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