Petersburg April 8 th O.S. 1780

Sunday being recovered sufficiently from my second illness I set out to begin

paying my visits. First of course to Sir James Harris's. He was not at

home, next to M r Shairpes the Consul. There I

dined. In the afternoon I went with his family to a Concert, and was prudent enough to return from thence home

immediately instead of accepting any invitation to supper.

Monday by 1/2 past 8 in the morning I was at D r Guthrie's as I knew that was the only time to

find him. I carried him some books which were new to him as well as

those he had lent me and brought back a few of his which were new to me.

His house is filled with objects of Natural Philosophy. His rooms hung

round with Tables all sorts, Chemical in particular. He seems to have a

very complete apparatus for experiments on Airs.

I shall probably get some tables from him, as will he perhaps one or two

from me. I staid with him till

10 o'clock so that when I called a second time at S r James's

he was just gone but

again had left excuses for me and that he should not dine at home but

hoped to see me next day. I went to Kruse's and saw all the family. On

One of

his sister who is very pretty is married to Kickelbecker

who is gone to his father's estate leaving his wife behind him. He

will be back again in 10 days.

Tuesday. I at last found S r James. Although I had

expected from his character and by his letters which I carried to

him to be received with a great deal of politeness yet the reception he

gave me

ever

exceded my expectations. He was engaged to dine at Count

Rasamowsky's one of the Marshal's of the Empire, and therefore he sent to

let them know he should bring me with him. This man has not

above

seventy thousand pounds Sterling a year to have

the plague of spending. The table he

keeps must use him of a small part of it. There were several of the

foreign Ministers and a good large company all together, but the dinners

are most intolerably long.

S r James introduced me

to about a dozen of the principal people

of the company, the rest were beneath my notice.

In the afternoon he took me to pay 2 or 3 visits to Count Panir, to the

Vice Chancellor, (Chancellor there is none) &c. The next day I

was to call on him at twelve to go and make

about 20 more visits to the principal of the Nobility and then return to

dine with him with a pretty large company which he has regularly

twice a week.

Wednesday therefore I called on him at the time appointed, but

he was not yet dressed and I had so many visits to make he told me

I might just as well go by myself for that he

should not find anybody at home, his servant should go with me and

give his card with mine. He gave me a list of the

houses I was go to and marked the number of cards

I was to leave at each: because the same card wont do for

a man & his wife too nor for the daughter if she is married, but each

must have one. at once I left so.

The matter of my letter being lost he said he had settled with

Chemichef and would with the rest: that he could

say as much of me as was probably said in the letters, and that it

was of no consequence.

I asked S r James about Mr Eaton the great

traveller who is here now. He told me if I would dine with him again

tomorrow he would invite him to meet me. I did so

he did so, and Eaton came. This was Thursday

eve more than a smaller company not above 15 or 16 at dinner.

Fryday I dined at Krase's in consequence of Char

having asked me the day before when I called on them if I had made a

resolution never to come to dine with them.

In the evening I

went to a Concert at Rosamofsky's from an invitation the

young Countess gave me the day I dined there. S r James came there also. The Dutchess of Kingston was

there and fell asleep every time the musick

played piano, and awakened with the forte. She

served the company to laugh at.

S r James I think did not speak to her. I

staid

to supper and till one o'clock.

Saturday I dined at S r James's and called on

Kruse in the Evening.