THE CZAR’S MISTRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 93, 29 April 1880, Page 2

THE CZAR’S MISTRESS.

It may be perhaps well to explain at once who is the lady that is exciting the discontent of the secret, as well as the ordinary society of Russia. The present Emperor had three mistresses acknowledged in the course of his life,, and all the three were Princesses Dologoroaky. The first of them, being a woman of superior abilities and intellect, had a groat and beneficial influence over the Emperor in first period of his reign, and many of the best reforms introduced in Russia at that time—chiefly the emancipation of the peasants—arc universally attributed to her influence. The said Princess Dolgorouky behaved extremely well, never boasted of her influence over the Czar, and was subsequently married to Count Albedinsky. To her succeeded her neice, another Princess Dolgorouky, and was in the course of time—some seven y'ears ago —replaced by her own sister, the presentfavorite, who by no means follows the?example of her distinguished aunt. She has three children from'the Czar, the last of whom was born quite lately at Talta, in the Crimea. She does not make any mystery whatever of her relations to the sovereign, and acknowledges her children in an open way, taking them with herself every time she drove out in company with the Emperor in the Crimea. She is, moreover, always intruding on the privacy of the Empress, trying to annoy her as much as possible. The Empress could not, of course, patiently bear the presence of that woman in her immediate surrounding, but was unable to get rid of her ; the Czarewena, however, managed the matter in a more resolute manner, and positively shut her doois to the obtrusive beauty. As to the Czar, he is so much taken up by' his favorite that he allows her to do very much as she pleases, having besides taken it into his head to ensure to her children a name that may suit their high origin. The family of the Princess Dolgorouky 7 , as well as rhe reigning family of the Romanoffs, counts its lineage fioin Rurik, one of the three- first Princes called in from abroad, in order to govern Russia, in the year BC2. Row the Minister of War, Miloutine, and other fervent supporters of the Princess Dolgorouky;, have been instructed to try and find some ancient name of other descendants of Rurik, belonging to some family extinct- already, as there is no possibility of giving the children of the Princess either her own name or that of any other family belonging to the old nobility of the Empire. The chronique scandaleme say's that Miloutine has consented to do the service asked of him, and is now reported to be seriously engaged with the affair. Whether ho will persevere is nevertheless to be doubted, as, notwithstanding the support of the Czar, the circle around the Princess Dolgorourky is somewhat widening, since her provoking attitude has set the heir apparent against her. The Cznyowitch himself is by no mean a man to overlook such scandals. It is a matter upon which he is most severe, oven in relation to his uncles and brothers, setting himself with his consort the example of a simple and faultless family life. But besides all above stated, the Princess Dolgorourky enjoys the worst possible reputation even among the less scrupulous part of society, as it is a well-known fact she is bribed by many financial people here, and uses her influence over the Emperor in order to make him grant financial concessions to the gentlemen who offer her the largest sum of money'. The Princess Dolgorourky is yet only 24 years old, and the Emperor is so much taken by her, that her opinion prevails in the Courtjfircles of Bt. Petersburg to the effect that as soon as the Empress dies, the Czar will contract a morganatic marriage with the Princess.