#karamsin

[polysprachig]

16.07.2024 | den nächsten Abend

*Hat gestern Nikolaj Karamsins Die arme Lisa fertig gelesen und heute meine Ideen dazu aufgeschrieben*

Die Buchrückseite hat mir versprochen, diese Geschichte erschütterte die russischen Leser des späten 18. Jahrhunderts wie Goethes Werther die europäischen. Kann schon sein. Und wenn Erast, nach alledem, das er getan hat, nicht schon gestorben wäre—na ja, aber den ließe ich den künftigen Lesern.

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Wednesday 16 October 1839

7 50/..

12 35/..

fine but hazy morning again but finer than yesterday morning as yesterday morning and day were finer than those of Monday – F60° now at 9 10/..am – breakfast about 9 ½ and had read the first 30pp. vol. 2 Karamsin [Karamzin] now at 10 ¾ - very fine now, the sun attempting to pierce thro’ the hazy out at 11 10/.. – at 11 25/.. stop to see the Soukhareff gate, and go up a broad flight of stone steps from without up the reservoir of water that supplies all Moscow – water from 18 versts off on the Troïtska road – Reservoir about 12x18 yards and 3ft. 8in. deep, now standing about 2/3 full – delicious water – the water flows into (nearer one than the other) the reservoir by a silver dish-fountain with silver gilt eagle – the porte de Soukhareff formerly a prison now a magazine de draps for soldiers – magnificent view from it, but now too hazy – ¼ hour there – a Saracenic building – at the barrier at 11 54/.. .:. 14 minutes from the Soukareff gate to the barrier – then at comte Sheremetieffs’ [Cheremetieff] (Astankina [Ostankino]) at 12 ¼ = 21 minutes from the barrier – we had quitted the great highroad to go on the sandy road alongside it because could not farther on from the highroad across the ditch (left) to the house – but we had prepared as if for a journey, and put our 4 horses abreast instead of having 2 men and leaders – 8 versts said Leopold – at the palais (the house) at 12 ¼ and the servant outside had told another servant and got the key and left us in at 12 25/.. to 2 – fine large entrance hall – but nothing real – or worth much (all plaster and scagliuola [scagliola] and paint) – except a good white marble statue of Catherine 2 which Leopold said was by Canova (but no name upon it) and it struck me as unlike C- to polish the drapery and not the rest of the statue, - and not to put his name –

and except an interesting nice slim gracefully draped statue of Health – the statue thin about the chest (near the shoulders) and natural – an inscription at the back of the pedestal states that “cette ancienne statue appartenait à l’empereur Adrien qui la transporta d’Athenne à Tivoli selon le rapport de Pausanias” another inscription in front, on the pedestal, is “La Déesse de la Santé  avec le Dieu Terme  Tirée de la ville d’Atenne en 1789” right hand hold cloak over right shoulder – left hand holds little sort of bottle and the arm (left) leans on the gold Terminus (the little god like a sort of little caryatide [caryatid] (arms cut off at the shoulder) – on the statue of Catherine 2 the following inscription

Victoria. potens.

Largitate. victrise.

Legibus. magna.

a print (en bistre) “Les Bains de Caesar en Calabrie” dedicated to prince Henry of Prussia – “Alexander Moretti pinxit” – this seems to a fine ruin – Investigate it

Prints (by P. Green London) of the visitation and the Presentation by Rubens over the altar table in the cathedral at Antwerp – and print of the nativity by Sir Joshua Reynolds – several young females hanging over the infant Jesus – a queerish picture – In the palace till 2 – then in the grounds – the palace evidently not lived in by the owner – he married last winter a poor Sheremetieff [Cheremetieff], and she now looks after his finances – he plays – is in the Imperial guard – always at St. P- aetatis 26 or 27 – 40 minutes in the grounds – smooth clean gravel walks – little wood but birch – a nice little lake – extensive beech woods cut into vistas and clumps and park-wise – came away at 2 40/.. – at 3 ½ alight near the Vauxhall to look about us and walk from there to the Palace of Petrovsky and there at 3 ½ - comfortably furnished –

Ottoman à quatre sièges (4 sofas back to back)

Rectangle-sofas – one room had one of these in each corner with each a table and chairs set round it –

chairs on castors the [?] turned in a lathe in a series of little balls – very neat – the chairs turned in this manner were light and about as large in the seat as the old chairs (painted light oak) in the drawing room at Shibden –

Porte derobée (leading to a bath – near the emperor and empress’s bed) made to look exactly like the door of a mahogany armoire 6 or 8in. deep –

Doors like glass doors the panes being mirrors – the salle de danse a large circular room under the great dome – 4 doors open into this salle, and between these 4 are 4 sham glass doors 8 panes mirrors in each

R. 11° Reaumur 11° in the salle de reception – a flight of 43 stone easy steps from the front circular court (adjoining the St. Petersburg road) to the entrance hall – or 1st to the portico of 3 arcades with drops in the centre of the arch and supported on four unlike whitewashed columns  grotesque looking red and white ½ Gothic ½ Tartar palace – far too much whitewashed within – even the large candelabra whitewashed in the salle de danse and in some other other rooms – came away at 3 55/.. then drove to the Pont de Mareschaux [Marechaux] street to Urbain French bookseller at the top of the street – bought guide de Moscow Moscow 1835 2nd edition 2vol. 8vo. 20/. Klaproths’ tour in Georgia 2 vols. good and good map 30/. home at 5 20/.. – dinner at 6 ½ to 7 ½ tea at 8 20/.. in ¼ hour – then reading guide de Moscow

very fine day

[amiramorozova]

Soulmates? pt. 9

Pairing: Dual Summoner Amira Silina x Vampire General Kirigan/Aleksander Morozova Word count: 1237

Eternal? I'd heard those words before, father said my Grisha power would make me eternal but I never thought about it. "Your kind of eternal is different from Normal Grisha power." I said as he looked at me in the reflection since I refused to look at him. His fangs were still present in the reflection as he smirked "Normal Grisha turn with one bite from me but you're not normal Dual Summoner." Aleksander said as I gulped a little "How many Grisha have fallen into your thrall due to your vampire powers?" I asked

Aleksander smirked a little at my question as he seemed like he thought of piercing my skin with his fangs but pulled away. "A few but most Grisha girls know to keep their distance. If you were to turn you would become a day walker easily with your sun small science." Aleksander said. I had enough as I walked back to the horse but he grabbed my arm, having me look at him. "You can't keep walking away, what happens when you can't hide in public anymore? I might not be there to protect you." Aleksander said and I pulled my wrist away "I never asked you to protect me to begin with." I told him 

I got on the horse as he stood there and I remembered his words as I had the horse start to walk figuring he'd stop me. I was right the horse didn't get far as he grabbed the reins and got on the horse behind me. "We're not heading back yet." Aleksander said as he took the reins from me and had the horse go in a different direction I had no idea where he was going. 

Where is he taking me? I thought 

The horse galloped in the direction as I waited to see where he was taking me when we entered a town near the little palace. We ended up in Balakirev, a town I had seen in his carriage but never had the chance to explore. We didn't go far away from Karamzin but we managed as he got down and helped me down. 

"You seem curious." Aleksander said as I shrugged a bit but he led me down the street into the town. Like Karamsin it had a few places but it had a pub as he seemed to notice it as well. "Interested in going in? You don't have your brother to win games with this time." Aleksander said as I walked past him "I don't need to win to have fun General." I said 

We walked in and I was impressed with everything going on as I saw men playing pool for money. I noticed him taking a seat as I walked over "How much to play?" I asked as they told me the price to get in. I produced the money to play as it was fun for me to watch fools get drunk while I was winning or losing. 

Let's see if I can win without my brother. I thought 

I played a bit letting them think they were winning before I started to pull ahead with my wins. Aleksander kept his eyes on me but I was enjoying my time as I had a few shots in the process. I could tell he wasn't in the mood to see me drink but I didn't care. When the game was over I won and this time I didn't have to split the money with anyone. Walking over I sat down as I downed the last shot that was offered to me.

"You shouldn't drink so far away from home." Aleksander said as I shrugged, "You're here, no one is going to mess with me while the black general is around." I said to remind him of who he was. "So who was it about? A lost love? Someone you knew you'd outlive." I asked a bit buzzed with a smile. Aleksander must have picked up that I was buzzed cause he pulled me close as he looked into my eyes. "You could say that, a healer. Healers are Grisha but they're only mortal and you, you're Grisha but eternal." 

I laughed a bit knowing he was flirting "I'm buzzed but not drunk, don't think you can make any moves on me." I said as I smiled showing the money "want a drink General?" His eyes were so dark that I felt him hold me closer as I blushed a little feeling him again by my neck. "Careful with your offers Amira or I might just do what you're not intending." He whispered

When he let me go I got up and walked away to get another drink paying for it, after the 2nd drink he picked me up after I finished taking me out of there. "Awww cooome onnn." I said with a slight slur. "Not in another moment of your life, I'm getting you sober then taking you home. Then I'll work on a plan to get you to the little palace." Aleksander said as I shook my head "Nope, no." I said 

Aleksander didn't take my words as what they were but he took me out of that town, as he had to stop so I could get down throwing up on the ground. "Aw damn." I said as he laughed for the first time I'd ever heard him. "Horse riding made you get some of that out of your system." Aleksander said as I wiped my mouth standing up. "Are you really that worried about me drinking till you start slurring?" He asked as I turned around to face him "It makes me feel better than to know the truth." I said as he approached close to me. I figured he'd pull away from my breath but he touched my cheek which only made me look at him more. "What is your truth?" Aleksander asked

I wanted to deny it as I had but I was still under the influence of my drinks as I leaned in close to him. I felt like he'd pull away any minute due to my breath but I think he figured it out as he closed the gap between our lips. I had lived with the idea of living with my soulmate my whole life and to know he was a vampire scared me yet I was drawn to him. Aleksander soon pulled away as he helped me up on the horse and headed back to my grandparent's home. 

"When you're sober enough you remember this, tell me how you really feel the next time we meet." Aleksander said 

As we arrived Aidan was outside ready to get me as Aleksander helped me down and I stumbled a bit. I was sober a bit but still buzzed at the same time "You've been drinking?" Aidan asked and I laughed a bit. "Yep, also I won some money from the town over." I said as I showed him. He knew then I had chosen to drink. "I leave her with all of you, she was safe in my care." Aleksander said

When he left I went inside and laid down for a few hours, that was all it took to sober up as I looked up at my ceiling. I remembered his words clearly and then I remembered my actions as I covered my mouth.

I kissed him... I thought 

Taglist: @lifeisingrey , @anonymous-storyteller

[anne-lister-adventures]

Wednesday, 16 October 1839

7 50/’’

12 35/’’

Fine but hazy morning again but finer than yesterday morning as yesterday morning and day were finer than those of Monday – Fahrenheit 60º now at 9 10/’’ a.m. – Breakfast about 9 1/2 and had read the first 30 pp.[pages] vol.[volume] 2 Karamsin now at 10 3/4 – Very fine now, the sun attempting to pierce thro the haze out at 11 10/’’ – 

At 11 25/’’ stop to see the Soukhareff gate, and go up a broad flight of stone steps from without up to reservoir of water that supplies all Moscow – Water from 18 versts off on the Troïtska road – Reservoir about 12 x 18 yards and 3 ft.[feet] 8 in.[inches] deep, now standing about 2/3 full – Delicious water – The water flows into (nearer one and then the other) the reservoir by a silver dish-fountain with silver gilt eagle – This Porte de Soukhareff formerly a prison now a Magazin de Draps for the soldiers – Magnificent view from it, but now too hazy – 1/4 hour there – A Saracenic like building – 

At the barrier at 11 54/’’ ∴[therefore] 14 minutes from the Soukhareff Gate to the barrier – Then at Comte Sherematieff’s (Astankina) at 12 1/4 = 21 minutes from the barrier – We had quitted the great high road to go on the sandy road alongside it because Count not farther on got from the high road across the ditch (left) to the house – But we had prepared as if for a journey, and put our 4 horses abreast instead of having 2 men and leaders – 8 versts said Leopold – 

At the Palais (the house) at 12 1/4 and the servant outside had told another servant and got the key and let us in at 12 25/’’ to 2 – Fine large entrance hall – but nothing real – or worth much (all plaster and scaglinola and paint) – Except a good white marble statue of Catherine 2 which Leopold said was by Canova (but no name upon it) and it struck me as unlike C-[Canova] to polish the drapery and not the rest of the statue – And not to put his name – And except an interesting nice slim gracefully draped statue of Health – The statue thin about the chest (near the shoulders) and natural – An inscription at the back of the pedestal states that:

“Cette ancienne statue appartenait à l’Empereur Adrien qui la transporta d’Attenne à Tivoli selon le rapport de Pausanias’ Another inscription in part” 

on the pedestal, is

“La Déesse de la Sauté avec le Dieu Terme              Tirée de la ville d’Atenne en 1789″

Right hand hold cloak over right shoulder – Left hand holds little  sort of bottle and the arm (left) leans on the God Terminus (the little God like a sort of little caryatide, arms cut off at the shoulders – On the statue of Catherine 2 the following inscription –

Victoria. Poteus. Largitate. Victrix. Legibus. Magna                    

A print (en bistre), ‘Les Bains de Cæsar en Calabrie’ dedicated to Prince Henry of Prussia – ‘Alexander Moretti piuxit’ – This seems to a fine ruin – Investigate it. 

Prints (by P. Green London) of the Visitation and the Presentation by Rubens over the altar table in the Cathedral at Antwerp – And print of the Nativity by Sir Joshua Reynolds – Several young females leaning over the infant Jesus – A queerish picture – 

In the palace till 2 – Then in the grounds – The Palace widely not lived in by the owner – He married last winter a poor Sherematieff, and she now looks after his finances – He plays – Is in the Imperial Guard – Always at St. P-[Petersburg] Æt[aetatis] 26 or 27 – 

40 minutes in the grounds – Smooth clean gravel walks – Little wood but birch – A nice little lake – Extrusive beech woods cut into vistas and champs and park-wise – came away at 2 40/’’ – 

At 3 1/4 alight near the Vauxhall to look about us and walk from there to the Palace of Petrovsky and there at 3 1/2 – Comfortably furnished – Ottoman à quatre sièges  (4 sofas back to back) Rectangle-sofas – One room had one of these in each corner with each a table and chair set round it – Chairs on casters - The frame turned in a lathe in a series of little balls – Very neat – The chairs turned in this manner were light and about as large in the seat as the old chairs (painted light oak) in the drawing room at Shibden – 

Porte derobée (leading to a bath – Near the Emperor and Empress’ bed) made to look exactly like the door of a mahogany armoire 6 or 8 in.[inches] deep – Doors like glass doors the panes being mirrors – The Salle de Danse a large circular room under the great dome – 4 doors open into this salle, and between these 4 are 4 sham glass doors 8 mirror panes in each – Reaumur 11º in the salle de reception – 

A flight of 43 stone easy steps from the front circular court (adjoining the St. Petersburg road) to the entrance hall – Or 1st to the portico of 3 arcades with drops in the centre of the arch and supported on four unlike white washed columns Grotesque looking red and white 1/2 gothic 1/2 tartar Palace – Far too much white wash within – Even the large candelabra white washed in the Salle de Danse and in some of the other rooms – 

Came away at 3 55/’’ then drove to the Pont des Mareschaux Street to Urbain French bookseller at the top of the Street – Bought Guide de Moscow. Moscow 1835 2d.[2nd] Ed[itio]n 2 vol[ume]s 8vo.[octavo] 20/- Klaproth’s Town in Georgia 2 volumes good and good map 30/- Home at 5 20/’’ – Dinner at 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 tea at 8 20/’’ in 1/4 hour – Then reading Guide de Moscow

[symbols in the margin of the page:] +          +

[in the margin of the page:]   Began vol.[volume] 2 Karamsin

[in the margin of the page:]   P.[Porte] de Soukhareff

[in the margin of the page:]   Astankina

[in the margin of the page:]   Ancient statue of the Goddess of Health mentioned by Pausanias

[in the margin of the page:]   Bains de Cæsar en Calabrie

[in the margin of the page:]   Petrovsky Palace

[in the margin of the page:]   R.[Reaumur] 11º.

[in the margin of the page:]   very fine day -

Page Reference:  SH:7/ML/E/23/0104

[folding-corners]

Have y'all heard about this awesome reading challenge that’s happening over at instagram, hosted by @eelifant and @grass_harp? 😄 The point of the #RussianReadingChallenge is essentially to read one book per month somehow connected to Russia, from September to December. It’s completely up to you wether that means a book by a Russian author or a book set in Russia, a classic or a contemporary. For more information, click *here*! 📚😊 

Needless to say, I LOVE this idea! 😍 So, I decided to share some recommendations and show y'all what I might be reading during the challenge - click the read more if you’re interested! 😄

🔹 I greatly enjoyed Leigh Bardugo's "Grisha"-series a few years ago, which is set in a Russia-inspired fantasy world. 😊 🔹 Dostoevskij's "The Brothers Karamazov" is hands down one of my favourite classics of all time! I actually just wrote my Bachelor's thesis about it and won't ever get tired about recommending it to others! 😄 🔹 I just reread "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov this year and loved it even more than the first time around - I didn't think that was actually possible. Nabokov is an absolute genius writer, and this book is definitely a masterpiece! 😉 🔹 "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov is one of the best books I've ever read - it's very unique and offers both a very critical social and political commentary and a multi-layered story that just draws you in with its one-of-a-kind energy. I really highly recommend it! 😄 🔹 Not pictured because I couldn't find it anywhere (I think someone might have borrowed it, I really need to find out who so I can get it back 😢) is "Metro 2033" by Dmitry Glukhovsky, a very atmospheric post-apocalyptic novel set in the Moscow metro tunnels. I absolutely loved this book a few years ago, mainly due to its really, really cool setting! 😄

🔸 I'm hoping to finally finish "The Idiot" by Dostoevskij, which I started ages ago! 🔸 "The Day of the Oprichnik" by Vladimir Sorokin has been on my tbr for years - he’s, like the contemporary Russian author (together with Victor Erofeev) and it’s a shame I have read so little of him so far - only “The Blizzard”, which I enjoyed a lot a few months ago! 🔸 I’ve been meaning to read "Roadside Picnic" by the Strugatzkis ever since I watched the movie “Stalker” at university two years ago. I’ve been greatly impressed by it and can’t wait to read the piece of literature which inspired it! 🔸 Not pictured as I have to get it from the library first is "The Eye" by Vladimir Nabokov. I’ll be using it for my term paper about (not) seeing/blindness and obsession in Nabokov’s novels and I’m really looking forward to it already! 🔸 Karamsin's "Poor Liza" and a small Russian fairytale book are also on my list, if I can find the time! 📚😄

[asphodelly]

Memorizing Russian ABC 🇷🇺

Some curious facts:

📌 The letter "ё" was created and offered to use by duchess Vorinzova-Dashkova — the president of Academy of Sciences. For the first time the letter was used by Karamsin (Russian historian and writer) in 1797. At first it was written as a diphthong "io".

📌 There're a few words in Russian with three "е" going one by one:

• длинношеее, n [dlinnosheee] (smth with a long neck) and others derivatived from the ending "шеее"

• змееед, m [zmeeed] (someone who eats snakes)

📌 There's a word in Russian with three "о" in a row — зоообъединение, n [zooobed'in'en'ie] (assotiation of organizations for defending animals).

[worldliteraturequotes]

J.P. Lamberton, The World’s Literature Illuminated v. 10, 1900

Page 9: Imitation of French models was the basis of Russian literature until the excesses of the opening of the French Revolution startled the Czarina Catherine II. Then she prohibited the publication of French books in her dominions. But even aside from politics, the French artificial style had begun to pall on the Russians. Von Visin in his comedy, “The Brigadier,” had derided those whose only reading was French romances; and Kropotof, in his “Funeral Oration of Balabas, My Dog,” congratulated that animal on ever having read Voltaire! With the Napoleonic invasion the national spirit burst forth in the most bitter and violent odes and writings of a “patriot war.” In tragedy, Ozerof wrote “Dmitri Donskoi,” recalling the struggles of Russia against the Tartars. Krioukovski wrote the tragedy of “Pojarski,” the hero of 1612. The poet Zhukovsky sang the exploits of the Russians against Napoleon and stirred all anti-Napoleonic Europe with his “Bard in the Camp of the Russian Warriors.” Even the childlike Kriloff satirized the French fashions of the Russian court in “The School for Young Ladies” and “The Milliner’s Shop.”

The great literary event of the reign (1801-25) of Alexander I was, however, the “History of Russia” by Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamsin. Before Karamsin there was no inspiring picture of Russia’s past. Nestor had brought his crude annals down to Alexis Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great. Patistcheff, his successor, was rough in style. Faithful pictures of the old barbaric Russia had been given in the “Russkaia Pravda” (code) of Yaroslaff — the Russia of Ivan the Terrible, after the lifting of the Mongolian yoke (1238-1462); in Monk Sylvester’s “Domostroi” (Household Instruction), before the Mongols; and in Vladimir Monomakh’s “Pouchenie” (Instruction), a quaint picture of the daily life of an ancient Slavonic prince. But these bald records of barbarism were not attractive. It needed the pen of Karamsin to cast a halo about the old Slav warriors. He admired Ivan the Terrible. After the fashion of Soctt he put a romantic gloss over the real coarseness. He stirred the imagination and the patriotism of his countrymen. Kollar sounded the slogan of Panslavism. Pushkin became the laureate of Niholas and Russia’s greatest poet; Gogol mirrored in his Cossack tales the life of Little Russia; and Ivan Turgenief revealed the misery and despair of the serf, and caught the rising mutterings of Nihilism. Ivan Kriloff, the Russian Lafontaine, supplied his countrymen with distinctively national fables abounding in vigorous pictures of Russian life.

Page 369: The following Table shows at a glance the principal facts of the lives and works of the authors who have been discussed and illustrated in “The World’s Literature Illuminated.” It includes also many other authors, especially those of recent times. It gives the dates of their birth and death, or, where those are not known, shows the time at which they flourished. Authors who are best known by their pseudonyms, as ‘George Eliot,’ are entered under these names in quotation marks. In many cases the names of the author’s principal works are added, distinguished by heavier type.

[knowlearnlead]

Alpbach 2015: MS Österreich gab Ausblick auf das Klassenzimmer der Zukunft

Alpbach 2015: MS Österreich gab Ausblick auf das Klassenzimmer der Zukunft

Digitales Schulbuch: Die Schule der Zukunft schon heute erleben

Microsoft Österreich, Bundesministerin Dr. Sophie Karmasin und ein innovativer Lehrer gaben in Alpbach einen Ausblick auf die Schule der Zukunft.

Im Mittelpunkt: das Beispiel eines digitalen Schulbuchs auf Basis von Microsoft Office 365, innovative Apps und die Beleuchtung des Themas aus politischer, technologischer und pädagogischer…

[polysprachig]

"Бедная Лиза" Н. М. Карамзин. Аудиокнига

17.07.2024 | wenn man nur die Hauptpunkte versteht (aber auf A1 Niveau)

*Genießt, wenn nicht den ganzen Inhalt, die Aussprache und Hauptpunkte*

Nach dem ersten Lesen der Übersetzung—ob ich die Kurzgeschichte ein zweites Mal lese, weiß ich noch nicht—suchte ich nach einem Hörbuch in der Originalsprache, was ich auch—dank Buchliebhaber im Netz—sehr leicht gefunden habe. Selten verstand ich jedes Wort, aber oft wusste ich im Allgemeinen worum es ging, denn ich konnte mindestens die Szenen voneinander unterscheiden. Es fühlte sich sehr motivierend. 📚🥰

[polysprachig]

Du greifst zur Feder und willst Autor sein: frag dich doch selbst, allein, ohne Zeugen, aufrichtig: was bin ich für ein Mensch? Denn du willst ein Porträt deiner Seele und deines Herzens zeichnen. - Nikolaj Karamsin, Was braucht ein Autor? (Übersetzung von Martin und Monika Schneider)

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Saturday 16 November 1839

8

2 ½

very fine morning F63 ½° on my table and R -5 ½° = F20° now at 9 ½ am – breakfast in about an hour or less – A- said vocabulary and read French (Karamsin vol. 1) as usual – out at 11 – to the boulevard – A- took 2 turns with me in 40 minutes and then returned home – I took 3 more turns in 50 minutes – i.e. walked 1 ½ hour and home a minute or 2 after the half past 12 – quite warm with my walk – sun out – very fine delightful morning – people (the gentry) beginning to arrive as I came away tho’ in general the fashionable walking hour seems 2 and after – A- not well this morning – pain in her neck – dressed – and had written the last six lines at 1 10/.. – we or I must try sledging if this fine weather continues – then musing then took up the St. James’s chronicle of 1 August last – vide

SH:7/ML/E/23/0128

St. James’s chronicle 1 August 1839 p. 3 col. 1 vid. favourable observation on Authors of France by Achilles Albites, B.A. and B.L. of the university of Paris. London Whittaker and co.

General outline of the animal kingdom, and manual of comparative anatomy, By Thomas Rymer Jones, F.Z.S. part vi. London Van Voorst.

Bells’ history of British reptiles. Part, iii. London Van Voorst. the toad ‘highly useful perfectly harmless, inoffensive, and even timid’. the wood in this no. cuts by Vasey ‘of marvellous beauty’.

on the root

Yarrells’ British Birds. Part xiii. London Van Voorst – Vid. chapter on rooks. they consume thousands of destructive grubs of the common cock-chaffer, wireworms, larvae of the harry-long-less. early in the morning  go to the meadows and eat the worms and slugs the moisture of that period induces to crawl forth. Later in the day go to newly ploughed ground for insects etc. there exposed, or again visit pastures – accustomed of pulling grass up by the roots – an error – ‘In searching for grubs which are concealed in the Earth, and supported by eating the roots of the grass, the rook pulls at the blade of grass with its bill, and then the grass comes up readily, the bird knows that there are under it insects which have destroyed its roots, and in this way detects them; but if the blade of grass is firm, the rook goes to another part of the ground. In a field where grubs are very abundant, the rooks scatter the grass everywhere, so as to give the appearance of having rooted it up, while they have only exposed the [?] of the insects by which the roots have been destroyed’

English army at Candahar etc.

vid. p. 2 col. 2 news from Colonel Shiel dated from Erzeroom, that the Anglo-Indian army entered Candahar on the 1st April – most favourably received – and the army was to proceed forthwith to Cabool  [Kabul] which it expected to reach in 22 days – Dost Mohammed was reported to have sent his family to Bokhara – till 5 ¼ wrote the above – talked to A- read over the St. James’s chronicle of Thursday 1, Saturday 3, and Tuesday 6 August last – the chartists and co. seem disagree and stirring – the Bank of England seems to have borrowed £2,000,000 of the Bank of France to help it out of its drain of bullion by the great importations of foreign corn – bad wet weather in England – the shield of the Thames Tunnel is now within 15ft. of the Middlesex side – ground better than ever before? 4ft. length of tunnel lately done per week – the duke of Newcastle dismissed from the Lord [?] of Nottingham in the end of April – respecting the Lord Chancellor wishing to appoint 2 magistrates not approved by the duke whose letter to the Lord Chancellor (Cottenham) was certainly indiscreet, as for himself afterwards allows in his letter to Lord John Russell

acknowledging the receipt of Lord J.R-s’ letter with her majestys’ having no further need of his service as Lord Lieutenant and custos Rotulorum of the county of N- had just written so far now at 5 25/.. went down to princess R- about 5 40/.. for 25 minutes – she is better today – her sister princess Gortchakoff and the daughter countess Ponchkinc had dined with her – she goes on Monday from here to her mother princess Oroussoff – dinner at 6 5/.. – to near 7 – then the hairdresser for A- and myself – well I am at glad our princess is going   I wished I had not gone there this evening for tho’ she is always ladylike  I belielieve [believe] I was not wanted   at least I felt this and was gauche and mortified as before – enough of all this   take care of such intimacies in future   I will not shew my sense of this but take a quiet useful lesson – off to countess Goudovitch at 9 – she drove from the door just before, at the moment that, we reached it – a mistake of mine that she invited us for this evening – returned – back at 9 10/.. – tea – sat talking and then reading St. James’s chronicle (24 August – debates) till 1 ½ - Mr. F- Baring chancellor of the exchequer Mr. Spring Rice ‘pitchforked’ into the peerage – parliament prorogued about 24 August – the queens’ intended prince Albert Francis 2nd son of the [reigning] Duke of Saxe Cobourg Saalfield [Saxe Coburg Saalfeld] 3 months and 2 days younger than herself born 26 August 1819 – very fine day – had just written the last 14 lines at 1 55/.. tonight

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Tuesday 5 November 1839

7 ¾

12 ¼

fine morning – a little more snow in the night? – Mr. de Richter from 9 ¾ to 10 50/.. – to begin with him in botany on Saturday – breakfast at 11 5/.. Professor Fischer called at 11 20/.. and staid near an hour 55 minutes very agreeable – told us he had read in the Moscow paper that prince Albert of Saxe Cobourg is in London – to marry our queen and that parliament is about to be applied to – Gave an interesting account of the campaign of 1812 – a balloon sent up as said to reconnoitre the enemy – but in reality fire the city with Congreve rockets etc. – it would seem that the Russians set fire to the town? – an interesting account too of his (F-s’) reception as Deputy for Mayence by Napoleon when 1st consul – unfitness of Chaptal for his place as minster (for foreign affairs?) – after F- went finished breakfast in 20 minutes – and A- read her 10pp. of Karamsin – then wrote all but the 1st line and ½ of today till now 12 50/.. then had Mr. Thal – then Mr. Camidge till 3 – then sent compliments to the princess Radziville [Radziwill] and if she was well enough would pay a her visit – not bein portante – would be glad to see us to tea – sent word, going to tea chez comtesse Panin but would spend a few minutes with the princess for a few minutes before going to comtesse P- out at 3 20/.. – to our boulevard – took 3 turns in ¾ hour and drove along the boulevards to the Kremlin, and so home at 4 55/.. – dressed – dinner at 6 – at 7 ¼ went to the princess Radziville [Radziwill] for near an hour – her other and young sister with her – 3 of them, princess Radziville [Radziwill] the middle one – very civil – the princess begged me to make her excuses for not being able to go to her tonight, and to say how good it was of comtesse P- to make her a visit the other night – asked princess R- if she would like to see our last English peerage – yes! very much – came upstairs for our cloaks, and sent the peerage by Gross – at comtesse Panins’ about 8 5/.. to about 9 25/.. and home at 9 ½ - found them at tea – they had expected us said the English lady an hour or more – I talked much to count Panin who speaks French very well but no English – Besides Petersburg, and Moscow, and Odessa, Wilna, Dorpat, Riga, Mittau Kazan Karkof [Kharkov], are each a sort of centre of society – count P- a tall sensible agreeable man – had Grotza – sat reading preface to Reiffs’ Russian and French dictionary that Mr. de Richter brought me this morning to look at –

belonging to the university – a little while talking to A- till 11 40/.. – at which hour R -1/2° = about F29° and F on my table now 61° - fine day

p. 263 Note from Baron Bode vid. p. 263

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Monday 4 November 1839

8 ½

1

fine but dullish morning F61 ½° now at 9 20/.. on my table – lay awake this morning in bed looking into Russian grammar and rubbing left great toe  this the worst but the other too shewing symptoms of enlargement of the great joint for the last six months or more – breakfast at 10 ¼ to 11 5/.. – then 5 minutes talking to A- who says vocabulary and reads generally 10pp. vol. 1 [Karamsin]’s history of Russia translated into French – Looking over Journal of June last just before leaving home on the 10th of that month (in order to write home) A- and myself and talking to A- till now 2 50/.. – time to go out if we go at all – A- sadly low how difficult for me to know what to do she promises to exert herself   she has promised hundreds of times before – out at 3 5/.. – at the boulevard (Tversoki [Tverskoy]) as usual – there in 2 ½ minutes – took 4 turns in 1 12/.. hour and then in 10 minutes drove round the boulevard (opposite direction to the we went in yesterday) to the Rue du pont des Mareschaux and thus home at 4 40/.. – dressed – wrote the last 3 lines till now 5 25/.. – A- at Russian with the Russian girl her name, according to Grotza, Matrona Van – I writing out Russian verb – then had the girl ¼ hour till dinner at 6 in about ¾ hour – then walked about the room with A- a little then had the girl ½ hour till now 7 50/.. – then at Russian grammar and ½ asleep till tea a little after 8 – had just finished when Countess A. Panin called at 8 ½ and sat with us till 9 40/.. – very good, and talkative and agreeable – will be a great comfort to us – tho’ not a princess Radziville [Radziwill] – daughter of Princess Roussoff – her sister whom we saw last night was widow of Pouskine – (her daughter aet. 16 is .:. countess Pouskine) and lately married Prince Gortchakoff .:. is now princess G- from our description the lady who has walked yesterday and today on the boulevard in the green velvet cloak (Wadler) is princess Kabbatchoff, or some such name – then looking into Debrett – had Jersey – till wrote the last 7 lines till now 10 ½ pm at which hour F63° on my table – then till 1 – A- and I trying on dresses – fine day – very fine afternoon sunshine while we were out, and fine [?] pinkish sky in the west as if giving promise of a fine day tomorrow – R -5 ½° now at 12 10/.. tonight = about F20°

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 13 October 1839

7 ½

1 55/..

Moscow arrived yesterday

fine morning F56° at 9 am and breakfast at 9 10/.. in about an hour – everything comfortable Left Mrs. Wilson (no. 6 Galernay Oulitza [Galernaya Ulitsa], St. Petersburg) at 11 55/.. am last Monday (the 7th instant) and alighted here, Howards’ hotel, Moscow, at 3 ¾ pm yesterday – chez Ivan Ivanoff Goward. Na Bolshoi Dmietriefka v’domai Kooptcheeki Artemovoi pod no. 472, Moskva – Had arranged my books and settled myself last night – Had Mrs. Howard – very civil – then reading or 1 thing or other this morning till A- and I read prayers at 11 35/.. in ½ hour – then till 2 55/.. reading Murrays’ encyclopaedia of geology and A-‘s on the Hebrews ancient history par Messrs. Poirson et Cayx Paris. Louis Colas, Editor, Rue Dauphine, no. 32; L. Hachette, libraire, Rue Pierre-Sarrazin, no. 12: Madame Veuve Maire-Nyon, Quai Conti, no. 13 1838 – at 2 55/.. had Leopold the laquais de place recommended by Handbook – Mrs. Howard this morning mentioned a man of the name of Louis and was sorry he was engaged – Leopold has 6/. per day and engaged him at that price, not meaning to keep him longer than necessary – 10 days or a fortnight at most – gave him 2 of my own cartes de visite and 2 of A-‘s to take to the proper person to ask permission for us to see the treasury at the palace in the Kremlin and to see the Tartar palace there – and gave him Lord Clauricards’ letter to take to prince Galitzin [Gallitzin]–

Monday 14 October – as I write out the above of yesterday it just occurs to me that I ought to have enclosed my card with the letter undercover   now what will be the effect of this gaucherie?  I do not care much   I have no toilette with me no clever maid   and no lady anything to help me out it just occurs to me that I    will writ[e] compliments in French and enclose my card with an apology – (called off to tea)

A- and I out at 3 ¼ to 5 23/.. a quiet reconnoitring walk by ourselves having engaged Leopold from tomorrow – went straight down out street – turned left – passed the theatre in a straight line till turned right into the Kitai gorod [Kitaj-gorod] and went straight forward till turned up one of the covered passages of shops – returned and pursued our street straight forwards to the end and turned up to another passage which led us to nearly opposite the gorgeously grotesque cathedral of St. Basil – went in – full of people – elbowed ourselves in and elbowed ourselves out – we had seen nothing like this church – nothing in the sale style, but the church on entering Novgorod – a small chapel in point of size – little more than the base of the dome, but the walls absolutely and literally covered with gold silver and painting – we did not pursue the painted passages (meaning to see all better another time) but en sortant made for the Spaskoi gate and entered the Kremlin – walked along the terrace – what can exceed the view of Moscow from here? – its vast extent – its motley [?]of European and Asiatic style – its hundred churches and its pomp of domes! I had had no idea of such a scene – all my expectations were exceeded – the river is as good as

SH:7/ML/E/23/0102

the Seine at Paris – the stone bridge 8 arches – the iron bridge 4 or 6? we then examined the great bell, Tsar Kolokol (king bell) – good taste of the present emperor to uplift it in 1837 from its sunken resting place (where it fell) to its present handsome base of granite wall 5 or 6ft. high – we looked about us quietly – made our sortie by another gate (nearer the theatre and our own street) and returned much pleased with our walk – home at 5 23/.. – dressed – dinner 6 to 7 – Read A-‘s ancient history (vide line 7 last page) and slept over it till tea at 9 to near 10 – had Grotza – then sat reading Handbook and making notes for tomorrow till one tonight – then stood reading the preface and 1st 24pp. of vol. 1 Karamsin – history of Russia – (A- bought it at St. Petersburg 11vols. 8vo. = 30/. chez Belizard, editeur) fine day – F62 ½° on my table at one tonight –

[whatdoesshedotothem]

: Monday 23 December 1839

9

12 10/..

very fine morning F58 ½° and R -11 ¾° or thereabouts on my bedroom table at 9 ¼ - breakfast at 10 ½ in an hour – A- said French and Russian vocabulary which last she begun 2 or 3 days ago, and read Karamsin vol. 2 – breakfast just over when Larne came for 10 minutes – from his account the courier now chez Yard will probably suit us – Larne is to send him here to speak to me in an hour i.e. at 12 40/.. – the man 120/. per month – I said it was 10/. more than usual in France Italy and everywhere – the coiffeur would be glad to do what he could and be taken to Tiflis – would ask for nothing but to be taken there, and would be very useful – he has fifteen thousand roubles to set himself up with – he has had a procès about something – had 2 shops here – the one he sold to Larne and one did not do well for him – his procès is just over –

said I would think about him, but should do nothing without consulting my friends and the authorities – wrote the last 13 lines of p. 209, and the last page and to here till now 12 ¼ - was just beginning to write to McK- when count Panin called about 12 ½ and staid till 2 ½ - he still thinks that we can get 4 [tarentass] very well at Astrakhan and that this will be the best sort of carriage for us – will call upon baron Rosen, and get us all the information he can – talked over his going to England – mentioned Thomson and Bonar and six classes grades of society in England – 3 nobility old, diplomatic, and new – ancient gentry, haut commerce, and next succeeding county families (e.g. ancient gentry (county families) old and new, and haut commerce) – then still other classes of good respectable people – professions – retired tradespeople etc. etc. – then lastly had in the man sent by Larne – very likely to suit us as far as testimonials and appearances go – quilted the service of count Charles Pozzo de Borgo only last January at Paris – speaks good French – his testimonials very good – count P- on his asking 160 roubles per month out-talked him – he said that was too little – I told him one usually gave in Paris 3fr. a day – and sometimes added dix sols pour le déjeuner – he said count Charles P. de B- gave him 120/. per month and I believe the man spoke truly – I said if he suited me I would give him that in Paris, and I would certainly give him more than 60 roubles here – told him to think about it – count P- would be glad as inquire into his testimonials and if these were good from the people referred to here, he (the man) had best come to us on trial – on this he went away – I afterwards ask count P- to inquire for me tomorrow and said I would give the man 100/. per month for I thought he would suit me – count P- soon after went away at 2 ½ - and A- and I sat talking or reading bits of French in Demidoffs’ work – and I finished the rough draft of my letter to Mr. Mackean   A- has taken a thorough dislike to count P-  since Wednesday last   vide   she staid in the room but never uttered she will not be liked here – had just written so far all but the 2 first lines of this page now at 4 50/.. pm. at which hour R -10° in our salon – warmer today – R -17° this morning out of doors said count P- dressed – dinner over at 7 – sat reading till 7 35/.. – off at 7 40/.. to the princess Ourousoff and chez elle à 7 55/.. till 9 25/.. and home at 9 40/.. – princess R- in bed – sat by her bedside till the last 5 or 6 minutes – to be there at 7 ¼ on Thursday and to write down her case according to her own dictation – she has her regles  her cousin   said the old lady Madame Apraxine is ssaid to favour Mr. Meyer the music master  I said nothing but it struck me last night that she looked sweet as she sat over the piano while he played Mr. Bachmetief was sitting with prince O- this evening when we arrived – tea at 9 55/.. reading and had Grotza till after 11 and reading forwards to p. 224 vol. Caucasus till 11 40/.. – very fine day – the cold is evidently abating

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Thursday 14 November 1839

8 ¾

1 25/..

finish dullish soft morning – streets dirty F63° on my table now at 10am. and R+2 ½°= F39° out of doors, as yesterday – breakfast at 10 – A- said vocabulary and read 10pp. Karamsin (as usual for the last 10 days or fortnight) and we sat talking till now 11 ½ - Had count Panin and then countess Goudovitch till 1 55/.. – count P- very good about our future plans – I mentioned Astracan [Astrachan’] and Tiflis – yes!  we could do that very well – he will think about it for us – countess G- very good natured and kind – very nice person – out at 2 ½ - called and sat about 20 minutes with Madame Perfilieff [Perfilief] – saw her 2 little boys and little girl aet. 5 months and piece (in a frame) of worsted work – home at 3 10/.. – dressed -

SH:7/ML/E/23/0126

chez princess R- to dinner at 4 5/.. – the dinner table brought into the salon, she not being well enough to bear a change of room – the Kutaisoffs there on our going in – Countess K- in trouble about her nurses and people leaving her – dinner about 4 ¼, and afterwards sat in the bedroom till incense was burnt in both rooms and till between 7 and 8 – sat talking in the dark – the princess’s eyes bad today – her history a well told romance betrothed at nine to a boy of thirteen an infantine attachment   neighbours and brought up together   they were the bosom friends of each other  he killed in the army in a duel at nineteen and count Panin the second of the young officer who killed him   I never to breathe this  but on this account she had always avoided him as much as she civilly could    after this she determined not to marry   refused many good offers  this the only subject on which she had annoyed her father and mother  she thought it not right to marry a man she did not care for  to give her hand and not her heart   those cold marriages called Caraffe d’orgeat  the emperor in his own and the name of the empress ssent for her to court   her excessive timidity and shyness saw her husband at Warsaw without his being introduced to her   a mutual penchant between them  he afterwards distinguished himself  was taken to court by the archduke Michel made   aide du camp of the emperor and married  Sophie then the beautiful princess Ourousoff   told the story of the two bats that frightened her   as my owl atred house did me  and I then said how the same had occurred to me with an owl -  she then hinted at the many occasions of intrigue at court   she would not like to trust a daughter of hers there – a young girl was treated en dame  could visit and receive company  I said that visiting at country houses also offered occasions for intrigue  (thinking of the stories I had heard from Lady S. de R- and Gordon) among the horreurs Lady Coventrys’ narrow escape of assassination by her discarded Italian frotteur who had lived with her 10 or 11 years but was suspected of stealing – the man was to have a pension, yet in revenge got into her room thro’ the rood, and attempted to stab her – could not recollect the name of the very beautiful Italian lady violée, and afterwards would retire to a convent – count Koutaisoff fears for A-and me we ought to have a gentleman  I said we were not beauties   yes I had a beautiful nose and she almost said that I was almost handsome  an eagles eyes so quick at discovering her character and gently hinted at my being very agreeable  the eye of an author  no I had never written a book   she asked what

particular had ever happened to me  they said I had courage   I told the story of the two men in the maids’ room at Northbridge  and briefly  the going to Venice story the boatmen – but all this was not volunteered  poor A- luckily did not understand much  so all about the travelling dangers etc. passed off   I saw her crying while I talked of Shibden etc.  she asked if I had a large garden  no I had pulled all up  spent much money and nothing was finished    had I no relations  yes  a younger sister    was she twenty five or six   yes   did not see much of her she had near made a unequal match  I had I would not see her again and the gentleman  rich had wisely broken it off   had she enough to live upon  yes and might be at Shibden when she liked  nobody there but servants  I had nobody but my niece the little person    how long   five or six years  well they will know all about me here and at Saint P. by and by     I hope they will be satisfied   she asked if we would retire   no but we then left her and she afterwards joked with me about being a deesse   a goddess?  Minerva  this is the first manque de la delicatessen angalise - the father and mother and old English lady and afterwards princess Gortschakoff and her daughter countess Ponchkine came afterwards and staid supper and we left them all there at 10 ½ - A- and I stood talking 55 minutes – then had Grotza, and wrote the last and so far of this page till now 12 55/.. at which hour F63 ½° on my table – disagreeable thaw-day – we could not have walked, the walk too and dirty –