Another congress of the leaders of the Southern Society at the Contract Fair in Kyiv. The question of methods for eliminating the reigning dynasty and all its members was discussed. A plan arose to seize the tsar at a review in Bobruisk. This plan would not be carried out due to a lack of forces.
A secret Society of United Slavs was formed in Ukraine. In the Northern Society, the republican trend grew stronger; it was headed by K. F. Ryleev. K. F. Ryleev and A. A. Bestuzhev began publishing the almanac "Polar Star."
In Moscow, two circles emerged simultaneously: the first, purely literary, under the leadership of S. E. Raich, translator of the poem by Torquato Tasso, and the second, specifically philosophical, which took the name "Society of Lovers of Wisdom" (i.e., philosophers).
The "Society of Lovers of Wisdom" included: Prince V. F. Odoevsky (20 years old, chairman), D. V. Venevitinov (18, secretary), I. V. Kireevsky (17, a future Slavophile), S. P. Shevyrev, M. P. Pogodin (both would become professors at Moscow University), A. I. Koshelev, and several others. The Society of Lovers of Wisdom would remain active until the end of 1825, when news of the Decembrist uprising would prompt the members, as a precaution, to close it. Almost all the members met while serving in the "Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow" (hence their name, "the Archive youths"). All of them received a thorough education at home. The society met in secret. They read Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Oken, Gorres, and others, and sometimes their own philosophical works. They would publish the almanac "Mnemosyne." In the article "From the Publishers," Odoevsky would assign "Mnemosyne" the task of "setting a limit to our fondness for French theorists" and "spreading several new ideas that have flashed in Germany," while at the same time drawing readers' attention "to the treasures found close to us" (i.e., to pave the way for independent Russian creativity).
Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna arrived in Russia, born in 1806, daughter of the Wurttemberg prince Paul, who was raised in Paris. On the first day of her arrival, 200 people were presented to her, and she said a few kind words to each of them.
Pushkin: this year he finished "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai," which would be published the following year, and began "Eugene Onegin."
Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky was born, a future playwright.
USA. The Congress of the states of Central America adopted a "Declaration of Independence." The new president, J. Monroe, proclaimed his doctrine: America for the Americans.