“How many copies of the ‘Century’?  Only one,” said I.

“No, no; how many periodical publications would you like?”

“How many can I have on this petition?” I retorted in Yankee fashion.

“As many as you please.  Do you want four—­six—­eight?  Write in the names legibly.”

I gasped, but told him that I was not grasping; I preferred to devote my time to Russian publications while in Russia, and that I would only add the name of the weekly which I was already receiving, merely with the object of expediting its delivery a little.  The document was then furnished with the regulation eighty-kopek stamp (worth at that time about thirty-seven cents), and the business was concluded.  As I was in summer quarters out of town, and it was not convenient for me to call in person and inquire whether permission had been granted, another stamp was added to insure the answer being sent to me.  The license arrived in a few days, and the magazine began to come promptly, unopened.  I was not even asked not to show it to other people.  I may state here that, while I never circulated any of the numerous prohibited books and manuscripts which came into my possession during my stay in Russia, I never concealed them.  I showed the “Century” occasionally to personal friends of the class who could have had it themselves had they taken any permanent interest in the matter; but it is certain that they kept their own counsel and mine in all respects.

Everything proceeded satisfactorily until I went to Moscow to stay for a time.  It did not occur to me to inform the censor of my move, and the result was that the first number of the magazine which I received there was as fine a “specimen” as heart could desire.  The line on the title-page which referred to the obnoxious article had been scratched out; the body of the article had been cut out; the small concluding portion at the top of a page had been artistically “caviared.”  Of course, the article ending upon the back of the first page extracted had been spoiled.  On this occasion I was angry, not at the mutilation as such, but at the breach of faith.  I sat down, while my wrath was still hot, and indited a letter to the head censor in Petersburg.  I do not recollect the exact terms of that letter, but I know I told him that he had no right to cut the book after granting me leave to receive it intact, without first sending me word that he had changed his mind, and giving valid reasons therefor; that the course he had adopted was injudicious in the extreme, since it was calculated to arouse curiosity instead of allaying it, and that it would be much better policy to ignore the matter.  I concluded by requesting him to restore the missing article, if he had preserved it, and if he had not, to send at once to London (that being nearer than New York) and order me a fresh copy of the magazine at his expense.