"Sir!" he was accustomed to say to persons who asked favors of him in his official position, "a loaf of sugar affords no reason for condemning your opponent; please take it away and bring legal proof of your rights." Denis Von Vizin received a thorough Russian education at home--which was unusual at that era of overwhelming foreign influence; and his inclination for literature having manifested itself in his early youth, while still at the University School for Nobles, he made various translations from foreign languages before entering the Moscow University, at the age of fifteen.

During a visit which he made to St.
Petersburg, while still a student at the University, he saw the theater for the first time, and soon made acquaintance with F.G.

Volkhoff (already mentioned), and one of the actors.

These things exerted a great influence upon him.

During a visit of the Court to Moscow, in 1755, he was appointed translator to the Foreign College (Office), with the inevitable military rank, and went to live in the new capital.