The diaries of Maximilian Marx, called by him "Notes of the Old Man" - material unique in its versatility and breadth. In his memoirs, Marx covers the historical, political layers of the second half of the 19th century, and also includes the results of ethnographic, geographical and scientific observations." Notes of the old man" are of interest for the study of Polish-Russian relations. It is significant that, despite the Polish origin and the dramatic fate of the exile, Maximilian Marx managed to realize his personal, scientific and creative potential in the Russian Empire.