Letter to Maria Alexandrovna Ulyanova, September 1, 1901

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September 1, 1901

Mother dearest,

We recently received your letter to Nadya with a letter from Manyasha enclosed. It was very sad to learn that our people’s affairs are in such a sorry state! I just don’t know what to advise, my dear. Please don’t worry too much—the prosecutor’s office is probably making so much trouble by way of a last attempt to work up a “case” out of nothing, and when these attempts fail they will have to grant a release. It might help to go to St. Petersburg, if your health permits, and complain of something so unheard of as no interrogation for six months. That constitutes such a definite and obvious illegal act that it is the best thing to submit a complaint about it. In any case, Petersburg would send an inquiry to Moscow and cause the latter to abandon a little of its provincial high-handedness (that was what happened when Mitya was arrested). That is the argument in favour of a trip to St. Petersburg. There is, of course, also an argument against it—the outcome is doubtful and it will cause you a great deal of anxiety. You are in the best position to decide whether it is worth while undertaking anything of the sort, and you have probably discussed it with acquaintances. You should also complain of the refusal to allow Mitya to see Manyasha, because that is something very much out of the ordinary.

As far as concerns Anyuta, I shall not, of course, write to her about what you have told me, so as not to upset her too much. I hope I shall soon—perhaps in a few weeks—be seeing her and will try to reassure her a little.

When you have some spare time, my dear, please write and tell me how you are keeping, whether you are quite well and what you are thinking of doing in the autumn. Are you moving to Moscow or will you remain in Podolsk for the time being? When is M.V. leaving? When you see Manyasha and Mark again, give them best regards from all of us. Now summer has passed—summer is the worst time to be in prison—and after the interrogation they will probably realise a little more clearly how trivial the whole affair is.

I embrace you again and again, my dear, and wish you good health and vigour. You remember, when I was locked up, you imagined the case to be more serious and dangerous than it was, and, of course, Manyasha’s and Mark’s case bears no comparison with mine! They are probably being held a long time, partly because so many people have been arrested and the case has not yet been properly sorted out— anything so absurd would, of course, be impossible in St. Petersburg.

I again kiss you,

Yours,

V. Ul

Life here goes on as usual; Yelizaveta Vasilyevna is rather poorly, there is influenza about again. Nadya seems to be quite at home by now and is used to this way of life.