11 - The Typographical Company (1784–91)

Summary

Masonic intervention in Novikov's publishing

After the efforts expended on setting the press of Moscow University on a firm footing, engineering a source of material to feed his presses, seeking out a securely based readership, and emerging by means of his masonic connections as an influential social figure in Moscow, the autumn and winter of 1783 dealt a cruel stroke to Novikov whose constitution was probably weakened by the labours of the preceding years. For four months he was seriously ill, but recovered in the following year. His colleague Schwarz, however, who also fell ill in the autumn of 1783, did not live to see the following spring and died in February 1784. His widow and two sons were given a home at Avdot′ino by Novikov. During his illness Novikov underwent a religious experience which he detailed fully in a confessional quarterly report submitted to his masonic superior:

Sincerely and frankly I confess before you, most worthy Leader, that the precious columns on which the holy order is based i.e. love of God and neighbour, were not understood by me, or rather, were badly and incorrectly understood, for I thought that man by himself could love God and neighbour; I was even mistaken in believing that I had executed them; then with tears thanks be to my Saviour that He allowed me to experience and recognise my blindness; […]