… I did nothing without his advice. P. Kulish writes: "Gogol lost in Pushkin an adviser and a strong assistant in the execution of his literary enterprises. We know from "Correspondence with Friends" that the first chapters of "Dead Souls" were already read to Pushkin, and in the "Author's Confession" it is even said that the plots of "The Government Inspector" and "Dead Souls" were given to Gogol by Pushkin. Consequently, it can be assumed, not without reason, that Pushkin greatly assisted Gogol in the creation, if not of types, then of the plan of his comedy and poem. Remember now how soon such works as "Taras Bulba", "The Government Inspector" and the first part of "Dead Souls" were written one after another, together with other less remarkable plays, and see what Gogol does after Pushkin's death. It writes and burns. He has no encouraging authority, no genius of equal strength who would show him the direct path of poetic activity... During Pushkin's lifetime, Gogol was one person, after his death he became another" (Notes, I, p. 194). Wed. S. T. Aksakov's judgment is related to this: "From the letters of Gogol himself, it is known what a thunderclap this loss was. Gogol became ill both in spirit and body. I will add that, in my opinion, he never recovered completely, and that Pushkin's death was the only cause of all the morbid manifestations of his spirit, as a result of which he asked himself insoluble questions, to which his great talent, exhausted by the struggle with the hermit's direction, could not give any satisfactory answers" (The History of My Acquaintance, p.

My current work is "Dead Souls".

Stieglitz is a St. Petersburg banker.

Valentine - Valentini, a banker in Rome.

40. M. I. GOGOL.

Printed according to the original (IL).

First published, with omissions, in Works and Letters, V, pp. 287-288. Printed in full for the first time.

Of all the architectural monuments of Rome, Gogol loved St. Peter's Basilica the most. "You will never get enough of Peter, although his façade is a chest of drawers," Gogol used to say (Notes, II, pp. 1-2), calling the magnificent Baroque extension of the early XVII century, which violated the original plan of the cathedral, a "chest of drawers"; Gogol was always delighted with its dome, created by Michel-Angelo. (See. "N. V. Gogol. Materials and Research, I, pp. 27–31.)

The Pope who celebrated Easter Mass in St. Peter's Basilica in 1837 was Gregory XVI (secular name Mauro Cappellari), who occupied the papal throne from 1831 to 1846.

41. M. P. POGODIN.

Printed according to the original (PD).

First published with omissions in Works and Letters, V, pp. 288-290.