L E T T E R S

184Letter Nr. 53Paris, November 27, 1831To the illustrious Board of the Polytechnic Institute, Warsaw:The events which led to the suspension of operation at all schools ofhigher learning in our country, will, I presume, excuse me before the illustriousBoard if I suspend the periodic correspondence to which I was obliged by theinstruction of the Government Commission on Enlightenment dated September29, 1828.The time which the instruction set for the completion of my sabbaticaljourney expired this past September. Seeking information about the presentsituation of our Polytechnic Institute, I wrote two letters to Poland after the 8 thof this month: the first to the Honorable Count Skarbek, then Minister ofPublic Enlightenment, and the second to one of my colleagues. Today Ireceived news that the school will soon be open and that the Board has alreadyassembled; therefore, I am applying to the Illustrious Board, requesting furtherinstructions.In January of this year, in London, I received my sustenance for theperiod until September 29, 1831. From that time, however, I am completelywithout funds. I trust that the illustrious Board will take this circumstance intoaccount when making its decision about means for my return to Poland.With all due respect for the illustrious Board, I remain your mosthumble servant,Bogdan Jański1. This was a temporary illusion, created by the lying propaganda of the Tsar. Whileliquidating schools of higher learning in Poland, they were publicly announcing theopening of new schools.