Smirnova A. O., November 9, 1846*

75. A. O. SMIRNOVA.

November 9 <N.>. Florence <1846>.

You have probably received my letter, without the indication of the month, date and place* from which it was written. Do not be angry for this oblivion, put it in the proper order, as it should be, all this at the top of the letter. I will console you with the fact that I immediately remembered this after the sealing of the letter. However, having at that time so much to do and trouble among travels and at the same time among other dignified occupations, I was excused for making this oversight. Still, this is at least more excusable than not writing at all, as you do to me. But enough about that. I repeat to you again what I wrote in my last letter: if you have already done everything properly and are now in Petersburg, then I have no choice but to kiss your beautiful hands in my thoughts. If you are still[384] in Kaluga, then leave everything behind and go to Petersburg<rg>. I will need you there as much as I need myself. Go alone, without children, if it is troublesome; stop right at the Vielgorskys, they will give you a room. It is necessary that you are with them. So I will, tell them; however, they themselves will feel that it is necessary and necessary. May God guide you in everything! I don't want to add anything more. You will act wisely and without my instructions by talking to Pletnev, who also needs to be given more heat and zeal. He seemed to be somewhat sluggish or had forgotten how to act lively and promptly.

Give an answer to this note immediately to Naples.

All your G.

On the reverse: Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova.

Gogol M. I. November 14, 1846*

76. M. I. GOGOL.

Rome. November 14 <n. st. 1846>

I cannot comprehend the reason for your silence. I thought that I would find, at least on my arrival in Rome, a letter from you, but even here I was deceived. For more than three months now I have had absolutely no news of you. I am beginning to wonder if the letters are disappearing again, because if anything happened in your house—some misfortune from which God save you—someone would notify me. I am waiting for what Naples will tell me, where I am going in a few days; Perhaps your letter is there[385]. As for myself, I will say that my health, thank God, is becoming somewhat stronger, and if all the circumstances are well arranged, then I hope at the beginning of next year to set off on the desired road to venerate the Holy Sepulchre.

Soon after this letter, or perhaps together with this letter, you will receive a small book of mine, which contains in part my own confession. I should have brought it before I left. I am sending you a printed excerpt from the will, relating to you and your sisters*. Although, thanks to the ineffable mercy of God, I am once again saved, and live, and see the light of God, nevertheless read this testament and try to fulfill (both you and the sisters) at least part of my will during my lifetime. [386] You will receive six copies, one for you and the other for the sisters. Send the third copy immediately, together with the enclosed letter, to Danilevsky, asking him to notify both you and me of its receipt immediately. Give the fourth copy to Andrey Andreevich*, if he is anywhere near you; if he is in Petersburg, then, of course, there is nothing to send. You can only tell him that one copy was for him, but you did not send it because, being in Petersburg, he probably already had it and had time to read it. [387] But, instead, give this fourth copy, together with the last two, to those holy people who prayed for me in the monasteries; Ask them to read my book and pray for me more earnestly than ever before. I need prayers even more now. Do this by all means. Under various pretexts, your sisters will beg you for an extra copy, either for themselves or for their friends. Don't give it to them: this book is not for fun or for flighty society girls; Here is a matter of the soul, and therefore it is necessary that it be read first of all by spiritual fathers and people who deal with the soul and conscience of man. Others can buy it and wait to read it. I also ask you, my good and venerable mother, to pray for me and for my journey and for the well-being of all my circumstances. At all times when I am on the road, you do not go anywhere and stay in Vasilyevka. I need you to pray for me[389] in Vasilyevka, and not elsewhere. Whoever wants to see you can come to you. Answer everyone that you find it unseemly, at the time when your son has gone to such holy worship, to go to guests and indulge in some kind of amusement. My sisters, if they do not sit down, can go to Poltava alone.