LAST YEARS - CONCLUSION^353equals and colleagues. Psychologically, he remained lonely and an
Einzelgiinger. As a result, he created the impression - and not entirely
without some foundation - that there was a touch of exaggeration and
insincerity in his desire to make friends and penetrate into the highest
circles. Speransky was too obviously craving social and psychological
recognition, even though his manners and outward behavior were
quite reserved and correct.
The evidence on Speransky's contacts and connections with the in-
tellectual elite of the period is very fragmentary. We may list a few
details, though. In recognition of his interest in and contributions to
letters (in particular, his translation of Imitatio Christi of Thomas a
Kempis), he was elected to membership in the group called "Lovers of
the Russian Word" (Liubiteli rossiiskogo slova), alongside other
prominent litterateurs and dignitaries. Since the time he had been
elected to the Academy in reward for his efforts at promoting the
scientific exploration of Siberia, Speransky was also in contact with
Count S. S. Uvarov, the President of the Academy of Sciences and
perhaps the most learned and best educated man in Russia.
Speransky was also close to the younger generation through his
daughter'S circle, and more particularly through his assistant, Batenkov,
the future Decembrist. Also, some of the students of the Tsarskosel'skii
Litsei, the sons of his old colleagues, would come to see him. Sharing
many philosophical and metaphysical interests with this young intel-
lectual generation, Speransky found himself close to the future leaders
of Russia's intellectual and artistic life.
But this close relationship with Russia's intelligentsia ended rather
brusquely as a result of the events of December 1825. In part, the change
is to be explained by the fact that the rigorous regime of Nicholas did
not encourage its officials to keep up the easy informality of social and
intellectual contacts which had been the rule during Alexander's reign.
The militaristic, narrow-minded, and "practical" outlook of Nicholas
put a damper on St. Petersburg society. But of greater influence on the
social and intellectual climate than the personal and political character
of Nicholas' regime, was the impact of the Decembrist revolt. At first,
the revolt spread anxiety and fear among St. Petersburg high society,
for few were the families or circles that did not have someone who
belonged to the Decembrist societies. Even after the conclusion of the
investigation and trial, social life never returned to its previous easy
going pattern.
The Decembrist revolt split Russian society, e.g. the upper educated
classes, in two. On the one side were the Decembrists, and their spiritual