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.

My loss is the greatest of all - the death of A. S. Pushkin. Cm. Rem. to No 39*.

And my present work is "Dead Souls".

For June and July I am going to Germany for the waters... Gogol left Rome on June 12 or 13 (Shenrock. Materials, III, pp. 191 and 202). Gogol returned to Rome at the end of October 1837 (see No 53*).

42. N. Y. PROKOPOVICH.

Printed according to the original (KAB).

First published by N. Gerbel in "Russian Word" 1859, I, pp. 99-100.

This is the first letter to Prokopovich written after receiving the news of Pushkin's death (cf. NoNo 39, 41, 44 and 53).

Go to Pletnev's... Did he send... The money... Obviously, this refers to the money that Gogol was supposed to receive from Smirdin (see No 39*).

43. A. S. DANILEVSKY.

Printed according to the original (IM).

It was first published in Works and Letters, V, pp. 308-311, but is erroneously dated there. Shenrock (Materials, III, p. 188) proved that the letter refers not to 1838, but to 1837.

… to nest with Janin. Letter sent to Geneva: "Près des eaux vives, Pension Janin".