“Eternal Deposits”: Plans, Implementation, Risks (Using the Example of the Yeniseisk Province of the 19th − Early 20th Century)

The article is devoted to the study of the practice of "perpetual deposits" in the Yeniseisk province of the 19 th -early 20 th centuries.Based on the generalization of the studied historical material, the introduction of new historical documents and facts of the all-Russian and regional levels into scientific circulation, the author clarifies the key concept of "eternal deposit", the first framework laws regulating the sphere of attracting financial resources "for all time" in the Russian Empire.Based on the materials on the Yeniseisk province, it is shown that in the second half of the 19 th century, in addition to merchants, representatives of other classes, such as townspeople and peasants, took part in the formation of "perpetual deposits".Examples are given that reveal the method of fixing inviolable capital: on the basis of personal orders (statements), by wills or a subscription in honor of some significant event."Perpetual deposits" were distributed according to their intended purpose for benefits for the poor, construction and/or maintenance of stone buildings of churches, hospitals, shelters, and had the purpose of promoting education (establishment or maintenance of educational institutions, issuance of scholarships and allowances for education).The emergency capital, initially formed through a private donation of some person, was subsequently replenished with donations from other persons, additions of profit from the income of the institution (payment for the maintenance of boarders, money received for work and products by orders, etc.).Many socially significant objects in the Yeniseisk province in the 19 th -early 20 th centuries operated on interest from "perpetual deposits".Examples are given of abuses by officials of the Skopin Public Bank in the management of "perpetual deposits" of the Komissarovskaya almshouse in the village of Nazarovskoe, the Yeniseisk province.