The Shadow of Great Britain

Capítulo 1360: Chapter 194: Hemorrhoids Not Yet Healed

To Pushkin:

Dear Alexander, I must tell you some unfortunate news. Due to my unresolved hemorrhoids coupled with a cold, I now have a thick scarf wrapped around my neck like a yoke on a horse’s neck. The doctor told me that under these circumstances, this illness will keep me confined at home for a week. But even so, I have decided not to just wait passively. You know, since the news of Kyiv University’s establishment came out, I have always hoped to work at its Russian literature research department. Maximovich also wants to secure a chair for world history at Kyiv University.

In my heart, I keep thinking: Go there! Go to Kyiv! To the ancient and beautiful Kyiv! It is the birthplace of our motherland. I can work, I will devote myself fully to the work. But at the same time, I am also fearful. Perhaps, I might achieve nothing. St. Petersburg has made me weary, or rather, I should say, it’s not the city itself that I despise, but its cursed climate. This climate is truly tormenting, especially for someone like me suffering from hemorrhoids.

If both Maximovich and I could obtain chairs at Kyiv University, wouldn’t that be wonderful! We could do many good things and start a new life in such a wonderful place! One can regain physical strength there, and rejuvenate the spirit. Isn’t this a blessing from heaven? What embarrasses me is, what if these wishes cannot be fulfilled?

Three years ago I could have secured a chair recommended to me by others at Moscow University, but the education minister at the time, Levin, was an unimaginative fellow, and no one valued our work. This was truly heartbreaking. However, the new education minister, Uvarov, is a skilled hand, and I am filled with confidence. If I can have the opportunity to speak about my plan, in Uvarov’s eyes, he will surely distinguish me from the sluggish professors crowding the universities.

For this reason, I even dragged my ill body to Kyiv. I thought I should talk nicely with Kyiv’s inspector Brad Kay, after all, his memorial submitted to the Ministry of Education would probably be more effective than our futile efforts in St. Petersburg. But annoyingly, I hit a wall there. Brad Kay didn’t even meet me, probably thinking I was some poor scholar from a remote area. Yet, I hold an eighth-class Civil Servant rank! I’m not a novice, and I have been engaged in teaching for quite a long time, although it was at a women’s college…

Alexander, to be honest, if you want to help, when you write to Brad Kay, could you subtly hint at my situation: say that hiring Gogol at the university would be a great deed. Then, mention how you truly don’t know anyone with such profound historical knowledge, who can handle the teaching language so superbly, and such humility, with praises like these, as if only mentioned in passing. Don’t write it too deliberately; let it not appear you are pleading on my behalf. If you truly don’t know how to write a recommendation letter, you can refer to the preface of Glechi’s “Grammar Reader,” or the introduction Glechi wrote for Bulgarin’s long novel; they are good examples of such praises.

As a leader of Russian literature, despite not always having a good reputation, you still carry great weight in his mind. But for me, I am just a pathetic creature, almost equal to zero for him. If you are really willing to write him a letter, it would be very necessary for me, as the Education Minister seems inclined to do everything within his power for me, as long as the inspector makes a little effort on that end, even if just speaking a good word, then this matter would definitely be settled.

Of course, I am asking you to write this letter not to deceive but to make a suggestion. Following your advice, I am now writing the most complete Little Russia history. It will be either a small six-volume or a large four-volume set.

Until now, Russia lacks a complete and satisfactory history of Little Russia and its people. I have decided to undertake this work and showcase more comprehensively how this part of Russia separated out, under the domination of foreign peoples, the kind of political system it adopted. How that militarized people, marked by distinctive character and remarkable achievements, formed in this land. How it won its rights with weapons over three centuries and staunchly defended its religion, ultimately merging forever into Russia. How its militarized lifestyle disappeared and transformed into an agricultural society, and how the entire country gradually obtained new rights replacing the old ones, ultimately merging completely with Russia.

For about five years, I have been collecting various historical materials about this land with great effort. The first half of my book is nearly written, but I am not eager to publish its first few volumes because I suspect there are still many primary sources, possibly unknown to me, but undoubtedly preserved in some private collections.

On the way back from Kyiv, I met a Cossack, General Pavel Andreievich Balakov, a hero who achieved distinction in the Caucasus Wars and participated in several missions against the Persians. This General is originally from Little Russia and began as a military doctor. When I told him I was writing a history of Little Russia, he developed great interest in me and invited me to travel with him.