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Alexei Khomiakov
[no date specified]
Khomiakov's Commission * Palmer's book on The Holy Places
* A Russian ecclesiastic's opinion of Palmer's Dissertations
Dear and Most Reverend Sir, —
I feel myself quite unable to express my gratitude for the pains you have taken about the little MS. which I sent you. Indeed, I should never have had the boldness to ask for even a little part of the kindness you have bestowed on me, and of the trouble you have undergone. I need not add that without your friendly aid the MS. would undoubtedly have been lost, as well as the money directed to a very wrong address, but do not accuse me of having been imprudent. I could not act otherwise than I did. In Moscow we are so far from London and Paris — or any other European city — that there is no possibility of getting any correct information, and I had some misgivings (though far from the reality) of the risk I was undergoing.
The idea you have suggested to our chaplain of publishing in England the newest polemical writings of our Church is an excellent one, and I should be happy and proud to appear in the company of such men as our Metropolitan, though always under the condition of my pamphlet remaining anonymous. I am quite content to do my duty as a soldier in a line of battle, and do not feel any ambition to appear alone in the lists, or to undertake a battle single-handed as a Knight-errant or a fabulous Hercules. If I have acted otherwise in the publication of the French MS., my excuse is that I could not act otherwise. At any rate, I must say that the MS. and the sum for its publication are quite at your disposal. You have given me an evident proof that you will arrange things better than I can suggest, and that your friendship is sure to choose the best way.
Accept my thanks, my dear sir, for your vindication of our rights in the question of the Holy Places. I have received your little book from our chaplain, and consider your proofs as quite undeniable, but I suspect that the question is one of those in which might makes right, and that the strongest hand will be thought to indicate the most just cause. A sorry thing it is that it should stand so, but I am afraid all peace-congresses are nothing but humbug as long as there is so little Christianity in the world at large, and as long as even in the members of the Peace-Congress there are those who are just as ready as any others to cry 'to arms' as soon as their own interests or prejudices are at stake. Still, the words of justice and reason may not remain quite unnoticed. Public opinion may sometimes listen to them, and thanks are due to those who fear not to speak them even amidst the roar of ignorant passions.
I have been unlucky with your publications upon religious questions, and although they may certainly have been waylaid by accident, still I must say that this sort of accident is of such frequent occurrence with me that I cannot but suspect that accidents have their rules. In a fortnight or so, I hope to see the Metropolitan, and will ascertain whether he has been luckier than I (which I suppose to be the case). When I get to Moscow, I will do my utmost to execute your commission and get the books you want. But for two or three weeks, there is no probability of my getting to town, and of being free from an immense quantity of domestic affairs which still detain me at our country place near Tula.
Accept, dear Sir, the expressions of my esteem, devotion, and gratitude. — Your most humble and obedient,
Al. Khomiakov
P.S. — This letter was not closed and sent to the post when I met by accident one of our learned ecclesiastics who had read your publications. He did not admit your opinions as a whole, and accused you (whether rightly or wrongly I cannot say) of having given to the word Catholic too much of a geographical meaning, but I am happy to say that he spoke of the work itself with great approbation and esteem, and admired particularly the clear distinction which you establish between dogmatic and ritual questions. I rejoiced very much at hearing such a favourable and quite candid account given by an ecclesiastic of a work which interests me so much.
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