Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

COJTVEXT OF THE TRANSFIGURATIOX. 141

but in that of the times in which we live, that in travelling over Europe the only hospitality really worthy of gratitude that I have received has been that which I owe to my writings. They have created for me among strangers a small number of friends, whose kindness, ever new, has in no slight degree contributed to prolong my inborn taste for travelling and for poetry. If a position of so little importance as the one which I occupy in our literature has procured me such advantages, it is easy to conceive the influence which the talents that among us rule the thinking world, must exercise.

This apostleship of our authors constitutes the real power of France : but what responsibility does not such a vocation carry with it! It is, however, viewed as are other offices; the desire of obtaining it causes the danger of exercising it to be forgotten. As re-gards myself, if, during the course of my life, I have understood and felt one sentiment of ambition, it has been that of sharing, according to my powers, in this government of the human mind, as superior to political power as electricity is to gunpowder.

A great deal was said to me about Jean Sbogar; and when it was known that I had the happiness of being personally acquainted with the author, a thousand qiiestions were asked me regarding him. Would that I had had, in order to answer, the talent for narration which he possesses in so high a degree !

One of the brothers-in-law of the governor has taken me to see the Convent of the Transfigm·ation, which serves as residence for the archbishop of Yaroslaf. This monastery, like all the Greek religious houses, is a kind of low citadel, enclosing several