No More Learning

Before leaving this stage in our narrative we
may point out the fact that during the whole of this period of
comparative seclusion the poet was indefatigably occupied in
study. Not only were the standard works of European literature
perused, but two more languages--namely Italian and Spanish--were
added to his original stock: French, English, Latin and German
having been acquired at the Lyceum. To this happy union of
literary research with the study of nature we must attribute the
sudden bound by which he soon afterwards attained the pinnacle of
poetic fame amongst his own countrymen.

In 1824 he once more fell under the imperial displeasure. A letter
seized in the post, and expressive of atheistical sentiments
(possibly but a transient vagary of his youth) was the ostensible
cause of his banishment from Odessa to his paternal estate of
Mikhailovskoe in the province of Pskoff. Some, however, aver that
personal pique on the part of Count Vorontsoff, the Governor of
Odessa, played a part in the transaction. Be this as it may, the
consequences were serious for the poet, who was not only placed
under the surveillance of the police, but expelled from the
Foreign Office by express order of the Tsar "for bad conduct. " A
letter on this subject, addressed by Count Vorontsoff to Count
Nesselrode, is an amusing instance of the arrogance with which
stolid mediocrity frequently passes judgment on rising genius. I
transcribe a portion thereof:


Odessa, _28th March (7th April)_ 1824

Count--Your Excellency is aware of the reasons for which, some
time ago, young Pushkin was sent with a letter from Count Capo
d'Istria to General Inzoff. I found him already here when I
arrived, the General having placed him at my disposal, though he
himself was at Kishineff. I have no reason to complain about him.
On the contrary, he is much steadier than formerly. But a desire
for the welfare of the young man himself, who is not wanting in
ability, and whose faults proceed more from the head than from
the heart, impels me to urge upon you his removal from Odessa.
Pushkin's chief failing is ambition. He spent the bathing season
here, and has gathered round him a crowd of adulators who praise
his genius.
This maintains in him a baneful delusion which seems
to turn his head--namely, that he is a "distinguished writer;"
whereas, in reality he is but a feeble imitator of an author in
whose favour very little can be said (Byron). This it is which
keeps him from a serious study of the great classical poets, which
might exercise a beneficial effect upon his talents--which cannot
be denied him--and which might make of him in course of time a
"distinguished writer. "

The best thing that can be done for him is to remove him hence. . . .

The Emperor Nicholas on his accession pardoned Pushkin and received
him once more into favour. During an interview which took place it
is said that the Tsar promised the poet that he alone would in
future be the censor of his productions. Pushkin was restored to
his position in the Foreign Office and received the appointment of
Court Historian. In 1828 he published one of his finest poems,
_Poltava_, which is founded on incidents familiar to English
readers in Byron's _Mazeppa_. In 1829 the hardy poet accompanied
the Russian army which under Paskevitch captured Erzeroum. In 1831
he married a beautiful lady of the Gontchareff family and settled
in the neighbourhood of St. Petersburg, where he remained for the
remainder of his life, only occasionally visiting Moscow and
Mikhailovskoe. During this period his chief occupation consisted
in collecting and investigating materials for a projected history
of Peter the Great, which was undertaken at the express desire of
the Emperor. He likewise completed a history of the revolt of
Pougatchoff, which occurred in the reign of Catherine II. [Note:
this individual having personated Peter III, the deceased husband
of the Empress, raised the Orenburg Cossacks in revolt.