letters-第9章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mefully and outrageously imposed upon。 In my last epistle to you I stated that I had been asked 100 roubles per ream for such paper as we wanted。 I likewise informed you that I believed that it was possible to procure it for 35 roubles； notwithstanding our Society had formerly paid 40 roubles for worse paper than the samples I was in possession of。 Now I have always been of opinion than in the expending of money collected for sacred purposes； it behoves the agent to be extraordinarily circumspect and sparing。 I therefore was determined； whatever trouble it might cost me； to procure for the Society unexceptionable paper at a yet more reasonable rate than 35 roubles。 I was aware； that an acquaintance of mine； a young Dane； was particularly intimate with one of the first printers of this city； who is accustomed to purchase vast quantities of paper every month for his various publications。 I gave this young gentleman a specimen of the paper I required； and desired him （he was under obligations to me） to enquire of his friend； AS IF FROM CURIOSITY； the least possible sum per ream at which the PRINTER HIMSELF （who from his immense demand for paper should necessarily obtain it cheaper than any one else） could expect to purchase the article in question。 The answer I received within a day or two was 25 roubles。 Upon hearing this I prevailed upon my acquaintance to endeavour to persuade his friend to bespeak the paper at 25 roubles； and to allow me； notwithstanding I was a perfect stranger； to have it at that price。 All this was brought about。 I was introduced to the printer； Mr。 Pluchard； by the Dane； Mr。 Hasfeldt； and between the former gentleman and myself a contract was made to the effect that by the end of October he should supply me with 450 reams of Chinese paper at 25 roubles per ream； the first delivery to be made on the 1st of August； for as my order was given at an advanced period of the year； when all the paper manufactories were at full work towards the executing of orders already received； it was but natural that I should verify the old apophthegm； 'Last come； last served。' As no orders are attended to in Russia unless money be advanced upon them； I deposited in the hands of Mr。 Pluchard the sum of 2000 roubles； receiving his receipt for that amount。
Having arranged this most important matter to my satisfaction； I turned my attention to the printing process。 I accepted the offer of Messrs。 Schultz and Beneze to compose and print the Mandchou Testament at the rate of 25 roubles per sheet； and caused our fount of type to be conveyed to their office。 I wish to say here a few words respecting the state in which these types came into my possession。 I found them in a kind of warehouse； or rather cellar。 They had been originally confined in two cases； but these having burst； the type lay on the floor trampled amidst mud and filth。 They were； moreover； not improved by having been immersed within the waters of the inundation of '27 ＇1824＇。 I caused them all to be collected and sent to their destination； where they were purified and arranged … a work of no small time and difficulty； at which I was obliged to assist。 Not finding with the type what is called 'Durchschuss' by the printers here； consisting of leaden wedges of about six ounces weight each； which form the spaces between the lines； I ordered 120 pounds weight of those at a rouble a pound； being barely enough for three sheets。 I had now to teach the compositors the Mandchou alphabet； and to distinguish one character from another。 This occupied a few days； at the end of which I gave them the commencement of St。 Matthew's Gospel to copy。 They no sooner saw the work they were called upon to perform than there were loud murmurs of dissatisfaction； and 。 。 。 ＇four Russian words＇ which means 'It is quite impossible to do the like；' was the cry … and no wonder。 The original printed Gospel had been so interlined and scribbled upon by the author in a hand so obscure and irregular； that； accustomed as I was to the perusal of the written Mandchou； it was not without the greatest difficulty that I could decipher the new matter myself。 Moreover； the corrections had been so carelessly made that they themselves required far more correction than the original matter。 I was therefore obliged to be continually in the printing…office； and to do three parts of the work myself。 For some time I found it necessary to select every character with my own fingers； and to deliver it to the compositor； and by so doing I learnt myself to compose。 We continued in this way till all our characters were exhausted； for no paper had arrived。 For two weeks and more we were obliged to pause； the want of paper being insurmountable。 At the end of this period came six reams； but partly from the manufacturers not being accustomed to make this species of paper； and partly from the excessive heat of the weather which caused it to dry too fast； only one ream and a half could be used； and this was not enough for one sheet； the rest I refused to take； and sent back。 The next week came fifteen reams。 This paper； from the same causes； was as bad as the last。 I selected four reams； and sent the rest back。 But this paper enabled us to make a beginning； which we did not fail to do； though we received no more for upwards of a fortnight； which caused another pause。 At the end of that time； owing to my pressing remonstrances and entreaties； a regular supply of about twelve reams per week of most excellent paper commenced。 This continued until we had composed the last five sheets of St。 Matthew； when some paper arrived which in my absence was received by Mr。 Beneze； who； without examining it； as was his duty； delivered it to the printers to use in the printing of the said sheets； who accordingly printed upon part of it。 But the next day； when my occupation permitted me to see what they were about； I observed that the last paper was of a quality very different from that which had been previously sent。 I accordingly instantly stopped the press； and； notwithstanding eight reams had been printed upon； I sent all the strange paper back； and caused Mr。 Beneze to recompose three sheets； which had been broken up； at his own expense。 But this caused the delay of another week。
This last circumstance made me determine not to depend in future for paper on one manufactory alone。 I therefore stated to Mr。 P＇luchard＇ that； as his people were unable to furnish me with the article fast enough； I should apply to others for 250 reams； and begged him to supply me with the rest as fast as possible。 He made no objection。 Thereupon I prevailed upon my most excellent friend； Baron Schilling； to speak to his acquaintance； State…Councillor Alquin； who is possessed of a paper manufactory； on the subject。 M。 Alquin； as a personal favour to Baron Schilling （whom； I confess； I was ashamed to trouble upon such an affair； and should never have done so had not zeal for the CAUSE induced me）； consented to furnish me with the required paper on the same terms as Mr。 P。 At present there is not the slightest risk of the progress of our work being retarded … at present； indeed； the path is quite easy； but the trouble； anxiety； and misery which have till lately harassed me； ALONE in a situation of great responsibility； have almost reduced me to a skeleton。
My dearest Sir； do me the favour to ask our excellent Committee； Would it have answered any useful purpose if； instead of continuing to struggle with difficulties and using my utmost to overcome them； I had written in the following strain … and what else could I have written if I had written at all？ … 'I was sent out to St。 Petersburg to assist Mr。 Lipoftsoff in the editing of the Mandchou Testament。 That gentleman； WHO HOLDS THREE IMPORTANT SITUATIONS UNDER THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT； AND WHO IS FAR ADVANCED IN YEARS； has neither time； inclination； or eyesight for the task； and I am apprehensive that my strength and powers unassisted are incompetent to it' （praised be the Lord； they were not！）； 'therefore I should be glad to return home。 Moreover the comp
