churches, as though I were crazy. I suppose you've been in the palace
of the Doges? What magnificence everywhere! Especially that great hall
and Marino Faliero's place: there's an inscription: _decapitati pro
criminibus_. I've been in the famous prisons too; that threw me into
indignation, you may fancy. I've always, you remember perhaps, taken
an interest in social questions, and taken sides against
aristocracy--well, that's where I should like to send the champions of
aristocracy--to those dungeons. How well Byron said: _I stood in Venice
on the Bridge of Sighs_; though he was an aristocrat too. I was always
for progress--the younger generation are all for progress. And what do
you say to the Anglo-French business? We shall see whether they can do
much, Boustrapa and Palmerston. You know Palmerston has been made
Prime Minister. No, say what you like, the Russian fist is not to be
despised. He's awfully deep that Boustrapa! If you like I will lend
you _Les Chatiments de Victor Hugo_--it's marvellous--_L'avenir, le
gendarme de Dieu_--rather boldly written, but what force in it, what
force! That was a fine saying, too, of Prince Vyazemsky's: "Europe
repeats: Bash-Kadik-Lar keeping an eye on Sinope." I adore poetry. I
have Proudhon's last work, too--I have everything. I don't know how
you feel, but I'm glad of the war; only as I'm not required at home,
I'm going from here to Florence, and to Rome. France I can't go to--so
I'm thinking of Spain--the women there, I'm told, are marvellous! only
such poverty, and so many insects. I would be off to California--we
Russians are ready to do anything--but I promised an editor to study
the question of the commerce of the Mediterranean in detail. You will
say that's an uninteresting, special subject, but that's just what we
need, specialists; we have philosophised enough, now we need the
practical, the practical. But you are very unwell, Nikanor
Vassilyevitch, I am tiring you, perhaps, but still I must stay a
little longer.'