8 May 1840

Rain in the night and the Place dirty this morning dampish foggy morning even till now 11 1/4 (breakfast at 9 55/60) the mountains quite covered

Then copied into business letterbook the character given on leaving Moscow to Grotza, and that given to Gross at Astracan, and my letter from here to Mr. Marc - and then had Mademoiselle Kotzebue and then madame Latchinoff till 2 5/60

She had translated into French above 1/2 her account of her journey to Erivan and brought it and read it to me - prettily written - praised it very much - she will let me have the whole on Saturday night to take with me - and will leave for me (chez le General Braïko) her compilation of a sort of modern history or what of this country - she is writing a larger work, an historical work but in the form of a Roman - I questioned her as to why she did not take a higher line of authorship - she dreaded criticism - nothing to fear for a Roman, if her style and manner easy and good, it was all that would be required - she writes, she says, with great facility and always has done from her infancy - besides, to write history would require grave studies and much time and her father quizzes and does not like the idea of a young woman of her age entering upon history writing she ought to think of her husband - elle appartient à la société, and, if her studies were too serious they might either withdraw her from society she might enter it préoccupée, and not be able to play the agreeable (faire l'aimable) - Bon! - But she travels up and down - leaves her husband perpetually - goes a month hence to Moscow - or 1st. to Cachétie - then aux caux? then Moscow by Warsaw and Vienna to Florence Rome and Naples for the winter - will keep a journal for herself and arrange her ideas afterwards - but it seems she adopts the novel style not only in imitation of Sir Walter Scott, but of her great friend, killed in an Expedition 2 or 3 years ago against the Tcherkess, Mr. Bestujeff one of the best modern writers of Russian historical romances - E.g. his Amahad Beg (translated into French)) - under the nom supposé of Marlinski - he was exiled for the Moscow business of 1825 - he and Pouschkine killed three years ago the 2 best modern Russian writers - Madame Latchinoff has only published one thing a little Roman (story) of 100 pages in the Bibliotheque de Lecture  (a monthly periodical) du mois de Septembre 1838. Inquire for it chez Semen, Moscow - She writes under the nom supposé de Cléopatre Leonidoff

Captain Tolstoy was in a category that had almost the worst punishment - It is only 2 years since he was made officer - now Lieutenant - was 8 years here a private soldier - obliged to appear on parade in his soldier's dress - but all received in society (especially those who have money) and then wear clothes of fine cloth - He has only to distinguish himself - and rank goes on quickly here - a man may rise from ensign to general in 5 years here - always the opportunity to distinguish himself

Madame Latchinoff has much read Walter Scott's works, and finds much resemblance between the Scots Highlander and Tcherkess.

Mademoiselle Kotzbue called in fact about the Armenian Obuvian and the ascension of Mount Ararat - could say nothing certain at present all must depend upon time and weather - what give him a day + his expences - no satisfactory answer - but thought as he wished to go for his own pleasure he would be contented with his expences - but madame Latchinoff said gentries understood those things better than ladies - I thought but said nothing would 1 ducat per day be enough to give? Koun and interpreters ask 60 Ducats per month = 2 Ducats per day - to call at the Kotzebue's at 12 tomorrow

Somehow i do not much like Mrs Latchinoff no solid learning as Miss kotzebue seemed to insinuate nor does she seem a general favor ite here she is a silly little doll of a bas blue flirt

Made as good a fetch as I could for the after address of Madame Latchinoff in vain - her husband will be here 4 or 5 years - She is always en voyage - her father and mother live in Moscow - have not yet learnt name or station - after 1812 the fashion to bring up young people à la Francaise - she one those brought up - all her studies in French - hardly knew her own language - till 4 years ago - her friend Bestujeff said it was a shame for Russians to write in French and she began to study her own language - it occurs to me she talked (wrote, read) of Erivan being 'prise chez les Perses' instead of sur her own French translation of her work from the Russian will be valuable - when she is older, she says, she may retire a little from the world, and engage in more serious studies and write history - the compilation the history a fragment of this country she will leave me chez les Braïko will be gleaned from the reports of various officers and from authentic archives; and she is sure this little work will be very interesting

Tis now 3 p.m. damp rather Rainy dirty day - dinner about 5 1/4 - before and after wrote to Countess Alexandra Panin had Mr. Stadler to come again in the evening - came at he wrote the names as under of the 2 gentries at the Gymnase - L. Inspecteur Roskovshenko, le directeur Kopf. et le traduction de Shakspeare or after 9 - tea - translated Spaski's book for me - staid till 2 20/60! damp rainy day.