User:GRuban/Russkiy Arhiv

https://runivers.ru/upload/iblock/432/055%20tom_Russkiy%20arhiv_1884_vip%205-6.pdf

P. 55 (as numbered, P.57 in the PDF)

A MEMORABLE LINE IN THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SPERANSKY

From the letters of count M. A. Korf to the publisher of the "Russian Archive".

St. Peterburg, 2 February, 1870

Allow me, my dear Pyotr Ivanovich, to present you with a small note about the 2nd issue of your "Archive".

On page 390, in the footnote, Mrs. I. is called by you, nee Zlobina.

You will find on the 282-nd page of the I-th volume of "The Life of Speransky" a hint that Anyuta was not really born Zlobina. Here are the secret details.

Marianna Zlobina, having parted ways with her husband, took upon herself the upbringing of a rather mature boy, of an origin unknown to me, with the surname Stranek, with whom, subsequently, she entered into a love affair, and Anyuta was the fruit of this relationship. Then, in 1810, Zlobina finally divorced her husband, with the intention to marry Stranek; but death did not allow this to be done. Since that time Anyuta lived with her grandma, Mrs. Stevens, and when this last person died (at the beginning of 1816), she remained in the care of Speransky, which gave him the opportunity to show new evidence of his unusual good-heartedness.

Footnote: *) We remind the reader that Speransky spent most of his life as a widower. He was already married under Paul, for less than a year, to the daughter of Stevens, an English pastor. The pastor's widow, her mentally retarded son, and youngest daughter Marianna remained in Speransky's care. “Marianne Stevens,” says Count Korf (volume I, page 272), “not knowing our laws or our religion, wanted to immediately take the place of her deceased sister, that is to be Speransky's wife." Happily for this last person, the son of the then glorious merchant Zlobin became infatuated with this young beauty; but he soon left her. P. B.

P. 56 (58 in PDF)

This is what he wrote about her on April 4, 1816, from Velikopol to the governess of his daughter, Mrs. Weikardt:

We're expecting Annette (from Kiev, where Mrs. Stevens died) in a few days. I have already told you that our intention was to put her into a boarding school. But who will be charitable enough to take on themselves the trouble of finding a good one and to set the little one up there? Who will do it? Nobody, or it will be our charitable Marya Karlovna (i.e. Mrs Weikardt). To get you up to speed regarding my desires for the education of this child, I have to give you a sketch of what she can claim to be on this lowly world. First of all, she must pass for a relative of mine. This is the only means of giving an honest pretext for me caring for her and not to lead to sorrows for her down the line. Very fitting for that, I just happen to have two nephews, one of whom died without leaving children. She will thus be Anna Andreevna Smirnova, daughter of my nephew, тит. сов. = титулярный советник (titular councilor) Smirnov. But here we must get away as far as possible from the stupid idea that Mme Stevens has given credit to, which is to let her pass as my natural daughter. Lise (Footnote: i.e. the daughter of Speransky; P. B.) is scandalized by this and does not want to hear it being spoken, and she is right. This lie would not lead to anything but a lot of pain for the little one and very little honor for me. This Miss Smirnof thus has a fortune of 20 thousand rubles that will be paid to her at the time of her marriage. In the meantime, we will pay for her boarding school (let's suppose 1000 rubles per year) and she'll otherwise be decently maintained with clothes etc. Being Russian, it is clear she will also follow the Russian religion. The mother had assured that she had been baptized by a Russian preacher. (post-scriptum): Stranek has just passed through here on his way to Moscow. He doesn't make the slightest claim to the little one and has nothing but acknowledgment and gratitude for all that we're doing for her.

''[That was in French. Translated into Russian in the footnote, with minimal changes in meaning.]''

P. 57 (59 in PDF)

Then, on the 21st of April, Speransky wrote to Masalsky: “When Anyuta was sent to the boarding house, we agreed with M.K. Weikardt to recognize her as the daughter of titular councilor Smirnov, born in Kiev and, due to being orphaned, adopted by the late Elisaveta Andreevna (Stevens). To this end, I have compiled and signed the attached certificate. I have always wanted to dismiss the idea that she is my illegitimate daughter. I've been slandered enough already. But if it is necessary for the happiness of this child, let them slander. Out of respect for our intentions, God will forgive us this act; I am not afraid of a human court".

Anyuta, on this basis, was indeed sent, under the surname of Smirnova, to one of the St. Petersburg boarding houses, and then to the Smolny Convent, in the so-called bourgeois half; by assigning her (in the letter to Mrs. Weikardt) 20 thousand rubles Speransky, when marrying her off, paid her completely from his own funds.