In his search for asylum in a foreign country Betancourt makes a first exploratory trip to Russia in October 1807, where in December he is received in private audience by the Tsar in St Petersburg. In the first trimester of 1808 the tsar Alexander I and his minister Rumyantsev invite Betancourt to visit the main industries of the country. The proposals for work in Russia are very good ones but Betancourt decides to go back to Paris with the excuse of consulting his family.
Betancourt’s mother dies in La Orotava on January 17th. A letter from a relative of his brother José tells us about the first reception that Betancourt had in Russia, the offers from the tsar and his answers. [See Letter from Sebastian de Lugo-Viña November 26th 1809: Letter 20].
Betancourt had sent the French government the plans of his dredge for ports in the month of January, because he is negotiating its acceptance by them in an attempt to stay in France [See the manuscripts under the title Machine destinée a curer les Ports de Mer notamment pour le Port de Venise].
