516 SLAVIC LITERATURE 



went under the pseudonym of "Talvi," who saw the importance of 

 such a work, and prevailed on her to write it. This book for a long 

 time remained a standard, and did much to acquaint the world at 

 large with the literatures in the Slavic countries, especially with their 

 folk-lore. 



Naturally, the greatest direct influence of America is discovered 

 to be upon Russia, which, more than any other Slavic country, has 

 been thrown into contact with the United States. The prowess of 

 American arms was the first thing to attract Russia's attention to 

 America, in the reign of Catherine II, and Paul Jones, who had done 

 so much for the navy of the United States, was called by the Empress 

 to Russia, to serve as an admiral in her fleet. But also the scientific 

 achievements and the political life of the new country beyond the 

 sea were well known in Russia. It was not Franklin's general re- 

 putation alone, but his particular discovery in the electricity of 

 the atmosphere, that attracted attention in St. Petersburg, since 

 contemporaneously with him a similar activity was developed by 

 Lomonosov, who may easily be called the Russian Franklin. In 

 what way exact information reached the enlightened circle of men, 

 of whom Xovikov and Radischchev were the most representative, 

 we do not know, but it is quite certain that Radischchev 's Journey 

 from St. Petersburg to Moscow is, as regards political and social ideas, 

 to a great extent inspired by his intimate knowledge of American 

 matters. Indeed, he several times refers to the United States. And 

 when this extraordinary literary production, in which an advanced 

 liberalism, including even the liberation of the serfs, fell into the 

 hands of the Empress, she condemned the book, as she deported the 

 author, on the ground that he "praised Franklin/' though Franklin's 

 name is not mentioned in the production. 



In the beginning of the nineteenth century the intercourse between 

 the United States and Russia was at its height. The large import- 

 ations of Russian raw materials into America brought a number 

 of American vessels, mostly from Salem, to Russian shores, and 

 with them came a long procession of travelers, who constantly 

 importuned Mr. Adams and the other men in the diplomatic service 

 of the United States to be presented to the Emperor. The Emperor 

 \vas only too willing to meet these men from across the sea, treating 

 them frequently as his equals. AYe have an excellent picture of Alex- 

 ander from one such traveler, Poinset. to \vhom the Emperor offered 

 tiny commission in the Russian service he would be willing to take. 

 How welcome Americans were at that time, we see also from the fact 

 that Nicholas's aide-de-camp was an American. Emperor Alexander 

 expressed his admiration for the United States to Poinset by saying 

 that if he were not the Emperor of Russia he would like to be a 

 citizen of the United States. He also requested the American consul 



