26 THE BEGINNINGS
treated his acquaintances almost like his flunkeys, or, in the case of
Magnitsky, court buffoons. He was never impolite or rude; his kindness
and softness of manners were quite exceptional among the bureaucrats
of the time. Yet, beneath his ever-polite tone, one senses the underlying
contempt and patronizing attitude towards his "friends". 1 In Speransky
there always remained, in spite of all his polish, intellectual brilliance,
politeness and tact, some of dIe hypocritical and unctuous manners of
the young seminary student, pliant and submissive towards his betters,
inwardly contemptuous of those inferior in status and intellect. Never
secure in the high position he had attained, and justifiedly so, as the
events of 1812 were to show, he apparently needed to surround himself
at home with a few meek and flattering individuals to boost his own
self-confidence.
We have dwelt so long on this aspect of Speransky's life and
character, because it must be kept in mind for an understanding and
appreciation of his position in Russia's political life. Speransky lived
and worked alone; he was always cold and distant in dealing with
people; 2 he had no personal friends, either among the high dignitaries
or among his equals in the official hierarchy of the government.
Speransky, at least before his return from exile, was one of the few
eminent individuals in the history of Imperial Russia, who did not
even try to become part of the world of the court and high society
to which they had gained access by virtue of their talents and services
to the state. Even after he had become a trusted adviser to Alexander I
and a most influential policy maker, he remained outside the "inner"
circles of the capital. It was no doubt very laudable of Speransky not
to deny his lowly origins, to refuse to become part of the ruling caste
at the price of renouncing his past; it was proof of his loyalty that
he kept close to his family and his old friends of the seminaries. 3 This
course was Speransky's own free choice, and in no sense was it due
1 This appears quite clearly from Speransky's letters to Masal'skii. Druzheskie
pis'ma M. M. Speranskogo k G. P. Masal'skomu 1798-1819 St. Pbg. 1862, passim.
2 This is the impression Professor Jacob had after his first interview with
Speransky: "Er nahm mich h5flich auf, aber sein Ausseres behielt ein kaltes und
zuriickhaltendes "\Vesen," Jacob, Denkwilrdigkeiten, p. 272.
3 Perhaps this idea of Speransky's loyalty to his friends should be qualified in the
light of his response to the appeals of his classmate, Slovtsov. Slovtsov. suspected
of harboring subversive ideas and sentiments, was exiled to his native Siberia. He
asked Speransky to intervene for him, but the latter - instead of helping him -
wrote him sanctimonious letters counselling submission and resignation. In
extenuation it would be fair to add that Slovtsov was a stubborn and cantankerous
individual, who seemed to take pleasure in provoking the authorities and worsening
his position (until age and the hardships of Siberian isolation changed his
personality). Cf. Ltrs of Speransky to Slovtsov, dated 22. VII. 1808. 15. I. 1809,
- II. 1809 in Pamiati pp. 409-410; also Kalashnikov, "Zapiski irkutskogo zhitelia."
lac. cit., passim.
