3

of gunpowder of which I have had no experience nor

information from reading, it is probable I should not be able to judge of

the possibility of the success. But as I have seen a Model of a Sawmill

which is to be erected and which this Mechanician has approved of, I can

safely venture to say that he is totally unacquainted with the

main principles of Mechanics or at least unable to profit by them in

the judging of the most simple machines. It was an Engine to be workt

by men though in the very banks of so rapid a river. 2 men they

suppose will be sufficient but it will at least require 12: whereas the

same work without the machine would be done by 10. This Model was bought

by a kind of Former General in this part of Russia who being in

favour with the Minister gets all the contracts establishes all kind

of manufacturies undertakes everything and monopolizes all

trade; it was at the Governor's of the whole province that I saw it and

while I was there it received the approbation and praises of a young man

who is come into that country as he told me himself to enlighten the people and to teach the young nobility Natural

Philosophy as far as their comprehensions would permit. This

wonderworker at the same time received the orders of the Governor to

set about making such a one, one only at a time, on account of that caution

which took the liberty of giving him.

1780 ) S.B. Chernobyl Sept. ) to Aug. ) J.B. Linc. Inn

You have I suppose from Lind some idea of the manner in which the Nobility

live in Poland. Some of them are very rich on account of the fertility of

their estates. the do There are I think but

real Counts

These are the principal of the Nobility. They have their

courts like reigning Princes and indeed till their

powerfull neighbours proved to them this dependence they might

be concidered as such. We don't sit down to table with

less than 30 or 40 persons at dinner or supper.

Notwithstanding however the ceremony which is observed by

those of the country I am subject to very little. The

dress I have ever worn after the 2 first days has been a white linen

jacket and trousers nothing else on but shirt stockings & shoes or

slippers. The fashion is of my own invention for the

conveniency of travelling and it pleased people here

particularly the Countess when she saw it the morning I arrived that she

lets me wear no other. This is mighty comfortable this hot weather.

The Count is about 40 and the Countess about 35. They have 5 children 3

sons and 2 daughters the eldest son is about 13 and the daughter 10. From

both Father & Mother they inherit the quickest comprehension and

great memory: and special care is taken of their education. The Son speaks

French German some Russ and some Italian, besides

Latin and his native tongue. He is also well acquainted with most of

the details of his father's OEconomy. Modern History

particularly of his own country, he seems to me to

have at his fingers ends: of the English history even he knows much

more than I do. In short he has read a good deal and heard a good deal and

I dare to say forgot nothing. He is quick at Arithmetical calculation and

he has a smattering

4

in natural Philosophy. The daughter I understand is cleverer than he: but

all I know is that she plays

well on the forte piano in concert and they tell me she has begun

but little more than a year.

The whole family have that insatiable curiosity, and habit of questioning

every body, that with the

nature has given them they cannot but be well stored with facts. But

such dispositions have their disadvantages unable to

attend to my one subject for 5 minutes together their

judgments are hasty and variable. The most childish questions and the most

pertinent ones succeed each other sometimes alternately: and the same

importance is given to one as to the other.

The Countess is quite the person scavante and a heroine in

politics. She is of the principal family who have kept their

Republican principles. Her father opposed so firmly the practice

of Russia that he was caught up as he was coming out of the dirt

itself by

Russian Officers and kept prisoner at a place called I think Caluga

for 5 years. At the expiration of that time he

was released and died not a twelvemonth ago. The daughter professes

the same spirit as the father and as you may imagine an

hatred for the Russians. The whole family indeed have the same

disposition towards their unruly neighbour, though the Count has

entered into that service as Major General and has put his son in

also. This however can be from policy only, to be able no

doubt to protect his estates from the ravages and his family from the

insults which otherwise they might suffer from every regiment of the

Russian army which comes near them. The present King of Poland's

Grandfather served the Countess's grandfather to look after his Cattle:

hence you may imagine there is some degree of jealousy. The moral

characters of this family seems to be exceeding good, and I have all the

reason to believe that were I to have any business to do

here they would do me great services. The vanity of having an english

counting house in the town would be no small

inducement, and the advantage they would reap from it in proportion to its

success would

do still more. The Count is not so great a man but perhaps more to

be depended on than my friend in the Baltic. We will however attend to

both and consider well which

plan is best. I can determine upon nothing till I

get back to Petersbourg.

I shall certainly want Mosberry. I wish you could tell him once more that he

should hold himself in readiness and spend all the time he can spare in

learning either the French or german language whichever he has

pick'd upon I hope it is the German. I should also probably want

somebody who has been brought up in a Counting house in London, and

who is either quite poor or has got some considerable sum which he

of money to become a partner Sir James Harris's friendship to me

maybe of the greatest assistance to me at Petersbourg.

Chernobyl 1 st Aug t

1780