ABSTRACT
During January 1789 SB was ‘impatient to quit this abominable country’ for Siberia. On 27 January / 7 February he told his father how his transfer had come about. Among his friends he had talked a great deal of his wish to revisit Siberia, and, probably through one who wished to have his regiment, his desire had reached Potemkin who asked him if he really wanted to be posted there. On confirmation, as well as transferring SB, Potemkin had transferred with him officers in his regiment who wanted to go with him, assuring them of their military pay regardless of whether or not there were vacancies in the Siberian regiments. He gave SB money for post horses for each officer and letters to the governors along the Siberian border directing them to give SB their assistance.
