A catalogue of my literary labours during each successive year.

Projects of literary undertakings:-these two last articles prove in the most convincing manner that I never meddled in politics, nor ever had any inclination to do so.

A list of the books I had read to my wife, with some other particulars of no importance.

I would ask the reader, if a book of this nature, belonging to an unknown person, were to fall into his hands, and be perused by him, what idea he would entertain of the writer?

Although I had no reason to think this journal would have fallen into the hands of strangers during my life-time, yet, as the event turned out otherwise, I conceive I have a right to appeal to its contents. Any one who is acquainted with the human heart will confess, that he who keeps such a register cannot be thought either a bad or a dangerous man.

Such were my papers, as far as memory allows me to recollect them. If I have forgotten any, they were most assuredly of no great importance; they could not have had any influence on my fate, or at all affected the opinion which might be entertained of my principles. The reader may therefore see the reasons which I had to be at ease, not only on account of my innocence itself, but the proof of that innocence, which to the most superficial observer was evident, without any exertions on my part to farther my justification.

Had I wished to escape, nothing would have been more easy during the route from Polangen to Mittau. The second night we passed at the post-house; I rose early and walked out into the yard; and as my officer lay in a distant room, and my Cossack was asleep in the anti-chamber, between my two servants, nothing could have hindered me from hiring a peasant's horse and instantly making towards the

frontiers, to which I was still so near. from entertaining any such design.

But I was far

On the 26th of April (old style) we arrived at Mittau at two o'clock in the morning; we alighted at the same inn, and occupied the same apartment as on our last visit, but experienced very different sensations. We took a few hours' rest; and even here the captain slept in a distant room, and I was left without any guard.

After a short and not very sound sleep, I put on my clothes and hastened with my guard to pay my respects to M. de Drieser, the governor of Mittau. I had known this worthy man at Petersburg; he had always treated me with distinction, and I was happy that he was the person charged with the examination of my conduct. Much elated with what I imagined was about to take place, I entered his hotel with confidence. I had promised my wife to send her information of what passed: it would be, as we thought, the business of a quarter of an hour. Alas! to what illusions is the man exposed who depends on innocence alone!

When I entered the first anti-chamber, the governor's servants observed that I could not appear before their master in a frock and turned-down collar. However, when I represented to them that I was a stranger, and unable to change my dress, as my other clothes were sealed up in my trunks, the keys of which were not in my possession, they made no farther objection.

We waited a considerable time in the second antichamber, and I had full leisure to contemplate the singular tapestry with which the room was hung. The furniture consisted of a few chairs and a sofa, but the walls were covered with subjects which it might be supposed had been placed there intentionally. A wolf, I observed, was tearing a deer; a hawk was pouncing upon a leveret; a bear hunting

its prey; and a fox caught in a trap. But what struck me the most, was a large picture, inscribed with words of the following import: "Man tames the lion and the tiger; he puts a bridle into the mouth of the most unruly horse, but he cannot bridle his own tongue." All this was represented in a way which was very common in former times, partly by words and partly by figures. Instead of the word man, the representation of a man was introduced; a horse was drawn where the name of a horse was wanted; instead of writing the word tongue, a large one was depicted, to which a bridle was fastened. It must be allowed that these pictures were not very exhilarating; and my mind became impressed with ideas very unlike those with which it had at first been occupied.

My officer was summoned into the governor's presence, and I remained alone. In a few minutes they both made their appearance. The governor received me with evident embarrassment; he however complaisantly mentioned our former acquaintance, and said he had read my works, which though sometimes written in a very sarcastic strain, had nevertheless afforded him great pleasure.

But this was not a subject which now interested me. I assured him I considered myself extremely fortunate in being able to assert my innocence before him, and begged him to examine my papers with as much expedition as possible.

"That examination," he replied, "does not concern me. I have orders merely to forward them to Petersburgh, and you are to accompany them without delay."

At first I was distressed at this answer; but, soon recovering myself, I observed, that having never lived separately from my wife, I hoped she would be allowed to go with me. At first I thought he would have acquiesced in my desire, but upon some remark made to him by a secretary, he gave me a

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positive denial. I then told him I could not answer that my wife would not come and solicit his consent herself upon her knees. Spare me such a scene,' replied he; "I am likewise a husband and a father; I feel all the distress of your situation, but I am not able to remedy it. I must execute my orders in the most exact manner: set off for Petersburgh, justify your conduct there, and in a fortnight you may embrace your family again. Your wife shall remain here; make yourself easy; everything shall be done for her that humanity and my own good wishes can suggest."

On saying this he conducted me to his chamber, and left me for a moment, to give orders which unfortunately concerned me too fatally.

There was a young lady of a sweet and interesting countenance in the room, who appeared to be the governor's daughter. She was employed at her needle. On my entrance she saluted me kindly, did not speak, but sometimes raised her eyes from her work and fixed them upon me. I thought I could perceive more compassion than curiosity in these soft looks, and I frequently heard a sigh escape her. It will easily be conceived that the interest she took in my situation did not contribute to allay my apprehensions. The governor soon returned. Things are no longer in Russia as they used to be," said he ; justice is now administered in the most scrupulous

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manner."

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"I have great reason then to be easy," replied I. He expressed much surprise that I had voluntarily returned, and above all, that I had brought my family with me. Indeed, a man who travels with bad designs does not take with him his wife, three children, an elderly governess, and two servants: I, therefore, who did so, must have been conscious of my own innocence, and easy in the confidence I reposed in the safe conduct granted by his majesty.

A person in the uniform of the civil administration

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of Petersburgh was now introduced. "Here," said the governor, "is the aulic counsellor Schstchekatichin, who will accompany you on your journey: make yourself perfectly easy, sir, you are in good hands." "Does he understand German, or French?” "Neither the one nor the other."

"I am sorry for that," said I, "for I have forgotten my Russian."

The governor then presented me to him, and I explained myself in his native tongue as well as I was able, making use of gesticulations when at a loss for words. I took M. Schstchekatichin by the hand, and pressing it closely, craved his benevolence, which was answered by a friendly grimace.

Before I proceed it will be necessary to sketch the portrait of this_man. Aulic counsellor Schstschekatichin, (may I be allowed to write this barbarous name here for the last time, and to call him henceforward merely by his title ?) the counsellor, I say, was a very swarthy man, almost black, about forty years of age, having very much the look of a satyr. Whenever he would assume an affable mien, two oblique wrinkles divided his face to the very corner of his eyes, and imparted to his whole countenance the expression of disdain. From the stiffness of his carriage, it was evident that he had been in the army; and from certain deficiencies of common decorum, that he was an uneducated man, and had never frequented good company. For instance, he never made use of a pocket handkerchief; he drank out of a bottle, though a glass stood before him; and committed many other acts of similar indecency. To the grossest ignorance he joined every outward sign of excessive devotion. He had not the least idea of the causes of the common phenomena of nature; and such a stranger was he to literature, that the names of Homer, Cicero, Voltaire, Shakspeare, or Kant, had never reached his ear. He had no desire to learn anything; but, by way of amends, he could make the