L E T T E R S

364Letter Nr. 70[Rough-draft of a letter to J. Lubowidzki]Paris, March 2, 1832Honorable Sir!It will surely amaze Your Honor to receive a letter from me, particularlythe kind of letter I am writing. Had not Your Honor’s goodness left a lastingimpression upon my heart, and if the memory of that goodness had not awakenedhope in me today that these few words of mine would be received with more thanamazement. I honestly do not know how I could justify to myself the audacity ofthe step I am taking.The nature of the reasons and purposes that promoted me to beg YourHonor so urgently to facilitate my journey abroad, and which provided me withtheories and friendly relationships, surely justify my conduct as completelylegitimate, at least as far as its consequences affect me personally. However, inthe present instance, for the request which I address to Your Honor in this letter,in conscience I have no other sanction than my trust in your gracious and friendlyattitude toward me.Four years ago, supported by Your Honor’s protection, I received myappointment as professor of industrial economy and commercial law in thePolytechnic Institute in Warsaw and then left Poland. At the time of my departure,Your Honor was not in Warsaw; therefore, I obligated my brothers, and especiallyMichael Jaroszewski, to convey to Your Honor my heartiest thanks for openingup to me a future I so ardently desired. Since then, visiting Germany, France andEngland, I continued to nurture the hope that in the ordinary course of events,having finished the three-year term of my sabbatical, I would be able to thank youpersonally for your assistance which has given such decisive direction to myentire life.The news of the events of November, 1830 caught up with me in London.I have been in Paris now for one year. At first, friendly, or rather doctrinal,relationships provided a possibility whereby I could be of to myself and to others.