National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-01-24
The Grand Dukes Letters.

The Grand Dukes Letters.
Some time ago it was reported from
Brussels, in Belgium, that The Russian
detectives had traced " that city one
Vashtenef, who had been in tho om-
ployment Of the Grand Duke Alexis rs
valet do ohambrs, and who had accom-
panied the young prince ON his voyage
W America. After reaching Cuba, the
Grand Duke, who roposed implicit oop-
6denoo in Vashtene6, had sent him with
some Of his trunks back 70 6t Peters
burg. Among these trunks WAS one
whIab contained the numerous letters
which the Russian prince had received
during his sojourn in the United States,
and it may be imagined that hmong
these missives were great many enter
tanning and spicy ones. which, if pub
lished, would undoubtedly meet with u
large sale and yield the publisher a
handsome profit. Mr.. Vashtenef was
probably of this opinion, too; for,
whom he reached 81. Petersburg, he Do
livered to the Imperial family all the
trunks that had been intrusted to him
except the one which he knew contained
the private correspondence OF the young
Grand Duke. His failure to deliver
this trunk was not discovered. Soon
afterward Vashteneff obtained from the
Empress, to whose household he was
attached after his return to the Russian
capital, leave of absence in order to
visit, as he alleged, some relatives in
Rhenish Prussia. Nothing was heard
from him even after his leave of absence
had expired. His prolonged absence
did not excite any suspicion until the
arrival of letters from the Grand Duke
Alexis, i'll the beginning of last Septem-
ber, established the fact that Vashteneff
had retained one of the Princes trunks,
and, moreover, the Que which contained
his private correspondence. 1t was easy
to surmise for what purpose this par
ticular trunk had been purloincd by the
falthless valet, and all further uncor-
tainty was set At rest by the appearance
in the Brussels and Paris Journals of an
advertisement by NJ. PlaIrohe, Belgian
publisher, who announced that he would
speedily issue 1.-The Private Core
spondence of Prince Travelling in the
New World" The forthcoming book
was described in the advertisement us
ono of the most absorbing interest, and
well-oalculated to attract general atten-
ton. At the same time the advertiser,
though somewhat vaguely, gave the
readers to understand that the prince
IN question was Il member Of the I'm
perial family of Russia. The Russian
government keeps semi official organ
IN Belgium, journal entitled lie Nord
and the Emperor Alexander was at once
informed OF what was going on. There
could be but little doubt that the letters
which M. Planche proposed to issue
were those which Vashteneff had taken
from Alexis's stolen trunk A detective
WAC at once dispatched from st. Peters
burg to Brussels, where he held an in
teryiew with Planche. The latter, who /
seems to have acted with tolerablv good /
faith in the matter, acknowledged at .
once that he had purchased the letters
for tha sum Of 2,500 francs, from man
whose appearance corresponded closely
with the description which the Russian
letectivceaye him of that Of Vashteneh,
Planche said he was willing to surren-
Ter the letters, provided that the ex-
oen5es he incurred in purchasing them
and preparing them for publication
we're refunded to him-a proposition to
which the detective readily acceded.
The latter received also from the Baus-
els publisher information in conse-
luence of which he succeeded in effect
ng the arrest OF Vashteneff, who lived
inder an assumed name in the enyirons
If the Belgian capital. After a decree
l,n -t,-,,l Il s. l. ,ntF
ad been obtained from the government ;
f King Leopold the Second, the detec-
i've started with his prisoner and the
etters of the Grand Duke for st. Peters
urg, where the Imperial family re-
'arded him literally for the intelhge
nd tinesse with which he had performed
is delicate mission. As regards Nash- |
sneti, he was greatly detected, and ,
ell he might be, for the criminal code t
Russia Furnishes all ofenses against t
ny member of the Imperial family, no
atter how triding they may be, with /
ltreme severity. He was tried in the S
'iminal court on the I'd Of December !
st, and admitted his guilt, beseeching e
le court to deal leniently with him. +
espite his prayers, however, and the h
oquent appeal which his counsel made G
the court, he was found guilty and t
ntenced to ten years transportation $
Siberia. The unfortunate man fell t.
to a swoon when he heard this dread
ntence. The interces4on of his aged c
other, however, who had in years gone II
? been faithful servant of the late o
impress, the mother of the present G
Ear, and, perhaps, the wish to lend II
It too much Importance to the whole Il
fair, caused tho Emperor Alexander to Il
minute VashtenetlNs sentence to one {,
,ar's Imprisonment 1T hard labor in b
lssian fortress. Even this mitigated =
ntencc, however, will be hard pun p
hment for the man who, for years, has t.
/ the sybaritic life of fayorite lac D
ley at the imperial court of st. Peters r,
lrg. He will be chained to n wheel n
rrow, and will have to roll stone in it Il
r fifteen hours every day. The wheel W
rrow will he his inseparable com a
mon during the whole term of his ri
even in his hours of
,ep, which he will have to pass Oh the
re floor, and his food will be of the
arsest description.
luccefotn IF yoIa Mopfaz. le