thing that passes here: & now I do not

    recollect where I left off. Oh, I think it was on Saturday that I

    despatched my letter; and I believe I told you of Bank's coming in from

    Font-hill with Pratt & Will Pitt.

    Sunday Sept. r 30 came in to dinner a whole heap of

    Sturts, likewise from Font-hill: M r & M rs Sturt, Miss Sturt a girl about 17 or 18

    & Miss Eliza Sturt, about 11. Banks it appeared, is intimate in

    that family. After dinner came in Dunning, passing hot from Bristol.

    Monday [Yesterday] Oct. 1 st. A party of us went to

    Methuen's at Corsham about

    5 miles from this place to see his pictures: it is a famous

    collection made by S r Paul Methuen: the family were

    not at home. They are at L d Boston's , who

    married a daughter of Methuen's. I shou'd have said Methuen's

    daughter, as he has but one. The party consisted of Lady Shelburne, L d Camden Miss Pratt & Miss Fox in

    L d S's Coach: Pratt Pitt, Banks

    & your humble servant on horseback. On our return, to my great

    mortification we found M r & M rs Dunning were set off for London. It was

    absolutely necessary: M rs Dunning & her maid

    were expecting every hour to fall to pieces.

    Tuesday Oct.2. In the morning before breakfast L d

    Camden & Miss Pratt went off for Hereford-shire: Banks and Pitt for

    Kingston-hall Bank's house in Dorsetshire: The Sturts to their house which

    is 4 miles from Kingston-hall.

    Wednesday Oct.3. This morning before breakfast Pratt went off for Bath,

    where he is gone to cultivate his corporation: so that there is nobody left

    but Barre & I. S r G. Bayntun

    has been breakfasting here. One would think he came here as a spy of the

    court: for he always comes at breakfast, the time that people are

    collected together. This is at least the sixth time of his breakfasting

    with us since I have been here.
  • Title: [there and spending so much time there myself]
    Description: there and spending so much time there myself strangers receive not such

    treatment in any other country: nor I believe did ever stranger receive

    such in this but myself.

    I don't know whether Pleschjiff has given you any translation of the

    general letter of recommendation I have. He could best have done it and

    said he would, but least he could not, I will give you a

    litteral translation of it. Also I will enclose a copy of a

    note to Sir James Harris from the first Minister in the civil

    department. Sir James had sent him in writing an account of the route

    I proposed taking and this was the answer. There came also besides this

    general laetter which had a flying seal 12 others sealed and directed

    to

    different Governors which to judge by those of which I have seen the

    inside were all to the same import as the general one. Nen's letter I had

    also from Prince Potemkin the first minister in the War department

    here. I had others from different people to the amount of about 70.

    Prince Potemkin at my Sir James' request gave me a

    Corporal and soldier both Grenadiers and picktmen. One of

    these I have here behind me as not having occasion for him: but as I have

    not with an Officer in the department of mines who is particularly

    well acquainted with his profession, has been already to great assistance

    to me in forming my collection of minerals and is well informed respecting

    the parts of the country I am going to, having been put there to

    examine the state of the mines, I have desired he may be ordered to

    accompany me and he is sent for for that purpose. The General Governor

    complied with this request of mine the more readily as he told me he had

    received repeated orders in my favour from Petersbourg. You cannot wonder

    I think that with such advantages I should determine on lengthening my

    journey.

    My planing machine I think I told you was stopt on account of

    some letters from Petersbourg: as to the success of it I can have no doubt

    of that. I shall

    be thinking farther about the mode of proceding with

    it and cannot properly give up the idea of doing something with it

    in this country. In England such things require such a

    monsterous deal of money to set them a going.

    Genl Wacal who gave me the white Bear and

    the Reindeer is dead. his brother died also in the same week, this may

    probably put a stop to the voyage these animals were to have taken. A

    collection however of minerals or a few furs may

    be as acceptable to you as this bear ship however fine he may

    be.

    Adieu

    2 o'clock in the morning and I have a cold in my head. This

    goes by a courier to Petersbourg who takes the news of the new

    Government being opened.

    I sent you a message a few days ago by way of Petersbourg through Hynam

    that was sent by another Courier.

    S.B. Letter dated Perme. Russia 20 Oct r 1781