In the series "New sources on the history of Russia. Rossica Inedita" of the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University published a diary of an ordinary and little-known 18th century officer, Major Alexei Ivanovich Rzhevsky. The diaries of that time that survived us can be counted on our fingers, but this one is really unique: in addition to regimental life and hiking, it also describes the author's illnesses, health, treatment methods and self-medication. Rjevski's super detailed fixation on his fainting, convulsions, headaches and sweating (not to mention stools, sputum and other physiological processes) gives us a rare opportunity to see the disease through the eyes of the patient of the time.
The newspaper, or rather "weekly" in leather cover, covers the years 1757-1758. Rzhevskiy put in both daily notes and excerpts from the regulations, prescriptions for medicines, sentences in German, as well as copies of his letters to parents. The most curious of them are the complaints of the author's boss, Princess Natalia Grigoryevna Beloselskaya (and, it seems, the subject of sympathy). Daughter of the famous royal wizard Avdotya - Boy Baba Rzhevskaya, she was perhaps the illegitimate child of Peter I. His brother, Count Zakhar Chernyshev, also mentioned in the letters, is the early love of the young Grand Duchess Catherine Alexeevna and one of the candidates for the role of biological father of Paul I.
It was she who was afraid of Rjevski when, quoting the magazine of incoming documents from the Secret Chancellery in July 1755, he received a "report from the Novgorod Provincial Bureau on the pronouncement of some obscene words. The officer's panic speech to his influential aunt is a unique reflection of a man's self-esteem at the time, imagining that he was about to be captured by the wheels of a punitive machine, and the noble's perception of the misfortunes that awaited him (but finally passed).
June 6, 1755, Velikie Luki
A brilliant princess, a merciful aunt.
If I explained here how I had to defend myself in all the inconceivable cases that I had so little in my life, your mercy has always protected me. So I think you can protect me from the attack of one of the local slackers, Mr. Neledinskago, to whom I received a fictitious denunciation, and it has already been sent to the Secret Bureau. From there, I have with this exact copy for the visit to their lordship Count Zakhar Gr[Igorjevich Chernyshev] and Count Iv[An] Gr[Igorjevich Chernyshev] to my letters sent, also with my information, what it is of me for the innocent representation of the mine in the State Military College to His Excellency Alexander Borisovich Buturlin is sent. You, merciful Empress, of their lordship, you can warn the Lechko of all this, and you will see that none other than the manufacture of a single malice for the pleasure of her cursed passion, in order to destroy only an innocent man. I now dramatize with the fear that the anger of those people who always persecute me, and the unimportant matters, what it is, and in the convenience of their anger for the important honor can make me merciless forever. You are the only one I have ever defended, and that I, my dear lady, have always believed in your mercy and hope for me. And without spreading it, I stay and spread it.
A brilliant princess, a merciful sovereign,
From the lowest and most obedient servant
July 9, 1755, Velikiye Luki
Gracious Empress, Aunt Natalya Grigoryevna,
I have endured everything that has happened in my life so far in my ruthless ruthlessness with my great zealous fortress, and now in the very last part of me leads me to a place where I will be in such a place, where I can be terrified of any death of a goat, and in the hands of the bandits, who always want my blood. Think, my dear lady, if I am not a poor man in life, then none of these cases of ruthlessness have passed me by. I am now afraid not to know what I am doing, that every minute I expect from this place behind the sabotage. I am not awake at the time when I am properly warned when I am taken to a place where there is a strong ship[in] all the known things.
. And from you, as from my last hope of receiving my help, I anticipate everything, on the occasion of sending you the will of the people. And to this decree, I include a copy of Neledinsky's denunciation by the Novogorotsk Provincial Chancellery. From there, you will see clearly, my dear lady, that I am now plunged into a terrible state of shame by the wickedness of these people, in which I am so persecuted in jama