1P,31.~\ My Acqunintavce with Karavizin. 6al 



conversation was so intelligent, animated, and agreeable, — fraught with 

 so much to instruct the mind and to engage the feelings, that I could 

 hardly tear myself aAvay. According to the present etiquette, I was 

 about to depart without taking leave of any one, when Karamzin per- 

 ceiving my intention, rose from his seat, and shaking me by the hand 

 (after the English fashion), requested me to repeat my visit. In the 

 course of my travels I have seen nearljr all the most eminent literati in 

 every part of the continent of Europe, and I must confess that very few 

 among them made such an impression upon me at first sight as Karam- 

 zin did J in the first place, because few possess so much simplicity of 

 manxxer awA bonhommie ; next, because to the information of the scholar 

 and the philosopher he added the conversational powers of the man of 

 the world ; and, lastly, because there was cordiality and sincerity im- 

 pressed on every word. That Avas the all-attractive magnet ! 



A few days afterwards I met Karamzin about eight o'clock in the 

 morning, proceeding on foot through an unfrequented street. The wea- 

 ther was exceedingl)'^ severe, and a heavy fall of snow was driving full in 

 his face. Nothing, in fact, but very urgent business could have induced 

 any one to stir from home at such a time; I therefore expressed my sur- 

 prise at finding him abroad. "It is my daily custom," replied he, "to take 

 a walk every morning till ten o'clock, at which hour I return home to 

 breakfast. Bad weather, as you see, does not prevent me, for so far 

 from doing me any harm, it only renders me more sensible to the com- 

 fort of my own snug cabinet." — " Still I must observe," returned I, 

 " that you do not select the most agreeable part of the town for your 

 promenades." — "I will not make any mystery of it to you," said he: 

 " you must therefore know that my object in coming here is to find out 

 a poor fellow, who has often solicited my charity for his famished chil- 

 dren. I took liis address, and am going to see what I can do for him." 

 Upon this, I proposed to accompany him, and we at lengtii discovered 

 where the poor man lodged. He was from home, but the miserable 

 condition of the family sufficiently attested the truth of his statement as 

 to their distress ; and after putting some inquiries to tlie mother, Ka- 

 ramzin gave her some money. On quitting the house, however, we met 

 the man himself, but in a condition that too clearly explained the cause 

 of his family's misery. Still Karamzin did not utter a word of re- 

 proach, but merely shook his head at him. " I am sorry," observed he 

 to me, with a smile, " that my money has fallen into such bad hands. 

 The fault, however, is all my own : I ought to have made myself ac- 

 quainted with liis character. Now I shall act more discreetly, and 

 instead of giving any thing to him, shall in future bestow it on his 

 family." 



Generous man ! — it was in acts of beneficence like this that you used 

 to indulge during your morning walks, preparatory to the labours of 

 the day. Can we wonder after tliis that every line you wrote, breathed 

 humanit}', virtue, and generosity ! BufFon was right when he made the 

 remark you so often repeated, that the character of the man is reflected 

 in the .style of the writer. The correctness, the delicacy, the simplicity, 

 and tlie charm of Karamzin's style emanated from his mind. It was 

 tliese (lualities which obtained for l)ini the admiration and regard of his 

 contemporaries, even of those who dissented from some of his opinions ; 

 while, jiulging from the same, posterity will say — Karamzin was a great 

 writer, and a generous-minded, virtuous man. Fortunate is it for the 

 world, wlien tlie two characters are united in the same individual ! 



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