Literay Fact Literay Fact 2541-8297 2542-2421 IWL RAS https://www.doi.org/10.22455/2541-8297-2018-10-108-164 Articles An observant Observer: Nikolay Grech and the Third Section Abram Reitblat editor@litfact.ru 2018 Nikolay Grech Third Section Maxim von Fock “Secret Newspaper” Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 It has long been known that the journalist, writer and philologist Nikolay Grech rendered services to the Third Section, but usually it came down to information about him preparing and publishing abroad the articles and brochures directed against foreign critics of the Russian government and Russian orders. However, several notes in the Third Section archives, signed by the pseudonym Observer and attributed to Grech in the present article, demonstrate that his contacts with the institution were much more intensive and diverse. 1. Abakumov O.Iu. “…Chtob nravstvennaia zaraza ne pronikla v nashi predely”: Iz istorii bor'by III otdeleniia s evropeiskim vliianiem v Rossii (1830-e — nachalo 1860-kh gg.) [“…To prevent moral contagion from infiltrating our borders”: From the history of the Third Section’s struggle with European influence in Russia (1830s — early 1860s)]. Saratov, Nauchnaia kniga Publ., 2008. 213 p. (In Russ.) 2. Custine A. de. Rossiia v 1839 godu: V 2 t. T. I [Russia in 1839: In 2 vols. Vol. 1], transl. by V. Mil'china and I. Staf, comment. by V. Mil'china and A. Ospovat. Moscow, Sabashnikovs Publ., 1996. 528 p. (In Russ.) 3. Karpov A.A. N.I. Grech. Russkie pisateli. 1800–1917: Biografich. slovar'. T. 2 [Russian writers. 1800–1917: Biographical dictionary. Vol. 2]. Moscow, Bol'shaia rossiiskaia entsiklopediia Publ, 1992, pp. 18–21. (In Russ.) 4. Loboiko I.N. Moi vospominaniia. Moi zapiski [My memoirs. My notes], intro., ed and comment. by A.I. Reitblat. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Publ., 2013. 328 p. (In Russ.) 5. Panibrattsev A.V. Vzlet i padenie I.B. Shada, ili O prevratnostiakh sud'by odnogo nemetskogo fikhteantsa na russkoi pochve [The rise and fall of I.B. Shad, or On the vicissitudes of a German Fichtean’s fate on Russian soil]. Istoriia filosofii [History of philosophy], iss. 4. Moscow, 1999, pp. 106–124. (In Russ.) 6. Reitblat A.I. Faddei Venediktovich Bulgarin: Ideolog, zhurnalist, konsul'tant sekretnoi politsii: Stat'i i materialy [Faddey Venediktovich Bulgarin: Ideologist, journalist, secret police consultant: Articles and materials]. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Publ, 2016. 632 p. (In Russ.) 7. Reitblat A.I. Kak Pushkin vyshel v genii: Istoriko-sotsiologicheskie ocherki [How Pushkin became a genious: Historical and sociological essays]. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Publ., 2001. 336 p. (In Russ.) 8. Tempest R. Filosof-nabliudatel' markiz de Kiustin i grammatist Nikolai Grech [Philosopher-observer Marquis de Custine and grammarian Nikolai Grech]. Simvol, 1989, no. 21, pp. 195–211. (In Russ.) 9. Vidok Figliarin: pis'ma i agenturnye zapiski F.V. Bulgarina v III otdelenie [Vidok Figlyarin: F.V. Bulgarin’s letters and agent notes for the Third Section], comp. by A.I. Reitblat. Moscow, Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie Publ., 1998. 704 p. (In Russ.)