Nigno-Taghil, alias Nigna-Taghilisky Savod, alias the Lower Fabrick

situated on the Taghil. 12 of May O.S. 1781.

I have this instant received yours dated in the former part

Feb y 13. and in the latter

Jan intended for Feb y

31 er. This is

the 3 d

packet I have received from Petersbourg since I have been at

this place, each of which contained one or more from you. In my last which

I dispatched upon the receipt of your last I

gave you a particular account of what I had received from you &

my father. I then promised to write a sheet full before I slept. I did so

and have since almost filled another but they consist entirely of my journal

at my first setting out from Petersbourg and must be again copied out before

it will be right to send them away. That is a matter will keep very well. It

will be good employment while I am going down the river Tobol to Tobolsk. I

hope I may then write as I used to do in the Trekskint in Holland.

Your Shuffling apparatus may be very clever. When I

am in a way again to shuffle my marginal contents I shall be much

obliged to you for your description at present I have only skimmed it

over without understanding it. My present employment is not so

abstract. Thick deal boards are at present the subject of my attention.

Saws cannot be said to be in use in this country unless it be those that are

worked by water composing ill contrived saw mills. For my Vehicle I have

occasion for some boards about 1/4 of an inch thick. There are none thinner

that 1 inch & 1/2. 3 men have been employed these three weeks in

reducing these to the thinness required. The comfort is that the pay of

these men is not above 8 or 10 copeks p r day, and a

greater

comfort is that it is not my money that pays for it.