THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.
The marriage of the illustrious lady who now lies ill at Cannes was almost a romance. ,-In 1831, /when the..-tpjre-sent Czar was 23 years of age, a, list was prepared at St, Petersburg of marriageable German princesses, and under the care of Count Orloff the Czarewitch went to visit them. He had been to Berlin and the Courts pf North Germany, and was on his way to Carlsruhe when he arrived at .Frankfort. , The Prince was about to resume his journey, whenjhe.receiyed an invitation from the Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt to dine at the Palace of Darmstadt. As a matter of courtesy only, the invitation was accepted, and after dinner the Court adjourned to another room for tea. There the Russian Coelebs in search of a wife saw a young lady- of sixteen, accompanied by her governess, whose appearance was so charming' by its simplicity that he inquired who she was. The Princess Mary was the daughter of his host, but her name was not upon the St. Petersburg list. Presently the royal and imperial personages proceeded to the drawing-room, where Alexander asked to be presented to the attractive girl, and a long conversation with her confirmed his first impressions. Next morning Count, Orloff informed the Prince of the arrangements for proceeding to Baden. "My dear Count," said the Grand Duke, " we shall go no further ; I have made my .choice ; imy journey is finished." Orloff had not suspected how matters stood, and expostulated. The princesses of Baden had not been seen, and the name of the Princess Mary of Hesse was not on the list. Alexander would go to Carlsruhe if politeness required, but he had made up his mind to marry none other than the Princess Mary. When the news reached St. Petersburg the entourage of the Emperor endeavored to prevent the marriage ; but Nicholas was tenderly attached to his son, and would not allow him to be thwarted in an affair of . the heart. The Czarewich married the Princess . Mary a 'few months later.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 110, 8 May 1880, Page 2
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345THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 110, 8 May 1880, Page 2
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