“You should know the history of the fatherland. Only knowing about the origins, you can comprehend the meaning of real deeds and direct a clear look into the future , - MV Lomonosov.
The first search in the history of Russia with confiscation of property took place in the house of M. V. Lomonosov immediately after his death. By order of Catherine II, Count G. G. Orlov sealed the scientist's office. A large number of his works were seized, including works on the history of Russia. Where these manuscripts disappeared is still a mystery. Without a doubt, there was something that frightened the authorities of those years and interfered with their plans. They argued that these works come into contact with pressing political issues.
What could be there that was considered a state secret three centuries ago? It is unlikely that this could have been works in physics or chemistry. Many works have been preserved in the archive and on natural sciences: literature and language. But you will not find manuscripts on history, on which the scientist devoted 12 years. It was for the sake of history that Lomonosov gave up his duties as a professor of chemistry. But from this voluminous work, only the Short Russian Chronicler is available to us.
In 1757, Lomonosov completed the first part of Ancient Russian History, but in the letters of the scientist there are references to other historical works that no one could find. The manuscripts and all the preparatory materials for his history disappeared. Apparently there was such information that should not have been made public.
It is also not worth hiding the fact that MV Lomonosov was also interested in church history. They paid much attention to the religious reform of Martin Luther and the condemnation of Orthodoxy. It is possible that Lomonosov's ecclesiastical freethinking greatly disturbed the government.
In 1819, already 50 years after the death of the scientist, the Academy of Sciences published some of Lomonosov's works, namely "Discourse on the reproduction and preservation of the Russian people." It was published with large censorship notes. The censor who gave the permission was fired. The Minister of Spiritual Affairs and Public Education stated that such work has thoughts reprehensible and offensive for the honor of our people and the Orthodox Church. He also ordered that the entire circulation be withdrawn.
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Most importantly, before Lomonosov there were no serious attempts to write down Russian history, which means that it could be written from scratch. The Romanovs invited several German scientists for such a task: Bayer, Miller and Schlözer. Miller's work "The Origin of the Name and the Russian People", which told about the submission and enslavement of the Slavs by the Scandinavians, about the arrival of Rurik and the origin of the word Rus from the Scandinavian, caused great indignation on the part of Lomonosov. He argued that "this is not only groundless, but also very offensive for the Russians." In his historical notes, Mikhail Vasilyevich openly accused the Germans of falsifying history. Nothing was published during Lomonosov's lifetime.
The first part of "Russian history" is still available to this day. The publishing house was delayed in every possible way, and the work was published only 14 years later, after the death of Lomonosov. But who do you think the publisher was? Same Miller. Therefore, the work is fully consistent with Miller's point of view.
Gerhard Friedrich Miller.
In 1763, Lomonosov was fired from the Russian Academy of Sciences. An order was issued on the transfer of the works of the scientist on history and language to the Academy. But Catherine II canceled the dismissal decree thanks to the merits of Lomonosov and his popularity.
Lomonosov believed that his work could bring great benefits to the people. But it is becoming more and more obvious that the story set forth in his works contained a completely different description of the Russian people and, possibly, an objectionable description of the Romanov family.
Portrait of Catherine II by an unknown artist.
In 1765, the estate in Gatchina was bought by Catherine II and presented to Grigory Orlov. She presented him with the title of count, and gave him a diploma for princely dignity. Nevertheless, the count always patronized Lomonosov and understood that the scientist's manuscripts should be hidden in a safe place. Gregory's brother Vladimir, who was in the Samara province, after a while wrote to him that they had hidden the manuscripts securely.
After all this history comes the Soviet regime and the civil war. But during the same period, the Soviet government was searching for manuscripts. After that, he sends a tugboat to Samara to send all valuables from the estate in Usolye. No manuscripts were found.
The only good news is that if there is no information about the destruction of manuscripts, and their searches are actively conducted, it means that they are still stored somewhere and, possibly, will be found someday.
“History is politics overturned into the past” - MN Pokrovsky.