They were,moreover,not improved by having been immersed within the waters of the inundation of '27[1824].I caused them all to be collected and sent to their destination,where they were purified and arranged -a work of no small time and difficulty,at which I was obliged to assist.Not finding with the type what is called 'Durchschuss'by the printers here,consisting of leaden wedges of about six ounces weight each,which form the spaces between the lines,I ordered 120pounds weight of those at a rouble a pound,being barely enough for three sheets.I had now to teach the compositors the Mandchou alphabet,and to distinguish one character from another.This occupied a few days,at the end of which I gave them the commencement of St.Matthew's Gospel to copy.
They no sooner saw the work they were called upon to perform than there were loud murmurs of dissatisfaction,and ...[four Russian words]which means 'It is quite impossible to do the like,'was the cry -and no wonder.The original printed Gospel had been so interlined and scribbled upon by the author in a hand so obscure and irregular,that,accustomed as I was to the perusal of the written Mandchou,it was not without the greatest difficulty that Icould decipher the new matter myself.Moreover,the corrections had been so carelessly made that they themselves required far more correction than the original matter.I was therefore obliged to be continually in the printing-office,and to do three parts of the work myself.For some time I found it necessary to select every character with my own fingers,and to deliver it to the compositor,and by so doing I learnt myself to compose.We continued in this way till all our characters were exhausted,for no paper had arrived.For two weeks and more we were obliged to pause,the want of paper being insurmountable.At the end of this period came six reams;but partly from the manufacturers not being accustomed to make this species of paper,and partly from the excessive heat of the weather which caused it to dry too fast,only one ream and a half could be used,and this was not enough for one sheet;the rest I refused to take,and sent back.The next week came fifteen reams.This paper,from the same causes,was as bad as the last.
I selected four reams,and sent the rest back.But this paper enabled us to make a beginning,which we did not fail to do,though we received no more for upwards of a fortnight,which caused another pause.At the end of that time,owing to my pressing remonstrances and entreaties,a regular supply of about twelve reams per week of most excellent paper commenced.This continued until we had composed the last five sheets of St.Matthew,when some paper arrived which in my absence was received by Mr.Beneze,who,without examining it,as was his duty,delivered it to the printers to use in the printing of the said sheets,who accordingly printed upon part of it.But the next day,when my occupation permitted me to see what they were about,I observed that the last paper was of a quality very different from that which had been previously sent.I accordingly instantly stopped the press,and,notwithstanding eight reams had been printed upon,I sent all the strange paper back,and caused Mr.Beneze to recompose three sheets,which had been broken up,at his own expense.But this caused the delay of another week.
This last circumstance made me determine not to depend in future for paper on one manufactory alone.I therefore stated to Mr.
P[luchard]that,as his people were unable to furnish me with the article fast enough,I should apply to others for 250reams,and begged him to supply me with the rest as fast as possible.He made no objection.Thereupon I prevailed upon my most excellent friend,Baron Schilling,to speak to his acquaintance,State-Councillor Alquin,who is possessed of a paper manufactory,on the subject.
M.Alquin,as a personal favour to Baron Schilling (whom,Iconfess,I was ashamed to trouble upon such an affair,and should never have done so had not zeal for the CAUSE induced me),consented to furnish me with the required paper on the same terms as Mr.P.At present there is not the slightest risk of the progress of our work being retarded -at present,indeed,the path is quite easy;but the trouble,anxiety,and misery which have till lately harassed me,ALONE in a situation of great responsibility,have almost reduced me to a skeleton.
