Friday, May 8, 1840
1840
May
Friday 8
8 1/2
3
Rain in the night, and the Place
dirty this morning. Dampish, foggy morning
even till now 11 1/4 (breakfast at 9 55/..) – The mountains quite covered –
Then copied into business letter
book the character given on leaving Moscow to Grotza, and that given to Gross
at Astracan, and my letter from here to Mr. Marc –
And then had Mademoiselle
Kotzebue and then Madame Latchinoff till
2 5/..
She
had translated into French above 1/2 hour account of her journey to Erivan and
brought it and read it to me – Prettily written – Praised it very much – She
will let me have the whole on Saturday night to take with me – and will leave
for me (chez le General Braïko) her compilation of a sort or modern history or
what of this country – She is writing a larger work, an historical work – but
in the form of a Roman –
I
questioned her as to why she did not take a higher line of authorship – She
dreaded criticism – Nothing to fear for a Roman, if her style and manner
easy and good, it was all that would be required – She writes, she says, with great
facility, and always has done from her infancy – Besides, to write history would
require grave studies and much time and her father quizzes and does not like
the idea of a young woman of her age entering upon history writing – she ought
to think of her husband – Elle appartiènt à la société, and, if her studies
were too serious they might either withdraw her from society or she might enter
it préoccupée, and not be able to play the agreeable (faire l'aimable) –
Bon!
– But she travels up and down – Leaves her husband perpetually – Goes a month
hence to Moscow – or 1st to Cachétie – Then aux eaux? Then Moscow by Warsaw and Vienna to Florence,
Rome, and Naples for the winter – Will keep a journal for herself and arrange
her ideas afterwards –
But
it seems she adopts the novel style not only in imitation of Sir Walter Scott, but
of her great friend, killed in an Expedition 2 or 3 years ago against
Tcherkess, Mr. Bestujeff [Bestuzhev]
one of the best modern writers of Russian historical romances – E.g. his Amahad
Beg (translated into French) – under the nom supposé of Marlinski – He was exiled
for the Moscow business of 1825 – He and Pouschkine killed 3 years ago, the 2
best modern Russian writers –
Madame
Latchinoff has only published one thing, a little Roman Story, of 100 pages, in the Bibliotheque de
Lecture (a monthly periodical) du mois de Sèptembre 1838. Inquire for it chez Semen Moscow – She writes
under the nom supposé de Cléopatre Leonidoff –
Captain
Tolstoy was in a category that had almost the worst punishment – It is only 2 years
since he was made officer – now Lieutenant – Was 8 years here a private soldier
– obliged to appear on parade in his soldier’s dress – But all received in society
(especially those who have money) and then wear clothes of fine cloth – He has
only to distinguish himself – and rank goes on quickly here – A man may rise from
Ensign to General in 5 years here – Always the opportunity to distinguish himself
–
Madame
Latchinoff has much read Walter Scott’s works, and finds much resemblance
between the Scots Highlander and Tcherkess –
Mademoiselle
Kotzebue called, in fact, about the Armenian Obuvian and the ascension of Mount
Ararat – Could say nothing certain at present.
All must depend upon time and weather – What to give him a day + his expenses
– No satisfactory answer – but thought as he wished to go for his own pleasure,
he would be contented with his expenses –but Madame Latchinoff said gentlemen understood these things better than
ladies – I thought but said nothing, would 1 ducat per day be enough to give? Kours and interpreters ask 60 ducats per month
= 2 ducats per day –
To
call at the Kotzebue’s at 12 tomorrow –
Somehow I do not much like Madame Latchinoff. No solid learning, as Mademoiselle Kotzebue
seemed to insinuate, nor does she seem a general favorite here. She is a silly little doll of a bas blue flirt
–
Made
as good a fetch as I could for the after address of Madame Latchinoff in vain –
Her husband will be here 4 or 5 years – She is always en voyage – Her father
and mother live in Moscow – Have not yet learnt name or station –
After
1812, the fashion to bring up young people à la Française – She one of them brought
up – all her studies in French – hardly knew her own language – till 4 years
ago – Her friend Bestuzhev said it was a shame for a Russian to write in French,
and she began to study her own language – It occurs to me she talked (wrote,
read) of Erivan being ‘prise chez les Perses’ instead of sur. Her own French translation of her work from
the Russian will be valuable – When she is older, she says, she may
retire a little from the world, and engage in more serious studies and write history
– the compilation the history a fragment of this country she will leave for me
chez les Braïko. Will be gleaned from
the reports of various officers and from authentic archives; and she is sure this
little work will be very interesting –
Tis now 3 p.m. Damp rather rainy, dirty day – Dinner about 5
1/4 – Before and after, wrote to Countess Alexandra Panin – Had Mr. Stadler
– to come again in the evening – Came at or after 9 – Tea – Translated Spaski’s
book for me – Staid till 2 20/.. ! He wrote
the names as under of the 2 gentlemen at the Gymnase –
{L. Inspecteur Roskovshenka, le Directeur Kopf.
{et
le traduction de Shakespeare
Damp, rainy day –
WYAS Finding Numbers
SH:7/ML/E/24/0099 and SH:7/ML/E/24/0100
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