How to be ‘L'Honnete Homme' in Russia

Abstract

The paper examines a letter from the Russian ambassador to Britain, Count S. R. Vorontsov (1744-1832), to his nineteen-year-old son when the latter left for service in Russia. The count from his youth served in the guards, and then in the army. He sharply opposed the seizure of power by Catherine, remaining faithful to the oath given to Peter III. Having distinguished himself in the Russian-Turkish war, he did not feel sympathy for either Potemkin or the Empress. However, Catherine considered him a valuable servant and appointed him first ambassador to Venice and then to London. Having lost his wife early, the count devoted a lot of time to the upbringing and education of his two children. He raised his son to be ready to serve in the army and so that he considered himself a “real Russian”. Having his own extensive experience in military and diplomatic services, he considered himself not only in the right, but also obliged to express his opinions about the structure and problems of his Motherland, its place and role in world politics. In 1802, he took an active part in the discussion of possible reforms in the Secret Committee of the young Alexander I. Vorontsov left a huge epistolary legacy, among which is the mentioned letter. In it, the father sends parting words and moral instructions to his son. The count names the main problems of Russia, among which are ignorance, disgusting morals and a humiliating form of government, he admits that his people are humiliated and have lost their sense of duty. In order to live in such a country and at the same time be a “man of honor”, the count invites his son to look for and find decent and virtuous business people, carefully analyze the behavior of others and one's own actions, and rely on helpful friends. In terms of its problems, the letter resembles the first “philosophical letter” by P. Ya. Chaadaev and gives its own answer to the question of “how the seeds of goodness can ripen” in such a society.