Аннотация: Translation from Russian into English. Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Рассказ о неудавшемся докладе".
The Short Story about the Unsuccessful Report
The Emperor Nicholas I has taken the place behind the pulpit and has inspected the audience which has settled down before him in the big hall:
- I confess, gentlemen, I do not understand why I should speak here, in this audience...
- "It isn't necessary for me clever men, and it is necessary obedient persons" are Your words! Who can make the report, except You? - the voice from audience was distributed.
The Emperor has thoughtfully looked at the people sitting before him:
- "How began the Crimean war of 1853-1856?" - here a subject of my report.
From audience attentively were looking at the Emperor. He continued:
- I considered the Ottoman empire the sick person doomed to death. The Straits, of course, had to "depart" to Russia in this situation...
The Emperor has looked to the hall, checking reaction of audience.
The audience was silent. The Emperor felt himself more vigorously:
- The governments of the western powers showed the unwillingness to interfere with the expected conflict of Russia with the Ottoman empire.
- How could you draw such conclusion? - the question from audience was distributed.
- I was informed by Russian ambassadors from France, from England. Heads of these states talked to them. Also other informed persons wrote to me. Information arrived from different sources, the reliable information. Creation of the coalition, the consolidated performance of this coalition against Russia is a casual confluence of unhappy circumstances.
- And you have took into account that in France after end of "Napoleon I's Era" there was an industrial revolution? That France of 1812 and France of the beginning of the 1850th years were significantly differ on indicators of economic potential?
-Issues of war and peace are decided by heads of State, Government. The ambassadors reported me about the positions of these statesmen.
- Have you compared the integrated potentials of England, France, the Ottoman empire, on the one hand, and Russia, with another?. - didn't relaxed in audience.
- I repeat! Information went from the knowing people. Our institutions have been abroad staffed by skilled employees. Mister Nesselrode was at the head. He participated in the Vienna congress of 1814-1815. Even Dantes as the diplomatic courier in 1850 arrived to me!
Noise in audience amplified. In air words flew: "fakes!", "gossips!", "saloon chatter!", "kitchen talk!", "Pushkin!", "Lermontov!".
Some listener has impudently got up from the place and has loudly said, addressing the Emperor:
- You were guided by outdated concepts, were collecting not that information which was necessary, made false conclusions. And the people, capable to set the correct goals, to formulate right tasks and to ensure effective functioning, under Your management weren't found.
The Emperor has turned pale:
- Who I am - all know. And You haven't told the Your name!
The listener continued to pronounce some words that could not be disassembled because of the general noise.
Negative emotions were reflected in Nicholas I's face:
- In such conditions I the report doesn't intend to do!
The Emperor has came out off the pulpit and left audience.
From the hall the dissatisfied rumble was heard.
January 20, 2018 - January 21, 2018.
Translation from Russian into English: January 21, 2018 06:50.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Рассказ о неудавшемся докладе".