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Abstract:

The proposed notes are based in part on documents from the archive of Empress Catherine II, who was frequently burdened with requests from writers. These are just two examples of how a collection of petitions, still little researched, can serve as a source for the history of eighteenth-century Russian literature. The materials introduced into the scholarly discourse relate to the biographies of two prolific and renowned translators. In 1774, Sergey Volchkov compiled a list of his unpublished translations, which he had accumulated over more than 40 years, and asked that this «priceless treasure» be given to the imperial library. The whereabouts of some of the manuscripts have been clarified, while only the titles of others are known. The translator and playwright Mikhail Verevkin turned to the Empress because his books had been lost during transportation to Siberia. This case was investigated by the Moscow governor’s office for three years. The investigation developed into a little detective story, which is reconstructed here on the basis of Verevkin’s correspondence and the documents of the governor’s office. Verevkin, who was known for involving various people unknown to him in his affairs, tried to sell his books with the help of Mikhail Pushkin, who had been banished to Tobolsk for making counterfeit money. Verevkin, lacking information about his books, tried to resolve the matter with minimal effort: First he tried to make the merchant Sergey Gusyatnikov, who had received the books for transportation, pay for the loss, and later the governor of Tobolsk, Grigory Osipov. Both attempts were unsuccessful and Verevkin had to make do with the return of his books, which had been worn out by the journey.

Кeywords: Sergei Volchkov, Mikhail Verevkin , Catherine II, translation, manuscripts, biography.