134. TO V. A. ZHUKOVSKY.

March 12<New Style, 1847> Naples.

Scarcely had I sent an answer to your kindest letter (of February 6/18) when your lines* were brought to me again, informing me of the dispatch of money and bills of exchange. Afterwards I received a letter from Ubril (whom I do not know how to thank for his kindness and trouble for me), enclosing a second of the bill. I informed him at the same time of the receipt of my letter and bill of exchange, two days ago (by letter of March 10)*. I am not at all to blame for the stupidity of this bill of exchange and its wonderful wanderings, because I did not receive any prior notice from St. Petersburg that the bill would be sent to me, below the subsequent notice that the bill had been sent to me. I learned of this incident quite recently: when I met one of Prokopovich's acquaintances and talked with him about Prokopovich himself, I learned unexpectedly and inadvertently that he had sent me money, and at the same moment I let Pletnev know about it, and Pletnev, already in consequence of my recall, made an inquiry. [748] It must be known that this bill of exchange was sent to me at a time when I had not asked for money, and had assigned an entirely different use to the money out of which it was sent to me. That is why it was not his fate to come into my hands. And how strange! And now, at the very moment when the local Neapolitan Rothschild had already given orders to his treasury to give me the money for it, he was suddenly seized with doubt. Neither the certificate of the Hamburg Heine, nor the guarantee of the Frankfort blood brother, could calm him. The Jewish soul felt at that moment only that it was a question of money, that is, of a subject most sacred in the world, and therefore asked me to give him time to make further inquiries on my own behalf and to communicate with Hamburg. And so I gave orders[750] that he should take everything into his own hands, as an explanation of the matter of the bill of exchange, and that it should be delivered back to Baron Stieglitz* for the distribution[751] of the money to Pletnev for the use already appointed, and that he undertook to fulfill everything in a short time. I don't need money now. I'm rich. But aside from this, let's talk about what is closer. I am now very much interested in the health of Elizabeth Alexeevna*. It seems to me that sea bathing would help her best. Of all the women who suffer from nerves, I do not know a single one who would not be helped by surprisingly sea bathing. This treatment is so harmless, so simple and at the same time so pleasant! Then we would all go to Ostend together, because I need the sea. I see this myself: of all the others, it is. Most of all[752] it helped, and I made the only mistake that I did not bathe for two or three years in a row, as I was always advised, but hoped that once would suffice. In the month of June, God willing, I will be in Frankfort, and we will talk about many things that I should have talked about long ago, but God took away my tongue, and I could not tell the simplest matter simply. How glad I am that my departure for the East has been postponed a little: for this journey I must prepare myself at least a little better, not to mention dress myself a little neatly. In the meantime, I embrace you in absentia, my good soul, and may God protect you all healthy and unharmed!

All your G.

With this there is a receipt for the receipt of money*.

On the reverse: Francfort sur Mein. Son excellence monsieur Basile de Joukoffsky. Francfort s/M. Saxenhausen. Salzwedelsgarten vor dem Schaumeinthor.

Vielgorskoy A. M., March 16, 1847*

135. A. M. VIELGORSKAYA.

March 16 <New Style, 1847> Naples.

I have received a pleasant[753] letter from you, my kindest Anna Mikha<y>lovna, a letter dated February 7/19<al>* expressing your opinion[754] of my book. I needed your lines. I was beginning to think that all your house was angry with me for something, and was punishing me with silence, a punishment more grievous to me than all other punishments. But, thank God, this is not the case. You have spoken to me in a very general and very broad sense about the opinions that are being expressed in society about my book, but I would like to hear this in greater detail, characterizing the personalities of those who pronounce opinions756 I know that opinions are heard in society that are unfavorable to myself, which are offensive to people who love me and know me better than others, For example: about the ambiguity of my character, about the falsity of my rules, about my acting for some personal benefit and to please certain persons. I need to know all this, I even need to know who exactly expressed themselves about me. Do not be afraid, I will not wash dirty linen in public. All this will serve for the good of both me and those who have expressed themselves about me in any way. The book of my letters was published in order to feel both others and myself with it, to find out exactly at what level of state of mind each of our present modern society now stands, and at what level of state of mind I myself now stand, because it is difficult to see myself, and when they attack from all sides and begin to point the finger at you, then you will find much in yourself. My book has come out not so much in order to disseminate any information, as in order to obtain for myself much of the information which I need for my work, in order to make many intelligent people talk about subjects of greater importance, and to develop their knowledge which is sparsely concealed from others. Nor do you conceal from me the testimonials of a man who is close to both of us. I don't know why your dad hid from me his opinion of Dead Souls, which I learned by accident, five years after the publication of my book. If this was concealed from me in order not to grieve me, then I repeat to you again that no harsh words of a man whom I love can embarrass me or diminish my love for him, that I now crave unfavorable, harsh words, because, I tell you truly, they are a kind of wonderful balm for my soul, besides those which make me look more strictly at myself and look more intelligently at others. And all this together teaches me the wisdom that I need to acquire more in order to be able to finally speak simply and easily to everyone about those things that are not yet inaccessible. Believe me, my subsequent writings will produce as much agreement in opinions as my present book has produced disagreements, but for this it is necessary to become wiser. Do you understand this? And for this I had to publish this book without fail and listen to all the talk about it, especially the unfavorable, harsh talks, both just and unjust, offensive to the most tender heartstrings, in a word, all those talks from which an inexperienced person, ignorant of the science of life and the science of the human soul, turns his ears away. Conceal from me, therefore, no one's opinions[759] of my book, and for my sake take the trouble to learn them, and entrust others also to know them everywhere. Every man is interesting to me, and therefore his opinion is of value to me. From your friend to your servant to your maid, everyone has something to say to me. Now work for me, if you have no other work, and this will be a truly Christian feat on your part. Nor do you omit to paint me a portrait of the person to whom the words belong, if I do not know his face. I am saddened by your news that you are sick both in body and soul. But the assurance of the usefulness of all that is sent to us, the assurance of my own experience, has made me revere the will of God, which sends you this trial in order to adorn your soul with new treasures, and to make you give eternal thanks for the time of trial. I think that a physical illness is also mixed in here. These are inexplicable nervous ailments, which seem to be sent now precisely in order to soften man's nature and make things accessible to his soul, which are difficult to understand even by the highest minds. My nerves were now also shaken and upset. My nights are without sleep. My health has deteriorated so much that before my trip to Jerusalem I must strengthen my body with iron waters and sea baths. I will have to visit Ostend again, which is so dear to me in my memories. Oh, if only God would bring me to feel such joy again as three years ago, when, after my long waiting, the railway suddenly brought you and I saw everyone, all those dear to my heart. The trip from St. Petersburg to Ostend is so easy: everything is by sea, you don't even need a crew. But may God arrange everything as it pleases His will. May he protect you! Farewell. Kiss all your people and write to me.

All your G.

Write to me how you thought Apraksin*. In front of my eyes, he seemed completely unlike other young people, full of good intentions and intending not to take up the true well-being of his huge estate and the people subject to him.

Give the following letter to K<nyazya> Odoevsky*, and thank Princess O<doevskaya>* very much for her kindness.