ABSTRACT
On arrival in St Petersburg on 9/20 October 1782 SB was in a quandary whether to remain in Russia or return to England. His own interest, his patron’s interest and the interest of the state to which he committed each jockeyed for domination. Yet there was another interest which he had not considered. If he departed, he would become indebted for another £200, and he already had a debt of the same amount. To increase the debt would run the risk of rendering himself ‘unpardonable’ in his father’s eyes and himself ‘unhappy to desperation’. He decided to run that risk and set off as soon as he had ‘taken leave of those in this country to whom I am under so great obligations’.1 However, on attending Court the following Sunday, the empress Catherine expressed a wish to talk to him. He was given no date for the conversation and, until it took place, he felt unable to leave. Writing on 8/19 November, then again on 13/24 December, he was still awaiting his audience.2
