22 THE BEGINNINGSreinforced the religious and mystical bent of his speculations. As a
result, his personal life almost never intruded on his existence as a high
government official and counselor to the Emperor. His private affairs,
his philosophical and religious seekings occupied his full interest -
and that of his biographer - only during the long years of lonely
exile and enforced leisure. Until his fall from favor, seeking escape
from an empty house and sorrow-laden memories, Speransky worked
unceasingly, taking upon himself more than his share of tasks and
assignments. He made himself indispensable by his truly astounding
capacity for work; without any other time-absorbing interest, he was
always willing and ready to perform any additional task that might
be required. Whenever some project or law had to be worked out
and composed quickly, whenever some problem demanded a great deal
of preparation and study, Speransky was the person to take the
assignment. This is why his name is associated with practically every
aspect of Russian administration in the first decade of the reign of
Alexander 1. But before we turn to the description and analysis of his
official activities, let us first try to give a brief sketch of his sociallife in that period. It will be helpful in understanding both his
personality and his position in the government.
Scornfully avoiding the shallow and glittering world of high
society, too busy to play the courtier, Speransky sought relaxation
among people who were intellectually and socially his inferiors, or at
most, equals. He wanted to be in a circle where he need not guard
his every step and movement. As we have noted, he had to be reassured
constantly that he was admired, respected and loved. That is why at
the height of a successful career, his personal friends, his intimates
were the same kind of people as those with whom he had associated
when he was only an obscure small official. There were again former
fellow students from the seminaries, the professional and business people
from among the foreign colony of St. Petersburg, officials beginningtheir careers.^1 To some extent, certainly, one reason for these
attachments was his loyalty to old friends and connections, but the
selfish desire to be the superior individual in the group should not
be discarded as a factor.
In the Chancery of the Senate and in the Commission of Provisions
1 Cf. the remarks of Alexander at a session of the Unofficial Committee (11 April
1802): "S. M. dit qu'on trouvait peu de seminaristes qui voulussent devenir prl!tres.
Sur quoi M, Novossiltsoff repondit que cela n'etait pas etonnant, puisque depuis
quelque temps beau coup d'entre eux avaient pris la carriere civile ou ils avaient
fait de rapides progres, ce qui engageait les autres it tacher de sortir de la carriere
ecclesiastique pour entrer dans la carriere civile ... " Grand Duc Nicolas Mikhailovitch,