Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 120.
Tsarskoje Selo, Sept. 12-th 1915
My own beloved One,
It is pouring and dreary. Slept very badly, head aches rather, am still tired from Peterhof & feel my heart, am awaiting Becker. — How I wish the time would come for me to write only simple, nice letters, instead of bothersome ones. But things dont at all go as they should, & the old Man who came to me yesterday evening, was very sad. He longs for you to come quickly, if only for three days, to see all & to make the changes, as he finds it more than difficult working with ministers who make opposition. Things must be put clearly — either he leaves, or he remains & the ministers are changed, wh. of course would be best. He is going to send you a report about the press — they go after orders Nikolasha gave in July, that one may write whatsoever one likes about the government, only not touch you. When Goremykin complains to Stcherbatov he throws the fault upon Polivanov & vice versa. Stcherbatov lied to you when he said one would not print what is said at Moscou. — They go on writing everything. Am so glad you declined seeing those creatures. They don't dare use the word constitution, but they go sneeking round it — verily it would be the ruin of Russia & against your coronation oath it seems to me, as you are a autocrat, thank God. — The changes must be made, cant think why the old Man is against Khvostov — his Uncle does not much care for him & they say he is a man who thinks he knows everything. But I explained to the old Man that we need a decided caracter, one who is not afraid, he is in the Duma, so has the advantage of knowing everybody & will understand how to speak to them & how to protect & defend your government. He proposes nobody, au fond, & we need a "man". — He begged me to let Varnava know that he must not appear at the Synod but say he is ill — wh. is the best thing, tho' the papers are furious that he wont appear. But he has told them all & answered everything — great brutes, I cannot call them otherwise. If you could only come, then at once see the Metropolitan & tell him you forbid that subject to be touched & that you insist upon your instructions being fulfilled. He cried of despair when Samarin was appointed & now he is completely in his hands — but he must have a strong word from you. Yr. arrival here will be a punitive expedition & no rest, poor Sweetheart, but its necessary without delay, they go on writing without ceasing. But they cant propose anybody — Makarov — no good — Arseniev fr. M. screams against our Fr. — Rogozin — hates our friend. — Prince Urussov (don't know him) — knows our friend, one says much good of him. My head aches from hunting for men, but anybody rather than Samarin, who openly goes against you by his behaviour in the Synod.
Can you really not return soon, Lovy, things seem taking a better turn, thank God & will still. Wonder what troops you saw pass. Old man has a sitting of Ministers on Sunday, thats why he cant leave to-day. If you come Thursday, he says he need not go there before, but I find you can see him quieter now & speak over & prepare all for yr. return.
He says Sazonov is pitiful to behold, like "une poule mouillée" — what has happened to him? He tells Goremykin nothing at all & he must know what is going on. The ministers are rotten & Krivoshein goes on working underhand he says — all so ugly & ungentlemanly; — they need your iron will wh. you will show, won't you. You see the effect of yr. having taken over all, well do the same here, i. e. be decided, repremand them very severely for their behaviour & for not having listened to yr. orders given at that sitting here — I am more than disgusted with those cowards. — Can Alex. spare you 3 days, soon? Do answer this if you can. You cannot imagine how despairing it is not being able to wire all one would & needs to & not to get an answer. You have not time to answer my questions of wh. there are 100, but always the same ones, as they are pressing & my head is weary from thinking & seeing things so badly — & beginning to spread in the country. Those types go talking against the government everywhere, etc. & sow the seed of discontent. Before the Duma meets in a month, a new strong cabinet must be formed & quicker, so as that they have time to work & prepare together beforehand. — He proposed I should see Samarin but what good? The man will never listen to me, & just do the contrary out of opposition & anger — I know him also but too well by his behaviour now, — wh. did not surprise me, as I know he would be thus. — Goremykin wants you to return & do all this, but waste no time. You are calm out there, & that is right, but still Sweetest, remember you are a bit too slow in deciding & dawdling is never a good thing. The big girls have gone to the hospital, the 3 young ones are learning. A. is going to town to Alia & her mother till 3, & I shall lie again till luncheon as heart a little enlarged & feel so tired. — Now Yuzik must be already al the Headquarters. Is it true that we are only 200 Versts from Lemberg again. Are we to hurry on so much & not come round and squash the Germans? What about Bulgaria? To have them in our flank will be more than rotten, but they have surely bought Ferdinand. —
How is Misha's humour? Kiss the dear boy from me. Have no news yet from Olga somehow her visit was sad — we scarcely got a glimpse of her & she left sad & anxious. —
Just received a perfumed letter fr. Olga Palei. Paul is better — she at last had news fr. their boy, it took him a week to get to the transport of his regiment & now he hopes to find the regiment. — I beleive the lancers are not far fr. Baranovitchi; a river one speaks of near there, where was heavy fighting — what fighting everywhere!
Mackensen is not the one we knew. There is a Fürst Bentheim at Irkutsk (a sort of relation of Marie Erbachs). Ernie asks in Max name whether there would be any possibility for him to be exchanged — he seems to be the last of his family — perhaps somebody of ours cld. be returned in exchange. He only asks like that, not knowing whether its possible. I shall let Rostovtzev know the same thing, — I doubt it being possible unless he gives his word of honour not to fight any more against any of the allies — only under that condition, I find, one can change him. I shall write this to Rost. & whom it concerns will know what to do, I have no idea whom one can ask for in return, nor whether its allowed. — About the gasses Ernie is also disgusted, but he says that when he was near Reims beginning of Sept. last year, the English used the gasses there — & German chemical industries being better, they made worse gasses. — Ania was at the Church of "Joy to all grieving" in town & brought this little Image for you. — Fancy our surprise — suddenly Kussov turned up. All his cavalry is being sent down to Dvinsk & during their move he flew off here, arrived in town this morning, probably goes on to-morrow, meets his wife & off to Dvinsk to meet his regiment. He had heavy losses — is in despair with Yuri Trubetskoy who makes fault upon fault & others dare not say anything, because one says you particularly care for him (wh. Kussov doubts). Thanks to him Kussov's men got surrounded, because Yury took the three battalions of infantry away wh. guarded them, for himself — but they got through & only many horses were taken, as it was the place where they were standing together — he told his mind rather clearly to Trubetskoy. He came flying off to know how things were going, as letters never reached him & he wanted to hear all. Is already disgusted with town & furious with the "rotten atmosphere". Was sorry you sent Mikheyev, because he is so very unrepresentive & does not know how to collect all round him & speak & thank in yr. name. — He saw the Kabardintsi passing a little while ago. Asked questions without end & says the "spirit" in the army splendid. It does one good & refreshes one seeing such a man straight from there — one also gets musty fusty here, tho' I fully trust & believe all must go well, if God will give us the necessary wisdom & energy. — Don't you find Baby's writing is getting very nice & tidy? I remained quietly at home to-day, saw Mme Zizi too. — Why is Boris not with his regiment? 3 of our Cav. Divisions got the order to break through the Germans wh. they did & are in their rear now, Tatiana's regiment is there too. —
Blessings & kisses without end & tenderest love, Sweetheart, lovy mine, fr. yr. very own old
Wify.
Nicholas's letter:
Mogilev. 12 September, 1915.
MY PRECIOUS SUNNY,
Bless you for your two sweet letters! I often re-read them, and then it seems to me that you are lying on your sofa and that I am listening to you, sitting in my armchair by the lamp. When will that happy moment come? If God will grant that matters improve at Dvinsk and the position of our troops is consolidated, I might find an opportunity for flying over to Ts. S. But there is so much to do here — these changes of Ministers, and the strengthening of the old man's position! I shall call him out here; there is no time to lose! Old Fred. understands this admirably, and exhorts me to hold on to Gor., which is very nice of him.
I have explained all this to V. also, during our walks. He seems to have understood it properly at last.
This morning V. reported to me the absurd rumours which are being circulated here in the town, that somewhere near Orsha (60 versts from here) a German patrol of cavalry scouts has been seen. Mounted police were at once sent out in all directions — and part of our convoy. Of course, so far they have not discovered so much as a rat. It is all so foolish; I laughed heartily.
After dinner to-day, going out in my car, I stopped to look at a field battery which has come from some distance away to protect this town from aeroplanes. I can understand that! [i. e., that is the right thing!] It was very pleasant to see the officers, men and horses, who have such a splendid healthy appearance — 17 men received decorations. Further on I met a large detachment of soldiers who were marching towards the town. I stopped, got out and let them pass by me. It was the 2nd Battalion of the Vladivostok Garrison Artillery; they have come from Brest Litovsk, exactly a month's march by the main road, and are on their way to the north of Orsha. To all appearances, the men have arrived in very good condition; they have a few sick in their carts, whom they will leave in the hospitals before going from here.
Misha has just arrived. He is sitting in my room, reading the newspaper. He has asked permission to stay a little longer. Yesterday two of his regiments launched a splendid attack and took 23 officers and over 400 prisoners — all Hungarians.
You ask me about the trip to Novgorod — of course, go now without me, as most probably I shall not have time when I return home. There is no thought of my leaving here before the 15th-20th.
Well, my little bird, I must finish. I love you passionately with an everlasting love. A thousand thanks for your sweet No. 350, which I have only just received. God bless you and the children! Tenderly, tenderly I kiss you all. Always, my darling Sunny,
Your old
NICKY.
Nicholas's telegram:
Telegram. Stavka. 12 September, 1915.
My warmest thanks for dear letter. The old man has telegraphed that he is coming on Monday; have written him an encouraging letter. It is out of the question for me to come before a week's time. Lovely, summer-like weather. In thought I am always with you.
NICKY.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoriev at lastromanovs on VK.
Notes: Madame Becker was a euphemism that Alexandra and her daughters used to refer to their menstrual periods.
Alexandra almost always referred to Grigori Rasputin as "our Friend".
une poule mouillée = a wet hen.
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