JB_540_007_001.xml

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

JB_539_356_002.xml

Title: [8.) yet she since that again has expressed]

Description: 8.) yet she since that again has expressed her joy at the news of my

staying in this country.

What difference my being to be employed as Charge d'affaires

here and the flattering manner in which the Empress received my offer

of service will make in her disposition towards me I know not as yet, but I

soon will know, for I will write to her showing her the necessity of a

final determination and propose to her once more to set off &

marry privately. If I find she will not take any decisive step I must then

write to or wait upon the Uncle and assure him that I shall have no

further views on his Niece [Of this however I am not as yet decided. On

some accounts it would be better not.

June 12 th I have just now heard that on account

of my being known to have given over thoughts of leaving the country at

last for some time, the old Countess proposing setting off

soon with her daughter for Moscow, and that the Aunt as well as the Mother

were sick for two days at the hearing this news. The mother &

daughter disagree every what is white to one is black to the other

yet all their vexation in the family promise me but very faint

hopes, for the girl has not resolution enough to avow to her parents a

determination in my favour nor to take any decisive step

without their consent. Yet at the same time either She

refuses to give me up or her parents do not choose to take her word for her

having done it. They watch her as close as possible, and she sends me word

that she can not even at present contrive means of receiving a

letter from me.

1783 } S.B. Petersburgh June } to

12 } Q.S.L 23 } Amour - history Sh. II.

(II)

JB_540_020_002.xml

Title: [XII will be perhaps a principal object]

Description: XII

will be perhaps a principal object of our occupations.

Either we must contrive for me to get something at home,

or you must stay with me till we can manage for you

to be more at your ease at your return.

If you are acquainted with the Harris's and have an

opportunity of speaking with Lady Harris alone

do assure her that my not having written to her

is not from my having lost any high degree of regard

& cetera ... in short say as many civil things as

possible to her from me which I would fain say myself

but dare not as I know my writing to her would

displease her husband.

If Miss Gorman is with them I wish much

you could be acquainted with her She knows me well

and could tell you everything about me.

Miss Cozens also the eldest particularly knows a

great deal of me She & her sister live at Harris's.

I think I have pretty well got myself out of love again

and I now cant conceive that there are more than two women

in the whole Empire who could inspire me with any passion

beyond that of physical desire. These two are M rs Sik: of

whom I have told you enough and a cousin of her's a Miss

Glebow. whose father is a General in chief and whose mother who is now

dead was sister to Prince Dashkeff the father. She is of the

sweetest disposition, between 16 & 17. rich, pretty and of a character like

M rs Sik: I see her seldom and 'tis better I should not see her.

1784

Jan:

22

Feb.

2

S.B. Petersburgh

to

J.B. Linc. Inn