Count Alexander Khristoforovich Benkendorf
Portrait of A. H. Benckendorff in the uniform of the Life Guards of the Gendarmerie Half-Squadron (1840s), a copy of Yegor Botman from a painting by Franz Kruger (Guard Museum)
« The most accurate and unmistakable judgment of the public about the chief of gendarmes will be at the time when he is gone“,” Benckendorff wrote about himself. But he could hardly even imagine how distant this time would be...
The most famous of the gendarmes of Russia was the eldest of four children of the general from the infantry, the Riga civil governor in 1796-1799, Christopher Ivanovich Benckendorff and Baroness Anna-Juliana Schelling von Kanstadt.
Father - Christopher Ivanovich Benkendorf (1749-1823) - infantry general, Riga military governor.
Portrait by V. L. Borovikovsky, 1796-97
His grandfather Johann-Michael Benckendorff, in Russian Ivan Ivanovich, was Lieutenant General and Chief Commandant of Revel. The Benckendorffs' approach to the Russian throne is connected with him, who died with the rank of lieutenant general. Catherine II after the death of Ivan Ivanovich in memory of the 25-year-old " impeccable service in the Russian army"made his widow Sofya Ivanovna, née Levenshtern, the teacher of the Grand Dukes - Alexander and Konstantin Pavlovich. She remained in this role for less than four years, but this period was enough to play a big role in the fate and career of her future grandchildren.
Alexander was born on July 4 (June 23), 1783. (There is an opinion that this date may also fluctuate between 1781 and 1784. - Author's note.) Thanks to the palace connections of his grandmother and mother, who came to Russia from Denmark in the retinue of the future Empress Maria Feodorovna, his career was established immediately.
Portrait of Maria Feodorovna, A. Roslin
At the age of 15, the young man was enrolled as a non-commissioned officer in the privileged Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment. His promotion to lieutenant also followed very quickly. And it was in this rank that he became the aide-de-camp of Paul I. Moreover, unlike many of his predecessors, who suffered greatly under the unpredictable emperor, young Benckendorf did not know such problems.
Although, it must be said, the favorable prospects associated with the honorary position of aide-de-camp did not appeal to him. At the risk of causing the highest displeasure, in 1803 he asked for leave to go to the Caucasus, and this was not even remotely reminiscent of the diplomatic voyages to Germany, Greece and the Mediterranean, where the emperor sent the young Benckendorff.
Lev Kiel. Wing adjutants of light and heavy cavalry of Russian troops of the Napoleonic wars era
The Caucasus, with its exhausting and bloody war with the mountaineers, was a real test of personal courage and the ability to lead people. Benckendorff passed it with dignity. For the cavalry attack during the storming of the Ganja fortress he was awarded with orders St. Anna and St. Vladimir IV degree. In 1805, together with " flying squad With the Cossacks he commanded, Benckendorf defeated the advanced enemy posts at the Gamlyu fortress.
Assault on Ganja
Caucasian battles gave way to European ones. In the Prussian campaign of 1806-1807 for the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, he was promoted to captain and then to colonel. Then followed the Russian-Turkish wars under the command of Ataman M.I. Platov, the hardest battles during the crossing of the Danube, the capture of Silistria. In 1811, Benckendorff, at the head of two regiments, made a desperate foray from the Lovchi fortress to the Rushchuk fortress through enemy territory. This breakthrough brings him “George” of the IV degree.
In the first weeks of the Napoleonic invasion, Benckendorff commanded the vanguard of the Baron Vinzengorod detachment; on July 27, under his leadership, the detachment carried out a brilliant attack in the case of Velizh. After the liberation of Moscow from the enemy, Benckendorff was appointed commandant of the devastated capital. During the period of persecution by the Napoleonic army, he distinguished himself in many cases, captured three generals and more than 6,000 Napoleonic soldiers. In the campaign of 1813, becoming the head of the so-called "volatile" detachments, first defeated the French at Tempelberg, for which he was awarded " George» III degree, then forced the enemy to surrender Furstenwald. Soon he and the detachment were already in Berlin. For the unparalleled courage shown during the three-day cover of the passage of Russian troops to Dessau and Roskau, he was awarded a golden saber with diamonds.
Battle of Leipzig (fragments), Alexander Sauerberg
Attack of the Cossack Life Guards near Leipzig
Next - a swift raid into Holland and the complete defeat of the enemy there, then Belgium - his detachment took the cities of Louvain and Mecheln, where 24 guns and 600 British prisoners were recaptured from the French. Then, in 1814, there was Luttikh, the battle of Krasnoye, where he commanded the entire cavalry of Count Vorontsov. The awards followed one after another - in addition to “George” III and IV degrees, also “Anna” I degree, “Vladimir”, several foreign orders. He had three swords for his bravery. He finished the war with the rank of major general.
Amsterdam in 1813, Jan Willem Pieneman
Cossack outpost in Holland, 1813, Pieter Gerardus van OS
Cossacks' halt at the gates of Amsterdam on the night of November 24, 1813, watercolor by Francois Joseph Pfeiffer
Cossacks on country road near Bergen in North Holland, 1813, Pieter Gerardus van OS
In March 1819, Benckendorf was appointed chief of staff of the Guards Corps.
The seemingly impeccable reputation of a warrior for the Fatherland, which placed Alexander Khristoforovich among the most outstanding military leaders, did not, however, bring him the glory among his fellow citizens that accompanied people who went through the crucible of the Patriotic War. Benckendorff failed to be like a hero either during his life or after his death. His portrait in the famous gallery of heroes of 1812 causes undisguised surprise among many. But he was a brave soldier and an excellent military leader. Although there are many human destinies in history in which one half of life seems to cancel the other. Benckendorff's life is a prime example of this.
Portrait of Alexander Khristoforovich Benckendorff by George Dow Military Gallery of the Winter Palace, State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg)
Where did it all start? The formal reason for his colleagues to look at Benkendorf from a different angle was a clash with the commander of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, Karl Karlovich Pirk. Concerned about the interest shown by the youth of the guards in the revolutionary events taking place in Spain, Benckendorff ordered Pirch to prepare a detailed memorandum on “ dangerous conversations" He refused, saying that he did not want to be an informer. The Chief of the Guards Staff angrily kicked him out the door. The officers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment learned about what had happened, and, of course, strongly condemned Benckendorf’s initiative. There could simply be no justification for this act; not only was denunciation not in honor, but the main thing was that the spirit of freethinking, brought from foreign campaigns, was literally bubbling among people in uniform, and even more so than among civilians.
Several months passed, and the so-called “ Semyonovskaya history" Cruelty towards subordinates F.E. Schwartz, the commander of Benckendorf’s native regiment, was outraged not only by the soldiers, but also by the officers. The uprising of the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment lasted only two days - from October 16 to 18, 1820, but this was enough to bury the government’s confidence in the absolute loyalty of not only the guards, but also the majority of the army people.
Emperor Alexander I
Benckendorff was one of the first to understand what " fermentation of minds”, those reasonings, disputes and plans that matured in the core of close officer meetings. In September 1821, a note about secret societies existing in Russia, and in particular about “ Union of Welfare" It was analytical in nature: the author examined the reasons that accompanied the emergence of secret societies, their tasks and goals. Here the idea was expressed about the need to create a special body in the state that could keep the mood of public opinion under supervision, and if necessary, then suppress illegal activities. But among other things, in it the author named those in whose minds the spirit of freethinking settled. And this circumstance related the note to a denunciation.
Emperor Alexander I
The sincere desire to prevent the disruption of the existing state order and the hope that Alexander would understand the essence of what was written did not materialize. It is well known what Alexander said about participants in secret societies: “ It’s not for me to judge them.”. It looked noble: the emperor himself, as a matter of fact, was free-thinking, planning extremely bold reforms.
But Benckendorf’s act was far from noble. On December 1, 1821, the irritated emperor removed Benckendorff from command of the Guards headquarters, appointing him commander of the Guards Cuirassier Division. This was a clear disgrace. Benckendorff, in a vain attempt to understand what caused it, wrote to Alexander again. It’s unlikely that he would have guessed that the emperor was offended by this paper and taught him a lesson. And yet the paper went under the cloth without a single note from the king. Benckendorff fell silent...
“Furious waves raged on Palace Square, which with the Neva formed one huge lake, pouring out along Nevsky Prospect,” wrote an eyewitness to the terrible November night of 1824. The water in some places in St. Petersburg then rose to 13 feet and 7 inches (that is, more than four meters). Carriages, books, police boxes, cradles with babies and coffins with dead people from washed-out graves floated around the city, which had turned into a huge, churning lake.
Natural disasters have always revealed both scoundrels rushing to take advantage of the misfortune of others, and desperate brave men who saved others without caring about themselves.
So, crossing the embankment, when the water already reached his shoulders, General Benckendorf reached the boat on which the midshipman of the guards crew Belyaev was. Before 3 a.m., together they managed to save huge number of people. Alexander I, who received many testimonies of Benckendorff's courageous behavior in those days, awarded him a diamond snuffbox.
Several months passed, and the emperor was gone. And on December 14, 1925, St. Petersburg exploded with Senate Square. What ultimately became perhaps the most sublime and romantic page of Russian history did not seem so to the witnesses of that memorable December day. Eyewitnesses write about the city numb with horror, about direct fire volleys into the dense ranks of the rebels, about those who fell dead face down into the snow, about streams of blood flowing onto the Neva ice. Then - about screwed-up soldiers, hanged officers, exiled to the mines. Some people regretted that, they say, “ they are terribly far from the people", and therefore the scale was not the same. Otherwise, look, it would have flared up: brother against brother, regiment against regiment... It seemed to Benckendorff that there was an obvious mistake by the authorities and a terrible loss to the state, even in the fact that the excellent man Midshipman Belyaev, with whom they scurried around that crazy night , like by sea, all over St. Petersburg, now rotting in Siberian mines for 15 years.
"Emperor Nicholas I in front of the formation of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion in the courtyard of the Winter Palace on December 14, 1825." V. N. Maksutov
But it was precisely those tragic days that marked the beginning of trust and even friendship between the new Emperor Nicholas I and Benckendorff. There is evidence that on the morning of December 14, having learned about the riot, Nikolai said to Alexander Khristoforovich: “Tonight, perhaps, both of us will no longer be in the world, but at least we will die having fulfilled our duty.”
Benckendorff saw his duty in protecting the autocrat, and therefore the state. On the day of the riot, he commanded government troops located on Vasilyevsky Island. Then he was a member of the Investigative Commission on the Decembrist case. Sitting in the Supreme Criminal Court, he more than once turned to the emperor with requests to mitigate the fate of the conspirators, well aware of how hostile Nicholas was to any mention of the criminals.
Portrait of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexander Shvabe
The cruel lesson taught to the emperor on December 14 was not in vain. As fate would have it, that same day changed Benckendorf’s fate.
Unlike his royal brother, Nicholas I carefully read the old “note” and found it very useful. After the reprisal against the Decembrists, which cost him many dark moments, the young emperor tried in every possible way to eliminate possible repetitions of this in the future. And, I must say, not in vain. A contemporary of those events, N.S. Shchukin wrote about the atmosphere prevailing in Russian society after December 14: “The general mood of minds was against the government, and the sovereign was not spared. Young people sang abusive songs, rewrote outrageous poems, and cursing the government was considered a fashionable conversation. Some preached a constitution, others a republic. .."
Benckendorff's project was, in essence, a program for creating a political police in Russia. What was to be done? Engage in political investigation, extraction necessary information, suppression of the activities of persons who oppose the regime. When was issue resolved As for what exactly the political commission will do, another one has emerged - who will be involved in the investigation, collection of information and suppression of illegal actions. Benckendorff answered the king - gendarmes.
Private of the Life Guards of the Gendarmerie Half-Squadron (in full dress uniform)
In January 1826, Benckendorff introduced Nikolai " Project on the structure of the higher police”, in which, by the way, he wrote about what qualities her boss should have, and about the need for his unconditional unity of command.
“In order for the police to be good and cover all points of the Empire, it is necessary that it submit to a system of strict centralization, that it be feared and respected, and that this respect be inspired by the moral qualities of its chief commander...”
Alexander Khristoforovich explained why it is useful for society to have such an institution: “Villains, intriguers and narrow-minded people, having repented of their mistakes or trying to atone for their guilt by denunciation, will at least know where to turn.”
In 1826, more than 4 thousand people served in the gendarme corps. No one was forced here; on the contrary, there were much fewer vacancies than there were applicants: only literate soldiers were selected, officers were accepted only with a good recommendation. However, those who exchanged the army uniform for the gendarmerie still had some doubts. How will their duties be combined with the concepts of honor of a nobleman and an officer?
Gubarev P.K. Ceremonial and marching uniforms of the Gendarmerie teams.
By the way, the well-known L.V. thought very seriously about this. Dubelt, who subsequently made a very successful career in the Corps of Gendarmes. Despite the fact that he, being retired, " no place", lived almost from hand to mouth, the decision to wear a blue uniform was not easy for him. He consulted with his wife for a long time, sharing with her doubts about the correctness of his choice: “If, when I join the Corps of Gendarmes, I become an informer, an earpiece, then my good name, of course, will be tarnished. But if, on the contrary, I... will be the support of the poor, the protection of the unfortunate; if I, acting openly, force justice to be given to the oppressed, I will see that in places of justice a direct and fair direction is given to legal cases - then what will you call me? will he not give me instructions that are not characteristic of an honest person? »
Portrait of Leonty Vasilyevich Dubelt (1792-1862), cavalry general, head of the secret police.
Pyotr Fedorovich Sokolov
The first conclusions and even generalizations soon followed. Benckendorff points the emperor to the true autocrats of the Russian state - the bureaucrats. " Theft, meanness, misinterpretation of laws“This is their craft,” he informs Nikolai. — Unfortunately, they are the ones who rule..."
Benkendorf and his closest assistant M.Ya. Fok believed: “Suppressing the machinations of the bureaucracy is the most important task of the III Department.” I wonder if they realized the complete doom of this struggle? Probably yes. For example, Benckendorff reports that a certain official of special assignments “acquired great benefits” through fraud. What to do with it? The Emperor replies: “ I do not intend to employ dishonest people." And nothing more...
Alexander Khristoforovich Benkendorf
Based on a drawing by Orlov, a lithograph by Mosharovsky. 1830s from the collection of portraits of the Main Imperial Apartment.
It must be said that Benckendorff not only reported, he sought to analyze the actions of the government, to understand what exactly irritated the public. In his opinion, the Decembrist rebellion was the result "deceived expectations" people. And therefore, he believed, public opinion must be respected, “it cannot be imposed, it must be followed... You cannot put it in prison, but by pressing it, you will only drive it to bitterness.”
Nikolaevsky railway station in St. Petersburg. Landing stage
Tsarskoye Selo Railway
In 1838, the chief of the Third Department indicated the need for construction railway between Moscow and St. Petersburg, in 1841 notes big problems in the field of health care, in 1842 warns of general dissatisfaction with the high customs tariff, in the same series and “ grumbling about recruitment».
1828 was the time of approval of a new censorship charter. Now the literary world, formally remaining under the jurisdiction of the Ministry public education, came under the jurisdiction of the Third Department.
Censors were recruited, and very noticeable people at that. Among them F.I. Tyutchev, S.T. Aksakov, P.A. Vyazemsky. What did Mr. Benckendorff charge them with? They had to ensure that persons of the imperial family were not discussed in the press and that authors avoided such an interpretation of events that could “ drag the state into an abyss of misfortune».
Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev
Portrait of S. T. Aksakov, Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy
Prince Pyotr Andreevich Vyazemsky (1792-1878) Pyotr Fedorovich Sokolov
It must be said that the biggest troubles awaited the chief of gendarmes precisely at the moments of contact with the intellectual elite. Everyone was dissatisfied with him: both those who controlled and those who were controlled.
The irritated Vyazemsky, who wrote epigrams against Benckendorff, was reassured by Pushkin: “But since in essence this is an honest and worthy man, too careless to be vindictive, and too noble to try to harm you, do not allow hostile feelings in yourself and try to talk be frank with him." But Pushkin was extremely rarely mistaken in his assessment of people. His attitude towards the chief of Section III was not at all different from the general one, a kind of ironically friendly one.
"Pushkin and Benckendorff", A.V. Kitaev.
It is known that Nicholas I volunteered to take over the censorship of Pushkin’s work, whose genius, by the way, he was fully aware of. For example, after reading Bulgarin’s negative review of the poet, the emperor wrote to Benckendorff: “I forgot to tell you, dear friend, that in today’s issue of “Northern Bee” there is again an unfair and pamphlet article directed against Pushkin: therefore, I suggest you call on Bulgarin and ban from now on he should print any criticism whatsoever on literary works Pushkin".
Unknown artist. Caricature of F.V. Bulgarin. Caption: “What if this nose starts sniffing nettles? / The nettles seem to be withering!”
And yet, in 1826-1829, the Third Department actively carried out secret surveillance of the poet. Benckendorff personally investigated a very unpleasant case for Pushkin “ about the distribution of “Andrei Chenier" And " Gabrieliads". Benckendorff's widely introduced illustration of private letters in the 1930s literally infuriated the poet. “The police print out letters from a husband to his wife and bring them to the Tsar (a well-bred and honest man) to read, and the Tsar is not ashamed to admit it...”
These lines were written as if in the expectation that both the Tsar and Benckendorff would read them. Hard service, however, belongs to the powers that be, and it is unlikely that the words of a man whose exceptionalism both recognized would have slipped past without touching either the heart or consciousness.
Nicholas I and A.S. Pushkin
Alexander Khristoforovich perfectly understood all the negative aspects of his profession. It is no coincidence that he wrote in his “ Notes", that during a serious illness that happened to him in 1837, he was pleasantly surprised that his house " became a gathering place for the most diverse society", and most importantly, as he emphasized, “ completely independent in position».
“Given the position that I held, this served, of course, as the most brilliant report for my 11-year management, and I think that I was perhaps the first of all the secret police chiefs who were afraid of death...”
In general, it seems that Benckendorff never indulged in much joy about the power that he had. Apparently, both his natural intelligence and life experience taught him to classify her as a kind of phantom.
Non-commissioned officer of the Gendarme Squadrons and Chief Officer of the Gendarme Divisions and Commands (in full dress)
Count Alexander Khristoforovich Benkendorf died on a ship carrying him from Germany, where he was undergoing a course of long-term treatment, to his homeland. He was over sixty. His wife was waiting for him in Falle, their estate near Revel (now Tallinn). The ship had already brought a dead man. This was the first grave on their cozy estate, although the count never got around to it.
View of the Fall Castle
Estonian Fall Castle, where Benckendorff is buried
In his study at Fall Castle, he kept a wooden fragment left over from the coffin of Alexander I, embedded in bronze in the form of a mausoleum. On the wall, in addition to portraits of sovereigns, hung a famous watercolor by Kolman "Riot on Senate Square"" The boulevard, generals with plumes, soldiers with white belts on dark uniforms, a monument to Peter the Great in cannon smoke...
Something, apparently, did not let go of the count if he held this picture before his eyes. Probably, Alexander Khristoforovich was not a bad person at all. But the problem is: you have to prove it every time.
Saint Petersburg. Senate square December 14, 1825. Drawing by Kolman from the office of Count Benckendorff in Falle.
The first gendarmerie regiment, formed from Gatchina units by the heir to the throne, Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich, appeared in Russia back in 1792 and until 1796 served as military police. Later, already as emperor, Paul included the Gatchina gendarmes into the Life Guards cavalry regiment. Since 1815, already under Alexander I, gendarmes dispersed in small groups throughout army units were charged with the following duties: “monitoring order in bivouacs... removing the wounded during battles to dressing stations, capturing looters,” and they also performed information functions. Since February 1817, gendarmerie units, increasingly acquiring police functions, were used to maintain order in the capital, provincial and port cities. Benckendorff was familiar with their “ activities“- Emperor Alexander I entrusted him with supervision of the mood in the troops back in January 1821, and he, as the then chief of staff of the Guards Corps, "I started looking at myself" But now this was not enough. It was necessary to deal with the structure of state security. The system Benckendorff created was not particularly complex, which, in his opinion, practically eliminated possible malfunctions and ensured maximum efficiency.
Think tank - Third department with 72 employees. Benckendorff selected them meticulously, according to three main criteria - honesty, intelligence, good-naturedness.
Private of the Gendarmerie Divisions and Commands (in full dress uniform)
Employees of the service entrusted to Benckendorf delved into the activities of ministries, departments, and committees. The assessment of the functioning of all structures was based on one condition: they should not overshadow the interests of the state. To provide the emperor with a clear picture of what was happening in the empire, Benckendorff, based on numerous reports from his employees, compiled an annual analytical report, likening it to a topographical map, warning where there was a swamp and where there was an abyss.
With his characteristic scrupulousness, Alexander Khristoforovich divided Russia into 8 state districts. Each has from 8 to 11 provinces. Each district has its own gendarmerie general. In each province there is a gendarmerie department. And all these threads converged in an ocher-colored building on the corner of the Moika and Gorokhovaya embankments, at the headquarters of the Third Department.
The gendarme corps was conceived as an elite one, providing solid material support. In July 1826, the Third Department was created, an institution designed to carry out secret supervision of the society, and Benckendorff was appointed its head. In April 1827, the emperor signed a decree on the organization of the Corps of Gendarmes with the rights of the army. Benckendorff became his commander.
In his own way, the chief of Section III was an extremely integral person. Having once realized the principles of his service to the Fatherland, he no longer betrayed them. Just as literally all his life he did not change another inclination, which seemed to redeem both his harsh military and ambiguous police profession.
Portrait of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
Artist Reichel Karl Yakovlevich
«.. .I met Alexander Benkendorf,- Nikolai’s wife Alexandra Fedorovna wrote in 1819. “I heard a lot about him during the war, back in Berlin and Dobberen; everyone praised his courage and regretted his careless life, at the same time laughing at it. I was struck by his sedate appearance, which was not at all characteristic of the reputation he had established as a rake.”
Yes, Count Benckendorff was extremely amorous and had a lot of novels, each more exciting than the other and - alas! - more quickly. Let us repeat after the now forgotten poet Myatlev: “ We haven’t heard anything, they just say it...” About the famous actress Mlle Georges, the subject of Napoleon’s own passion (at one time), they said that her appearance in St. Petersburg from 1808 to 1812 was connected not so much with the tour, but with the search for Mr. Benckendorff, who promised - where to marry her. But what can’t you promise in Paris!
Princess Dashkova Ekaterina Romanovna (born March 17 (28), 1743 - see January 4 (16), 1810. Born Countess Vorontsova).
The most educated woman of the 18th century, she made a huge contribution to the organization of the scientific process in Russia. The only woman in the world who headed two Academies of Sciences. Author of numerous literary translations, articles and “Notes” (1805).
Catherine Romanovna's contemporaries believed that it was only by an accidental, whimsical mistake of nature that she was born a woman. McCartney's English envoy wrote: "She is a woman of extraordinary strength of mind, possessed of masculine courage and fortitude, capable of overcoming difficulties that seem insurmountable, a character too dangerous in this country."
Like most of her relatives, Dashkova tried to live usefully for the Fatherland. Only among the sedate, reserved Vorontsovs did she stand out for the frenzy of her actions, perhaps because she early recognized herself as a man of action, and the world of science and politics was closed to her. A woman of her intelligence, temperament and organizational gift was looked at not only in Russia, but also in Europe with surprise bordering on misunderstanding.
Ekaterina was born on March 17, 1743 and was the daughter of Count Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov and Marfa Ivanovna Surmilina (Dolgorukaya by her first husband). At the age of two she lost her mother, and at the age of 4 she was virtually left without a family. The father was more willing to indulge in social entertainment than to take care of raising five children.
Only the eldest, Alexander, lived with him, Semyon was raised by his grandfather, Maria and Elizabeth were taken to the palace as children and became young ladies-in-waiting. Catherine was raised by her father's brother, Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov, vice-chancellor and later chancellor. His only daughter (future Countess Stroganova) and niece lived in the same rooms, studied with the same teachers, and even dressed the same.
A beautiful house, splendor and luxury, the attention of relatives and the special care shown to her goddaughter by Empress Elizabeth and heir to the throne Peter did not turn her into a “carefree butterfly.” The thirst for knowledge and a certain incomprehensible pride, “mixed with tenderness and sensuality,” forged a strange alloy in Catherine’s character - “the desire to be loved by all the people around her” and to prove to them her originality.
By the age of 13, she knew four languages, was good at drawing and understood music. Among her books there was no place for cloyingly sentimental novels; her lively mind was attracted by Bayle, Helvetius, Voltaire, Diderot, Boileau, Rousseau, Montesquieu, she was interested in politics and social order different states.
Maybe everything would have turned out differently, but, having given the girl a remarkable mind, nature deprived her of feminine attractiveness. D. Diderot described Catherine after the meeting as follows: “Not a beauty at all. Small in stature, with an open and high forehead; with full, swollen cheeks, medium-sized eyes that extend somewhat under the forehead, a flat nose, a wide mouth, thick lips, a round and straight neck - she is far from charming; there is a lot of life in her movements, but not grace.”
Having fallen madly in love with the handsome lieutenant, Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Dashkov, Catherine was able to “take him prisoner.” At one of the balls, when he was showered with compliments for the sake of decency, she told her uncle-chancellor passing by that the young man was asking for her hand. Their wedding took place in May 1759. The young wife often had to turn a blind eye to her husband’s social affairs, but she considered her marriage happy.
The Dashkov couple settled in Moscow. Her husband’s relatives liked Ekaterina, but it turned out that she practically couldn’t communicate with them because... she didn’t know Russian. With her characteristic energy, she was soon able to master her native language, which was very useful to her over time. Dashkova's life away from the court proceeded quietly and modestly - her beloved husband, books, music and everyday everyday problems of caring for her children, Anastasia and Mikhail, replaced her with society.
1761, July - leaving her growing children with her mother-in-law, Catherine returned to St. Petersburg. Dashkova renewed her friendship with Grand Duchess Catherine. Only in her did she see the future enlightened monarch and therefore was actively involved in the preparation of the palace coup.
From her “Notes,” Dashkova appears to be almost the head of the conspirators. But many historical sources indicate that her role was more spectacular than significant. Due to her young age (she was only 19), the conspirators tried not to involve her in their plans. But the proud, vain princess, aware of her mental superiority, acted independently, winning over the flower of high society to Catherine’s side. She even went into confrontation with the Vorontsov family, who stood on the side of Peter III.
1762, July 28 - the day of the coup - Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova did not leave her “good friend”. These were best watch in her life. What a disappointment she was when, expecting honors and glory, she was not particularly noted in the distribution of awards. The princess's dreams of becoming an associate and confidante of the Empress, receiving the rank of Colonel of the Guard and a place in the meeting of the Supreme State Council did not come true.
She couldn’t even imagine that such an energetic, intelligent and daring person could stand next to her. She was going to reign alone and did not long tolerate her friend in the palace, forgetting about subordination, allowing herself “immodest freedom of language, reaching the point of threats.” According to Diderot, only the birth of his son Pavel in May 1763 and a long illness far from the court saved Dashkova from arrest.
There was no place for the princess next to the empress. And then the hope for a happy family hearth collapsed. My husband died during a military campaign against Poland. A disgraced 20-year-old widow took on the task of restoring a neglected farm. Her economy bordered on stinginess. The proud princess did not hesitate to graciously ask for help from the Empress and Potemkin, with whom she was on excellent terms.
Without selling an inch of family land, she soon paid off her husband’s debts and at the end of 1769, under the name of Mrs. Mikhailova, she went on a trip to Europe with her daughter Anastasia and son Pavel (son Mikhail died in the fall of 1762).
The princess failed to remain incognito. In Berlin, Emperor Frederick II insisted on meeting with Dashkova “under any name,” she was received with special honor at Oxford, and in Paris she communicated with Diderot. The famous philosopher noted that “her way of thinking reveals firmness, height, courage and pride. The princess loves the arts, knows the people and needs of her fatherland. She sincerely hates despotism and all manifestations of tyranny. Accurately and fairly reveals the advantages and disadvantages of the new institutions.”
The princess filled her days to the limit - universities, libraries, museums, churches, workshops of famous artists and offices of scientists and thinkers. Her views, intelligence, and energy aroused surprise and respect in Europe. But, returning to Russia, Dashkova became convinced that the empress had not replaced her anger with mercy and that she had nowhere to apply her knowledge and strength.
The princess began translating serious works by Helvetius and Diderot, and wrote on social and philosophical topics under the pseudonyms “Russian Woman” and “Noble Russian Woman.” She directed all her energy towards the children. Dashkova Ekaterina Romanovna developed an entire system of education and training. The intensity of training to which she condemned her son was to create a man of encyclopedic knowledge.
At the age of 13, Pavel was accepted into the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), the best in Europe at that time, and three years later he received a Master of Arts degree. The mother was proud of her son. 1776–1782 she spent time abroad to observe his development, and to complete Paul's education she undertook an extended trip to Europe.
But the young man seemed to be “poisoned” with knowledge. Dashkova was unable to create a “new person,” and the moral character of her son and daughter subsequently more than once forced the mother to endure ridicule from the outside and, as a result, led to a break with the children.
But Catherine’s second trip abroad brought her European recognition. The best representatives of science and culture spoke with respect about Dashkova. She was valued as an art connoisseur. The musical works written by the princess were a great success in England. Ekaterina Romanovna was interested in mineralogy (she donated her famous collection of minerals, valued at 50,000 rubles, to Moscow University), astronomy, cartography, economics, politics and, of course, literature.
Catherine II, who was known in Europe as the patroness of the sciences and arts, unexpectedly invited the princess to head the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1783). Its president, K.G. Razumovsky, did not interfere in the activities of the institution, and Dashkova actually performed his duties.
Dashkova did not make any discoveries in science, but her organizational abilities and sober assessment of activities turned the Academy of Sciences from a “gathering of famous scientists” into a “complex factory of scientific products.” Communication with leading European experts enabled her to impartially highlight and promote the work of world-class scientists such as Leonhard Euler.
Having put her finances and work process in order, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova began organizing scientific and educational activities: she opened public courses at the academy, and resumed the work of the printing house and publishing house. Recognized masters of Russian literature grouped around her: G.R. Derzhavin, D.I. Fonvizin, M.M. Kheraskov, Ya.B. Knyazhnin, V.V. Kapnist and others.
Literary and social magazines “Interlocutor of Lovers” Russian word" and "New Monthly Essays" were extremely popular. Under her supervision, the publication of written monuments on the history of Russia was continued, 43 parts of the collection “Russian Theater” were published, and the publication of the complete works of M.V. Lomonosov began.
As a patriot of her homeland, the princess tried to transform the academy, suffering from the dominance of German specialists, into an institution of Russian science. She introduced three new courses - mathematics, geography, natural history - which were taught by Russian professors in their native language and free of charge for students.
Dashkova's energy supported creative and scientific quests. “It seems to me,” wrote E. Vilmont, one of the daughters of Dashkova’s English friend, “that she would most likely be at the helm of the government, either as the commander-in-chief of the army, or as the chief administrator of the empire. She is positively born for business on a large scale...”
The princess needed a wide field of activity; only then did she feel in demand. At one of the meetings with the Empress, the princess proposed the establishment of the Russian Academy of Sciences and in September 1783 she became its president. “The main subject of the Russian Academy should be the enrichment and purification of the Russian language and the dissemination of verbal sciences in the state,” is written in the charter it prepared. This was also served by the work of prominent scientists and writers, organized by the princess, to create the first Russian explanatory dictionary (“Dictionary of the Russian Academy” in 6 volumes, 1789–1795), which included 43,257 words. Dashkova herself wrote several definitions and selected more than 700 words starting with the letters “c”, “sh”, “sch”.
For the head of two Russian academies, there were no small matters. She spoiled the architect’s nerves during the construction of a new academy building, and she was biased in selecting young men for training, expelling famous blockheads. And despite all the meager funds allocated under Dashkova, an “era of prosperity” reigned in the Academy of Sciences. But the princess’s tactlessness, quarrelsomeness, and unrestrained speeches led to confrontation with those around her and contributed to the deterioration of relations with the empress. This hit the princess’s excessive pride hard, and her ebullient forces began to betray her.
At 51, Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova looked like a decrepit, masculine old woman. In particular, loneliness was a burden to her. The children did not live up to expectations. Son Pavel was unable to make a fast career, although thanks to his mother’s efforts he received the rank of lieutenant colonel. The princess could not forgive him for trampling on the greatness of the aristocratic Vorontsov-Dashkov families: without her consent, he married the daughter of the merchant Alferov for love and was happy with this simple woman.
The behavior of Anastasia's daughter also did not please the princess. She took after her mother in unenviable appearance, and besides, she was hunchbacked and stupid. When she was only 15 years old, Dashkova hastily married her to the weak-willed alcoholic Shcherbin. The son-in-law led a dissolute life abroad, and the daughter, even living next to her mother, always managed to get into scandalous stories, and then ran away to her unlucky husband.
Broken by troubles, the princess was forced to ask for leave, which after accession to the throne turned into resignation, and then into exile in a remote Novgorod village. This forced rest for an active and sensitive woman became a real disaster. The princess was on the verge of suicide. returned her complete freedom, but she could not find herself at the “young court.”
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova lived alternately in Moscow and on her Trinity estate. In society they treated her with respect, but they were afraid of her mocking and sharp mind. Dashkova was tormented by illness, she felt a constant need for friendly participation. Therefore, the princess had deep sympathy for the sisters K. and M. Vilmont. She even wanted to adopt Mary. At the urgent request of this girl, who shared her loneliness, the princess wrote “Notes” (1805) - a wonderful monument to the history of Russian culture, which reflected not only the multifaceted activities of an extraordinary woman, but also her life full of drama.
Fate was cruel to the old princess. 1807, January - her son died. They lived nearby in Moscow, but did not communicate. The scandal over the inheritance that Anastasia created at the funeral completely quarreled Dashkova with her daughter, but reconciled with her daughter-in-law. In June she left her “Russian mother” and Mary. Sadness and loneliness became the lot of the last years of the life of this extraordinary, gifted, but only partially realized woman. Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova died on January 4, 1810 and was modestly buried in Troitsky.
Ekaterina Dashkova is one of the most famous Russian women, whose fate is inseparable from the national history of the second half of the 18th century. What did she manage to accomplish that makes her famous and unique?
Participation in a conspiracy against Peter III
Carefree time
Ekaterina Dashkova
Ekaterina Romanovna’s birth name is Vorontsova. She was born in St. Petersburg on March 17, 1744 into a famous but impoverished Moscow boyar family. My father had great influence during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna and was very rich.
Catherine's uncle participated in the seizure of power by the young crown princess (since then the ruler had a cordial attitude towards the Vorontsovs), and became Chancellor of Russia. He built a rich palace in Moscow, which soon became a home for his niece.
At the age of 2, the girl lost her mother, and her father, who loved the pleasures of social life, cared little about her upbringing. 4-year-old Catherine was taken into his house by her uncle and took touching care of her niece. The girl grew up with her cousin; they had the same teachers and sewed dresses from the same piece of fabric.
At the age of 14 she fell ill with measles and was sent to the village. The estate where the girl happened to live had a wonderful library with works by great French authors.
Reading books in early childhood to a large extent shaped Catherine’s worldview and tastes. Like her illustrious namesake and older friend - Empress Catherine II.
Personal acquaintance with Catherine II took place at a time when she was still a Grand Duchess - at the end of 1758. They talked often and for a long time, and soon they had a lot in common: they were both ambitious, well-read, and knew French educators.
Then it happened meeting Mikhail Dashkov, who later became her husband.
One of the legends imagines it this way history marriage of Ekaterina Vorontsova: one day Prince Dashkov, a handsome court gentleman, began to speak pleasantries to her too freely.
The 15-year-old girl Vorontsova called her uncle-chancellor and said: “Prince Dashkov does me the honor of asking for my hand.” Not daring to admit to the first dignitary that his words did not contain such a meaning, the young prince... confirmed his serious intentions.
After marrying the chancellor's niece, he immediately sent his young wife to Moscow for two years. At the age of 17, Dashkova was already the mother of two children- son Pavel and daughter Anastasia. Returning to Moscow, she continued to communicate with the Grand Duchess.
Children who didn't live up to expectations
Participation in the conspiracy
Ekaterina Dashkova
Ruler Elizabeth was dying, and the heir to the throne, Peter III, was coming to power. He oppressed his wife in every possible way, there were rumors that he wanted to send her to a monastery.
Among the guards and in society there was sympathy for Catherine, there was a smell of conspiracy in the air. Young Dashkova plunged into the romance of mysterious events, was openly friends with Catherine, and defied the emperor at every opportunity.
The atmosphere of the upcoming historical event excited Dashkova’s romantic nature; she thought that she was a key figure in the conspiracy.
The coup was successfully completed in the summer of 1762. Both Catherines came to victory and... a quarrel among themselves: each considered her degree of participation in the memorable day to be the highest.
Until the end of her life, Dashkova was convinced that it was thanks to her that Catherine ascended the throne, and Peter III lost power. The ruler was not impressed by the rumor that she, an adult woman, put on the crown thanks to an 18-year-old lady.
Dashkova’s name was not included in the list of those who distinguished themselves in the conspiracy; she saw him among the ordinary, unremarkable participants, and, like all of them, received 24 thousand for services rendered.
This was a strong blow to Dashkova’s pride, and soon she was shocked by the news of the violent death of Peter III and the involvement of Alexei Orlov, the brother of the princess’s favorite, in this. Dashkova was among those who opposed the Empress’s marriage to Grigory Orlov, which also displeased Catherine the Great.
Fate dealt a new blow in 1764, when empress to support her candidate for king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, she sent troops there, which included Mikhail Dashkov.
He died during the campaign Ekaterina Romanovna was left with two children, a disorganized household and a large debt. The deceased husband, as it turned out later weddings was a big lazy person and a spendthrift.
Talent recognition
In 1769, Ekaterina Dashkova, under a false name, went on a long trip abroad, where her education and versatile talents were first appreciated. Parisian celebrities lined up for an appointment with the Russian princess, who attracted her with her intellect, but not her appearance.
This trip was intended to give son Pavel good education, why they settled in Scotland in the impregnable castle of the Scottish kings. Pavel graduated from Edinburgh University, and the Dashkovs returned to Russia.
The events of 1763, which upset the friendship with the empress, seemed like ancient history. Her fame as the first Russian educated woman reached St. Petersburg, and practical Catherine II decided to make Dashkova director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. The lady’s characterization as honest and powerful made it clear that she would appreciate the academic merits of the academy members, but not their ability to weave intrigue.
Dashkova soon headed the Russian Academy of Sciences, showed organizational skills and a love of education.
Under her leadership, the collected works of Lomonosov, the first 6-volume dictionary of the Russian language, were published, in the compilation of which the most prominent scientists and writers; Pushkin highly appreciated this work. Dashkova was published in an academic journal and wrote plays for St. Petersburg theaters.
Over the course of 3 years, the lady director achieved great success: the debts of the academy were reduced, professors began to receive salaries, the printing house acquired new fonts, the library acquired books, mineral collections and archives were put in order, Dashkova obliged academicians to publish their discoveries in domestic journals, but not foreign ones .
The empress's attitude was outwardly loyal, but lacked confidence.
Children who didn't live up to expectations
Ekaterina Dashkova
Ekaterina Dashkova's relationship with children was difficult. She did everything so that they grew up educated, highly moral, worthy of their noble family.
Ekaterina Romanovna took great care of them and controlled them even in their non-childhood years. But when Anastasia and Pavel were freed from their mother’s supervision, they committed bad deeds.
The daughter grew up an empty and immoral capricious person with a nervous character, and was famous for her wastefulness. The princess gave her in marriage. As it turned out some time after the wedding, the son-in-law suffered from mental illness, and this was the reason for the breakup families.
After divorce Anastasia even allowed herself to do things unworthy of her high position. The rift has gone too deep: Dashkova forbade her daughter to appear in her house and in those places where they could meet, deprived her of her inheritance, and in her will she forbade even approaching her coffin.
The news of the death of the empress, which she received while in Troitsky, put Dashkova to bed for three weeks.
Before she had time to recover from her illness, the son of the late empress Paul I, informed about Dashkova's participation in the coup, he began to avenge his father. A decree followed to remove her from all positions.
The persecution did not end there: Dashkova was ordered to live on a remote estate Nizhny Novgorod province. She went into exile in the winter frosts, sick.
The days of the disgraced princess were spent in a peasant hut, deprived of the usual amenities. To ease her fate, she asked for help from illustrious acquaintances, but no one wanted to interfere in the relationship of the young man. emperor and the exiled Dashkova.
Soon, help came from the emperor's wife: Dashkova was allowed to live on the Kaluga estate, and soon - to travel around the country, to visit Moscow when the royal family was not there.
Dashkova returned to court when Alexander I was sitting on the throne. She was again offered to head the Russian Academy of Sciences, but Dashkova refused. She was 57 years old when her former greatness returned again, people fawned on her, sought her favor.
Dashkova retired from life at court and returned to the village of Troitskoye, devoting herself to caring for the estate. The hostess was busy organizing the household, erecting buildings, and planting gardens. Her special hobby was writing memoirs in French.
The owner of a rich estate was distinguished by a contemptuous attitude towards others; perhaps the arrogance came from Dashkova’s intellectual superiority.
She was also indifferent to her daughter-in-law, abandoned by her son Pavel - the princess did not want to know her or hear the name of the merchant's daughter. Only the unexpected death of Pavel somewhat softened the prince’s arrogance: Dashkova met with her daughter-in-law, both burst into tears and could not utter a word...
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova died in 1810, she was buried in the rural Trinity Church. Before her death, the princess set her maids free, paying them an annual salary, and entrusted her wealth to her nephew, first taking his word that he would change his surname to his aunt’s.
Inna ININA
G. I. Smagina
Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: touches to the portrait
E. P. Dashkova. About the meaning of the word "education". Works, letters, documents / Compilation, introductory article, notes by G. I. Smagina. St. Petersburg, 2001. Scan ImWerden OCR Bychkov M. N. In 1803, Count F. V. Rostopchin, having met the sixty-year-old Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, wrote to London to her brother Count S. R. Vorontsov: “... I met in some houses with your sister, and we could not talk enough and argue among ourselves. She judges things too biasedly and does not want to be convinced that changes and novelties are brought by time itself. It seems to her that she lives in 1762... ". 1 It is absolutely clear that we are talking about the events of June 28, 1762, about the palace coup that brought Catherine II to power. For the nineteen-year-old princess, this day became the “finest hour” in her life. He was so intensely happy, inspired, intense that he left an indelible imprint on her, and the princess carried the memories of these events throughout her life. “The Day of Awe and Happiness,” 2 as E. R. Dashkova would write later, was also the beginning of a misunderstanding between the princess and the empress. The fact is that E.R. Dashkova exaggerated her participation in the coup, and Catherine denied any significance of the princess in its success. Over time, misunderstanding grew into a deep conflict and largely predetermined her future fate. E. R. Dashkova lived a restless life, as she herself believed: “... a stormy and anxious, or rather sorrowful, life, during which I had to hide the suffering of my heart from the world; the severity of this pain cannot be dulled by pride and overcome by strength spirit. You can say about me that I was a martyr - and I will not be afraid of this word, because hiding my feelings or presenting myself in a false light has always been abhorrent to my character.” 3 Contemporaries who wrote a lot about her expressed conflicting opinions, so different that it is sometimes difficult to imagine that we are talking about one person. By the number of reviews about Russian women XVIII-early XIX V. E.R. Dashkova is second only to Catherine II. One of the most insightful and objective characteristics of Princess Dashkova was left by the great French educator Denis Diderot. They met in Paris in 1770 during Catherine Romanovna's first trip to European countries and met often. “Her character is serious, she speaks French fluently; her conversation is restrained, her speech is simple, strong and convincing. Her heart is deeply affected by misfortunes; and her way of thinking shows firmness, height, courage and pride. I am convinced that she loves justice and values her dignity. The princess loves the arts, knows the people and the needs of her fatherland. She sincerely hates despotism and all manifestations of tyranny. She is well acquainted with the present government and speaks openly about the good qualities and shortcomings of its representatives. She accurately and rightly reveals the advantages and vices of the new ones. institutions. ...With the same tone of conviction, she spoke about the virtues and vices of her friends and enemies." 4 Diderot admired the strength of her character “both in hatred and in friendship,” the courage with which she endured her “dark and poor life,” and the naturalness of her behavior. He was greatly impressed by his insight, composure and sound mind. E.R. Dashkova confidentially and frankly tells Diderot about the events that took place in June 1762, and, of course, about Catherine II, “about whom,” as the philosopher notes, “she always speaks with deep respect.” 5 "But why doesn't she love St. Petersburg?" - the wise Diderot asks himself. And he himself subtly and with understanding answers: “I don’t know; maybe she is dissatisfied that her merits are little rewarded; or, having raised Catherine to the throne, she hoped to control her; perhaps Catherine fears that if Dashkova once raised rebellion for her, she will not be afraid to raise it against her either; either she sought the position of minister and even first minister, at least the honor of the state council ... or she does not want to jostle among the herd of new court upstarts ... " 6 And Diderot concludes his observations about E.R. Dashkova’s relationship with Catherine II with the following remark: “It seems that Dashkova learned one bitter lesson from her relations with the court - it cooled her ardent desires for useful and charitable reforms.” 7 In all the details and without embellishment, Diderot describes the princess’s appearance: “Dashkova is by no means a beauty. She is short in stature, with an open and high forehead, with full, swollen cheeks, with medium-sized eyes, somewhat extending onto the forehead, black eyebrows and hair, a slightly flat nose , with a wide mouth, thick lips, a round and straight neck, a national shape, with a bulging chest - she is far from charming; there is a lot of life in her movements, but not grace in her manners; The general facial expression produces favorable impression". 8 Although she was then 27 years old, she seemed to Diderot to be forty years old - so much was her sad life reflected in her appearance.
"Before reaching the age of reason"
Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova (née Vorontsova) was born on March 17, 1743 in St. Petersburg. She was the goddaughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and the Grand Duke, later Emperor, Peter Fedorovich. As you know, the position of the ancient noble family of Vorontsov under Elizabeth was brilliant and influential, this was facilitated by the good relations of Ekaterina Romanovna’s mother Marfa Ivanovna (née Surmina; 1718-1745) with Princess Elizabeth and the active participation of uncle Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov (1714-1767) , married to Elizabeth’s cousin, in enthroning the daughter of Peter I. It is well known how important home and family are for a child. During his infancy and childhood years he is raised exclusively by his family and home environment. Here his inclinations receive their first nourishment, here his sympathies, needs, interests are born, here his character is indicated. The soul of a child is nourished by the impressions received in the family. Ekaterina Romanovna was deprived parental attention and warmth. At the age of two, Ekaterina Romanovna lost her mother. Her father, Roman Illarionovich Vorontsov (1707-1783), paid little attention to raising children, but was more interested in social entertainment. Of the five children, after the death of their mother, only one eldest son, Alexander (1741-1805), remained at home. The second son, Semyon Vorontsov (1744-1832), was raised by his grandfather. The eldest daughters Maria (married Buturlina; 1737-1765) and Elizaveta (married Polyanskaya; 1739-1792) lived at court and were appointed ladies-in-waiting. The younger Ekaterina was on the estate with her grandmother Fedosya Ivanovna Surmina. When the girl was four years old, her uncle M.I. Vorontsov, then chancellor, took her into his care. At that time, the Vorontsovs lived in an old house on Sadovaya Street in St. Petersburg, on the site of which in 1749-1757. According to the design of F.B. Rastrelli, a magnificent palace was built, which has survived to this day. 9 Here she grew up and was raised together with Anna Mikhailovna Vorontsova (1743-1769), the only daughter of the chancellor, her same age. 10 “A common bedroom, the same teachers, even dresses made of the same piece of material - everything, it seemed, should have made us completely alike,” E. R. Dashkova recalled about her childhood, “however, in life there was no there were women more different than us." 11 Chancellor M. I. Vorontsov, who was interested in literature and science, and patron of M. V. Lomonosov, tried to give his daughter and niece a good education, according to the concepts of that time. They knew four languages - Italian, German and one of the ancient ones, they spoke French especially well, danced beautifully, and knew how to draw. They even expressed a desire to take Russian language lessons. But, apparently, success in her native language was not great, and after a few years E.R. Dashkova had to learn Russian again in order to talk with her mother-in-law and her husband’s relatives who did not know French. Catherine Wilmot’s impression of the princess’s command of foreign languages, recorded on October 1, 1805, has been preserved: “...she speaks English wonderfully, incorrectly like a child, but with extraordinary expressiveness! She doesn’t care whether she speaks French or Russian or in English, and she constantly mixes these languages in one sentence. The princess speaks German and Italian also well, but here her unclear pronunciation makes it impossible to enjoy the conversation.” 12 Subjects also included history, geography, arithmetic and catechism. And, despite the fact that there was no “vocal or instrumental” teacher in the house, the princess later recalled, “I understood music so brilliantly that I could judge its beauty as a true virtuoso.” 13 From childhood, Ekaterina Romanovna had a lot of pride in her nature, mixed with extraordinary tenderness. “I longed to be loved and wanted to interest everyone I loved; when, at the age of thirteen, it seemed to me that I did not evoke such feelings, I would have considered myself a rejected creature.” 14 The reality in which she lived did not correspond to her ideas about happiness, which she associated “with life surrounded by tender family and friends.” 15 “My uncle was too busy,” she recalls, and his wife had “neither ability nor desire” to raise children. She saw her sisters and younger brother very rarely and met only with her older brother Alexander Vorontsov, with whom she would have warm and friendly relations all her life. But Uncle M.I. Vorontsov, with the consent of Elizaveta Petrovna, sends Alexander to study in Paris, and Ekaterina Romanovna will write with bitterness: “I have no one left whose tenderness could soften the pain of a heart wounded by the indifference that surrounded me...”. 16 Books became her favorite and best friends. The chancellor had an extensive library, and I. I. Shuvalov, encouraging her love of reading, began to supply her with books and literary novelties. Ekaterina Romanovna reads with rapture all day and night. Non-childish books and non-childish thoughts led to early development. “Deep sadness, reflection on myself and the people of the circle to which I belonged, changed my lively, cheerful and mocking character. I became serious, diligent, spoke little and only about what I knew enough.” 17 Her favorite authors were French philosophers, publicists, poets - P. Bayle, S. L. Montesquieu, Voltaire, N. Boileau and especially C. A. Helvetius. 18 When she was 16 years old, her own library consisted of 900 volumes, since she used almost all her pocket money to purchase books. 19 Buying the Encyclopedia by D. Diderot and D'Alembert gives her more pleasure than a precious necklace. “I was content and calm,” she writes, “only when I was immersed in reading. I realized that loneliness is not always painful, and I tried to find support in courage, firmness and peace of mind." 20 The independence of character is evidenced by the goal that she set for herself: "To achieve everything on our own, doing without outside help." 21 Perhaps the main circumstances that influenced the formation of Ekaterina Romanovna’s character were the loneliness that she began to feel very early in her uncle’s house, and the freedom that she enjoyed from the age of thirteen. Freed from the supervision of the governess, she was left to herself. She did only what she liked: read, played music, thought, went only to places where she was not bored, and gradually got used to being guided only by her desires. This could undoubtedly contribute to the development of independence and that excessive originality in habits. which later distinguished Princess E. R. Dashkova. The atmosphere of the chancellor’s house was “saturated” with politics. Even the furniture with which the house was furnished was donated to M. I. Vorontsov by Louis XV in the hope of persuading the chancellor to an alliance with France. Ekaterina Romanovna constantly became a witness. free political conversations, which certainly influenced her impressionable nature. Meeting with foreign ambassadors at her uncle’s house, she asked them with great attention and interest about political structure and the customs of their countries. And it was then that a passionate desire to travel arose in her. The writer-historian D. L. Mordovtsev managed to create an excellent psychological portrait of young Ekaterina Romanovna: “Early on, a vague consciousness of her strength and a sense of rich internal inclinations manifested itself in her, and this was revealed in her, on the one hand, as a kind of pride, recognition of herself something more than what they thought to see in her, and on the other hand, a passionate desire to share feelings, impressions, knowledge - a desire for friendship and love. But she could not find a response to all this in anyone: with her co-educator. she did not see eye to eye, and had no other relatives close to her, and she only cultivated deep friendship in herself for her brother Alexander, for whom she had this feeling all her life, just as in general all her affections were distinguished by completeness and some kind of completeness: she I gave myself over to the feeling." 22
“From that time on, a new world opened up for me...”
In the winter of 1758/1759, at her uncle’s house, Catherine Romanovna met Grand Duchess Catherine, the future Empress Catherine II. "We both felt mutual sympathy for each other, and the charm that always emanated from Grand Duchess, especially if she wanted to attract someone to her side, was too strong for a naive creature, who was not even fifteen years old, to give her his heart forever,” recalled Princess Dashkova. 23 This meeting marked the beginning of their friendship However, later it was far from stable and replete with numerous misunderstandings. In February 1759, Ekaterina Romanovna married Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Dashkov (1736-1764). Her marriage was based on mutual sympathy and was accompanied by various romantic circumstances. Elizaveta Petrovna herself participated. “From that time on, a new world opened up for me, a new field of life, before which I was shy all the more because I did not find in it any resemblance to what I was used to,” 24 the princess recalled a year later. After the wedding, her daughter Anastasia was born (married to Shcherbinin; 1760-1831), who subsequently caused her a lot of grief. In February 1761, her son Mikhail was born, who died in infancy. Much has been written about the events of June 28, 1762, thanks to which Catherine II ascended the throne, and about the role of E.R. Dashkova in them. 25 Even almost half a century later, having experienced many difficult feelings and disappointment in Catherine, the princess continued to consider June 28, 1762 “the most memorable and glorious” day in the history of Russia. Nineteen-year-old E. R. Dashkova participates in the palace coup with delight, devotion and courage. “In order to judge my deeds and motives in this era, one should not lose sight of the fact that I acted under the influence of two rash circumstances: firstly, I was devoid of any experience; secondly, I judged others by my own own feelings, thinking about all of humanity better than it really is,” she wrote in 1804-1805 to her friend Catherine Hamilton. 26 A. I. wrote beautifully about relations with Catherine after the coup, or rather about the cooling of relations. Herzen in his vivid and emotional essay about E.R. Dashkova: “Because, by the way, she believed and wanted to believe in the ideal Catherine, she could not resist being in mercy. And she would be a glorious minister. Undeniably gifted state mind, she, in addition to her enthusiasm, had two big shortcomings that prevented her from making a career: she did not know how to remain silent, her language is sharp, caustic and does not spare anyone except Catherine; Moreover, she was too proud, did not want and could not “belittle her personality,” as the Moscow Old Believers put it.” Catherine “moved away from her,” Herzen continues, “with the speed of truly royal ingratitude.” 27 The empress’s rapid cooling towards Ekaterina Romanovna was very frightened by her relatives. The princess’s uncle, M. I. Vorontsov, on August 21, 1762, in a letter to his nephew A. R. Vorontsov, Ekaterina Romanovna’s brother, wrote with undisguised irritation: “She (Dashkova.-- G.S.), as far as it seems to me, has a depraved and vain disposition, more in vanities and imaginary high mind, spends his time in science and emptiness. I am afraid that with her caprices and immoderate behavior and comments she will not anger the Empress so much that she will not be removed from the court, and therefore our family in her fall will not have a vain vice from the public. True, she had a great part in the successful accession to the throne of our most merciful empress, and in this we should greatly glorify and honor her; Yes, when behavior and virtues do not correspond to merit, then nothing else can follow but contempt and destruction." 28 And two months later, in another letter to the same addressee, he adds: “She does not attract anyone to her love with her behavior.” 29 However, the relationship between the princess and the court was not completely ruined; when on May 12, 1763, Catherine Romanovna’s son Pavel (1763-1807) was born, he was baptized by Empress Catherine II and Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich on August 17, 1764, at the age of two. Prince M. I. Dashkov died at the age of 28. “After his death, extraordinary melancholy killed every other feeling in me.” 30 But even such terrible grief did not soften her relatives. writes: “We learned from the newspapers that Prince Mikhailo Ivanovich died in Poland; since he was a man of an honest and very kind heart and of course not a participant in the furies and frenzies of his wife, then everyone here regrets him ... ". 31 After the death of her husband, huge debts remained, and only by resorting to the most severe economy and prudence, she managed pay off debts. “Thanks to frugality, the sale of jewelry and silverware, all my husband’s debts, to my great satisfaction,” we read in the “Notes,” “were paid within five years. If you had told me before my marriage that, having been brought up in luxury and extravagance, in my 20s I would deny myself everything except the simplest clothes, I would not have believed it. But just as I had to be a governess and nurse for my children, I wanted to become a good manager of their estates, and therefore no hardships were a burden." 32
First trip abroad
In December 1769, E.R. Dashkova, with her nine-year-old daughter Anastasia and six-year-old son Pavel, went on her first trip abroad to Europe. “The main purpose of my trip abroad was,” writes the princess, “to get acquainted with various cities and choose the most suitable one for my children to receive an education. I was perfectly aware that in our country it is not often possible to meet people who are capable of teaching children well, besides, the flattery of servants and the pampering of relatives would interfere with the kind of education I was striving for.” 33 Having left Moscow, she arrived in Berlin via Riga, Koenigsberg and Danzig, where she spent two months. From here, through Westphalia and Hanover, I arrived in the Belgian resort town of Spa. There she met two Irish women - Katherine Hamilton and Elizabeth Morgan, with whom she maintained friendly relations for many years. Having a desire to visit England, the princess studied English: “In the mornings, both of my friends are Irish (Hamilton and Morgan.-- G.S.) they came to read some English book with me in turn and corrected my pronunciation; I had no other teachers of English, but soon I began to speak it quite fluently." 34 From Spa, the princess made a trip to England, visiting London, Portsmouth, Salisbury and Bath. From Bath she went to Bristol, Oxford and Windsor. Returning to Russia, E.R. Dashkova published a description of this trip: “The Journey of a Russian Noble Lady through Some Aglian Provinces.” 35 According to the observation of the famous English scientist E.G. Cross, this was the first message of this kind in the Russian press. 36 England produced a great deal. impression on the princess. “I liked England more than other states,” wrote E. R. Dashkova. - Their government, education, circulation, their public and private life, mechanics, buildings and gardens - everything borrows from the structure of the first and surpasses the extensive experiments of other peoples in similar enterprises. The love of the English for the Russians should also have attracted me to them." 37 In her published notes, the princess, with keen interest and observation, describes the country houses and gardens of the English lords, talks about cathedral churches, the remains of an ancient Druid temple that fascinated her, about baths, festivities , entertainment. During her travels, she visits museums, libraries, factories, shops. In particular detail, she describes the buildings and structure of the oldest university in Great Britain in Oxford. Before leaving Oxford for London, E.R. Dashkova, as she wrote, was visited by the “vice.” the university chancellor with his staff and in his robe and in all ceremonial appearance, who, in his name and that of the entire university, presented me with a book with prints of all the ancient statues and bas-reliefs they keep, which, they say, is an honor for rare travelers." 38 In November 1770 E. R. Dashkova and her children arrived in Paris, where she spent 17 days. She visited monasteries, churches, galleries, where she could examine statues, paintings, and monuments; I went to artists’ studios and attended performances. “A simple black dress, the same scarf around my neck, and the modest hairstyle of a city woman hid me from prying eyes.” 39 In Paris she met Denis Diderot. 40 “In the evening,” Diderot later recalled in an article about Dashkova, “I came to talk to her about subjects that her eyes could not understand and with which she could become fully familiar only with the help of long experience—laws, customs, government, finance, politics, lifestyle, science, literature; I explained all this to her, as far as I knew.” 41 A warm, trusting relationship arose between them. And more than 30 years after the first meeting with the French philosopher, recalling wise conversations with him, Ekaterina Romanovna wrote soulfully: “Everything admired me about Diderot, even this ardor, stemming from the ardor of feelings and liveliness of perception. His sincerity, friendliness, insight and deep intelligence tied me to him for the rest of my life. I mourned his death and until my last breath I will not stop regretting him. This extraordinary mind was little appreciated. 42 After her stay in Paris, E.R. Dashkova went to the south of France, where she spent the winter, and in the spring she went to Switzerland to “bow” to the great Voltaire. In her youth, the princess read his works; he was her favorite writer and played an extremely important role in shaping her worldview. And even the first printed work of Catherine Romanovna is associated with the name of Voltaire. In 1763, a translation of Voltaire’s essay “An Essay on Epic Poetry,” prepared by the princess, appeared in the magazine “Innocent Exercise,” which she created. 43 In addition to his own translation, the first issue of the magazine included a translation of one of Voltaire’s “Speeches in Poems about Man”, performed by S. I. Glebov. 44 The translation was so successful that a quarter of a century later, at the insistence of E. R. Dashkova, then director of the Academy of Sciences, this work was reprinted in the academic journal “New Monthly Works.” 45 On May 10, 1771, the first meeting of E. R. Dashkova with Voltaire took place. She slightly disappointed the princess, who “wanted to listen to him (Voltaire. - G.S.), admiring him,” 46 but saw a 76-year-old philosopher, seriously ill and half-shattered with paralysis. But, despite his poor health, Voltaire greeted Ekaterina Romanovna with theatrical gestures, did not skimp on flattering words, and their conversation that day lasted about two hours. E R. Dashkova received permission to visit Voltaire again and, taking advantage of this, had the pleasure of enjoying his speeches several more times. “When we were together in the office or in the garden,” the princess recalled, “I saw Voltaire as I imagined. , reading his works." 47 In his farewell letter, Voltaire showered him with compliments: "Princess, the old man, whom you rejuvenated, thanks and mourns you... Happy are those who accompany you to Spa! Unhappy are we whom you leave... on the shores of Lake Geneva! The Alpine mountains will long echo with the echo of your name - a name that forever remains in my heart, full of surprise and respect for you." 48 Such enthusiastic words were not only a tribute to politeness. In a letter to Catherine II on May 15, 1771, "old Ferney “hermit,” as he called himself, spoke of E.R. Dashkova in the warmest words, portraying her as the empress’s most faithful subject: “First of all, I must inform you that I had the honor of seeing Princess Dashkova in my desert. As soon as she entered the hall, she immediately recognized your portrait, woven in satin and decorated with garlands around it. Your image, of course, has special power, because I saw that when the princess looked at this image, her eyes were watered with tears. She spoke to me for four hours in a row about Your Imperial Majesty, and the time seemed to me no more than four minutes." 49 In 1772, E. R. Dashkova returned to St. Petersburg. Catherine received her with friendly attention and sent her "for her first needs" 10 thousand rubles, then another 60 thousand. “I was extremely surprised by this act, which was not at all like the empress’s treatment of me during the ten years that had passed since her accession to the throne,” the princess noted in “Notes 50 Bolshoi.” Joy and consolation for Ekaterina Romanovna was the meeting with her father R.I. Vorontsov, who, after his daughter’s participation in the palace coup of 1762, did not even want to see her, “... although he did not help in any way, he did what was much better for me more expensive: he treated me with respect and kindness, which I was previously deprived of due to the slander of ill-wishers." 51
"...a gentle but prudently loving mother"
“At the age of 16 I was a mother... My daughter could not stammer a single word, and I was already thinking of giving her perfect upbringing. I I was convinced that in four languages, which I knew well, by reading everything that was written about education, I would be able to extract the best, like a bee, and from these parts to form a whole that would be wonderful,” wrote Ekaterina Romanovna. 52 Involuntarily I remember the lines from the memoirs of the princess A. T. Bolotov: “Blessed are the children for whom their parents take care in their very infancy and make efforts to correct their morals.” 53 Ekaterina Romanovna was just such a mother. She paid a lot of attention to her children. and after the death of her husband, she completely devoted herself to them. She was constantly nearby, surrounded them with care, tenderness, affection. When the children were sick, she did not leave the bed: “In confusion and fears for his (son. - G.S.) life, I forgot about my rheumatism and remained barefoot next to his bed all night." 54 The children received their initial education at home. Here they learned to read and write, foreign languages, and mastered the skills of social behavior. When Anastasia was 9 years old, and Pavel 6, together with their mother They made their first three-year trip abroad, during which they became acquainted with many European sights, which certainly contributed to their education. Often the princess even used the difficulties of the journey for educational purposes. When they crossed the English Channel on a ship and a severe storm began, the children were very frightened. "I took this opportunity to show them how much courage is higher than childish cowardice. I drew their attention to the behavior of the captain and the English sailors in such a critical circumstance and, making them feel that God's plans require obedience and are always wise, I ordered them to calm down. They listened to me more than I had hoped, for I soon had the good fortune to see them sleeping in a quiet sleep, despite the storm, which roared in a truly terrifying way." 55 In 1776, when her daughter was 16 and her son was 13 years old, she wrote, trying be objective: "Experiencing tender feelings towards them (children. - G.S.), I am by no means blind, for I do not at all like their shortcomings, although I am pleased that they are honest in character and kind-hearted, however, I do not consider my children perfect in everything; and I made it an immutable rule to see them as they are, and not as most parents see their children." 56 E. R. Dashkova’s special concern was the upbringing of her son, whom she “intended” for military service and wanted to give him “the education necessary to succeed in it.” 57 She dealt with such an important task with all the tenderness of her mother’s feelings and with all the determination inherent in her character. He was enrolled in military service and promoted to cornet in the same year. But he remained with his mother, who supervised his education. By the age of thirteen, Pavel Dashkov, according to his mother, was quite familiar with history and geography, the basics of geometry, and knew French. German, Latin and English, could carry out translations. He was tall and strong, because he was “accustomed to an active and harsh life.” 58 To complete the education of E. R. Dashkova’s son, the oldest university in Scotland was chosen. The history of higher education in Edinburgh began in 1583 with the founding of the University College of Law. By the 70s. XVIII century The University of Edinburgh has gained European fame as a center of active scientific activity, fundamental education and less expensive than Cambridge and Oxford. The breadth and variety of subjects studied, a flexible curriculum, a high scientific level of teachers, a certain freedom that allows professors, in addition to the mandatory cycles, to additionally announce courses of lectures, excellent teaching, and the opportunity to engage in independent scientific work attracted students from Europe and America here. IN early XVIII V. at the University of Edinburgh there were 8 professors and about 300 students, and by 1800 these figures had increased to 21 and 1200 respectively. According to the observation of the English scientist E. Cross, from 1774 to 1787 the number of foreign students included approximately 16 Russians. 59 The Hungarian writer Timan, who visited the University of Edinburgh in 1781, wrote: “Whenever the English speak to me of the Scots in that contemptuous tone that is sometimes characteristic of them, I advise them to go to Edinburgh and there learn to live and be men. Your scientists - Robertson, Black and Hume - are looked upon here as first-rate geniuses." 60 The American educator, one of the authors of the “Declaration of Independence of the United States,” Thomas Jefferson, traveling around Scotland at the same time, had to admit that in terms of science “there is no place in the world that could compete with Edinburgh.” 61 In 1776, the American statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin visited the university, who noted with delight: “At this time here (at the University of Edinburgh.-- G.S.) a "bouquet" of truly great people was collected, professors in every branch of science that has ever existed in any time or country." 62 The pride and glory of the University of Edinburgh in the 70s and 80s of the 18th century was the historian and philosopher David Hume, professor of physics and mathematics, founder of sociology Adam Ferguson, professor of rhetoric and belles lettres Hugh Blair, professor of chemistry who discovered carbon dioxide , Joseph Black, professor of mathematics Dugald Stewart, professor of world history, future president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh John Pringle, etc. The creation of such an amazing scientific and educational oasis or “Athens of the North,” as the University of Edinburgh was called, was greatly facilitated by the reform activities of William Robertson. Scottish historian William Robertson (1721-1793) was born into a priest's family in the small town of Borthwick near Edinburgh. 63 In 1735--1741 studied at the University of Edinburgh, after which he preached for 10 years in various church parishes in Scotland. At the same time, he diligently studied the history of Scotland and participated in the discussion of important government issues. He gained the greatest fame by participating in discussions in 1751-1752. on the question of whether parishioners should choose priests or appoint them “from above.” Robertson believed that priests should be appointed, since the alternative solution would destroy the authority of the church, and therefore undermine the foundations of society. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, Robertson as a statesman was distinguished by tolerance and a strong desire to maintain public order and stability in the country. In 1759, the scientist's first major historical work on the history of Scotland was published. The book aroused keen interest among the reading public and brought Robertson enormous popularity. In 1762 he was appointed rector of the University of Edinburgh and remained in this post for 30 years until 1792. In 1763 Robertson was elected chairman of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and appointed royal historiographer. Despite his active government activities, Robertson published “The History of the Reign of Emperor Charles V” in 1769, and in 1777 the first part of “The History of America” was published, which was immediately translated into French and German. At the end of 1782, at a meeting of professors at the University of Edinburgh, Robertson proposed a plan for establishing a scientific society on the model of some foreign academies. In 1783, on the university's 200th anniversary, the Royal Society of Edinburgh was founded. Robertson was elected head of the literary class. In Russia they were familiar with the historical works of the scientist. In 1775--1778. The History of Charles V was translated and published in 2 volumes, and in 1784 the first volume of the History of America. English historical school of the 18th century. “for his philosophical mind, criticism and noble eloquence” he highly appreciated N. M. Karamzin. He read Robertson’s books like ABC, and the name of the English historian is often found in the writer’s notebook and in “Letters of a Russian Traveler.” 64 "...Robertson, Hume, Gibbon influenced History with the attractiveness of the most curious novel, the clever arrangement of actions, the painting of adventures and characters, thoughts and style. After Thucydides and Tacitus, nothing can compare with the Historical Triumvirate of Britain (i.e. Robertson, Hume and Gibbon. G.S.)". 65 Since the princess dreamed of giving her son an English education, it should be noted that the choice of university was made very successfully. The “tender but prudently loving mother” wanted to see V. Robertson as her son’s mentor, since she revered and respected him “as a virtuous man.” 66 While on her way to Edinburgh, the princess sent three letters to Robertson: on August 30, October 9 and November 10, 1776. She tried to convince the rector of the University of Edinburgh to personally observe her son’s studies and tried to dispel his fears that due to his young age. The prince (in 1776 he was 13 years old) should have postponed his entry into the university, “... I dare to assure you, dear sir,” wrote E.R. Dashkova, “that my son will not bother you in this regard no difficulties, and you will greatly oblige me if you yourself prescribe to me everything that you consider necessary, and I ask for myself only one thing - permission to stay in the same city as him; I am convinced, dear sir, that if my son is under your leadership, then neither my care nor the care of anyone else will be necessary for him, but let me at least be his nurse in case that turns out to be necessary, for no one else can do this except the mother...” 67 In her second letter on October 9, 1776, the princess described in great detail the subjects already covered by her son and the knowledge he had acquired. But most importantly, she proposed a plan for her son’s education at Edinburgh university for two and a half years or five semesters: “1 semester. Languages, rhetoric and belles lettres, history and structure of various forms of government. Mathematics. Logics. 2nd semester. Languages, rhetoric, history and structure of various forms of government, mathematics, rational philosophy, experimental physics, fortification and drawing. 3rd semester. Elegant literature. History and structure of various forms of government, fortification, natural law and general public law, mathematics, physiology and natural history. Drawing. 4th semester. Morality, mathematics, fortification, universal and fundamental law of peoples, general principles of jurisprudence, civil architecture. 5th semester. Moral. Repetition of physics, the beginnings of chemistry and, in conclusion, a general and logical repetition of what has been learned." 68 “What a long register of knowledge, worthy of the enormous mind and memory of Aristotle, the boy should have mastered during the relatively short period of the Dashkovs’ stay in Scotland,” says V. Ogarkov. 69 “She did not care about her son’s acquisition of at least a less extensive range of knowledge, but more thoroughly... And it is quite possible that the boy overlearned, became disgusted with science, soon forgot all this and, in general, sadly compromised his entire future. "praised" education of the mother," writes N. Vasilkov. 70 Similar assessments of the curriculum compiled by the princess for her son are found in many researchers of the life and work of E. R. Dashkova. But it is apparently necessary to note the following. Firstly , E.R. Dashkova was aware of the fact that “this plan will inevitably cause critical reviews, since it is new and I did not have any known model for its outline,” and she also did not want to be like her parents, as she wrote to Robertson, who "usually confuse what is suitable for one of the parents with what is necessary for the children." 71 Secondly, the extensive curriculum compiled by E. R. Dashkova is not so extensive, but rather common for European universities of the 18th century, for example, for Göttingen. 72 Even the university at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences began its activities in 1726, with the announcement of public lectures on 24 disciplines. 73 And thirdly, the princess’s educational plan was not fully realized. On December 8, 1776, the Dashkov family arrived in Edinburgh. "Mr. Robertson found, to my satisfaction, that my son was quite prepared for university and would be able to successfully study in the classical program." 74 The famous English scholar Anthony Cross, after working with documents from the University of Edinburgh, noted that the young prince was included in the lists of students in courses taught by Hugh Blair (twice), John Robison (twice), Bruce (twice), Dugald Stewart (twice), Joseph Black and Adam Ferguson. 75 This means that the subjects of study were rhetoric, belles lettres, logic, physics, ethics, mathematics and chemistry. “I myself experienced all sorts of hardships, but they were indifferent to me, because I was completely captured by maternal love and parental responsibilities. The desire to give my son the best education absorbed me entirely,” writes E. R. Dashkova later. 76 University professors, whose lectures my son listened to, were invited to dinner twice a week; conversations with them gave rise to admiration, joy and peace: “I I met professors worthy of respect for their intelligence, enlightenment and morality. They were free from conceit and envy - the lot of small souls; they lived among themselves like brothers who loved and respected each other, and it was pleasant to be in the company of these deeply educated people, who agreed with each other on everything; conversations with them were an inexhaustible source of knowledge." 77 When in 1783 E. R. Dashkova was appointed director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, at the very first meeting, on her recommendation, the historian Robertson and the chemist Black were elected honorary members of the Academy. Prince Dashkov willingly and dutifully studied. His fellow student, the young Irishman William Drennan, noted that “Prince Dashkov attends classes very diligently and completely melted Russian rudeness into French politeness.” 78 At the insistence of his mother, he attended the riding arena and practiced horse riding, and took fencing lessons every three days. Every week the princess gave balls so that her son had the opportunity to have a little fun, relax and practice dancing. summer holidays The Dashkovs traveled to the Scottish mountains. In her “Notes,” Ekaterina Romanovna recalls with particular warmth the years spent in Edinburgh: “... it was the calmest, happiest time that befell me in this world.” 79 In the spring of 1779, Prince Dashkov completed his education at the University of Edinburgh. On April 6 he was awarded a Master of Arts degree. In the article “On the meaning of the word “education”” (1783), Ekaterina Romanovna talks about the procedure and content of the exam: “...at the University of Edinburgh... they examine much more strictly than others; to obtain the degree Magister artium one must know the following sciences so firmly that in a public examination, not only to questions from professors, but also to the upcoming public (for then everyone has the right to propose problems to the candidate) to be able to satisfy themselves with their answer, namely: logic, rhetoric, history, geography, higher mathematics, moral philosophy, jurisprudence, philosophy; natural", experimental physics and chemistry. 80 In the notes to this article, without naming the name of the student, but it is certainly read between the lines, E. R. Dashkova describes the success of a Russian student during the exams: “... some young compatriot of ours, having already been quite prepared for entering classical teaching , in the three years of his stay at a certain university, he graduated from his classical education with amazing success, to which the entire public was several times a witness and judge, together with the professors.” 81 This memorable moment was reflected in the “Notes” of the princess: “The crowd of listeners was huge; his answers in all branches of the sciences studied were so successful that they caused applause (although this is prohibited). My son was awarded the degree of Master of Arts; how I rejoiced at his success , only a mother can imagine." 82 In addition to exams according to university rules, Pavel Dashkov presented a mandatory final essay in Latin - “Dissertatio philosophica inauguralis, de Tragoedia” (“Philosophical dissertation dedicated to tragedy”). It is interesting to note, since this fact has not yet attracted the attention of researchers, that Prince Dashkov’s dissertation was translated into Russian and, under the title “Discourse on a sad theatrical performance,” was published in 1794 in the academic journal “New Monthly Works.” 83 An interesting note from the editors: “This discussion was written by Prince Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov in 1779 in Edinburgh and was proposed by him for competition at this glorious university in obtaining a master’s degree in liberal sciences.” 84 The translation from Latin was carried out by students of the Academy. There is no doubt about the involvement of Princess E.R. Dashkova in the translation and publication of this work; it is only a little surprising that the publication appeared during the years of tense relations between mother and son after his unsuccessful marriage. On May 7, 1779, the Lord Mayor of Edinburgh gave a reception in honor of Prince Dashkov and awarded him the title of honorary citizen of the city. E. R. Dashkova, as a sign of respect, presented the University of Edinburgh with a collection of Russian medals from the birth of Peter the Great to the birth of the future Alexander I. This collection is still kept at the university. After finishing her classes, E.R. Dashkova went on a trip to Europe, which she considered necessary to complete her son’s education. She takes the same thorough approach to organizing the trip as she once did to drawing up a curriculum for it. The princess composes a large letter with recommendations and advice to the young prince on organizing the trip, expresses her understanding of the goals of the trip and behavior during the trip. “Don’t forget,” writes E.R. Dashkova, “that you are not going for pleasure alone, you have no empty time, you are not avoiding the responsibilities of society, which over time will require your services and for which I now want to prepare you abroad by journey; no, you are going to seek and use his instruction. Everything that you have read about the rights, characters and mode of government of other nations, you can now believe in your own experience and thus enter into the career of a husband from your youth. full dignity character and a well-deserved right to approval and distinction." 85 The journey began in July 1779 with a visit to Ireland, then England. Many with whom the princess met and maintained friendly relations regretted her departure. Irish friend of E. R. Dashkova, Lady Arabella Denny wrote to the princess on July 14, 1780: “I have been completely out of my element since you left Ireland. I am used to seeing and talking with you every day; I used your smart advice and owe the improvement of my heart to your feelings; in short, I almost never left you, thanks to your kindness and my curiosity." 86 Knowing what a huge place in the life of E.R. Dashkova her children occupy, how much effort, time and love she devoted to them, all the wishes found in her English letters friends of this time, turned to the future of the children. “We sincerely wish,” wrote Lady Arabella Denny, “that your Lordship, as a mother, will enjoy complete happiness and hope in view of those two moral plants (we are talking about the son and daughter of E.R. . Dashkova - G.S.), which you love so dearly and which, of course, will bear both beautiful flowers and good fruits." 87 The same good wishes are contained in a letter from Edinburgh University professor Hugh Blair dated August 5, 1780, in which he expressed the hope that Princess Dashkova still finds the greatest consolation in her children, and the confidence that her son will live up to those brilliant hopes that everyone who knows him in Scotland connects with his future fate. 88 Leaving England, the Dashkovs visited Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Austria and Germany. Everywhere they examined cities, art galleries, temples, palaces, artists’ workshops, libraries, natural history classrooms “So that the son could become familiar with the art of war,” observed military maneuvers, and examined fortresses and military installations. During the trip, the son continued to study intensively: in Dublin, for example, he studied Italian, read Greek and Latin classics, repeated subjects he had studied in Edinburgh every morning, and took dancing lessons twice a week. In Paris, one of the students of the French mathematician and philosopher D'Alembert taught him mathematics and geometry. The princess compiled a reading program for her son, which was located in chronological sequence and by branches of knowledge. Here, for example, is how this program was implemented in Pisa, where the family spent three months: “At 8 o’clock in the morning, after a light breakfast, the children and I went to study in the most spacious room, facing north. At 11 o’clock we closed the shutters (it was the high season heat -- G.S.) and by candlelight they read in turns until 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Then we changed clothes and had lunch at 5 o’clock. After lunch, another hour was allotted for reading...” 89 E. R. Dashkova was sure that “joint reading with her son for nine weeks brought him great benefit and he managed to read everything that would have taken a young man a year.” 90 Already during her trip to Europe, E. R. Dashkova began to worry about her son’s career. Out of caution, she refused the services of Count G. G. Orlov, when he offered patronage to her son for career advancement, and turned to Prince G. for support. To A. Potemkin, “...if your lordship,” writes the princess from Paris, “would deign to relieve me of concern by becoming the patron of my son, for it is important for me that upon his return to the Fatherland he would not have the misfortune of sitting in one room with the guards, since he is not part of the main headquarters. Arrange, dear sir, so that the happiness of being near his great empress is not combined for him with any humiliation and grief." 91 All letters from E.R. Dashkova to her homeland are filled with anxiety for the future of her son. "Grand Duke (Pavel Petrovich.-- G.S.)“,” she wrote from Pisa to Prince A. B. Kurakin, “does not recognize her godson: he has grown and matured so much. If he is blessed with the patronage of the Grand Duke, I will not regret the lack of importance of our respected Nikita Ivanovich (Panin. - G.S.) leaves him without any support. I flatter myself with the hope that His I.V. will see that he has not neglected anything in order to become capable of serving him, someday as successfully as he will always be zealous in his service." 92 E.R. Dashkova was very worried about the silence Prince Potemkin, and she sent a letter to Catherine II. “I admitted,” the princess recalled in “Notes,” “that pride does not allow me to think that they want to humiliate me, but I feel deep grief at the thought that she is indifferent to mine. children and myself. I begged the empress to calm me down on this matter by promoting my son in rank and providing him with protection. After all, I made every possible effort to give him an education so that he, distinguished by both zeal and ability, could become useful to his homeland. With complete frankness, I asked him to let me know what I could count on for my son, who is the only subject of my concerns. He should not, having returned to his homeland, after all the honors that were shown to him everywhere, feel humiliation because of his low rank...” 93 Soon she received a friendly response from the empress, which brought her “true consolation.” In the summer of 1782 E R. Dashkova and her children returned to St. Petersburg.
"...what a mother's love cannot bear!"
The return to St. Petersburg was overshadowed for Ekaterina Romanovna by her son’s illness. He fell ill with a severe fever, became delirious, and his mother, fearing for his life, spent days and nights at his bedside and, as a result, fell ill herself. The princess's recovery was slow and difficult, which greatly upsets her, since the meeting with the empress is postponed, and, consequently, her son's promotion in the service. Concern for the prosperous future of her son makes the princess forget about her own mental and physical state: “It took me a lot of effort to finally go to Tsarskoe Selo (to Catherine II. - G.S). I was still very weak and, when the carriage shook a little stronger, I again felt pain in all my insides, pouring out cold sweat, and ordered to stop to rest. But what can’t mother’s love endure!” E.R. Dashkova admitted on the pages of her “Notes.” 94 The Empress met Princess Dashkova and her children with extraordinary attention. On June 14, 1782, Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov was appointed adjutant of Prince Potemkin and after two days later he was promoted to captain-lieutenant of the Semenovsky Life Guards Regiment. Brother E. R. Dashkova, always spiritually distant from his sister and often unkind in his assessments of her, S. R. Vorontsov wrote to his father these days: “Sister Katerina Romanovna was in yesterday. Tsarskoye Selo with her son and daughter was received very graciously; today her son was promoted to captain - lieutenant of the guard. He deserves it; for without partiality I can say that I have never seen such a kind, sweet, modest and knowledgeable young man; there is a lot in him that, if divided into different people, there would be many good people." 95 At the beginning of 1783, P. M. Dashkov went south with Potemkin to the active army and in the same year received the rank of lieutenant colonel. "Separation from son was very painful for me. I couldn’t get used to her, but constantly sacrificing personal benefits and joys for the well-being of the children, I agreed to his departure to the army, because it was in the interests of my son.” 96 Catherine II tried to support E. R. Dashkova and advised “to call for help my courage and not to take his departure so close to my heart." 97 In the summer of 1785, Prince Dashkov returned to St. Petersburg for a short time. "I was indescribably glad also because I saw him earlier than I expected. He did not stay long and returned to the army with the rank of colonel. This mercy of the Empress made me happy..." 9 8 The Princess Mother also showed concern for her son's financial affairs. She continued to live very frugally, "wishing to save money for her son in order to be able to support him financially." 99 Soon She transferred to him, by an act approved by the empress, her father’s inheritance and could proudly state that the son “received more than his father left to both children and me, and not a penny of debt. Therefore, I could tell others and, moreover, myself that I did a good job of guardianship over all the estates." 100 The princess constantly felt the absence of her son, often talked to others about it, wrote about her feelings to friends, for example, Professor Robertson in Edinburgh 17 August 1786 : “My son is now in Kyiv with his regiment. I received a letter from him, composed in very few terms, and since he is healthy and doing his service, I should no longer regret his absence, which, by the way, has been going on for 18 months , and for a passionately loving mother, 18 months is still too much; but since then I have become accustomed to living not for myself, but for friends, and I will not allow myself to utter even one sound to call him back, tearing him away from the responsibilities to which determined by service." 101 But if the princess really tries not to bother her son, then she does not leave Prince Potemkin alone and constantly bothers him with petty and annoying requests. Either she begs that the regiment in which her son serves is in a “less harmful climate”; then he conjures to keep him with him, not to allow him to “lag behind” others, “nor rush against others in danger”; either she asks not to take her with her to St. Petersburg, or to be released from the army on her name day. 102 On January 14, 1788, Prince Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov married the unborn and untitled daughter of a merchant, Anna Semyonovna Alferova (1768-1809). E.R. Dashkova took this news very hard, which was kept secret from the princess for some time. She was offended as a mother and as a proud woman: on the one hand, an unequal marriage, on the other, which apparently upset her most, mistrust. “The nervous fever, sadness and grief that took possession of my soul for several days left me with only one ability - to cry,” E. R. Dashkova later admitted. “I compared my son’s action with the behavior of my husband in relation to his mother, when he decided to marry me. In gratitude for the many sacrifices made to the children, and for the perseverance with which I raised my son, he, it would seem, should have shown more trust and respect for me. I always thought that it was more than mine. mother-in-law, I deserve the friendship and respect of my children and that my son will consult with me when taking such a serious and decisive step for our common happiness as marriage.” 103 Pavel Mikhailovich’s marriage was not happy, and the couple did not live together for long. Apparently, the remark of a contemporary, memoirist F. F. Vigel (1786-1856) that Prince Dashkov “didn’t think twice about it, got married without even being seriously in love” was true. 104 Ekaterina Romanovna did not want to recognize her son’s family and saw her daughter-in-law for the first time only after her son’s death in 1807, i.e. 19 years after their wedding. The time after her son's marriage was apparently the saddest in the princess's life. She was completely overcome by “black thoughts” and an inexpressible longing for her children, along with a heavy feeling of loneliness and humiliation. “Only the grace of God helped me cope with them, because from the moment I realized that I had been abandoned by my children, life became a burden for me and I would give it up without struggle or regret to the first person I met who wanted to end it,” she wrote with bitterness of the princess in her “Notes”. 105 Biographers of E.R. Dashkova usually indicate that the princess’s relationship with her son after his marriage was “completely broken.” 106 But what can’t mother’s love endure? And very soon, on the pages of “Notes” and in letters to his brother A.R. Vorontsov, his son appears again, concern for him, a story about solving his problems. And this is not surprising, “since no one and no passion displaced them (the children.-- G.S.) from my heart," the princess admitted. 107 Prince Dashkov spent 1787 and 1788 in the army that was stationed in Poland, Moldova and Bessarabia; in April 1789 he was promoted to brigadier; participated in the capture of Izmail and Bendery; from December 1789 he served in Kiev, where on February 5, 1790 he was promoted to major general. 108 The memoirs of Major General L. N. Engelhardt (1766-1836), who served under the command of Pavel Mikhailovich, are known, exposing the prince as a careless and insufficiently serious commander. : “Under the command of the regiment by Prince Dashkov, the soldiers suffered from many needs; for provisions and fodder, he accepted money and withheld it; the same thing happened with salaries; although after some time it was given, but not in due time, the horses were poorly fed, which is why many carts were taken during campaigns in Poland, why there were constant complaints about the regiment, and during the campaign soldiers dressed up for the regimental convoy so that in difficult places help take you to the mountains. So that the lower ranks would not grumble, the prince gave in to theft, which, in time, gave the Siberian regiment a bad reputation; the colonel had a predilection for some officers, but others were in the pen and suffered various injustices." 109 The death of Empress Catherine II and the accession of Paul brought a brilliant position at court to the son and disgrace to the mother. "Although I passionately wanted to go abroad,” wrote E. R. Dashkova, - but my love for my son prevented this. His affairs were upset, he did not care about them. If I had not made constant efforts to increase my own income, debts, especially in my absence, would have brought my son’s condition to a more than mediocre position.”110 It is known that in July 1799 the princess transferred 9 thousand rubles to her son, and in October - 24 thousand to pay debts. 111 January 4, 1798 Pavel Dashkov was promoted to lieutenant general; he enjoyed the trust and favor of the emperor. But the princess, knowing the changeable character of the sovereign, was very worried about her son: “I did not know peace. neither day nor night, even in a dream, I saw my son exiled to Siberia. In letters to my brother and friends, I asked to inform me about him as soon as possible, and even despite their assurances that he had been appointed commander of the regiment (on March 14, 1798 he was appointed military governor of Kyiv. - G.S.), I could not calm down completely." 112 Internally aware of his mother’s anxiety, on April 28, 1798, the son sends her a letter. “Dear mother... I am now the military governor of Kyiv and inspector of the Ukrainian division... The new appointment has created many envious people for me.. "; then the thirty-year-old son bitterly reports about the envy and malice that surround him at court, talks about an anonymous letter received by the emperor, in which Pavel Dashkov is attributed with "all possible vices and the most rebellious ideas", and how the emperor generously burned the letter. “It’s very nice of him,” he continues the letter with sadness, “but the hatred remains, and one fine day I may be hers.” innocent victim. It’s true that I was born under a bad star, and I will never enjoy happiness...” 113 Pavel Mikhailovich was saddened by his mother’s disgrace. He really wanted to ask the sovereign for permission to return the princess from exile and more than once addressed this to Grand Duke Alexander Pavlovich, the President of the Academy of Sciences, Baron A. L. Nikolai, and through them - to Empress Maria Feodorovna and the Emperor’s favorite E. I. Nelidova. And only on April 13, 1798, Pavel gave permission to E. R. Dashkova to return to Troitskoye and visit. in Moscow, in the absence of the royal court there, the tsar's benevolent position turned out to be fragile and short-lived: on October 24, 1798, Prince Dashkov, a holder of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, resigned with the rank of lieutenant general and retired to his Tambov estate. I he returns to Moscow, where he openly lives with his mistress and continues to serve as the leader of the nobility of the Moscow province. On January 17, 1807, Prince Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov suddenly died at the age of 43. Fate did not spare E.R. Dashkova even in her declining years. She was destined to survive the death of her son. Few, but interesting memories of contemporaries about P. M. Dashkov have been preserved. One of the famous Russian bibliophiles of the first half of the 19th century V. V. G. Anastasevich (1775-1845), who began his career in a regiment under the command of the prince, said that Dashkov kept and carried with him everywhere notes from the lectures he listened to at the University of Edinburgh, and allowed Anastasevich to use the recordings of his lectures. 114 Major General L. N. Engelhardt recalled that Dashkov, in the conditions of difficult military life, had with him a library, from which Engelhardt read “many tactical books.” 115 Vice-Governor of Bessarabia F.F. Wigel testified that the prince was a handsome, prominent man, kind, carefree, cheerful and “passionate for dancing.” 116 Many Englishmen who visited Russia met him and generally found him “an extremely learned and very noble young man,” although, as Jeremy Bentham hinted, he was “too free of speech and overwhelmed by vanity.” 117 The most detailed reviews of P. M. Dashkov are contained in the letters and diary of sisters Martha and Catherine Wilmot, who stayed with the princess for several years in early XIX V. Martha, in a letter to her mother on December 22, 1803, wrote: “Prince Dashkov is very supportive of me. In Russia he is one of the most respected people, who I had to meet; he has an impeccable reputation and is interesting to talk to. The upbringing he received and the principles instilled in him from childhood laid the foundations of his character, not spoiled by bad examples, which is the fate of few." 118 In other letters to her homeland, Martha spoke about meetings and conversations with the prince, about his wit, about inclinations to all kinds pleasures and love for dancing. Thus, Martha, in a letter to a friend on April 9, 1804, talks about dinner with the Georgian archbishop at the Chudov Monastery of the Moscow Kremlin and reports that “everyone really liked Prince Dashkov. In general, wherever he was - at home or abroad - from the very first acquaintance, the prince everywhere became the favorite of people of various strata of society." 119 And the letter to his father on January 3, 1804 is entirely devoted to the elections of the Moscow provincial leader nobility: “Yesterday, Prince Dashkov received from the Moscow nobility an extremely flattering proof of love and respect... Three years ago, Prince Dashkov was elected leader of the Moscow nobility. Yesterday his term of office expired, and new elections were called... The prince intended to resign, but everyone with tears in their eyes began to beg him to again accept the position that he performed with such dignity and nobility. The prince is truly a noble being, moreover, he has delicacy, which is characteristic only of significant personalities. He will never say what he can to anyone. hurt or offend. His courage is well known, but I saw how touching music moved him to tears." 120 The Wilmot sisters were able to understand the complex and intricate relationships in the Dashkov family and tried to soften the painful and acute feeling of grief caused by the unexpected death of P. M. Dashkov. Remembering the prince as a man in the prime of his life and “full of love for the world,” Martha wrote in her diary on January 22, 1807, a few days after this terrible event: “Prince Dashkov had shortcomings, and quite serious ones, but if humanity has ever had a friend, it was he. The prince was unusually sensitive to the experiences and sorrows of other people, I have never heard him refuse to alleviate someone’s fate and not sincerely sympathize with them whom he could not help. , which is his fault. A cruel set of circumstances separated him from his mother. The son never found out that before his death he received his mother’s blessing, since he was unconscious - and this further aggravates his regret about what happened.” 121 Even many years after his death, Prince P. A. Vyazemsky, in a letter on November 2, 1818, to Pavel Mikhailovich’s namesake, writer D. V. Dashkov, wrote: “This is not the first time you have messed with dogs (we are talking about literary critics.-- G.S.). You're not the only one who has her tail between her legs. You are like the late Prince Dashkov (this is apparently some kind of talisman hidden in your mysterious name), who came out disarmed against the most evil dogs and, looking them straight in the eyes, pacified their anger and forced them to caress around him.” 122 All of the above about Pavel Mikhailovich Dashkov, obviously, allows us to treat with some doubt the very low and very unflattering assessments of his personality in historical literature 123 New documents, as well as a deeper study of already known sources, should dispel various distortions and inaccuracies and will allow. evaluate with great confidence the princess’s teaching abilities.
"...about the most excruciating mental pain I have had to endure in my life"
The words in the title belong to E.R. Dashkova and are caused by the actions of her daughter. 124 It is known that excessive parental love can be just as harmful in education as its absence. Excessive love introduces a despotic element into the education process. Careful parents know better than others what their children should do, what they need; make decisions for them, both when they are still small and when they are already adults. They are afraid that the child will not be educated enough, they are afraid that the child will remain stupid, that he will disgrace his parents with his stupidity, that due to his ineptitude he will be unadapted to life, that he will bring misfortune on himself and others... There is no end to parental fears. In short, we can say that parents are afraid of being bad parents. But the child grows up, and overly caring parents impose their help before the child has a need for it, and do not allow the child to develop the ability to recognize good and bad. Princess Dashkova, apparently, belonged to those mothers who, in the name of good, want to live the lives of their children for them. Daughter Anastasia was born in 1760 and was in poor health. In “Notes,” the princess quite often mentions the illnesses of children and admits that the girl “was physically poorly developed.” 125 Anastasia Mikhailovna received an excellent home education under the guidance of E. R. Dashkova. When the girl turned 16, her mother quickly married her off, as she was planning to leave Russia for a long time. Brigadier Andrei Evdokimovich Shcherbinin was chosen as the daughter’s husband. “Under the influence of his parents’ mistreatment of him, he developed a melancholic character, but he was a kind person,” wrote E. R. Dashkova. 126 True, the princess admitted that “Shcherbinin was not the kind of husband I would have wanted for my daughter, but this marriage gave the undeniable advantage that my daughter remained with me and I could look after her.” 127 In this regard, I recall Mrs. Reshimova’s remark from Dashkov’s play “Toisiokov”: “Leave it to me to determine your lot, rely on me, let me decide for you.” 128 Perhaps these words reflect the main thing in the relationship between mother and daughter. The princess did not part with her already married daughter either during her son’s studies at the University of Edinburgh or while traveling around Europe. It is well known what tender feelings she had for her son; apparently, this also left an imprint on the relationship in the family. In addition, the mother’s hopes for a “quiet and serene life” for her daughter in marriage did not come true. The Shcherbinins lived apart for a long time, often argued and periodically separated. After the death of his father, Shcherbinin received a large inheritance. Despite all the persuasion of her mother, Anastasia Mikhailovna decided to return to her husband. “I used everything that good disposition and tenderness could dictate to bring her to reason. Prayer, tears and burning sadness, bordering on despair, brought me to illness. ... I remembered only the grief caused by my daughter who had left me... I foresaw everything that happened next and, knowing my daughter’s extravagance, I understood what disastrous difficulties this would soon lead her to.” 129 The decision to reconcile with her husband was also condemned by Aunt E. R. Polyanskaya in a letter to her brother S. R. Vorontsov on March 19, 1784. 130 “If you had seen,” wrote Ekaterina Romanovna to her elder brother A. R. Vorontsov, “ in the state I am in at the moment, you would be afraid for me.” 131 It is known how hard E.R. Dashkova experienced her son’s marriage, but “the next year,” she admitted, “it became even worse.” 132 The fact is that the princess found out about her daughter’s debts, that she came under police surveillance, she was prohibited from leaving St. Petersburg, and besides, the doctor reported that Anastasia Mikhailovna was very sick and her health was in danger. The princess's heart was torn from pain and bitterness. E.R. Dashkova assumed all obligations to pay off her daughter’s debts, gave her 14 thousand rubles and sent her to the waters in Aachen. It was agreed that after the course of treatment the daughter would return to her mother. Instead, at the end of the season on the waters, A.M. Shcherbinina went to Vienna, from there to Warsaw, spent all the money and incurred many new debts. “I was in despair,” Ekaterina Romanovna wrote bitterly, “at my daughter’s extreme tendency to expose herself to trouble and thereby upset her loving mother, who so generously forgave the suffering caused to her.” 133 And the princess again pays her daughter’s debts. The Empress, knowing about the painful and gloomy relationship between E.R. Dashkova and the children, wrote to her with understanding: “Believe me that I fully sympathize with your mental and physical suffering.” 134 On December 8, 1796, when the princess received news of the exile, the daughter was living with her mother. E.R. Dashkova recalled that this terrible news shocked her daughter: “She hugged my knees and cried.” 135 Anastasia Mikhailovna went into exile with the princess, was with her constantly and spent more than a year in a harsh environment. But even there, mother and daughter could not live peacefully and calmly. After returning from exile to Troitskoye in the spring of 1798, relations did not become warmer or more soulful. The daughter was scandalous, spent money randomly, and incurred debts. .. E. R. Dashkova wrote to her superiors, gave guarantees, ransomed, paid debts, suffered, hoped... On April 9, 1802, the princess wrote to her brother A. R. Vorontsov: “Finally, my daughter is with me; I’m happier that I’ve been feeling very bad for the last two weeks and have become so weak that I can barely make it to the garden. I’m enclosing a letter from her to you.” 136 And here is a letter dated November 30, 1803: “You will see my daughter in St. Petersburg. Six years after I paid all her debts, Chikhachev suddenly made a claim for 10 thousand and six weeks later they sold part of her estate. I am afraid of you I will offend, dear friend, if I ask you to help her; knowing you, I believe, dear friend, that you love my children, who are mine. more valuable than life". 137 Katherine Wilmot met A. M. Shcherbinina in August 1805 in St. Petersburg, where she arrived from England. “Soon after my arrival, Mrs. Shcherbinina visited me,” Katherine wrote home on August 27, 1805. “To her over forty, she complains of a million ailments, but is a model of health. Mrs. Shcherbinina is an intelligent woman, knows languages well and craftswoman fine floorbplease your interlocutor. Not every Englishwoman can express her thoughts in English as well as she can. This lady made me dine with her three times, offered me a carriage and servants for a trip to Moscow, which I considered it my duty to refuse; we walked for hours alone in public parks, truly her courtesy is boundless. Since Mrs. Shcherbinina is with her mother on knives, she didn’t write to her about me, isn’t it funny?” 138 Anastasia Mikhailovna really wanted to win the favor of Katherine, who was not yet personally acquainted with the princess and was just getting ready to go to Moscow. They had lunch together, toured the Russian capital, and before leaving, she gave Shcherbinina a gift Catherine 5 pairs of slippers with silver trim. Since June 1803, Catherine Wilmot's younger sister, Martha, with whom the princess had the brightest moments in the last years of her life, was already visiting E.R. Dashkova. niece A.P. Islenyev (1770--1847) were able to create a friendly and trusting atmosphere in the princess’s house and helped to survive many hard days. This greatly irritated and angered the daughter, causing, as Martha noted in her diary on July 11, 1807, “undisguised hostility and jealousy.” 139 These feelings pushed Shcherbinina, who especially “hated” Martha Wilmot, to monstrously ugly behavior during the funeral of P. M. Dashkov. Shcherbinina screamed hysterically in the church: “Don’t let these English monsters get close to him!” - and tried to remove Martha from the coffin at the last farewell. “It is inconceivable,” Martha wrote in her diary after the funeral, “that a human being, especially a sister, could do such a thing, and even at such a moment!” But it was so, and it is obvious that Mrs. Shcherbinina’s goal was to insult her mother: I saw it in her face." 140 Having learned about what had happened, E.R. Dashkova, heartbroken, wrote a letter to her daughter, apparently her last: “... the whole church was shocked by your frenzied voice, everyone was struck with horror, seeing the inhumanity, anger and intention to kill the mother with the rumor of this godless frenzy; all of Moscow remembers your name with disgust. I forgave you seven times, that only an angel of mercy could forgive... this indignation that you wanted to cause, the order that you gave to my people, and the various slander that you wanted in vain. assert in Moscow, they prove that it’s time for me to take precautions against you.” 141 E. R. Dashkova deprived her “tormentor” daughter of her inheritance and forbade her to let her in even for the last farewell: “... in my house, which does not belong to her, not to let her, and if the excuse is to say that my body owes her last debt wants to give it away, then appoint her a church where my body will stand.” 1 42
"Love for the Fatherland is the first and most necessary virtue in a citizen"
E. R. Dashkova was familiar with many achievements of pedagogical science of the 18th century, and was especially sympathetic to the views of the English philosopher and teacher John Locke (1632-1704). Views on issues of education fit into the spiritual atmosphere of the Enlightenment. She outlined her pedagogical program most fully in the articles “On the meaning of the word “education””, “On true well-being”, published in the magazine “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word”; 143 “On Virtue”, “Let the Russians Be Russians” - in the magazine “New Monthly Works”, 144 as well as in letters to the rector of the University of Edinburgh W. Robertson and the Wilmot sisters. 145 E.R. Dashkova considered education as the most important factor in the formation of the human personality. Properly delivered, it creates a person with high social interests and moral aspirations. The main thesis of her concept of education is that the only source of well-being for a person and society is virtue, i.e. “that mental disposition that constantly directs us to actions that are useful to ourselves, our neighbors and society.” 146 According to the princess, virtue, which is “perfect and graceful”, “indispensable, immovable” at all times, is justice,“...if a person could always judge without bias,” she wrote in the article “On Virtue,” about those who love and hate him, as well as about himself, if he always judged his own affairs fairly, then everything would other virtues were not burdensome for him; then he would not consider as a sacrifice what he understood to be a duty, and practical virtues would seem ordinary and natural to him.” 147 Ekaterina Romanovna proposed establishing an annual prize for best essay in poetry or prose, dedicated to virtue. 148 The princess’s reasoning about the moral qualities of a person is interesting. She was convinced that an educated person should be fair, honest, philanthropic, prudent, generous, humble, noble, moderate, meek, patient and forgiving. "These special virtues give rise to good behavior, which constrains and affirms the social union and without which peoples cannot prosper." 149 In the "Notebook" E.R. Dashkova continues this theme and lists the indispensable qualities of individual citizens. A warrior first of all needs "fearlessness in danger, tirelessness in work, courage and firmness in all cases"; to the judge - "enlightenment, justice, caution, selflessness and firmness"; to the merchant - "order, truthfulness and caution." The best adornment of a woman, according to E. R. Dashkova, is "modesty, bashfulness , adherence to morality, care of the household, tenderness of heart and homebody." 150 In the articles "Sincere Regret", 151 "Notes of a Pedlar", 152 "Party", 153 "Pictures of My Relatives...", 154 "Truths that You Know and one must remember in order to, following them, avoid misfortunes" 155 E. R. Dashkova showed the vices of Russian life at that time: idleness, drunkenness, lies, poverty of spiritual needs, obvious disdain for enlightenment, contempt for Russian culture. Most of E.R. Dashkova’s notes and arguments were aimed at condemning Russian society’s excessive passion for French “fashionable, windy education.” Dashkova considers not only not useful, but also harmful, the desire of parents “to raise their children somehow, just not in the Russian way, so that through our upbringing we do not resemble Russians.” Like M.V. Lomonosov and N.I. Novikov, she sought to spread education to national basis , condemning the nobles for the stupid custom of inviting educators and teachers from foreigners into their families, who were often themselves complete ignoramuses, but knew how to very cleverly mislead the Russians. She also condemned the established practice of sending noble sons to study abroad, when they received little knowledge, but quickly learned the ability to waste their lives. To counteract foreign influence, E.R. Dashkova advises using moral inoculation, i.e. education, “...fathers and mothers, taking the place of a French teacher and madame, raising children as loyal Russian subjects, teach them the fear of God, loyalty to the sovereign and commitment unlimited to the Fatherland: this is the moral inoculation that we need hour by hour, as the debauchery and spreading French philandering grows." 156 And further in the “Letter to the publisher of the Russian Messenger,” she ironically notes: “If instead of an important, respectful or at the behest of a favorable and favorable Russian bow, the custom of curtseying in French was introduced by foreigners, I will ask whether we have been enlightened through that... ". 157 E.R. Dashkova carried her love for the Fatherland and respect for the historical past of Russia throughout her life. Many of her works are permeated with patriotic aspirations. “Love for the Fatherland is the first and most necessary virtue in a citizen,” the princess repeated repeatedly. 158 This theme was continued in a letter to the editor of “New Monthly Works” in 1792: “... let the Russians be Russians, and not imitators of a bad original; let us always be patriots; let us preserve the character of our forefathers, who have always been unshakable in Christian faith and loyalty to our sovereign; and may we love Russia and Russians more than foreigners!” 159 The main goal of education, according to E. R. Dashkova, is to instill “in the tender hearts” of pupils “love of truth and the Fatherland, respect for church and civil laws”, respect for parents, “disgust for selfishness” and the conviction of the truth “that it is impossible to be prosperous when you do not fulfill the duty of your calling.” 160 E. R. Dashkova understood that the process of education begins in the family, and emphasized that the success of family education largely depends on the lifestyle of the parents themselves, who are the closest example for children. If this example is positive, then it will contribute to a “good” upbringing, and vice versa. She strongly encouraged parents to create a “way of life” that would serve as an excellent model for their children. In the article “On the meaning of the word “education”,” the author offers some axioms that, in her opinion, parents and educators need to know: "Upbringing It is taught more by examples than by precepts. Upbringing It begins earlier and ends later than is generally thought. Upbringing does not consist in external talents alone: an adorned appearance... without acquiring the beauties of the mind and heart there is only puppetry... Upbringing does not consist only in the acquisition of foreign languages...". 161 "True or perfect" education, according to E. R. Dashkova, consists of three main parts: physical education, "concerning one body", moral, "having the subject of education hearts," and finally, the school, or classical, "dealing with the enlightenment or education of the mind." 162 Between these parts there is mutual connection and addiction. E.R. Dashkova considered the physical education of a child as the most important condition for the formation of his personality, “for it is difficult to caress yourself with the hope of seeing the actions of a great spirit from an exhausted and weak body, which are always associated with labor, and often with danger.” 163 Satisfying the child's needs for care, food, clothing, sleep, as well as development physical strength the child’s body—that’s what, in her opinion, physical education should consist of. Moral education occupied a special place in the pedagogical program of E. R. Dashkova. It is fulfilled “when children are taught patience, benevolence, and prudent obedience” and form the conviction that "rules of honor There is law, to whom they obey All degrees and status." 164 Moral education, according to the princess, is based "on the rules of the law, on love for the Fatherland and on one’s own self-esteem, as a strong, brave people and distinguishing itself from others by morality and many virtues." 165 Moral education of children she sought to combine it with religion, since she saw the basis of virtue in Christian teaching. Many of her advice and instructions on. moral education had Christian teaching as their starting point. The training took pedagogical theory E.R. Dashkova is essentially in last place. I am “more concerned about the moral state and mental makeup of my son than I could ever be concerned about the level of his knowledge,” wrote Ekaterina Romanovna on October 9, 1776 to V. Robertson. 166 This was in the spirit of the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment. Following D. Locke, I. I. Betskaya and N. I. Novikov adhered to the same arrangement of educational principles. In the article “On the meaning of the word “education”,” the princess reveals the content of school education. 167 It should begin, according to E.R. Dashkova, with the mandatory study of " natural language". Latin and Greek should be learned "to gain beauty and lofty thoughts in mature years", German, English and French - for communication with foreigners. "Every person needs it," says E. R. Dashkova, and arithmetic. Using her acquaintance with the curriculum of the University of Edinburgh, E. R. Dashkova offers the most intense program for teaching youth, including logic, rhetoric, history, geography, higher mathematics, moral philosophy, jurisprudence, natural philosophy, experimental physics and chemistry 168 And, as it were, summing up. line under her reasoning “On the meaning of the word “education””, E. R. Dashkova notes: “... testing convinces us more strongly than what instructions or books are convenient to convince us 169 E. R. Dashkova believed that “for.” perfect education for a person preparing to be useful to society," he should definitely make a trip. Indeed, nothing affects the imagination so strongly and nothing sinks into the soul so deeply and firmly as direct contemplation of the diversity of nature and the life of peoples. The main goal of such an educational journey, according to E. R. Dashkova, is “not to miss a single opportunity to acquire knowledge.” 170 The princess wrote a special instruction in which she noted that the main means " smart travel" is a constant attention, and tried to identify the objects of knowledge during the trip, to which she referred: "... the nature and form of government, laws, morals, influence, population, trade; geographical and climatic conditions, foreign and domestic politics, works, religion, customs, sources of wealth, real and imaginary means of public credit, taxes, duties and various conditions of various classes." 171 She set aside two years for the journey. The princess considered the main result of such a journey useful knowledge , which are necessary in order to “comparing foreign life with the life of your Fatherland, trying to correct what you find bad in it, establishing what you consider useful for its well-being, you will be a friend and benefactor of your country.” 172 E. R. Dashkova, as a person who traveled a lot, developed a unique traveler’s code and published it on the pages of the magazine “Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word.” 1 73 It consists of 5 rules. The first thing the princess recommended was to “leave your pride and rank at home,” the second was not to rely on appearance, which “often deceives young people.” The third rule says: “A prudent traveler should try to distinguish himself by actions, behavior and spiritual gifts, and not by clothes, carriages or wealth.” The fourth rule logically follows from this - saving money. The fifth rule concerned relationships with promiscuous women, whom one should be wary of. Expressing her thoughts on the content of education, E. R. Dashkova often tries to formulate them in the form of a moralizing or edifying aphorism. And such short expressive sayings are found in many of her works. Here are some of these sayings: “May my Fatherland always be precious to me,” 174 “Do not lose heart in adversity, and in happiness do not become infected with arrogance,” 175 “Moderation in desires is most convenient for achieving independence,” 176 and others. Interest of E.R. Dashkova’s interest in the issues of education and training of youth also manifested itself during his travels throughout Russia and Europe. In her writings, notes, and letters there are descriptions of the educational institutions that she attended, among them the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, Oxford and Edinburgh universities. She tried to use the experience of European educational institutions in organizing the educational activities of the Academy of Sciences. E. R. Dashkova’s remark about the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, the favorite brainchild of Catherine II, is interesting. In the article “My Notebook,” the princess gives an enthusiastic review of one of the students of this educational institution, “... talking with her, I found in her so much prudence, modesty, knowledge and good taste in everything that I could not help but mentally praise her the place in which, with this excellent upbringing, she learned only graceful morals, and not to feel in my soul gratitude to the builder of this place of rebirth; for, in my opinion, a good upbringing regenerates a person, removing him from the ordinary state of people, and gives him true ways. to be useful to oneself and society." 177 E. R. Dashkova recognized the need to create a state education system in Russia. Her judgments about the content and forms of upbringing and education were consonant with the main ideas and directions of activity of the Commission on the establishment of public schools created by Catherine II in 1782, which, with the support and energetic assistance of the Academy of Sciences and its director - E. R. Dashkova - carried out in the 80s-90s. broad school reform. 178 The St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences took part in the writing of original textbooks in Russian and translations of foreign works. On October 4, 1782, the Commission on the Establishment of Public Schools addressed the Academy of Sciences with a request to translate some Austrian textbooks into Russian in the hope that “these books can be translated more accurately from people who understand this science.” 179 And only after E.R. Dashkova was appointed director, on her initiative, translations began in March 1783. 180 As a true educator, E.R. Dashkova tried to support young compatriots in their aspirations for education. In Rome, having met a young artist, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, she obtained permission for him to study and copy paintings by Italian artists located in the palaces of nobles. 181 During her stay in Edinburgh, she more than once provided patronage and support to Russian students studying in Scotland. For Ivan Sheshkovsky, who was supposed to listen to lectures together with Pavel Dashkov, the princess drew up a plan for education, behavior and expenses, recommended him to the professors, and he lived in the Dashkovs’ house for 5 weeks. But, however, he soon abandoned his studies and spent his time in idleness. 182 Medical student Evstafy Zverev, who found himself in a desperate situation in Edinburgh, also enjoyed the patronage of the princess. “Pity, which is the main structure in the moral part of my being,” wrote E. R. Dashkova to the rector of the Russian church in London A. A. Samborsky, “did not allow me to leave poor Zverev to starve to death. Fever and having no food except earth apples, I almost knocked him down. I allowed him to come live with me, why he won’t pay for the rent or food; I’m not able to give him money, because our little income is not sent, but for now I have it. I will always share a corner and a crust of bread with pleasure with a fellow countryman, no matter what kind of person he is.” 183 E.R. Dashkova had many nieces and nephews, and she took care of all of them and contributed to their career advancement. In addition, the children of poor (and sometimes not at all poor) close and distant relatives constantly lived and were raised in the princess’s house. Everyday communication with the princess, “presence during her life” (so to speak), attention and care, the atmosphere of respect and mutual understanding that reigned in the house of E.R. Dashkova certainly influenced the formation of the character of the pupils. They retained the kindest memories of their childhood and youth, felt gratitude for the care and showed attention and respect to the princess throughout their lives. This is how Martha Wilmot describes E.R. Dashkova’s special manner of communication with children in her diary on June 27, 1808: “... she often communicates with children as with adults, demanding from them the same intelligence, understanding and hobbies that her own thoughts occupy her, and her mind seems to strive to compete with theirs.” 184 Anna Petrovna Islenyeva lived in the princess’s house for more than 10 years and conducted all business correspondence. Apparently, here she met her future husband A.F. Malinovsky. At the burial site of E.R. Dashkova in the Church of St. Trinity in Trinity she installed a tombstone, the text of the epitaph on which ended with the words: “This tombstone was placed in eternal memory from her heartfelt and grateful niece Anna Malinovskaya, nee Isleneva.” The Malinovskys carefully preserved everything that remained in memory of their friend and relative. They named their only daughter Ekaterina in honor of E.R. Dashkova. 185 Katenka Kochetova’s parents, entrusting her to E.R. Dashkova, even transferred their parental rights to the princess until she got married. The widow of a distant relative, A. A. Vorontsova, felt heartfelt gratitude to Ekaterina Romanovna for caring for her youngest son. From the age of 7 to 16, until he entered service with the rank of major, the boy was raised by the princess. “His moral qualities,” E. R. Dashkova later noted, “his behavior and tender respect for his mother were the main consolation of her life.” 186 When the future writer Nikolai Petrovich Nikolev was 5 years old, E. R. Dashkova paid attention to him and took him into her upbringing. She tried to take a special, individual approach to the development of his abilities: “a special effort was made to give him the proper knowledge in mathematics and literature, for which he had a special inclination, and during his upbringing, in addition to the Russian language, he accomplished so much in French and Italian, that he could not only communicate freely in conversations, but also write in these two languages." 187 N. P. Nikolev dedicated his first comedy “An attempt is not a joke, or a successful experience” to E. R. Dashkova, and later published “Lyrical message to E. R. Dashkova” in the magazine “New Monthly Works”. His plays were published in the "Russian Theatre", published on the initiative of Ekaterina Romanovna. At the end of her life, reflecting on the subject of education, considering it the most important, decisive for the well-being of humanity and at the same time poorly studied, reflecting on her pedagogical experience, Ekaterina Romanovna was sad to note that “with all its many ramifications and in its entirety, it ( subject of education - G.S.) cannot be grasped by the mind of one person." 188
"...during this directorship, as difficult as it was dear to the heart"
On January 24, 1783, by decree of Catherine II, Princess E. R. Dashkova was appointed director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. 189 The empress’s decision was unexpected for Dashkova, but she had to obey. 190 The next day, when E. R. Dashkova was waiting for a reception with the Empress, S. G. Domashnev, who had been dismissed from his post as director of the Academy for numerous violations, approached her and tried to give her some instructions, but the princess stopped him and firmly stated: “ ...my first duty is the glory and prosperity of the Academy and impartiality towards its members, whose talents will serve as the only measure of my respect." 191 This was the first policy statement of the new director, which she always tried to follow. On January 28, the Academy of Sciences learned of the appointment of a new director. The minutes of the meeting of the Academy Conference on this day record: “The academicians and adjuncts accepted this new sign of the favor of their gracious patroness with the most respectful gratitude and, leaving the Academy, went to the princess to testify to their joy and entrust themselves to her favor.” 192 E.R. Dashkova remembered the unofficial meeting with academicians, and later she recalled it this way: “The next day, Sunday, all the professors and employees of the Academy came to me in the morning. I told them that if anyone needed to see me on business, I ask you to come at whatever hour is most convenient for them and enter my room without reporting.” 193 On January 30, 1783, the first meeting of the Conference of the Academy of Sciences took place under the chairmanship of E. R. Dashkova. The princess asked the famous mathematician and senior academician Leonhard Euler to bring her into the meeting room, where academicians K. F. Wolf, S. K. Kotelnikov, L. Yu. Kraft, A. I. Leksel, I. I. Lepekhin, P. S. Pallas, A. P. Protasov, S. Ya. Rumovsky, Y. Ya. Shtelin, I. A. Euler, adjuncts - I. F. Gakman, I. G. Georgi, M. E. Golovin, V. F. Zuev, N. I. Fuss and honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences Baron von G. F. Asch. She began her opening speech, which was delivered standing, with the words: “I dare to assure you, gentlemen, that the choice that Her Imperial Majesty made in my person, entrusting me with the presidency of this assembly, is an endless honor for me, and I ask you to believe, that these are by no means empty words, but a feeling by which I am deeply moved by the fact that I am inferior in enlightenment and abilities to my predecessors in this position, but I will not yield to any of them in the straightforwardness of my own dignity, which the duty to give will always inspire me. tribute to your talents, gentlemen." She promised to acquaint the Empress with the merits of each academician individually and with the benefits that the Academy as a whole brings to the empire; expressed the hope that thanks to their combined efforts, “the sciences will no longer remain fruitless on this soil; but, having taken root, they will take deep roots and flourish, under the patronage of the great monarch who reveres science.” 194 On behalf of those present, the conference secretary, academician Johann Albrecht Euler, the son of the great mathematician, welcomed the new director and, filled with admiration, noted that “these feelings foreshadow a happy future for this Academy.” 195 Russian scientists greeted with enthusiasm the news of the appointment of E. R. Dashkova as director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. Academician P. B. Inokhodtsev (1742--1806), who was on an astronomical expedition in the south of the country, in a letter on March 3, 1783, expressed his joy at the new appointment: “... only a few days after my arrival here (in Kharkov . -- G.S.) I learned to my great pleasure that Her Imperial Majesty deigned to appoint Her Serene Highness Princess Dashkova in Mr. Domashnev’s place. I congratulate you on this change and with all my heart I hope that peace and tranquility will once again reign in the long-humiliated Academy." 196 Academician G. F. Miller (1705-1783) expressed his "deepest respect" to the princess in a letter from Moscow On March 6, 1783, he noted that he “considers himself happy” that he could “end his life under your gracious direction.” 197 European scientists also welcomed the choice of Catherine II. Messages about the appointment of E. R. Dashkova as director of the Academy of Sciences were published in many. European newspapers and magazines. 198 Member of the Royal Society of London, physicist and traveler, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy J. G. Magellan (1722-1790) considered it necessary on April 4, 1783 to personally congratulate the scientists of St. Petersburg 199 German botanist, honorary member. Russian Academy I. G. Kelreuter (1733--1806), praising E. R. Dashkova, wrote on April 20, 1783: “With the new director of the Academy, Your Serene Highness Princess Dashkova, I congratulate the Academy and you (I. A. Euler as a conference - secretary. -- G.S.) especially since her high spirit and the depth of her views here at court have aroused everyone’s surprise since she honored us with her visit while passing through Karlsruhe. 200 And if she then, which is beyond doubt, manages the Academy with the same wisdom with which the great empress knows how to manage almost half the world, then under her leadership you can confidently count on the most better times". 201 The French astronomer, member of the Paris Academy of Sciences, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy J. J. Lalande (1732-1807) was very satisfied with the appointment of E. R. Dashkova; in letters to St. Petersburg scientists he calls her “our worthy patroness” and always asks to convey to the princess “a thousand respectful bows.” 202 Sincere love for science, respect for scientists, clear mind, logical thinking, good education and closeness to the empress allowed E. R. Dashkova to lead the Academy of Sciences for the benefit of Russia. came to the Academy at a critical time; the Academy had many debts: it owed booksellers, publishers, did not pay salaries to academicians and other employees, could not properly conduct scientific research, etc. Books and maps published at the Academy were sold at too high a price. price and therefore remained in stores. There was no catalog of these books and maps, so readers did not know what was available in the bookstore. It was necessary to put in order the numerous collections stored at the Academy, the library, the archive, the printing house, and take care of the academic gymnasium. about the selection of new academicians, etc. According to Ekaterina Romanovna, she “found herself harnessed to a cart that had completely fallen apart.” 203 Already in the first years, E.R. Dashkova managed to organize work in such a way and take such measures that made it possible not only to pay off debts, but also to save a large amount. A catalog of available academic publications was printed, prices for books and maps printed by the Academy were reduced, and they were sold in large quantities. E. R. Dashkova also sought other sources of increasing the Academy’s income, for example, renting out vacant basements and part of the academic garden. These funds, sums donated by the Empress, various donations, donated books, collections - all contributed to improving the work of the library, paying academicians and other employees of the Academy, and maintaining the collections in good condition. The administrative abilities of E.R. Dashkova helped her to activate publishing activities Academy of Sciences, which was extremely necessary for the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the country, as well as for its application in the Russian economy. On the initiative of E. R. Dashkova, the Academy is undertaking the first edition of the works of M. V. Lomonosov with a biographical article - “The Complete Works of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov with an introduction to the life of the author and with the addition of many of his creations that have not yet been published anywhere” (Part 1-- 6. St. Petersburg, 1784--1787). The fifth and sixth editions of M. V. Lomonosov’s “Russian Grammar” (St. Petersburg, 1788, 1799) and three editions of “A Brief Guide to Eloquence” (St. Petersburg, 1788, 1791, 1797) were also published. The second edition of “Description of the Land of Kamchatka” (St. Petersburg, 1786) by S. P. Krasheninnikov is published. I. I. Lepekhin’s “Daily Travel Notes... in Different Provinces of the Russian State” continues to be published (Parts 1-4. St. Petersburg, 1771-1805). They begin to publish a multi-volume translation of the work of the French naturalist J. L. Buffon “General and Particular Natural History” (Parts 1-10. St. Petersburg, 1789-1808). Large in scale at that time was the work of translating from German and publishing a ten-volume work with 480 engravings entitled “The Spectacle of Nature and Arts” (Part 1-10. St. Petersburg, 1784-1790). The translation from the Viennese edition of "Schauplatz der Natur und der Kunste" (1774-1779) was carried out by the best translators of the Academy of Sciences. The initiative to prepare this publication belonged to Catherine II, but only the energy, perseverance and constant control of E.R. Dashkova over the translation, the production of engravings, and the work of the academic printing house were able to ensure a quick and successful result. The translation of 480 popular science articles and the preparation of 480 engravings required quite a significant investment of money and effort on the part of the Academy of Sciences. (The engravings included in these volumes are used in this edition.) It should be noted that in the 18th century. in foreign countries, for example in Germany and France, similar general educational popular publications with illustrations, which presented information about the sciences, arts, crafts and various phenomena nature. "The Spectacle of Nature and the Arts" is the first popular encyclopedia on natural science and technology published in Russia for youth. The first and second volumes of the publication contain articles devoted mainly to the description of various technical devices. At the beginning of the third volume, the main place is occupied by zoological topics, at the end there are descriptions of building materials and various crafts. In the fourth volume, most of the articles are written on astronomical topics. The fifth volume contains many descriptions of Greek and Roman antiquities. The sixth volume is dominated by geographical and ethnographic subjects. The seventh volume contains anatomical and zoological topics. The eighth and ninth volumes contain mainly descriptions of crafts; the last tenth volume contains a number of articles on a wide variety of issues with a predominance of ethnographic ones (descriptions of different nationalities). The success of the book was significant. It sold out quite quickly, and within a few years there was a need for a second edition, which was published in 1809-1813. During the years of directorship of E.R. Dashkova, a book was published, the appearance of which became a significant event in the history of science and education. We are talking about “Letters on various physical and philosophical matters written to a certain German princess” by Leonhard Euler. The accessibility and clarity of the presentation of the material ensured the amazing success of this book. During the 18th century. "Letters" were republished in Russia four times (Vol. 1--3. St. Petersburg, 1768--1774, 1785, 1790--1791, 1796) and were translated into many languages, including English, German, Italian, Spanish , Dutch and Swedish (there are currently 111 editions of this work). Cartographic work is expanding, maps, books, and calendars are being sold at reduced prices. Two periodicals were founded - "Interlocutor of Lovers of the Russian Word" - the first literary, artistic and historical magazine and "New Monthly Works" - a popular science magazine, in which many of E. R. Dashkova’s works were published. An important aspect of the Academy of Sciences' activities was the education of the younger generation. By the time E.R. Dashkova arrived, there was no university at the Academy and there was barely a glimmer of life in the academic gymnasium. Dashkova paid special attention to improving the condition of the gymnasium. She cared about both the organization of teaching and the health, nutrition and clothing of the students. 204 To encourage young people and stimulate competition between them, E. R. Dashkova established two exams a year with the best students being awarded books. The princess regularly asked academicians to attend exams at the academic gymnasium, 205 and when the scientists of the mathematics class were dissatisfied with the students’ knowledge in mathematics, E. R. Dashkova instructed P. B. Inokhodtsev to draw up a training plan for teachers. 206 In an appeal on December 13, 1783 to the Prosecutor General of the Senate, Prince A. A. Vyazemsky about the allocation of additional funds for the Academy of Sciences, E. R. Dashkova clearly defined the purpose of the gymnasium: “The main subject and benefit of the academic gymnasium is to educate and to train young men so that some of them, capable of higher sciences, could become professors at the Academy, and others, based on their knowledge and talents, could be released into the civil service, for which I expected that the government would be considered in some way obliged to the Academy" . 207 E. R. Dashkova sent the most capable students of the gymnasium to continue their education at the University of Göttingen, which was a favorite place of stay for Russian students. In the 18th century 23 students of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences studied abroad, 9 of them in Göttingen. The first academic students appeared in Gottingen in 1766. In 1785, after a 20-year break, the Academy again sent four students to Gottingen, this time V. M. Severgin, Ya. D. Zakharov, A. K. Kononov and G. Pavlova. The prestige of the University of Göttingen was very high at that time. At the end of the 80s. XVIII century A. G. Kestner gave his lectures on mathematics and physics there; I. F. Gmelin and G. K. Lichtenberg taught chemistry and mineralogy. E. R. Dashkova’s choice of students and university exceeded all expectations: three of them subsequently became academicians. During the years of directorship of E.R. Dashkova, academician F.I.T. Epinus drew up a “Plan for the organization of lower and secondary education in Russia,” which formed the basis for all school reforms. Of the 80 books created for the newly opened schools, about 30 textbooks were prepared at the Academy of Sciences. Many textbooks are printed in academic printing houses. E. R. Dashkova and members of the Academy of Sciences saw the success of school reforms in the special training of teachers. And when the Teachers' Seminary was opened in St. Petersburg in 1783, three professorships in it were occupied by adjuncts of the Academy. 208 E. R. Dashkova emphasized in every possible way her respect for science and scientists. During her directorship, the Academy was replenished with 20 full members, among them: famous academicians, as mineralogist V. M. Severgin, chemist Ya. D. Zakharov, naturalists and travelers I. G. Georgi, V. F. Zuev, N. Ya. Ozeretskovsky, mathematicians N. I. Fuss and F. I. Schubert. She tried to create favorable conditions for the work of scientists and later recalled that “each of the scientists could do their science completely freely... they turned directly to me with their affairs and received quick permission, without submitting to clerical red tape.” In the first year of E.R. Dashkova’s reign, the great Leonhard Euler died. At the meetings of the Academy, obituaries were read twice, the first by Ya. Ya. Shtelin, the second, more detailed and thorough, by N. I. Fuss. Academicians raised money for a marble bust of Euler, which was made by the famous sculptor J. D. Rachette, who knew the scientist well. The princess donated a marble column as a pedestal for the bust. This gift was received with great gratitude and was considered by academicians as evidence of respect for the great man. On January 14, 1785, E. R. Dashkova personally installed the bust. 209 Since 1759, the Academy of Sciences had a category of corresponding members. It could have been a Russian amateur scientist who supported scientific contacts with the Academy of Sciences and gained fame for his scientific works. E. R. Dashkova understood that the election of new corresponding members would help expand ties between the Academy of Sciences and the country, strengthen its authority, and promote the rise of scientific thought and practical scientific activity in Russia. During the period from 1783 to 1796, 13 corresponding members were elected. Among them were, for example, the writer and translator M. I. Verevkin, the Arkhangelsk historian V. V. Krestinin, the chief berghauptman at the Kolyvan mining factories P. I. Shangin, the Arkhangelsk merchant, a member of the Volny economic society A.I. Fomin and others. The Academy expanded its connections not only within Russia, but also outside it, accepting the largest European scientists as honorary members of the Academy. E.R. Dashkova was well acquainted with many of them. During the years of her directorship, 47 scientists were elected foreign members of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, which amounted to 25% of all those elected in the 18th century. In 1783, the historian and rector of the University of Edinburgh V. Robertson was elected a foreign member of the Academy, in 1784 - the biologist from Denmark I. G. Koenig, in 1785 - the mathematician from Germany A. G. Kästner, in 1789 - physicist from the USA B. Franklin, in 1794 - philosopher from Germany I. Kant, etc. In April 1789, at the suggestion of B. Franklin, E. R. Dashkova was unanimously elected a member of the American Philosophical Society and became the first woman and second Russian member of the American Philosophical Society. 210 On November 14, 1791, she handed over to the archives a copy of the diploma sent to her by the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, which elected her an honorary member. 211 E. R. Dashkova’s relations with academicians were mostly good. However, sometimes she got into arguments with scientists, and it was not easy to convince her that she was wrong. This was the case with adjunct V.F. Zuev, who belatedly submitted the travel journals of his expedition to the Academy. E.R. Dashkova considered that the delay was due to the fact that Zuev was engaged in other matters without her permission. And E.R. Dashkova expelled Zuev from the academic service, writing in her own hand in the order: “Although with regret, but as an example to others.” 212 Academicians stood up for him, primarily his scientific supervisor, Academician P. S. Pallas. After several unsuccessful explanations with E.R. Dashkova, he turned to Catherine II, thanks to whose intervention Zuev managed to remain at the Academy. Later he was elected academician. Another misunderstanding was related to E.R. Dashkova’s proposal to close the old chemical laboratory. But the academics decided that it was necessary for work. The princess was offended, deciding in turn that the academicians were accusing her of not understanding the interests of scientists, and proposed a vote of confidence in the director. This is a unique episode. There was nothing like this either before or after the directorship of E.R. Dashkova at the Academy of Sciences. When voting, all academicians and adjuncts, with the exception of P. S. Pallas and A. I. Leksel, declared their trust and respect for the director. Pallas announced that he was dissatisfied with the story with Zuev, and Leksel announced that his salary had not been increased. This confession upset E. R. Dashkov: she treated Lexel well, and, in her opinion, he could remind her of the salary increase during a personal meeting. Everything ended well. 213 Along with the post of director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, E. R. Dashkova, from October 30, 1783, served as president of the Russian Academy established according to her own plans. Similar academies existed in other countries, for example in France and Sweden, and were mainly engaged in compiling dictionaries of the native language. The Russian Academy was organized to create a dictionary of the Russian language. E.R. Dashkova participated in the compilation of the basic principles of the dictionary, examined it sheet by sheet, and made her additions and comments to these sheets. She collected more than 700 words with the letters “C”, “Sh”, “Sh” and worked on interpreting the meaning of words denoting moral qualities. "Dictionary of the Russian Academy" in 6 volumes was published in 1789-1794. The dictionary contains 43,254 words. The dictionary was created in a relatively short period of time - 11 years, while the Dictionary of the Florentine Academy took 39 years, and French Academy published her dictionary 59 years later. Subsequently, the academic dictionary will be called “giant.” N. M. Karamzin and A. S. Pushkin wrote about him with delight. Turning to the history of the Russian Academy, V. G. Belinsky called its first work a “true feat.” N. G. Chernyshevsky praised the dictionary as “an extraordinary phenomenon.” 214 A large enterprise, the main character in which was E.R. Dashkova, was the construction of a new building for the Academy of Sciences. The need for its construction had been discussed at the Academy for a long time, but only with the arrival of E.R. Dashkova were they able to begin construction. It began on a vacant plot, between monumental buildings of the first half of the 18th century. - The Kunstkamera and the building of the Twelve Collegiums. Architect Giacomo Quarenghi (1744-1817) designed the Academy building as a free-standing building, with its main façade facing the Bolshaya Neva, but open to view from other sides. The PFA RAS stores many documents telling about the construction of the building and testifying to the constant and strict control over the work and expenditure of funds by E. R. Dashkova. And this certainly contributed to the work, but active interference in the architectural part of the project, the desire to give greater elegance to the appearance of the building gave rise to a conflict between E. R. Dashkova and the architect Quarenghi. On March 21, 1786, with his usual determination and independence, he wrote to the princess: “... I have the honor to report to you that in the approved project there are no Venetian-type windows and that such cannot be made there without distorting the interiors of the building. Therefore “If the construction must be completed according to the approved project, then this is one conversation; if the project must be changed according to your ideas, then in this case I will not further manage the construction, stopping at what I have already done.” 215 Unfortunately, they were unable to overcome their differences, and Quarenghi had to abandon construction. But the building, in spite of everything, was built and still adorns the Spit of Vasilievsky Island in St. Petersburg; this building houses the St. Petersburg Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among the well-known reviews of contemporaries and descendants about E. R. Dashkova, there are no reviews from academicians and members of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. That's why special interest represent the memoirs of the son of the famous academician-astronomer F.I. Schubert, F.F. Schubert (1789-1865), who himself became a major cartographer and an honorary member of the Academy. The memoirs of F. F. Schubert were written in Germany and published in German in Stuttgart, where the scientist spent his last years and died. Let us take the liberty of citing an excerpt from the memoirs of E.R. Dashkova in full: “Of the three buildings of the Academy of Sciences located along the Neva, the one closest to the Collegiums was built during my time by Princess Dashkova. She was the President of the Academy during Catherine’s reign, and I still clearly remember this wonderful woman , which played such a big role in the accession of the Empress to the throne. I believe that my father (F.I. Schubert. - G.S.) among all the academicians he was the one who was closest to her; at least he visited her often and exchanged letters with her, and I have a large number of letters from her to her father, most of which are written in English. She, like the entire Vorontsov family, loved England, the English and their language (however, she suffered from an illness of the 18th century, that is, she wrote very illiterately, which, however, did not in the least prevent her from having intelligence, reason and knowledge, just as it did not prevent Frederick the Great , Voltaire and Catherine II). Her manners were very relaxed, and when she climbed the scaffolding during the aforementioned construction of the Academy, in which Dashkova was very interested and which she visited every day, sometimes even twice a day, she could be mistaken for a man in disguise rather than a woman. That she, naturally, knew everything better than others, goes without saying! The fact that I saw her many times happened because my father, when he needed to tell her something, instead of visiting her, not wanting to waste time, he looked for her right at the construction site, and since he willingly allowed If I wanted to accompany him, then sometimes he took me with him." 216 In the 90s, relations between E. R. Dashkova and Catherine II worsened. The Empress was dissatisfied with the princess’s involvement in the publication of A. N. Radishchev’s book “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow.” But the immediate reason for the resignation was the permission of E. R. Dashkova to publish in a separate edition in the magazine "Russian Theater" for 1794 the tragedy of Ya. B. Knyazhnin "Vadim Novgorod", which aroused the indignation of Catherine P. By order of the Empress, the tragedy of Knyazhnin was burned. 217 On August 5, 1794, Ekaterina Romanovna submitted a request for dismissal from the position of director of the Academy of Sciences, citing the need for leave and her “upset state.” economic situation Academy of Sciences for 1783-1794." 219 In this document, the director sums up some of the results of almost twelve years of management of the country's main scientific institution and names the amount of profit that she "had the good fortune to make" - 526,118 rubles. 13 kopecks. "Giving justice for commendable labors and zeal,” by decree of August 12, 1794, Catherine granted the princess’s request. 220 Formally, the Empress allowed E.R. Dashkova to go on a two-year leave while retaining her position as director and salary, but in fact it was a resignation. August 14, 1794 On Monday, E. R. Dashkova arrived at the Academy of Sciences for the last time. She entered the conference room, where the meeting had already begun, and took her place at the head of the table. More than half of them were witnesses. her “assuming” on January 30, 1783. Her last performance at the Academy of Sciences, she began with the recognition that “she was proud of the fact that she stood at the head of the Academy of Sciences for twelve years... that she experienced true pleasure in this, which was fairly rewarded by the affection that gentlemen academicians and adjuncts testified to her at every case and by which she was sensitively touched every time." 221 She further explained that “during this directorship, which was as difficult as it was dear to her heart,” she did not have the opportunity to take care of her health and household affairs, so she was forced, “albeit to her great regret,” to ask the empress to release her from duties of the director of the Academy of Sciences. Then the princess handed over copies of the petition she submitted to the empress and the decree on a two-year leave. Academician S. Ya. Rumovsky read these documents aloud. “After this,” it is recorded in the minutes of the meeting, “Her Grace Madam Princess rose and, bowing in a touching manner to the entire Academy, hugged, before leaving the conference hall, each academician and adjunct individually, who in full force escorted her to the doors of her carriage, which was accompanied by their unanimous wishes for good health and a safe return." 222 But the return did not take place. In August 1796, the two-year leave period expired. On August 27, while in Troitsky, the princess draws up a petition to Catherine II, in which she asks to extend her vacation for another year. 223 “Benevolent” Catherine II, September 1796, allows “to remain on vacation for another year with the same salary.” 224 But already on November 12, a few days after the death of Catherine II, Emperor Paul removed the princess from “the management of the places entrusted to her.” 225 In 1993, when the 250th anniversary of the birth of E.R. Dashkova was celebrated, a sculptural portrait of E.R. . Dashkova, created by sculptor I. A. Sursky. Thus, grateful descendants perpetuated the memory of this outstanding woman, one of the most active organizers of Russian science.
“...giving lectures in Russian... seems to me all the more useful because the sciences will be transferred to our language and enlightenment will spread.”
Among the largest educational undertakings carried out by E. R. Dashkova at the Academy of Sciences is the organization of publicly accessible public lectures. These lectures, conducted by the best scientists of that time, brought the light of knowledge to Russian society, were aimed at cultivating interest in knowledge, at explaining the goals and objectives of science, at introducing broad layers of Russian society to the achievements of world and domestic science, and contributed to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and satisfaction the need for them to be received by those, first of all, who, due to age or for other reasons, did not have the opportunity to attend educational institutions or wanted to complete their education. They played an important role in the development of culture and the spread of education. Russian scientists have always considered the promotion of scientific knowledge and education of the people to be their direct responsibility and duty. 226 Therefore, E.R. Dashkova’s proposal, which followed on July 3, 1783, to use part of the time that remains from scientific activity to give public courses of lectures, was met at the Academy with great understanding. 227 On March 25, 1784, the princess presented a report to Catherine II, which said: “...reading lectures in Russian not only for students and gymnasium students, but also for all outside listeners, who will be allowed, seems to me all the more useful, that science will be transferred to our language and enlightenment will spread." 228 By decree of April 20, 1784, the Empress approved the proposal of E.R. Dashkova, 229 and from the economic sums of the Academy, a capital of 30 thousand rubles was transferred to the bank, so that from the interest profit, which amounted to 1500 rubles, to produce annual payment to four Russian professors for lecturing, i.e. 375 rubles each. to each "above and beyond their actual salary." 230 “Public instructions” were opened in 1785 and lasted until 1802. Academic lectures were given only in Russian, in summer time - from May to September - 2 hours twice a week and covered a wide range of subjects. Lectures on mathematics and chemistry began, natural history was added in 1786, physics in 1793, mineralogy was taught instead of chemistry in 1794, and in subsequent years they were taught in parallel. Almost all Russian academicians and adjuncts acted as lecturers: S. E. Guryev, Ya. D. Zakharov, S. K. Kotelnikov, N. Ya. Ozeretskovsky, V. M. Severgin, N. P. Sokolov. The lectures were announced in advance in the St. Petersburg Gazette, indicating when and where the readings would be held; specially printed advertisements were sent to all educational institutions in St. Petersburg and posted on the streets of the city. Mathematical “instructions” were read for 12 years (1785-1796) by Academician S.K. Kotelnikov (1723-1806), a former teacher at the Academic University. This required considerable effort: he was already 62 years old, and the academician was often unwell, “... however, reasoning that in the mathematical part of the Russian sciences there is no other, then I take upon myself that part, or parts of the parts of mathematics, which are put behind fortunately it will be necessary." 231 The program of lectures can be judged from Kotelnikov’s report to E.R. Dashkova dated September 24, 1793: “First I started with arithmetic and taught it together with algebra, explaining the proven rules with examples and examples in problems. After arithmetic, geometry, following Euclidean elements , releasing some unnecessary or rarely used sentences, without losing sight of algebra, as it is a necessary part in the current state of mathematical sciences. Then we go through trigonometry... in an analytical manner, in order to show the first approach to calculations of transcendental quantities dependent on compasses. After trigonometry, I showed. the first foundations of differential and integral alculus, explaining the rules with examples and examples in easy problems, showing the first approach to the concept of the study of curved lines, and with this I ended my lectures.” 232 In 1794, Kotelnikov, in addition to arithmetic, geometry, and algebra, devoted several lectures to mechanics. In 1797, with the establishment of censorship in Russia, he was appointed censor and left the Academy of Sciences. A teacher of navigation, artillery and mathematics in the Artillery Engineering Cadet Corps, who had recently been elected as an adjunct, S. E. Guryev (1764-1813), was invited to continue the mathematical lectures. He was not a graduate of the Academy, like most of its members, but came to it as an already established scientist with broad mathematical interests, which were formed under the direct influence of scientific ideas L. Euler. The program of lectures given by Guryev from 1797 to 1800 was very close to Kotelnikov’s system. Guryev read geometry, algebra, trigonometry, the study of curved lines and the first elements of differential calculus. 233 At the same time, he taught at the School of Naval Architecture and at the Artillery Cadet Corps, but gave preference to lectures at the Academy. The teaching manuals compiled and translated by Guryev during these years are closely related to the lectures. In 1798, he published “An Essay on the Improvement of the Elements of Geometry,” from which he gave lectures on geometry; He taught trigonometry using the textbook “Spherical Trigonometry” (St. Petersburg, 1801). Having translated from French the book by J. A. J. Cousin “Differential and integral calculus "(St. Petersburg, 1801), in 1800 Guryev devoted a significant part of his lectures to this topic. Simultaneously with lectures on mathematics, a course in chemistry began. Public lectures on chemistry were given for 8 years (1785-1792) by an adjunct, later academician N. " exposition on chemical operations,” Sokolov wrote that “this will allow theory and practice to always march in common and equal footsteps, and the listeners, seeing different new experiments almost every day, the more eager and enlightened they will be.” 234 The introductory lecture “Speech” is of considerable interest about the benefits of chemistry", read by Sokolov on May 30, 1786 and published in the academic popular science magazine "New Monthly Works". 235 Sokolov's lecture was in the best Lomonosov traditions and corresponded to the spirit of the times. In it, the author shows in detail the connection between chemistry and mathematics, physics, natural history, medicine, metallurgy and mineralogy. Sokolov was an excellent lecturer; he taught chemistry, as Princess Dashkova noted, “with special praise and glory.” 236 His lectures were very popular, and Sokolov repeatedly appealed to the Academy Chancellery with a request to increase the number of chairs for students. 237 Sokolov conducted classes in the Chemical Laboratory of M.V. Lomonosov. The old laboratory, founded in 1748, did not meet the new requirements at all, so the scientist had to start transforming and repairing it. But this only briefly improved the situation, and already in May 1791 he was forced to lecture at home, and in September he made a proposal to build a new laboratory, since, he wrote, “the old one is very cramped and so cold and damp, that chemicals are constantly freezing." 238 But this request did not meet with understanding. In 1792, having barely finished lecturing, Sokolov submitted a request for dismissal from the Academy. The chemical laboratory and the right to give lectures on chemistry were transferred to the adjunct, later academician Ya. D. Zakharov (1765-1836), who was sent by E. R. Dashkova to study at the University of Göttingen. Since 1793, Zakharov began giving lectures on experimental chemistry twice a week - on Tuesdays and Fridays. The following year, 1794, did not bring anything new in the construction of a new chemical laboratory, and during the discussion on April 24, 1794. program of public lectures, it was decided: “Since the new chemical laboratory is not yet finished, and the old one no longer exists... Zakharov should give a course in mineralogy this summer.” 239 In 1795, Zakharov conducted a course of public lectures “on experimental chemistry according to Lavoisier’s speculation” in a completely unsuitable classroom in the new building of the Academy of Sciences. In 1796--1797 he did not give lectures: there was no suitable room. At the beginning of 1798, Zakharov was elected academician, which apparently added strength and desire to work, and from 1798 to 1802 his name was constantly found in announcements of lectures. Usually Zakharov began his “public instructions” with a brief summary of the history of chemistry, explaining its practical nature and connection with other sciences and “arts.” His main focus was on propaganda and explanation oxygen theory French chemist A.L. Lavoisier and demonstrated experiments confirming his beliefs. 240 If the listeners were not very prepared, then he would specifically explain the laws of physics, and then show how they are applied in chemistry. It is important to note here one characteristic feature of 18th-century chemistry. - close connection with other natural sciences, and above all with physics. It is safe to say that this is why for the last three years Zakharov gave his lectures in the Physics Laboratory of the Academy of Sciences, where all the new equipment acquired for scientific purposes was also concentrated. Separate series of lectures were devoted to the study of salts, metals, drugs, as stated in the announcement - “we will talk about simple bodies and about their connection with each other and the extraction of other bodies." One year of study was completely devoted to familiarization with the properties of acids. Zakharov tried very hard to make his lectures interesting, useful and visual. In the report of E. R. Dashkova about the lectures in 1793. he wrote: “I tried to confirm all my proposals and all chemical operations by experiments, as much as the appointed ... time and supplies could allow me.” 241 Lectures on natural history were given by Academician N. Ya. for 17 years (1786-1802). Ozeretskovsky (1750-1827). He defined the content and form of presentation as follows: “I explained to my listeners the general properties of land-dwelling animals and fish and showed in drawings their external and internal structure, and in the Kunstkamera I presented to the listeners the animals themselves, both dry and dry. and stored in alcohol, adhering to the Linnaean system and citing the most important memorabilia about each thing." 242 To help his listeners, Ozeretskovsky published more than 20 articles about the life of animals and birds in popular science publications of the Academy of Sciences. Public lectures on physics began only in 1793, after returning from the University of Göttingen, where he was sent by E. R. Dashkova, A. K. Kononov (1766--1795). Before his return to St. Petersburg, there was no one to give lectures on physics in Russian. Since the physics lectures enjoyed special attention from the public, adjunct Kononov reported their program in great detail in the St. Petersburg Gazette: “The doctrine of the universal properties of bodies; the doctrine of air; the doctrine of electric force; the doctrine of magnetic force, and if time permits, then also doctrine of water and fire." 243 The young scientist gave lectures in 1793-1795, in his report to E.R. Dashkova he wrote: “During all this time I have been engaged in explaining those parts of physics, which I am sure that their knowledge gives us the greatest moral, as well as physical public life benefit." 244 At lectures, Kononov showed experiments using the instruments of the Physics Laboratory, since "through this, every listener, firstly, is completely convinced of the true situation, and secondly, receives information about these (experiments. - G.S.) the clearest concept, and thirdly, the more firmly it is remembered." Kononov's lectures attracted so many listeners, "that in the spacious auditorium ... where I taught my lectures, they could barely fit in." But, unfortunately, barely having time to finish in At the end of September 1795, lectures, on October 9 at the age of 29, Kononov died. In 1796, physics was taught by adjunct S.E. Guryev - “precisely that part of physics that contains the universal properties of bodies, the cause of motion and equilibrium, mechanics. , hydrodynamics, etc. ". 245 In the next year there were no physical lectures, and from 1798 to 1801 Guryev, combining two disciplines, began to give physical and mathematical lectures, fulfilling this assignment "very commendably", for which, as he himself wrote, “repeatedly from the lips of Mr. Director himself I heard the favor of 246 May 17, 1801, before the start of the next series of lectures, three academicians - N. Ya. Ozeretskovsky, Ya. D. Zakharov and S. E. Guryev - - they turned to the President of the Academy, Baron A. L. Nikolai, with a request to give them a reward for giving lectures, which they had not received for 6 years. 247 The President promised to sort it out in the fall, after classes end. On September 30, at a meeting of the Conference of the Academy of Sciences, it was announced that each academician would be paid 300 rubles. -- and this is instead of 375 rubles. per year, according to the original plan of Princess Dashkova, not to mention the amounts due for lectures given in previous years. Academician Guryev considered himself very offended and announced that “he would no longer give public courses.” Zakharov and Ozeretskovsky were not embarrassed by this circumstance, and they continued reading for free. The audience was greatly impressed by the lectures on mineralogy given by Academician V. M. Severgin (1765-1826), who completed his education at the insistence of E. R. Dashkova at the University of Göttingen. In 1792, addressing the audience in his first lecture “On the Benefits of Mineralogy,” he urged young people not only to study mineralogy in general, but “to learn to know Russian minerals, Russian methods of mining and processing them, which all differ in many ways from foreign ones.” 248 In his speeches, which became regular in 1796-1802, Severgin dwelt in detail on the definition of mineralogy and its branches, covered the foundations of the science and its tasks, and provided specific material on the properties, applications, methods of extraction and processing of minerals and ores. He paid special attention to the history of mineralogy and mining. Severgin carefully prepared his public courses, which allowed him, in parallel with giving lectures, to publish them at the invitation of E. R. Dashkova, first in the journal "New Monthly Works" for 1792-1793, and later, based on the speeches, compiled a textbook "The First Foundations of Mineralogy", published in two books in 1798. The lectures brought him well-deserved success, and E R. Dashkova noted that Severgin “proved his knowledge in this science - so the entire public who used his instructions gives justice to his knowledge, to the honor of the Academy of Employees.” 249 Residents of the capital were interested in academic lectures and attended them willingly, especially at the beginning of the season. We read about this in the report of S.K. Kotelnikov for 1793: “At first there were quite a lot of listeners, the shops were full, but as is the custom, then fewer and more came and from time to time they decreased, and by the end a very small number remained.” 25 0 Similar remarks are found in the report of A.K. Kononov: “From the very beginning of my reading, even until the beginning of September, there were many listeners, and very many times there were so many of them, both in the spacious auditorium and in the gymnasium where I lectured My teachers were barely able to fit in. Since September, when real autumn weather arrived, the number of students has deliberately decreased.” 251 Ya. D. Zakharov’s lectures also attracted science lovers, “so that the whole half was standing.” 252 A N. Ya. Ozeretskovsky wrote to E. R. Dashkova that he “didn’t have a single lecture that didn’t attract a fair number of listeners, sometimes more than 50 people gathered, especially on those days on which the most natural things." 253 Contemporaries left interesting comments about their studies at the Academy of Sciences. The provincial landowner I. A. Vtorov, who attended lectures in 1796, spoke sharply about Ozeretskovsky’s “instructions”: “I did not like Mr. Ozeretskovsky because he interferes too much with Latin in his lectures, repeats too much and is distracted from the real matter by extraneous judgments ...". 254 And the memoirs of the famous journalist N.I. Grech (1787-1867) are distinguished by a more benevolent tone: “I jealously followed the lectures of Ozeretskovsky, who spoke rudely, without understanding his expressions, but smartly, clearly and captivatingly.” 255 Thirteen-year-old Grech, who, in addition to lectures on biology, also attended courses in mathematics, chemistry and mineralogy, later wrote with feeling sincere gratitude about these activities, since they contributed to “the development of my concepts and the acquisition of information about certain subjects.” Public lectures of the Academy of Sciences attracted large audiences; In addition to the capital's inhabitants, the lectures were attended by high school students cadet corps, Medical-Surgical Academy, students of the School of Naval Architecture, the Main Public School and, of course, the academic gymnasium. In the summer of 1786, in the classrooms of the Academy of Sciences there were many future teachers - students of the St. Petersburg Teachers' Seminary, who came to listen to lectures on mathematics, chemistry and biology to complete their education. Unfortunately, it is not known what knowledge they acquired, but together they wore out government “boots, listening to lectures, for 96 rubles 25 kopecks.” 256 E. R. Dashkova, who put a lot of effort into organizing public academic lectures, observing the implementation of her plans, wrote: “I often attended these lectures and felt pleasure, seeing that they were useful for the children of poor Russian nobles and young non-commissioned officers of the guard ". 257 Carried away by her undertaking, the princess on April 22, 1788 handed over a large collection of minerals to V.M. Severgin for display to the lecturers. 258 Public lectures were also given in European Academies of Sciences. Such lectures were of particular importance at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and at the Royal Society of London, 25 9 but nowhere did they acquire such a scale and were not so regular, thanks to the efforts and understanding of their significance by E. R. Dashkova, as at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.
"...I face the approaching end of my life without fear or anxiety"
After returning from exile, E.R. Dashkova spends most of her time in Troitsky, but often visits Moscow. She does housework, builds houses, plants gardens; her attention continues to be drawn to politics and literary creativity. 260 But family troubles, a difficult relationship with her daughter, the unexpected death of her beloved brother A.R. Vorontsov, and the premature death of her son darken her life. “It seems,” writes the princess, “that fate wants to send me all the painful trials that can be heaped on one head.” 261 In “Notes” the princess only briefly mentions the last years. “I will pass over the next few years in silence, because they are of no interest to the reader. The sorrows that tormented my heart made life painful. They were of such a nature that I myself would like to hide it in my soul and will not talk about them to those who who will read my notes? 262 Next to the princess during these years were her sisters - the Irish women Martha and Catherine Wilmot and the niece of A.P. Islenyev, who tried in every possible way to help her survive the painfully difficult days. Over the several years they lived together, the girls became very attached to Ekaterina Romanovna. “The greatest and most precious consolation for me,” the princess wrote, “is the arrival of Martha Wilmot. Living in Trinity, Miss Wilmot, through conversations with me, our joint reading, her meekness and friendliness, gave me those quiet joys, the value of which for friendly relations and an inquisitive mind cannot be compared with anything." 263 Martha’s amazing qualities were noticed by all members of E. R. Dashkova’s house; “there is every reason to believe,” noted Catherine Wilmot, “that similar attitude The princess's sister responds to Mattie with the same devotion, love, respect and admiration." 264 Yielding to Martha's urgent request, on February 10, 1804, Ekaterina Romanovna "began to write down the story of her life." 265 On October 27, 1805, finishing her memoirs and reflecting on her life way, E.R. Dashkova wrote down: “I fulfilled my duty as I understood it, in accordance with what my mind suggested. With a pure heart and honest intentions, I endured all the torment from which I would have been exhausted if my conscience had not been calm; and now I face the approaching end of my life without fear or anxiety." 266 Ekaterina Romanovna dedicated the “Notes” to Martha Wilmot, transferring to her the right to publish with the condition that they would be published only after her death. (The first edition of E.R.’s memoirs Dashkova appeared 30 years after her death, in 1840) Concerned about her health and Martha Wilmot’s position in Russia, on July 13, 1806, the princess addressed a letter to the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and asked “to take her under her protection in the event of my death.” Wilmot, as long as she remains in Russia." 267 Martha, having learned about the princess's letter, wrote in her diary on July 24, 1806: "It is difficult to imagine more touching and delightful lines. I can't tell you how I felt when I read them. My heart is overflowing with gratitude to the princess for her tender care." 268 She retained these feelings forever. In memory of the “Russian mother,” Martha Wilmot, married to Bradfort, named her eldest daughter Katerina-Anna-Dashkova. Until the end of her life, E.R. Dashkova retained her admiration for Catherine II. Memories of the empress were invariably present in her everyday life. “It is absolutely necessary for me to sufficiently study the heroes and customs of Catherine’s time,” wrote Catherine Wilmot, “since the princess constantly mentions them and her thoughts return so often. to the courtyard, study, dressing room and boudoir of Catherine, which seems to me, I myself remember Catherine’s habits and speeches, and as if I participated in the conspiracy. By the way, the main hall in Trinity is decorated with a huge portrait of Catherine, on a horse in a uniform, depicted on the day of her husband’s overthrow from the throne; The princess says that the similarity is very great. In addition, there are portraits of the Empress in every room." 269 In recent years, E. R. Dashkova continues to write. She is published under various pseudonyms in the magazines "Friend of Enlightenment", "Bulletin of Europe", "Russian Bulletin" and, possibly, in others. She has not lost interest in literary life. In 1807, her attention was attracted by the magazine "Spring Flower", whose publisher was Moscow University student K. F. Andreev. She gave the young student publisher 20 chervonets for books. 270 E. R. Dashkova established a scholarship named after Princess Dashkova at the Moscow Catherine Institute (Moscow School of the Order of St. Catherine), donated 5,000 pounds for the maintenance of shelters under the patronage of Empress Maria Feodorovna, and made numerous gifts to her family and friends. In May 1807, E. R. Dashkova donated to Moscow University a “cabinet of natural history and other rarities,” which she had been collecting for more than 30 years. Here is his description: “The cabinet contained a total of 15,121 items: including animals, natural and fossilized 4805; dry plants, fruits, etc. 765; stones and ores 7924; antiques - prints 1636. The entire donation was valued at 50,000 rubles." 271 A special hall was assigned to house the office, which was to be decorated with a portrait and the name of the benefactor. Following this, Princess Dashkova donated another 332 items to the university: these were gems , physical instruments, antiques, original insect drawings and a significant library. Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova died in her sixty-seventh year, on January 4, 1810. Her ashes rest in the Church of St. Trinity in the Troitskoye estate near Moscow. “I have thought more than once,” wrote Catherine Wilmot, after spending several years in the house of E.R. Dashkova, “how difficult it would be to describe the character of the princess. I think that this is completely impossible. She is so original and complex that the result will be a description of a ball contradictions of human nature. Without a doubt, she is of the same flesh and blood as we are, but nevertheless, consideration of her individual traits will not give any idea of their totality. Any generalization will instantly destroy individuality.” 272 It is difficult to write about historical figures, especially of such stature as E.R. Dashkova. The princess is a bright, complex and in many ways contradictory nature. Although we know her life in some detail, Ekaterina Romanovna still remains a mystery to us. She evokes deep respect, and it is impossible not to be imbued with such sincere sympathy that, following academician Y. K. Grot, it is quite possible to repeat: “Summarizing the activities and significance of Princess Dashkova, posterity must give her justice in that, despite some roughness of her character, excessive ambition and vanity, she walked her brilliant path honestly, fulfilled her unusual task for a woman conscientiously and successfully, and acquired the indisputable right to a prominent place among the figures who have rendered true services to Russian education.” 273 Re-reading the works of E. R. Dashkova, one cannot help but admire the depth of her thoughts, many of which are in tune with our time. These are the wishes with which the princess addresses her contemporaries, but they have not lost their relevance today: “Love each other. Do not deviate from truth and justice. Know and remember that the lot favorable to you has given you to live in the happiest age of my beloved Fatherland. Recognize that you have been given rights and pleasures that your ancestors did not enjoy. The paths to enlightenment and truth are open to you; and realize that if we are not the happiest people in the universe, we only have to blame ourselves for this. Why should you have love for the Fatherland? to be unlimited and serving him is a zealous and pleasant duty for you... Be lenient in your conclusions and decisions about people. Do not be discouraged in adversity, and in happiness do not become infected with arrogance. However, know that good, like bad, is all transitory and transitory. variable in the world; why enjoy the present with the firm hope that virtue, sooner or later, does not remain without reward.” 274 1 Rostopchin letters. 1793--1814 // Russian archive. 1887. No. 2. P. 175. 2 Notes. M., 1987. P. 66. 3 Ibid. P. 35. 4 Quoted. from: Characteristics of Princess Dashkova Diderot // Materials for the biography of Princess E. R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. pp. 144--145. 5 Ibid. P. 140. 6 Ibid. pp. 148--149. 7 Ibid. P. 149. 8 Ibid. P. 144. 9 Broitman L. I. St. Petersburg addresses of E. R. Dashkova // Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: Research and materials. St. Petersburg, 1996. P. 183. 10 Wetland I. YU. Different fates of the Vorontsov sisters: Ekaterina Dashkova and Anna Stroganova // E. R. Dashkova and A. S. Pushkin in the history of Russia. M.: MGI im. E. R. Dashkova, 2000. P. 34--38. II Notes. M., 1987. P. 37. 12 Ibid. P. 296. 13 Letter from Princess Dashkova to Mrs. Hamilton // Materials for the biography of Princess E.R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. pp. 119--120. 14 Notes. M., 1987. P. 38. 15 Ibid. 16 Ibid. P. 39. 17 Ibid. 18 Kucherenko G. S. Helvetius’ work “On the Mind” translated by E. R. Dashkova // XVIII century. St. Petersburg, 1999. Sat. 21. pp. 215--227. 19 Vorontsov-Dashkov A. I. Moscow Library of Princess E. R. Dashkova // Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: Research and materials. St. Petersburg, 1996. P. 134--139; Somov V. A. Several books from the library of E. R. Dashkova // E. R. Dashkova and Russian society of the 18th century. M., 2001. S. 133--154. 20 Notes. M., 1987. P. 39. 21 Ibid. 22 Mordovtsev D. L. Russian women of modern times. St. Petersburg, 1874. T. 2. P. 122--123. 23 Nast, edition. P. 268. 24 Ibid. P. 271. 25 Mordovtsev D. L. Russian women of modern times. T. 2. P. 137--138; ILOVaisky D.I. Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova // Op. M., 1884. S. 248--289; SuvORin A. A. Princess Katerina Romanovna Dashkova. St. Petersburg, 1888; Ogarkov V.V. E. R. Dashkova: her life and social activities. St. Petersburg, 1888. S. 24--26; Chechulin. pp. 120--122; Krasnobaev B.I. Head of two academies // Questions of history. 1971. No 12 pp. 86--89; Lozinskaya. pp. 18--25; etc. 26 Letter from Princess Dashkova to Mrs. Hamilton. P. 123. 27 Herzen A.I. Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova // Ekaterina Dashkova. Notes 1743--1810. L., 1985. P. 235. 28 Archive of Prince Vorontsov. M., 1872. Book. 5. P. 105. 29 Ibid. 30 Letter from Princess Dashkova to Mrs. Hamilton. P. 121. 31 Archive of Prince Vorontsov. M., 1880. Book. 16. P. 78. 32 Notes. M., I987. pp. 91--92. 33 Ibid. P. 94. 34 Ibid. P. 97. 35 Travel of a Russian noble lady through some English provinces // Experience of the Works of the Free Russian Assembly under the Imp. Moscow University. 1775. Part 2. pp. 105--144. 36 Cross E.G. The trips of Princess E. R. Dashkova to Great Britain (1770 and 1776-1780) and her “Short Journey to Highland Scotland” (1777) // XVIII century. St. Petersburg, 1995. Sat. 19. P. 224. 37 The journey of a Russian noble lady... P. 105. 38 Ibid. P. 141. 39 Notes. M., 1987. P. 98. 40 Moiseeva G. N. Denis Diderot and E. R. Dashkova // XVIII century. L., 1986. Sat. 15. P. 197--204; Nivier A. E. R. Dashkova and the French Enlightenment philosophers Voltaire and Diderot // Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: Research and materials. St. Petersburg, 1996. pp. 41--54. 41 Quoted. from: Characteristics of Princess Dashkova Diderot. pp. 140--141. 42 Notes. M., 1987. P. 99--100. 43 An innocent exercise. 1763. January. pp. 13--21; February. pp. 51--56; March. pp. 99--111; April. pp. 143--155. 44 Ibid. January. pp. 5--10. Cm.: Zaborov P. R. Russian literature and Voltaire XVIII - the first third of the XIX century. L., 1978. P. 52. 45 New monthly essays. 1788. Part 21. March. pp. 70--81. 46 Notes. M., 1987. P. 105. 47 Ibid. 48 Quoted. by: Lozinskaya. P. 53. 49 Voltaire and Catherine II. St. Petersburg, 1882. P. 122. 50 Notes. M., 1987. P. 110. 51 Ibid. P. 109. 52 Letter to K. Wilmot. November 15, 1805 // Friend of Enlightenment. 1806. Part 4. No. 12. P. 190. 53 The life and adventures of Andrei Bolotov, described by himself: In 3 volumes. M., 1999. T. 1. P. 36. 54 Notes. M., 1987. P. 142. 55 More about the notes of Princess Dashkova // Russian Archive. 1881. Book. 1. P. 378. 56 Letter to William Robertson. August 30, 1776 Present. ed. P. 231. 57 Notes. M., 1987. P. 120. 58 Letter to William Robertson. August 30, 1776 Present ed. P. 231. 59 Cross E. G. On the Thames banks. Russians in Britain in the 18th century. St. Petersburg 1996. P. 149. 60 Ibid. 61 University of Edinburgh // International dictionary of university historiês / Ed. by S. Summerfield. Chicago, 1998. P. 492. 62 Ibid. 63 Schü rerN. Robertson W. // American national biography 24 Vol. New York, 1999. Vol. 18. P. 628--629. 64 Karamzin I. M. Letters of a Russian traveler / Ed. prepared by Yu. M. Lotman and B. A. Uspensky. L., 1984. P. 252, 369, 438, 656, 675. 65 Ibid. P. 369. 66 Letter to William Robertson. August 30, 1776 Present. ed. P. 231. 67 Ibid. P. 232. 68 Letter to William Robertson. October 9, 1776 Present. ed. P. 238. 69 Ogarkov V.V. E. R. Dashkova: her life and social activities. P. 47. 70 Vasilkov N. Education of E. R. Dashkova and her view on education // Bulletin of Education. 1894. No. 1. P. 60. 71 Letter to William Robertson. November 10, 1776 Present. ed. pp. 240--241. 72 Die Privilegien und alteste Statuten der Georg-August-Universitat / Hrg. W. Ebel. Gôttingen, 1977. S. 40-83. 73 History of the USSR Academy of Sciences: In 3 vols. M.; L., 1958. T. 1. P. 147. 74 Notes. M., 1987. P. 114. 75 Cross E.G. On the banks of the Thames... P. 152. 76 Notes. M., 1987. P. 115. 77 Ibid. P. 114. 78 Cross E.G. Trips of Princess E. R. Dashkova to Great Britain... P 228 79 Notes. M., 1987. P. 115. 80 On the meaning of the word “education” // Interlocutor. 1783. Part 2. P. 18. 81 Ibid. 82 Notes. M., 1987. P. 116. 83 Dashkov P. M. Discourse on a sad theatrical performance // New monthly essays. 1794. Part 94. April. pp. 18--28; Part 95. May. pp. 6--14. 84 Ibid. Part 94. P. 18. 85 Materials for the biography of Princess E. R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. P. 102. 86 Ibid. P. 113. 87 Ibid. 88 Ibid. P. 111. 89 Notes. M., 1987. P. 129. 90 Ibid. 91 Letters from Princess E. R. Dashkova to Prince G. A. Potemkin // Ancient and New Russia. 1879. No. 6. P. 156--157. 92 Letters from Princess E.R. Dashkova to Prince A.B. Kurakin // Russian Archive. 1912. No. 7. P. 463. 93 Notes. M., 1987. P. 131. 94 Ibid. P. 143. 95 Archive of Prince Vorontsov. Book 16. P. 143. 96 Notes. M., 1987. P. 157. 97 Viktorov. P. 124. 98 Notes. M., 1987. P. 160. 99 Ibid. P. 147. 100 Ibid. P. 163. 101 Letter to William Robertson. August 17, 1786 Present. ed. P. 253. 102 Letters from Princess E. R. Dashkova to Prince G. A. Potemkin. pp. 152--159. 103 Notes. M., 1987. P. 171. 104 Vigel F. F. Notes: In 2 volumes / Ed. and will introduce an article by S. Ya. Streich. M., 1928. T. 1. P. 53. 105 Notes. M., 1987. P. 172. 106 Ilovaisky D. I. Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova. P. 360; Notes. Chechulin. P. VIII. 107 Notes. M., 1987. P. 175. 108 Russian M. Dashkov Pavel Mikhailovich // Russian biographical dictionary. Dabelov-Dyadkovsky. St. Petersburg, 1905. S. 142--143. 109 Engelhardt L.N. Notes / Preparation and introduction, article by I. I. Fedyukin. M., 1997. P. 62. 110 Notes. M., 1987. P. 186. 111 Notes. Chechulin. pp. 283--284. 112 Notes. M., 1987. P. 193. 113 Archive of Prince Vorontsov. Book 5. P. 271. 114 See: Briskman M. A. V. G. Anastasevich. M., 1958. P. 10. 115 Engelhardt L. Ya. Notes. P. 72. 116 Vigel F. F. Notes. P. 54. 117 Cross E. G. On the banks of the Thames... P. 115. 118 Notes. M., 1987. P. 238. 119 Ibid. P. 255. 120 Ibid. P. 242. 121 Ibid. P. 342. 122 Arzamas: In 2 books. M., 1994. Book. 2. P. 416. 123 They usually cite the statement of Catherine II, recorded by her Secretary of State A.V. Khrapovitsky on June 7, 1792: “With the upbringing vaunted by their mother, both daughter and son turned out to be scoundrels.” And based on this they draw conclusions. See: Diary of A.V. Khrapovitsky. 1782--1793. St. Petersburg, 1884. P. 400. 124 Notes. M., 1987. P. 112. 125 Ibid. 126 Ibid. 127 Ibid. 128 Toisiokov. St. Petersburg, 1786. P. 11. 129 Notes. M., 1987. P. 164. 130 Archive of Prince Vorontsov. M., 1881. Book. 21. P. 458. 131 Notes. Chechulin. P. 279. 132 Notes. M., 1987. P. 172. 133 Ibid. 134 Viktorov. P. 149. 135 Notes. M., 1987. P. 188. 136 Notes. Chechulin. P. 284. 137 Notes. M., 1987. P. 286. 138 Ibid. P. 288. 139 Ibid. P. 354. 140 Ibid. P. 343. 141 Notes. Chechulin. P. 298. 142 Ibid. P. 317. 143 Interlocutor. 1783. Part 2. P. 12--18; Part 3. pp. 24--34. 144 New monthly essays. 1786. Part 5. November. pp. 67--71; 1792. Part 78. pp. 3--5. 145 Materials for the biography of Princess E. R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. pp. 98--110, 118--125, 158--160. 146 About true well-being // Interlocutor. 1783. Part 3. P. 29. 147 About virtue // New monthly works. 1786. Part 5. November. P. 69. 148 Ibid. P. 71. 149 About true well-being. P. 30. 150 Excerpt from a notebook // New monthly essays. 1790. Part 47. May. pp. 13--14. 151 Sincere regret... //Interlocutor. 1783. Part 3. pp. 148--154. 152 Notes of a peddler // Ibid. Part 9. pp. 7--16. 153 Party // Ibid. pp. 24--26. 154 Pictures of my relatives or past Christmastide // Ibid. 1784. Part 12. pp. 17--22. 155 Truths that you need to know and remember in order to follow them to avoid misfortunes // New monthly works. 1795. Part 114. November. pp. 2--7. 156 Letter to the publisher of "Russian Messenger" // Russian Messenger. 1808. Part 1. No. 2. P. 228. 157 Ibid. P. 131. 158 Abridged Catechism of an Honest Man // Interlocutor. 1783. Part 1. P. 35; Notes from an aunt // New monthly essays. 1786. Part 1. July. P. 78. 159 Let the Russians be Russian // New monthly works. 1792. Part 78. December. P. 5. 1 60 About the meaning of the word “upbringing”. P. 25. 161 Ibid. pp. 21--22. 162 Ibid. P. 23. 163 Ibid. pp. 23--24. 164 Ibid. pp. 24--25. 165 Something from my notebook // Friend of Enlightenment. 1806. Part 4. No 12. pp. 195--196. 166 Letter to W. Robertson. October 9, 1776 Present. ed. P. 236. 167 About the meaning of the word “upbringing”. pp. 25--28. 168 Ibid. P. 28. 169 Ibid. 170 Letter to his son with recommendations while traveling // Materials for the biography of Princess E. R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. P. 104. 171 Ibid. 172 Ibid. pp. 106--107. 17 3 Travelers // Interlocutor. 1784. Part II. pp. 120--132. 174 Abridged Catechism of the Honest Man. P. 35. 175 Notes from an aunt. P. 79. 176 Excerpt from a notebook. P. 12. 177 My notebook // Interlocutor. 1784. Part 13. pp. 25--26. 178 Smagina G. I. Academy of Sciences and Russian school. Second half of the 18th century. St. Petersburg. 1996. pp. 87--155. 179 RGIA, f. 730, op. 1, d. 11, l. 1. 180 Ibid. l. 3. 181 Notes. M., 1987. P. 132. 182 Cross E.G. On the Thames shores... P. 155--156. 183 Ibid. P. 157. 184 Notes. M, 1987. P. 394. 185 Dolgova S. R. E. R. Dashkova and the Malinovsky family // Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: Research and materials. St. Petersburg, 1996. pp. 71--79. 186 Notes. M., 1987. P. 196. 187 Cited. By: Kochetkova N. D. Nikolay Petrovich Nikolev // Dictionary of Russian writers of the 18th century. St. Petersburg, 1999. Issue. 2 (K--P). P. 350. 188 Notes. M., 1987. P. 37. 189 RGIA, f. 1329, op. 1, d. 153, l. 128. 190 The activities of E. R. Dashkova at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences are one of the brightest pages of her creative and social life. It is no coincidence that it is precisely this activity that attracts the attention of researchers. Cm.: Krasnobaev B.I. Head of two academies // Questions of history. 1971. No. 12. P. 84--98; Lozinskaya L. Ya. Head of two academies. M., 1978, 1983; Tolstoy M. Y. E. R. Dashkova - organizer of Russian science // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 1993. No. 3. P. 245--248; Chelyshev E. P. From Ekaterina Romanovna and Konstantin Romanov to the present day. To the 250th anniversary of the birth of E. R. Dashkova // Ibid. No 6. pp. 536--554; Tishkin G. A.“Her Grace Madame Director” (E.R. Dashkova and St. Petersburg University in 1783-1796) // Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova: Research and materials. St. Petersburg, 1996. P. 80--93; Ozhigova E. P. E. R. Dashkova - Director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences // Ibid. pp. 94--102; Smagina G. I. E. R. Dashkova and the educational activities of the Academy of Sciences // Ibid. pp. 103--109; Zaitseva A. A. E. R. Dashkova and the book trade of the Academy of Sciences // Ibid. pp. 110--127; Pavlova G. E. Academy of Sciences and Power: The First Century. Formation of a scientific center // Russian Academy of Sciences: 275 years of service to Russia. M., 1999. S. 92--96; Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. 1724--1802. St. Petersburg, 2000. pp. 698-819. 191 Notes. M., 1987. P. 153. 192 Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. P. 699. 193 Notes. M., 1987. P. 154. 194 Minutes of meetings of the Conference of the Imperial Academy of Sciences from 1725 to 1803: In 4 volumes. St. Petersburg, 1897--1911. T. 3. 1900. P. 647. See translation from French. in the present ed. P. 274. 195 Ibid. 196 PFA RAS, f. 1, op. 3, d. 67, l. 66--66 rev. 197 Ibid., f. 3, op. 1, d. 331, l. 140--141; f. 21, op. 3, d. 306, l. 1. 198 The Russian Academy // The Edinburgh Magazine. 1785. T. 1. P. 304-- 307; PFA RAS, f. I, on. 3, d. 67, l. 71--72, 112--112 vol. 199 PFA RAS, f. I, op. 3, d. 67, l. 70--70 rev. 200 Karlsruhe E. R. Dashkova visited during her first trip to Europe. See: Notes. M., I987. pp. 106--107. 201 PFA RAS, f. 1, op. 3, d. 67, l. 87--89. 202 Scientific correspondence of the Academy of Sciences of the 18th century. Scientific description. 1783--1800. L., 1987. S. 181--183. 203 Dashkova E. R. Notes 1743--1810 / Preparation of the text by G. N. Moiseeva. L., 1985. P. 144. In “Notes” (M., 1987. P. 152) the following translation of this phrase was made: “I was forced to drag a completely faulty plow.” Currently ed. the following translation: “I found myself harnessed to a completely upset ramble.” 214 Tishkin G. A.“Her Grace Madame Director”... P. 80--93; Smagina G. I. E. R. Dashkova and the educational activities of the Academy of Sciences. pp. 103--109; Under the shadow of "Madame Director" // Margolis Yu. D., Tishkin G. A."Unified inspiration." Essays on the history of university education in St. Petersburg at the end of the 18th - first half of the 19th century. St. Petersburg, 2000. pp. 53-81. 205 Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. P. 748, 789, 800, 814. 206 Ibid. P. 801. 207 RGADA, f. 248, op. 80, building 6514, l. 125--126. 208 Smagina G. I. Academy of Sciences and Russian school... P. 101--117. 209 Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. P. 704, 705, 708, 715. 210 Bolkhovitinov N. N. Russia discovers America. 1732--1799. M., 1991. P. 149. 211 Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. P. 790. 212 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 1, d. 556, l. 153 rev. 213 Minutes of the Conference meetings... T. 3. P. 729--735. 214 Nekrasov S. M. Russian Academy M., 1984; Kalaminov V.V., FaynStein M. Sh. Temple of verbal muses: From the history of the Russian Academy. L., 1986: Derzhavina E.I. E. R. Dashkova // Domestic lexicographers of the XVIII--XX centuries. M., 2000. P. 21--40; Bogatova G. A. E. R. Dashkova - lexicographer // Dashkova E. R. and Russian society of the 18th century. M., 2001. S. 22--39. 215 Bogoslovsky V. A. Quarenghi is a master of Russian classicism architecture. L., 1995. P. 44. 216 Schubert Friedrich von. Unter dein Doppeladler. Stuttgart, 1962. S. 390. 217 Zapadov V. A. Knyazhnin Yakov Borisovich // Dictionary of Russian writers of the 18th century. St. Petersburg, 1999. Issue. 2 (K--P). pp. 79--80. 218 PFA RAS, f. 1, op. 2--1794, August 14, § 118, l. 2--2 vol. 219 Ibid., l. 6--7. 220 Ibid., l. 1. 221 Minutes of the meetings of the Conference... T. 4. P. 388--389. See translation from French. in the present ed. P. 329. 222 Minutes of the Conference meetings... P. 389. 223 RGIA, f. 938, op. 1, d. 386, l. 5. 224 PFA RAS, P. V, op. D, d. 4, l. 31. 225 RGIA, f. 1329, op. 1, d. 184, l. 36.226 Smagina G. I. Public lectures of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in the second half of the 18th century. // Questions of the history of natural science and technology. 1996. No. 2. P. 16--26. 227 Minutes of the Conference meetings... T. 3. P. 681. 228 RGIA, f. 17, op. 1, d. 35, l. 11. 229 Ibid., l. 11 rev. 230 PfA RAS, f. 3, op. 1, d. 556, l. 215 rev. 231 Sukhomlinov M. I. History of the Russian Academy. St. Petersburg, 1876. Issue. 3. P. 46. 232 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 9, d. 488, l. 2--2 vol. 233 Minutes of the Conference meetings... T. 4. P. 571. 234 PFA RAS, f. 1, op. 2--1785, d. 4, l. 6--6 rev. 235 New monthly essays. 1787. Part 9. pp. 56--59. 236 Sukhomlinov. Vol. 1. P. 344. 237 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 1, d. 347, l. 77--78. 238 Raskin N. M. Chemical laboratory of M. V. Lomonosov. M.; L., 1962. P. 197. 239 Minutes of the meetings of the Conference... T. 4. P. 347--375. 240 St. Petersburg Gazette. 1795. June 1. No. 44. 241 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 9, d. 488, l. 4 rev. 242 Ibid., l. 1--1 rev. 243 St. Petersburg Gazette. 1795. June 1. No. 44. 244 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 9, d. 488, l. 3. 245 St. Petersburg Gazette. 1796. June 3. No. 45. 246 Veselovsky K. S. Emperor Paul’s attitude to the Academy of Sciences // Russian antiquity. 1898. No. 4. P. 9. 247 Minutes of the meetings of the Conference... T. 4. P. 900. 248 New monthly works. 1792. Part 73. P. 13. 249 Sukhomlinov. Vol. 4. P. 45. 250 PFA RAS, f. 3, op. 9, d. 488, l. 12 rev. 251 Ibid., l. 3 vol. 252 Ibid. 253 Ibid., l. 1 rev. 254 De-Poulet M. F. Father and son // Russian Bulletin. 1875. No. 5. P. 164. 255 Grech N. I. Notes about my life. M; L., 1930. P. 178. 256 RGIA, f. 730, op. 2, d. 5, l. 77. 257 Notes. M., I987. P. 157. 258 Chronicle of the Russian Academy of Sciences. T. 1. P. 750. 259 Kopelevich Yu.X.,Ozhigova E. P. Scientific academies of Western Europe and North America. L., 1989. P. 99, 224. 260 Veselaya G. A. E. R. Dashkova in the village of Troitsky // Proceedings of the State Historical Museum. M., 1984. Issue. 58. P. 77--91; Dolgova S. R.“Every bush here was planted by me...” // Science and Life. 1986. No. 3. P. 33--35: Firsova E. N. After exile: E.R. Dashkova in Moscow and Troitsky in 1797-1801. // E. R. Dashkova and A. S. Pushkin in the history of Russia. M.: MGI im. E. R. Dashkova, 2000. P. 62--75. 261 Notes. Chechulin. P. 283. 262 Notes. M., 1987. P. 207. 263 Ibid. 264 Ibid. P. 294. 265 Ibid. P. 246. 266 Ibid. P. 208. 267 Materials for the biography of Princess E. R. Dashkova. Leipzig, 1876. P. 158. 268 Notes. M., 1987. P. 337. 269 Ibid. P. 296. 270 Consolidated catalog of serial publications in Russia (1801--1825). T. 1. Magazines (A--B). St. Petersburg, 1997. P. 174. 271 History of the Imperial Moscow University, written for its centenary by Stepan Shevyrev. M., 1855. P. 372. 272 Notes. M., 1987. P. 301. 273 PFA RAS, f. 137, op. 1, d. 13, l. 10. 274 Notes from an aunt. pp. 78--80.
The trumpets of historical glory heralded her as “a learned man and president of two Russian academies.” And if anyone in the most pleasant dream could not dream of greater exaltation, if someone had to climb to the heights of earthly glory, peeling their nails until they bled from exertion, then Ekaterina Dashkova, ironically, most of all wanted for herself the usual female destiny: a husband , children, family hearth where love reigns, only love... Like a ghostly shadow, heavenly grace flashed in the life of our heroine, beckoned, teased and left alone.
Fifteen-year-old Countess Vorontsova married for great love. She didn’t want to hear about any “unpleasant circumstances.” The groom Mikhail Dashkov, lieutenant of the Preobrazhensky regiment, a handsome man, attracted one of the young ladies of the large Vorontsov family, entered into a relationship with her, and the matter almost ended in a scandal. However, for the in love, assertive Catherine, such a story did not seem a worthy reason to postpone the wedding. Evil tongues in St. Petersburg said that at the ball, when Dashkov carelessly showered compliments in front of the young countess, the girl Vorontsova was not at a loss, called the chancellor’s uncle and said: “Uncle, Prince Dashkov does me an honor, asks for my hand.”
But no matter what the gossips came up with, this seemingly not very successful marriage brought joy to both spouses. Catherine plunged headlong into the pool of crazy love, and Mikhail joyfully accepted the passionate adoration of an intelligent woman. Our heroine abandoned her former hobbies - books, encyclopedias, dictionaries. It must be said that such a young lady as Ekaterina managed to assemble one of the largest private libraries in Russia by the time of her marriage. And not only to collect, but also to carefully study numerous volumes. And among men of more respectable age there would have been few such widely educated people in Russia in the 18th century. But family and love made Dashkova understand that there are much more pleasant things than poring over books. She willingly moved away from thoughts about Voltaire and Montaigne to worries about her dear husband and the torment of base jealousy. Once, Dashkov, who was ill, did not go home after another business trip, so as not to worry his relatives, but decided to lie down with his aunt. Having learned about this, Catherine, who had already begun to give birth, overcame terrible pain, went to her husband and even climbed the stairs to him on her own. An hour after meeting Mikhail, she already became a mother. Regarding this incident, we can only say that it is not for nothing that the loyalty and dedication of Russian women have become the theme for numerous literary works.
In Moscow, where the first years of a happy marriage passed, Catherine sadly recalled her crowned friend, namesake Catherine. From the first meeting they fell in love mutual sympathy, distinguished each other from the rather gray mass of the weaker sex - small and empty creatures, interested only in “pins” and the latest gossip of the court. Dashkova understood that with her return to St. Petersburg, home life would end for her, but she would have the opportunity to see the young empress again, for whom, along with boundless admiration for her intelligence, she also felt deep feminine pity. The friend suffered from the stupidity and despotism of her high-ranking husband and often sobbed on Dashkova’s shoulder, confiding her deepest aspirations to her confidante. The curiousity of the situation also lay in the fact that the mistress of Peter III and, Furthermore, the closest person to him was Dashkova’s sister, Elizaveta Vorontsova. However, even this circumstance did not prevent the two Catherines - “big” and “little” - from being extremely close to each other.
In an officer's uniform, with a cocked hat pulled down dashingly, looking like a fifteen-year-old youth - this was Dashkova on the most unforgettable day of her life - June 28, 1762. What the friends dreamed of happened, they whispered, constantly looking back at the doors, in the ominous silence of the royal chambers. Now they are on horseback, Peter III has been removed from the throne, and behind them is an army of thousands, ready for fire and water. They said that Dashkova drew her sword several times that day. The situation was not easy, and Dashkova desperately took risks to save her friend, to give Russia a strong and reasonable power. She risked her children, her adored husband, who was far from St. Petersburg during the palace coup.
In the incredible confusion of events, intoxicated by the delight of what had happened, the toasts, and the excitement of the crowd, Dashkova did not notice that her crowned friend was no longer very pleased to see an intelligent woman next to her. Catherine II endured too long, her rise to power was too painful to share the glory that came with anyone. The help of the Orlov brothers seemed sufficient to the queen, and she wanted to quickly forget about the “compassionate” women’s conversations with her friend.
The return of her husband from a business trip by order of Catherine II became Dashkova’s unique and only reward for loyalty and courage. Now the nature of our heroine’s communication with the empress has changed. The Dashkovs were obliged to attend cheerful palace receptions, the morals of which became more and more frivolous. Dashkova, averse to amusements, with her love for one man, felt uncomfortable in the atmosphere of the intoxicating erotic game of Catherine’s court. But it was impossible to refuse the royal favor, and besides, Mikhail, the husband of our heroine, very successfully fit into the mischievous circle of the ruler.
There is a phrase in Dashkova’s memoirs that allows us to guess a lot. The princess writes that only two things in the world were capable of turning everything upside down in her, of coming face to face with hell: the first is the dark spots on Catherine’s crown, that is, the murder of the sovereign; the second is the husband’s infidelity. Dashkova in “Notes” only mentioned the misfortune that befell her (she preferred to remember the prince in enthusiastic tones), and we can only guess who caused the deep heart wound of our heroine. The princess's daughter, Anastasia Shcherbinina, told Pushkin, who was very interested in her famous mother, that the Dashkov family drama was connected with Prince Mikhail's passion for the empress. True, one cannot unconditionally believe this version, however, knowing Catherine’s morals, her moral principles, it is easy to imagine why the empress would not be carried away by a handsome, slender officer, who was also simple enough to share the simple jokes of the court. If Shcherbinina is right, then you wonder how Dashkova was able to survive the double betrayal, with what feeling she stood at the cradle of her second son, whose godmother Ekaterina herself volunteered to become.
Trouble, as we know, does not come alone. Soon Dashkova lost her beloved husband. Until her last breath, the princess considered Mikhail's death a disaster in her life, and yet she was only twenty-two. Fifteen days after receiving the news of the death of her husband, Dashkova was in a coma. And only the children brought her back to reality. Mikhail brought his family to the brink of complete ruin. To pay off the numerous debts of her late husband, Dashkova should have sold the land, but for the sake of the future of her children, our heroine went to the village and saved on everything, living in extreme poverty. “If they had told me before my marriage that I, brought up in luxury and extravagance, would be able within a few years... to deprive myself of everything and wear the most modest clothes, I would not have believed it.”
The Spartan existence bore fruit only five years later. The children grew up, and Dashkova decided to use the collected amount of money on a trip abroad to raise and educate her son Pavel and daughter Anastasia. This young woman, noble, very remarkable, neglected everything personal for the sake of the interests of her own children. At 27 years old, she looked forty; for her, ardent, addicted, passionate, men no longer existed. Dashkova now methodically studied education systems different countries. Of course, the most advanced school in Europe at that time was the English one, but it did not quite satisfy the demanding Dashkova.
The princess compiled Pavel's own training programs, more similar in accuracy to doctor's prescriptions. Scottish professors received these recommendations from their loving mother with the requirement of their strict implementation. For eight years—that’s how long her son’s studies abroad lasted—Dashkova was nearby. The extreme poverty of existence did not prevent Ekaterina Romanovna, caring for the spiritual comfort of her children, from organizing even balls for young people in Edinburgh. Dancing, music, drawing, theaters, horse riding, fencing lessons - the costs did not bother her.
Perhaps the most strict teachers would not have been able to detect flaws in the education system “according to Dashkova,” which is why the resulting phenomenon cannot be comprehended - the children grew up to be extremely worthless and stupid. “A simpleton and a drunkard,” his godmother, the empress, will say about Pavel Dashkov. Well, the scandalous stories that Anastasia got into, striking society with her extravagance, were discussed throughout St. Petersburg.
The Empress reacted favorably to Dashkova’s return to Russia after many years. Abroad, the princess gained fame as one of the most enlightened women in Europe. She was received by Diderot and Adam Smith, old Voltaire himself, sick and decrepit, made an exception for the “northern bear” (as Dashkova was called in foreign lands) and found time to talk with her. In the “beautiful distance”, Ekaterina Romanovna began composing music, in which she was very successful. Complex polyphonic works, performed by a choir conducted by a Russian princess, plunged the audience into admiration. The queen could not ignore the opinion enlightened Europe, and past grievances were forgotten. For both, the time has come for maturity and wisdom. Dashkova turned 37...
Once upon a time at the ball ex-girlfriend invited Dashkova to head the Academy of Sciences. An unheard of incident in Russian history! Never before or since has a woman held such a high government position. Free-thinking Europe could not help but be amazed. Giovanni Casanova wrote in his Memoirs: “It seems that Russia is a country where relations between both sexes are completely inverted: women here are at the head of the board, presiding over scientific institutions, and in charge of state administration and higher politics. The local country lacks only one thing, and these Tatar beauties lack only one advantage, namely: to command the troops.”
On a winter morning in 1783, Dashkova begged the famous mathematician Leonhard Euler to introduce her to respected scientists. From the first minutes, the picky academic public saw in Dashkova a fair and wise director: noticing that a mediocre scientist was trying to get into the place next to her, she stopped the weasel with an imperious gesture, turning to Elder Euler: “Sit wherever you want. Whatever seat you choose will be your first from the minute you occupy it.”
The Empress was not mistaken in her choice. Dashkova literally revived the Russian Academy from the ashes. Our heroine immediately refused the temptation to lead science. Dashkova preferred economic, publishing and scientific educational activities and succeeded in all three. During almost 12 years of her presidency, Ekaterina Romanovna restored the academic economy (she had to start literally with the preparation of firewood in order to end the ugly practice of scientists wrapping themselves in heavy fur coats at meetings because of the cold). Dashkova built a new building for the Academy, and although, according to contemporaries, she spoiled a lot of blood for the architect Quarenghi with her picky character, in the memory of her descendants the princess remained a caring trustee of science and education. She restored the activities of the printing house and, with great difficulty, “knocked out” money for organizing scientific expeditions. Dashkova, following her passions, paid much attention to pedagogy and education. With her direct participation and care, new training programs were drawn up for the gymnasium at the Academy. In the criteria for selecting talented young men, Ekaterina Romanovna was unshakable and, despite any protégés, mercilessly expelled idiots from among the students.
On Dashkova’s initiative, the Academy is undertaking the first edition of Lomonosov’s works with a biographical article, and is publishing the “Dictionary of the Russian Academy” - an outstanding scientific work late XVIII century, the second edition of “Description of the Land of Kamchatka” by professor of natural history S.P. Krasheninnikova. With the light hand of our heroine, major scientists begin to give public lectures in St. Petersburg on mathematics, mineralogy, and natural history. It was under Dashkova that the status of science and knowledge rose to unattainable heights in Russian society. Looking after the interests of the country, our heroine forbade once and for all the discoveries of domestic scientists to be reported abroad, “until the Academy extracted glory from them for itself through the press and until the state took advantage of them.”
Dashkova’s popularity as the head of Russian science is all the more valuable because Count K.G. was considered the official president of the Academy at that time. Razumovsky. He was appointed to this high post by Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna, respect for whose memory Catherine II emphasized in every possible way, feeling guilty in the death of Peter III. In addition, Razumovsky, the commander of the Izmailovsky regiment, took the side of Catherine during the coup of 1762, and, as you know, rulers do not forget such services, so the queen did not dare to deprive the count of a high post, but she invented the position of director of the Academy for Dashkova. But it was Dashkova who went down in history as the president of two Academies. In 1783, the Tsarina approved a decree on the opening of the Russian Academy, created on the initiative of Catherine Romanovna as a center for the humanities.
The higher Dashkova’s “presidential” star rose, the sadder her private life developed. The loving mother could not help but notice her son’s mediocrity, and Pavel Dashkov’s promotion was given only by the tireless efforts of the “president”; moreover, the son married the clerk’s daughter, which Ekaterina Romanovna learned about quite by accident from the dropped words of an acquaintance she once met. The scandal in the eminent family was not hidden for long, and soon the whole of St. Petersburg was happily discussing the ridiculous wedding at all crossroads. Spiteful critics got the opportunity to “prick” Dashkova in the most sensitive place.
And yet, the troubles with her son were just “flowers” in comparison with the problems that her daughter Anastasia created for Dashkova. You wonder why such a smart mother and handsome father gave birth to a girl who is strange, limited, and, moreover, with a physical defect - a hump. An imperious, caring mother, Dashkova hurried to marry the unenviable fifteen-year-old bride to the melancholic, weak-willed alcoholic Shcherbinin, who “bought” the Dashkovs’ wealth and nobility. The husband, naturally, from the very first days of marriage neglected his ugly wife, went abroad, and Ekaterina Romanovna considered it her duty to take care of her unlucky daughter. But the time has come - Anastasia has matured and taken revenge for her own failure on her overly caring mother.
To Dashkova’s great shame, the daughter of the president of two Academies followed a long trail of scandalous stories. Anastasia made acquaintances with dubious personalities, squandered money, and got into debt. Anastasia's extravagances brought her to the point where she came under police surveillance. Ekaterina Romanovna had to write humiliated petitions, vouch for her unlucky daughter, and release her on bail. The mother’s own influence on Anastasia had long since ended; they had already ceased to understand each other, but the most unfortunate thing was that the misunderstanding grew into irreconcilable hatred. For Dashkova, the relationship with the children to whom she dedicated her life, for whom she sacrificed her personal, female destiny, became a real collapse of all her values. She was close to suicide.
After the death of Catherine II, Dashkova's career ended. For Pavel, our heroine was an associate of her hated mother, and therefore an enemy of the new autocrat. Like many of the queen’s comrades, Dashkova was exiled to a remote village, where she had to live out her last years in complete solitude. The year 1807 brought another terrible blow to Ekaterina Romanovna. After being ill for several days, her son died in Moscow. At the funeral of Pavel Mikhailovich, an ugly scene took place between mother and daughter. The scandal was so loud that the priest even had to suspend the funeral service in the church. The daughter was hysterical, trying to push her mother away from the coffin. The essence of the conflict turned out to be offensively prosaic. Anastasia feared that the former president’s inheritance would go to Dashkova’s pupil, Miss Vilmont, who came from England to brighten up the princess’s old age.
Dashkova really wanted to adopt Mary and keep her with her forever. But Miss Vilmont, it seems, was also burdened by the company of the obsessive princess. And one day, to avoid a dramatic farewell, Mary left her guardian's house at night. Heartbreaking letters followed the fugitive: “What can I tell you, my beloved child, so as not to upset you? I’m sad, very sad, tears are flowing from my eyes, and I just can’t get used to our separation...”
Times, monarchs, and morals changed. The last request addressed to the new Tsar Alexander was the will of the dying woman: not to let her daughter near the coffin. Completely alone, in poverty and desolation, abandoned by everyone, among the rats who became the only interlocutors, the once most educated woman of her time, known throughout Europe, ended her life.
