Petersbourg June 2 d OS 1783. I told you by last post of my having given in a letter for the Empress offering my Services to inspect the execution of the improvements I had proposed in my paper of observations. I cannot as yet tell the answer which she gave immediately on reading it, verbatim, but the tenour of it was a desire of having me, and the liberty of choosing the place with a kind of intimation that I should propose the terms made of engagement. In short the whole of the manner in which the letter was presented and the answer given was very flattering. I shall know all much more about it tomorrow morning, but in the mean time I cannot but let you know this much: besides something came into my head yesterday which though I have not sufficiently considered yet the sooner I give you time to think about it the better. First then is no reason to doubt her Majesty's being already disposed to engage me. Secondly when she comes to know that I am to be contracted with the ministerial business from the time of Sir James's departure to the coming of the next Minster, my being thought in my own country capable of executing that business cannot but raise me in her opinion. The alarm that several persons in power must be in from the idea of a person being employed in an economical department with the probability of his having permission