New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-09
geb 0rIeaus 9aig Crescent.
T. IPL E-S I'll e e r.
"N." A.LBxANDER. rr
MARIE OF HEssEN- EN-DARMsrADT.
Emperor and Empress Of Russia
EXposn or WE aENENAL roAoY or TnE EAsT.
By SEBASTIAN SELLER,
lge Eaor qf lie eecqm, Dgtlp Ga.eae, He,e oei.q,p.

MONDAY MORNING, JULY 8, 1850.

/
CHAPTER T.
Birth of Alexander Hills Father the
SuccesOu-Tle Cour and Muscoyite pafyIeiter Of Mich
olas the Archbishop Of otabilies Nicholas
| Ascending the Throne Constantine Resigns his Rights
| His Attachment and Marriage Polish Couness-The
Infancy Of Alexandcrls Mothers Of H1n-Nchoas
| Undertakes his Military Education.
| Alexander Ii, ,Scholaiewitsch, the present En-
| peror of Russia, was born at Moscow, on the 18th
of April, 1878, Gregorian's, the 17th Of April,
Julan's style. His prospects of ascending the I'm
| perial throne of All the Russas were at his birth
very remote his father, the late Emperor Nicholas,
then Grand Duke, being only the third son of that
unfortunate maniac Paul L., who was already sup
piled with two elder SONS, Alexander and Constan-
tine Even the murder Of Paul, in the night of the
| 9th of March, 1901, did not put Nicholas pros
| poets of succession in immediate sight because
4 Pauls eldest son, Alexander the Gree d Bas Eitl-
| pire, as Napoleon |. styled him. ascended the blood
stained steps of the throne of his father under the
title of Alexander H. and in the event Of the latter
dying without issue, the sceptfe ought to have de-
| volved on his next brother, the Grand Duke Con-
4 stantine, who occupied the important post of Gov
4 ernor-General over the mock kingdom of Poland.
| But, by strange coincidence, neither Alexander
4 the Blessed, nor Constantine the Friend Of the
| Poles, were to have legitimate children; aud we
will soon see how the prospects changed for
Nicholas.
| Alexander T. OF the Blessed, though only in his
4lst year full of political phantasm and social pro-
iects, was enchained by sort of Mormoness
4 Mrs. Krndener, and suffered from a lingering
fever which threatened to shorten his life. On the
other hand Constantine, his presumptive success
sor threw on himself the hatred of the Court party
4 who, long time since, had engendered the idea
of excluding the eccentric Constantine from the
succession. Nicholas, fully mbued with the secret
4 plans Of the Camarilla, promoted their views in
every way. His ambition grew with his hopes.
4 By his marriage with the Russian Princess, Fred
erica Louisa Charlotta the sister of Frederic Will
liam Nv King of Prussia, his pretensions had been
materially strengthened, and the subsequent birth
Of son, placed him in q more envable position
| than his two elder brothers. For, in despotic
1 countries, it Is q matter of no small Importance
that the sovereign, or his presumptive heir should
have direct issue. 1t need scarcely be remarked
that this happy event filled him with excessive joy,
joy which, under other circumstances he certain
ly would not have eyinced His heart, apparently
oyerfiowing with gratitude, induced him to publicly
notify the birth of the Prince Alexander, and en-
nance it by means of an ostentatious act.
The following letter, written by Nicholas to Au-
gustine, Archbishop of Moscow and Governor of
the Monastery of New Jerusalem, near Moscow,
clearly betrayed that his inspirations at that time
were directed to the throne.
Most revered father, with all the anxiety of a
weak mortal, but at the same time with the hope
Of faithful christian, have been ardently antici-
pating the most important moment of my life.
Uncertain with regard to the future, / have
strengthened my. mind by pious vow and
awaited with resignation the will of God 1t has
pleased Providence to accord me the divine hap
piness of becoming father, and at the same time
to preserve both the mother and the son. The
expression of gratitude, although not necessary
for Him who searches the heart, is nevertheless a
pleasing duty for those who feel it. The vow
which will hasten to fulfil is, to found chapel in
the Church of New Jerusalem, under the Invocation
of st. Alexander Newski, the patron of my new
born. 1t is the humble offering Of father who
entrusts to the Almighty his most precious care,
the destiny of his wife and son. You, most re-
yered father, you will assist and guide me in the
accomplishment of vow SO dear to my heart
| May feryent prayers for the mother and child be
addressed to Heaven from the foot of the altar
raised by the gratitude of father. May God pro-
long their days for their own happiness, for their
duties towards the Sovereign and for the honor
and welfare of their country.
Imporing most powerful blessing renSin ll4 etG
Moscow April 70 1878.
tWith all the anxiety of a mortalh 1t is easily
perceived from the document that the anxiety y
of Nicholas was engaged in stamping the event
with the greatest Importance
He evidently calculated on winning the sympa-
thies of the clergy and although only Grand Duke,
was already experienced in that diplomatic phrase
ology by which he afterwards, as Emperor, made
himself so conspicuous before Europe. Such
unctuous bombast is well adapted to a country
whose rulers have only two modes of conversing
: with the people--the Holy Synod and the knout
Another incident shortly afterwards augmented
| III g oJo
him from his anxiety with regard to the 'uncertan
future.n His elder brother Constantine, contrary
to all court etiquette, fell violently in love with
Polish lady, the Countess Jane Gendzinska, who
not consenting to become his concubine succeeded
in inducing him to promise her marriage. But his
legitimate wife, Jpliana, of SAKE Coburg Gotha
: Gamma Feodorowna, after she had embraced the
Greek iaith) from whom he was simply separated
| still lived, and without the Empero1is consent,
divorce, and consequently second marriage, were
impossible
On the first of April, 1920, Alexander I con
, sented to annu this union, on condition that the
pretensions to the throne of any children resulting
from the second alliance, should be forfeited. Th.
amorous Muscovite did not hesitate to comply will
the restrictions imposed upon him, and on the 5tl
of june he led his bride to the altar. feg
weeks later his wife was created Princess of Lo
wecz, with the secret understanding that she woult
exert all her influence in inducing her husband Il
VI renounee any further claims to the Crown. Th
! : beautiful Polonaise was irresistible, and on tn
26th of January, 1921, Constantine solemnly re
s signed his right of heritage. Thus Nicholas be
came the very next heir to the throne Of all TIL
Russias; but let us return to the Grand Duke Alex
ander.
His infancy passed entirely under the superir
tendence of his mother. This lady, resembling il
every respect her father, the late Frederic Wi
liam III of Prussia, whose lutheran piety wa
strangely coupled with an excessive infatuatio
: for files d'0pdrd, had, from Lutherian jesuit
a become still more fanatical defender of the OF
thodox faith, and did not fail to neulcate into th
youthful mind of her son the strict principles of
as religious deyotee. The mothers assduities wer
8 = amply rewarded, when she beheld the youn
4 Prince crossing himself for the first time in tn
Greek fashion.
Although surrounded with the best Of Frenci
German and Russian tutors, the Prince did ne
es make much progress in his general studies; hoH
ne ever, in the requirement of foreign tongues b
Il betrayed great ability. He soon spoke fuentl