L E T T E R S

76advantage when it comes to the studies that I am pursuing so that I may be ableto teach these subjects when I return to Poland.A few days ago, the Berlin Gazette contained an item informing us ofYour Honor's appointment to the Ministry of Education. This item tells memore about the Tsar's intentions with respect to our Country and its future thanmany other things I have been hearing. 93 Ultimately, this is the reason why Ihave undertaken to ask the Honorable Minister of Education only recentlyappointed by the Tsar for Poland to send me directives concerning my ownfurther assignment.Your Honor is aware of my situation at home. I was sent abroad at thegovernment's expense. In the ordinary course of events, I should have returnedto Poland last month, in order to occupy the chair assigned to me at thePolytechnic Institute. Is the Polytechnic Institute still in existence today, andwhat is the situation of the professors who were assigned to it?As for myself, since I am the only one from among my colleagues whois still abroad, in Paris: Can I, should I, return to claim the position assigned tome? If I can return, then I must ask the proper authority to make my returnhome possible.N.B. The subsidy that I received in London was good only until theend of last month. Right now my only possibility is to live in dependence onfuture income.These are the problems with which I am confronted; they will remainunsolved until I receive some guidance. In this letter I sincerely ask YourHonor for such guidance, and I trust that Your Honor will not refuse to offersuch counsel to his former student and client.In my present situation I need someone to give me friendly - I stressfriendly - advice. No one can do this better than Your Honor. In spite of thegap between us in the Polish educational hierarchy, I place great confidence in93 It was proper to write in this fashion to a Minister newly appointed by the Tsar.