Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-03-18
MARRIAGE OF CAR ALEXIS,


married state. Several high officers of court
were dispatched TO different parts Of the Imperial
dominions, 10 assemble together about fifty Oh
sixty Of the most lovely daughters OF The nobles'
Russian families. From the ellie OF huscovIte
beauty, tho imperial bride was CHOSEN. Inc
yo,,o ladies' were conducted TO the kremlIn at
Moscow. There they remained, unseen by any
ooe except the Gar, or those TO whom the favor
was granted by imperial permission, until the sol
emn day. when, IN the presence Of The assembled
cour,iers and ministers, the sovereign named The
fortunate fair one with whom 1t was his high wiiI
and pleasure to share the throne.
Alexis the son Of Michael and the father OF
Peter tha Great. used Times after the mnnner
OF fIlroun nj It,schid, to quit his palace IN DIS
guise and visit in some assumed humble charac-
ter the houses Of citizens aud the hats Of the
peasaniry. II he was recognized by any Of the
mobiles or persons connected with the court, they
were commanded TO resPec: his lnco9nto, and
were expressly forbidden to treat bun wlih any
greater degree Of respect. than such as might be
70 assumed rank and condition. By tins means,
be saw everything With his own eyes and learn
ed many facts the knowledge Of which would
not easily have penetrated wtthin the boundaries
Of a court. In this mfnner, ho not unireqnent-
" paid the most unexpected VISITS to his favor
ties, sat down 10 dinner with them, and spent
few agreeable hours IN their family circles, Law
Jog aside ni tho etiquette of sovereignty. lie
was particularly fond of taking nv surprise The
Bower Matwoef, for whom he entertained cor.
dial friendship, and Who Que oil the principal
counseilors Of the crown.
Quo day al a time when he was least expected.
Alexis presented himself at Ma,woef's country
house. shor, distance from the capitol. lie
was dressed in the uniform Of captain OF the
imperial guard. Both host and vIsiter started
Mat~ecf because he supposed the Emperor to
be far off, and n totally different direction; and
Alexis, because he behold, seated at Matweef's
dinner table Young ladY whose beauty power
fall n ed La oh
Cz,r's mi Inction, Matweef received him merely
as an officer of his acqaatnttnce. v;ing him to
seat himself at liable and pnrtake Of the family
dinner.
At first the conversation WAS maintained ex
ciusivey between Alexis and Natweet, but st
length he Cz,r drew IN the fair stranger to take
n part in ~. He was charmed with the lnteliI- !
gence Of her remarks and her graceful manner OF /
expressing herself; ADD he was not lille sorry
when she retired 1T the conclusion Of the repast.
''Who IS that Young ladyY' SAID he, eagerly .
addressing Matweef, soon as sho had left the .
apartment.
THAT IS Natalia Nershkin, the daughter Of
poor bat estlmahIp aohlemnn, whose strallened .
circumstances oblfgs him 10 live IN secluded .
village, aud who has solicited II suprrIntend .
the educa tion Of his only child. ! have" pursu-
ed Matweef, s.executed this task to the best Of
my ability and must add that my labor has MOI
been thrown away. Joined to hrl'lInot 'aliaut
and highly cultivated mad, NatalIa possesses
gentle
10 every one; in short, love her as If she were
my daughter.'
.'Let her continue 10 pursue her education un-
der your care" said the Car Spare no ex-
pense for her education. will deffay T. and II is
not impossible may fod husband for her
Does she know who amp
"No Sire, she seldom goes out, md has never
seen your ma iesty before" II
do not let her know my rank. Let her be
ieve that ! am merely an officer OK the guards"
Alexis repeated bis visit In Mltweet's coun
try house; md he found the beautiful Natalta
mora cha rming than his first introduction To
her. He third ADD fourth lime.
and at length his visits were repeated without {
fail every day Nitail on her part felt daily an 1
creasing pleasure in tho society Of her aqIaInt- v
and surprising hun TO be merely poor officer,
and the friend OF her foster father, her behaviour c
towards him was marked by unrestraine ed can. h
DOR which lent additional charuss TO her ANNA 5
ted conversation. V
Meanwhile Ma,weeF found himself in very "
awkward position. He observed tho daily in h
creasing intimacy between Matilda and Alexis, $
yet dared not venture on any step which might h
tend 10 intorrup IL nevertheless. he felt It 10 be
his duty 10 warn the daughter of his old friend "
agains, the snares Of n seduction. Of which she -
could entertain 10 suspicion. HIS nneaslness on f.
this point was the greater inasmush he knew Il
that Alexis had plan OF marriage in coniempa .
ton, and he naturally concluded that the future o
Czartna. whoever she might be, wculd not be ve- d
~ well pleased 10 hear OF the ussiduous Il
lions of the monarch 10 this fair protege.
The day fixed for the choice of the imperial F
BRIDE was fast approaching; the kremn contain te
ID within walls sixty Of the faires daug hters ~
u the Russian nobility; jewellers, iailors and II
'ress-mskers had all completed iher orders: and 81
'Very'hing was readiness for tho interesting n
'aV Inc bowers thronged To the capitol full of O,
'ageruess 10 know ihe family to whom the mon. ~
,rch proposed 10 confer the honor Of an imperial -
Alliance. All Moscow in motion. the troops :,
IF the garrison were paraded in from, Of the pal 10
nee. and the ringing of the bells minsled with ~
The Joyous shouts Of the populace. :,
e'."u "s' -. '"e N'e"'" presented IN
splendid picture. TIE mobiles were hab,ted in =;
their rich and national costumes. abounded with
costly furs; the ladies arraved gorgeous silks ~
sod c,shmares Of he whl,st In every dlrar. &.