The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-19 00:00:00

THE NEW EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

The Grand Duke Alexander, who succeeded on Sunday to
Imperial rule in the Muscovite Empire, was born on March
10, 1845, and has consequently just entered his 37th year. He
is not the first-born son of the late Emperor, the Grand Duke
Nicholas, heir-apparent to the throne, born Sept. 20, 1843,
having died at Nice in April, 1865, after a lingering Airless.
The present Emperor was married in November, 1866, to
Maria Dagmar, daughter of the King 'of Denmark, known
since assuming the orthodox Greek faith as Maria Feodo-
rovna, by whom he has four children—Nicholas, the heir.
apparent, born May 18, 1868; George, born, May 10, 187 1 ;
Xenia, born April 18, 1875 ; and Michael born Dec. 5,
1878.
The Czarevna was affianced at an early age to the late
Czar's first-born son, and—as in the case of Catherine of
Aragon—espoused the brother of her betrothed husband
shortly after the term of mourning prescribed by etiquette
for the oleath of the latter had expired. For many reasons
that will naturally suggest themselves, an alliance with the
reigning House of Denmark appeared at that time desirable
to the deceased Czar's political advisers, and the bride of the
youthful Czarevich, whose premature death inflicted a blow
upon his saintly mother, the late Czarina, from which she
never entirely rallied, was transferred to his robust and
vigorous brother, become Heir to All the Russia.s by his
death, by a family arrangement that, at the time, provoked
a good.deal of criticism and comtnent.—Daily Telegraph.

Amid the distracting griefs of the moment the duties
of inheritance were not forgotten, and the high State
officials speedily prepared a proclamation in the name
of Alexander 111., Emperor and Autocrat of All the
Russians Czar of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland,
and which, after referring to the murder of the Czar,
said
"We ascend the Throne which we inherit from our fore-
fathers, the Throne of the Russian Empire, the Czardom
of Poland, and the Grand Dukedom of Finland
Inseparably connected with it. We assume the heavy
burden which God has imposed upon us with firm
reliance upon His Almighty help. May He bless our
work to the welfare of our beloved Fatherland, and may He
guide our strength -for the happiness of all our faithful
subject. In repeating before Almighty God the sacred vow
made by our father, to devote, according to the testament of
our forefathers, the whole of our life to care for the welfare,
power, and honour of Russia, we call upon all our faithful
subjects to unite before the altar of the Almighty their
prayers with ours, and command them to swear fidelity to us
and to our successor, his Imperial Highness the Hereditary-
Grand Duke Nicolai Alexandrovitch. '

At the Court held at St. Petersburg, on Monday, before
the ceremony of taking the oath of allegiance, the follow-
ing speech was made by the Emperor in the St. George's
Hall to the assembled crowd of nobles, officers, and
officials : " I know that my father fully appreciated
your zeal, devotion, and fidelity. In his last words he
recommended me to the service of Holy Russia. I feel that
I may count upon your fidelity to myself, and when I am
no more (here turning to his eldest son) also
to my heir." This speech was received with
immense applause, and immediately the whole Court moved
towards the chapel, where the religious ceremonies were
performed. The procession was led by the nobles and the
officials of the Court. The Emperor followed, and the mem-
bers of the Imperial family closed the cortege. On his
return to his own Palace, his Majesty was loudly cheered by
-
the assembled crowds.

The Emperor Alexander 111., in speaking to some persons
who were separately received by His Majesty, said that he
ascended the throne under painful circumstances, but that
lie confidently relied upon the honest co-operation of all
patriots. He would endeavour to merit the love of the
whole of Russia in the same degree as his father had
possessed it.

At the ceremoLy of paying homage and signing the
oath of allegiance to the new Emperor, which took
place in the Chapel of the Winter Palace on Monday,
His Majesty himself placed the crown upon his head,
and was immediately saluted as Emperor, amid
deafening cheers by the State functionaries and ladies,
who were dressed in the Russian national costume.
The new Emperor was much moved and shed tears.
After the ceremony the Emperor returned by the
same way that he had come, through the different
hallB and chambers, to his own private apartments.
With the exception of the Grand Duke Nicolas
Nicolajewitch, all the Grand Dukes were Kesent
at
the ceremony, and on account of the homage cere-
monial did not wear mourning.

An interesting sale of valuable autographs took place
on Monday in Paris, several letters fetching., very Inch prices.
Amongst Peso was a letter from A ndre Chenier to the King
of Poland, dated November 17, 174,0, which fetched 1.910 fr.
A letter from Admiral Coligny to the Queen of Navarre,
dated 15{19, fetched I,loofr ; one frona Corneille, was sold for
900 f r., and a half-dozen words fronfgAdaw des Ifoullieros
to Millie. cle Bouddery were purchased Tor 1300 fr.