Адам Гонорий Киркор и Фаддей Булгарин: взаимосвязи и идейная близость

ENAdam Honory Kirkor (1818-1886) and Jan Tadeusz Krzysztof Bułharyn (Russian: Фаддей Венедиктович Булгарин, 1789-1859) became acquainted in Saint Petersburg in 1845. Upon his return to Vilnius, Kirkor published an essay describing his visit and calling Bułharyn his “kin” (сородичем) whose “literary influence in today’s Russia is so strong that the public accepts his opinion like a verdict”. The aim of Kirkor’s trip to Saint Petersburg was to launch a Polish newspaper that would become “an intermediary between Eastern and Western Rus’, which have been related since the beginning of time, although historical events and upheavals repeatedly separated them for long periods” (посредником между Восточною и Западною Русью, искони родными, но не раз расторгаемыми на долгое время историческими событиями и переворотами). By using his contacts in the 3rd department of the personal chancellery of His Imperial Highness, Bułharyn tried to help Kirkor, but his appeals did not receive any attention. Already from Vilnius Kirkor sent several articles about the theatre and charitable activity in Vilnius to the magazine Северная пчела (The Northern Bee) edited by Bułharyn, which were published in 1846. In 1852, their communication was renewed. Kirkor sent to Bułharyn the publication Памятная книжка Виленской губернии на 1852 год (The Agenda Book of the Vilnius Governorate for 1852) that he had compiled and some material for the magazine Северная пчела. It was information on the tour of the violinist Apolinar Kątski (1825-1879) in Vilnius and the work “Путевые письма” (“Travel Letters”) describing excursions to the Vilnius governorate.Bułharyn published these texts and praised the above mentioned agenda book of the Vilnius governorate calling it “an exemplary book of this genre” (образцом в этом роде). In particular, he distinguished Kirkor s “scientifically and reasonably prepared” articles included in the book. In 1853, the latter sent to Bułharyn a new text titled “Письма из Вильны” (“Letters from Vilnius”) describing the cultural life of Vilnius, and the publisher of the magazine Северная пчела published a review of the agenda book of the Vilnius governorate for 1853, in which he retold Kirkors article “Историко-статистические очерки Виленской губернии” (“Historical Statistical Sketches of the Vilnius Governorate”) in great detail. According to Bułharyn, this text is “both excellently prepared and excellently written, and in many cases explains the general and military history of Russia”. Later Bułharyn commended Kirkor on more than one occasion, and in 1856 published two of his articles - “Виленский музей древностей и археологическая комиссия” (“The Vilnius Museum of Antiquities and the Archaeological Commission”) and “17 апреля 1856 года в Вильне” (“17 April 1856 in Vilnius”) announcing the opening of the museum and discussing its aims and collections. In 1857, Bułharyn himself wrote about the museum and drew particular attention to the charity of local noblemen and “right-thinking persons” (благомыслящих людей).He highly valued Kirkor’s contribution. In Bulharyn’s opinion, the establishment of the museum prompted the emergence of “intellectual activity in the Western region, directed for the benefit of general education; a new field of work and peaceful activities has opened for educated people” (возникла в Западном крае умственная деятельность, на пользу общего просвещения; для людей образованных открылось новое поприще труда и мирных занятий). То finish, several words about the reasons for close cooperation between these two persons should be added. Mutual advantage obviously played a role here - Bułharyn helped Kirkor in his attempts to establish a newspaper in St Petersburg and strengthened his reputation with favourable reviews, while Kirkor sent him Polish books, took care of Bulharyn’s material issues in Vilnius etc. However, common aims were the most important. Both men realised themselves as Lithuanians (осознавали себя литвинами), i.e. residents of Lithuania, who were related to the Polish culture and language, but fostered their own local historical and cultural traditions and close links with Vilnius. Both sought to strengthen the relations of their region to the Russian Empire, ensure its equal position and rights and the possibility to retain specific local features: culture, art and the traditions of lifestyle. [From the publication]