Alexandra's letter to Nicholas, dated September 3, 1915, and Nicholas's telegram, dated September 3, 1915

Sources:

Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=188&skin=2021

https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/september15.html

The letter:

No. 111.
Tsarskoje Selo, Sept. 3-rd 1915
My own beloved Nicky dear,
Grey weather. Looking through the papers I saw that Litke has been killed — how sad, he was one of the last who had not once been wounded, & such a good officer. Dear me, what losses, ones heart bleeds — but our Friend says they are torches burning before God's throne, & that is lovely. A beautiful death for Sovereign & country. One must not think too much about that, otherwise it [is] too heartrending. — Paul's Boy left yesterday evening after having taken Holy Communion in the morning. Now her both sons are in the war, poor woman & this one is such a marvelously gifted boy, wh. makes one more anxious — he is sooner ready to be taken from this world of pain. — Wont you get Yussupov & give him instructions & send him off quicker to Moscou, its very wrong his sitting here at such a time when his presence can be needed any moment — she keeps him.

But one must have an eye on Moscou & prepare beforehand & be in harmony with the military, otherwise disorders will again rise. Stcherbatchev being a nullity, not to say worse, wont help when disorders occur, I am sure. Only quicker to get rid of him & for you to get a look a[t] Khvostov, whether he would suit you, or Neidhardt. — (who is such a pedant).

Thank God, you continue feeling energetic — let one feel it in everything & in all yr. orders here in this horrid rear. — We take tea at Miechens.

Here are the names of Maia Plaoutin's sons — she entreats to get news of them — can somebody in yr. staff, or Drenteln try to find out their whereabouts? —

Well, I placed my candles as usual, ran in to kiss A. as she was off to Peterhof — then hospital, operation.

Your Eristov lunched with us, has grown older, limps a little, was wounded in the leg & lay at Kiev. Then I received Ignatiev (minister) & talked long with him about everything & gave him my opinion about all, they shall hear my opinion of them & the Duma. I spoke of the old man, of their ugly behaviour towards him, & turned to him as a former Preobr., what would one do to officers who go behind their commanders back & complain against him & hinder & wont work with him — one sends them flying — he agreed. As he is a good man I know, I launched forth & he I think understood some things more rightly afterwards. — Then I had Css. Adlerberg; after wh. we made bandages in the stores.
O, T. & I took tea at Miechen, Ducky came too, looking old, & ugly even, had a headache & felt cold & was badly coiffée. — We spoke much & they looked at things as one ought to; also angry at the fright & cowardice & that none will take any responsability upon themselves. Furious against the Nov. Vremia, finds one ought to take strong measures against Suvorin. Miechen knows that a correspondence goes on between Militza & Suvorin, make the police clear this up, it becomes treachery.

I send you a cutting about Hermogens — again Nicolasha gave orders about him, it only concerned the Synod & you — what right had he to allow him to go to Moscou — you & Fredericks ought to wire to Samarin that you wish him to be sent straight on to Nicolo Ugretsk — as remaining with Vostorgov, they will again cook against our Friend & me. Please order Fred. to wire this. — I hope they wont make any story to Varnava; you are Lord & Master in Russia, Autocrat remember that. —

Then I saw Gen. Shulmann of Ossovetz — his health is still not yet good, so he cannot yet go to the army. — Uncle Mekk was long with me & we talked a lot about affairs — & then about all the rest. He finds Iussupov no good. Miechen said Felix told him his Father had sent in his demission & got no answer. —

Big strikes in town. God grant Rouzsky's order will be fulfilled energetically. — Mekk is also very much against Gutchkov — he says the other brother also talks too much.

Lovy, have that assembly in Moscou forbidden, its impossible, will be worse than the Duma & there will be endless rows. —

Another thing to think seriously about is the question of wood — there wont be any fuel & little meat & in consequence can have stories & riots.

Mekks railway gives heaps of wood to the town of Moscou, but its not enough & one does not think seriously enough about this. —

Forgive my bothering you Sweetheart, but I try to collect what I think may be of use to you. — Remember about Suvorin's articles wh. must be watched & damped. —

A great misfortune, one cannot get the refugees to work, they wont & thats bad, they expect one to do everything for them & give & do nothing in exchange. —

Now this must go. The Image is fr. Igumen Serafim (fr. whom St. Seraphim came, wh. you held in your hand). The goodies, toffee is from Ania. —

Weather grey & only 8 degr.

Lovy, please send of your suite to the different manufacturies, fabricks to inspect them — your eye — even if they do not understand much, still the people will feel you are watching them, whether they are fulfilling your orders conscientiously — please dear. —

Many a tender kiss, fervent prayer & blessing huzy mine, fr. yr. very own old
Sunny.

God will help — be firm & energetic — right & left, shake & wake all up, & smack firmly when necessary. One must not only love you, but be afraid of you, then all will go well. —

Is it true nice Dimka also goes to Tiflis — a whole suite of yours follow, thats too much, & you need him with the foreigners & for sending about.

All the children kiss you. —

Nicholas's telegram:

Telegram. Stavka. 3 September, 1915.
Warmest thanks for dear letter, and for Olga's. I hope that you do not tire yourself with all that you do. I feel well and determined. Boris has arrived, sent by the officer commanding the Guards, with the report of their losses...

Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.

Note: Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".