Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 99.
Tsarskoje Selo, Aug. 23-rd 1915
All my thoughts & prayers surround you in tenderest love. Such calm filled my soul (tho' terribly sad) when I saw you leave in peace and serene. Your face had such a lovely expression, like when our Friend left. God verily will bless you and your undertakings after this moral victory. Wonder how you slept — I went straight to bed, deadbeat & very lonely.
Dear Girlies proposed to sleep by turn in the room next door, as I am all alone on this floor — but I begged them not to, am quite accustomed to it & don't mind. I feel you near me, bless & kiss your cushion. Slept midling. Such a sunny morning — the three girls went at 9 to Church, as Olga & Tatiana wish to work in the hospital till 12½. — Wonder how the spirits around you are — your peace must spread itself upon them. I had a talk with N. P. & begged him not to heed to Voyeikov's varying moods. — The whole time those odious trains make a noise to-day, the wind comes from that side, but to me it seems that big new chimney (where the electric mashenes are) makes the same noise, as it continues since a long time with intervals. — The Churchbells are ringing, I love the sound, with the windows open; I shall go at 11, as till now, tho' the heart & chest ache, it is not enlarged & I take many drops. The body feels very beaten & achy. Have got Botkin to allow Anastasia to sit in the sun on the balkony, where there are 20 degrees, it can only do the child good. It is 10 & Baby has not yet turned up, took a good sleep no doubt.
Such peace in the soul after these anxious days — & may you continue feeling the same. — If you have the occasion, give N. P. our love & give him news as I don't let A. wire now for a time, after one was so nasty & she gave him news of my health always. — I hope old Fred. is not too gaga & wont beg for fieldmarshal etc., wh. can only be given after the war, if at all. — Remember to comb your hair before all difficult talks & decisions, the little comb will bring its help. Dont you feel calm now that you have become "sure of yourself" — its not pride or conceit — but sent by God & it will help you in the future & give strength to the others to fulfil your orders. Have let the old man know, that I want to see him today, & he is to choose the hours. —
Well, Deary, I just had the old man for half an hour. He was so glad to get your message, that you left quiet & calmly & Frederick's letter (I did not know he had written). But shocked & horrified with the ministers' letter, written by Samarin he says. Finds no words for their behaviour & says how awfully difficult it is for him to preside, knowing they all go against him & his ideas, but he wld. never think of asking to leave, as he knows you would tell him if it were yr. wish. He has to see them to-morrow & will mention what he thinks about this letter, wh. is so false & untrue in saying "all Russia" & so forth — I begged him to be as energetic as possible. He will also talk before with the minister of war, to know what you told him. About Khvostov he says better not, it is he who spoke in the Duma against the government & Germans (is a nephew of the minister of justice), finds him trop léger, probably not quite sure person in some respects. He will think over names and send or bring me a list for you of people he thinks might do. — Finds certainly Stcherbatov cannot remain, already that he took no hold on the press is a sign what an incapable person he is for that place. — He says, he would not be astonished, if Stcherbatov & Sazonov asked to be released from their places, wh. they have no right to — Sazonov goes about crying (the fool) & I said I was convinced, that our allies will immensely appreciate yr. action, with wh. he agreed too. —
I told him to look at all as a miasm of St. Petersburg & Moscou & that all need a good airing to see all with fresh eyes & hear no gossip fr. morn to night. — He says, the Duma cannot be dispersed before the end of the week as they have not finished their work — he & others especially fear the left may outpass the Duma — I begged him not to worry about it, that I am convinced its not so serious & more talking than anything else & that they wanted to frighten you & now that you have shown a strong will of your own, they will shut up. It seems Sazonov called them all together yesterday — fools. I told him that the ministers were all des poltrons & he agreed — thinks Polivanov will work well. Poor man, it hurt him reading all the heresies of those, who signed against him & I was so pained for him. He so rightly says, each must honestly tell you his opinion, but when you have said yr. wish, all must fulfill it & forget their own desires, they don't agree, neither did poor Serge! —
I tried to cheer him up, & a wee bit I think I did, as I showed him how little serious, au fond, all this empty noise is. Now the Germans & Austrians have to occupy minds & all & nothing else — & a good minister of the interior will keep order. — He says, in town good mood & quiet after yr. speech & reception — & so it will be, I told him what our Friend said. — He begged me to see Krupensky to hear, what he has to say about the Duma, as he knows everybody — do you agree, then I certainly will, & without any noise. Only wire "agree". — I told him Ivanov also begged you to come, through me. —
Finds the more you show yr. energy, the better, to wh. I agreed, & he also found the idea good, that you should send your eyes to the fabrics, even if the suite don't understand much, but to show they come from you is good — not only the Duma who looks after all. — I went with Baby to Church & prayed so fervently for you. The Priest spoke beautifully & I only regretted the ministers were not there to hear it & the men listened with deepest interest. What this 3 days lent means — & how all must cling & work together around you & so on, beautiful & so true & all ought to have heard it. — Anastasia remained out till 4 — & I writing on the balkony. Baby returned fr. Peterhof & has gone to Ania, where Olga, Tatiana & Maria are. — Here is a letter from old Damansky, he left it at Ania's when she was out — he came with his old sister half paralised & scarcely able to speak — am so pleased you gave that honest man this happiness, it will console him in his sorrow. —
I copy out 2 telegrams from our Friend. If you have an occasion, show them to N. P. — one must keep him up more about our Friend, as in town he hears too much against him, & begins to heed less to His telegrams. Goremykin asked whether you would be back this week (to disperse the Duma then) then I said you could not possibly yet tell. —
The Children & I went to Znamenje at 3¼ & I placed a very big candle, wh. will burn very long & carry my prayers to God's throne for you & before the Virgin & St. Nicolas. — Now, my love, I must end. — God bless & protect you & help you & all you undertake. Kisses without end on all dear places, for ever yr. very own trusting proud
Wify.
Only a word en passant, Alia's husband returned & each time speaks against Brussilov as does also Keller — you enquire other opinions about him still. — The Headquarters has given the order, that all officers with German names serving in the staffs are to be sent out to the army, so Alia's husband too, tho' Pistolkors is a Swedish name & more devoted servant you scarcely have. According to me, it is again wrongly done — gently each general ought to have been told to hint to those to go back to their regiments, that they want others & these are to have their turn to fight. All is done so clumsily. I shall write to you always all I hear, (if think right) as may be of use to you to know now & to prevent injustices — can imagine what Kussov will write, so as to help the good cause.
Now I must lie down, as very tired — am feeling better & spirits up & full of trust, courage & hope — & pride in my Sweetheart. Good bless, guard & guide you. —
Hope Voyeikov did not tell you the rot he told A. he wld. beg you to make Nikolasha give his word of honour not to stop at Moscou — coward Voyeikov, & fool, as tho' you were jealous or frightened — I assure you I long to show my immortal trousers to those poltrons.
If Paul should ask to see me, can I tell him that you wish to take him next time. It will touch him & change his thoughts into the right current; he is sure to come — wire about Krupensky agree or don't agree I shall understand — tell Paul, or don't tell Paul. —
Smell the letter.
Nicholas's telegrams:
Telegram. Vitebsk. 23 August, 1915.
Thank you heartily for your dear letter, the children too. I slept well; am feeling strong and resolute. I hope that you are calm, and not very tired. I shall telegraph to-night, when all is over. I bless you and love you infinitely.
Nicky.
...
Telegram. Stavka. 23 August, 1915.
Thanks for news. The meeting has passed off wonderfully well and simply. He is leaving the day after to-morrow, but the change over has taken place to-day already. Now all is done. I kiss you and the children tenderly.
Nicky.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Above: Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia and Alexei. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Notes: Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".
trop légere = too light.
poltrons = cowards.
au fond = in the end.
en passant = in passing.
No comments:
Post a Comment