ARREST OF A RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 63, 13 August 1874, Page 3

ARREST OF A RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE.

Some particulars concerning the arrest of the Grand Duke Nicolaus Constantinovitch are given by a correspondent of the Continental Herald, who writes :

" The father of the young prince, the Grand Duke Constantine Nicolajevitch, left Stuttgart for St Petersburg without the other members of his family, immediately after the celebration of his daughter's marriage with Duke Eugen of Wurtemberg. Directly after his arrival in St Petersburg, General Trepow, the excellent superintendent' of the police force, who seems to have been chiefly instrumental in arresting the Grand Duke, went most unexpectedly abroad on a long leave of absence, and it is generally supposed in St Petersburg that this high functionary has fallen into disgrace. Respecting the cause of arrest, the Augsburg Gazette says that the Grand Duke was imprisoned for stealing his mother's diamonds, and that he was driven to this act by the extravagance of his mistress. In order to withdraw him from the dangerous charms of this mistress, and to remove him from St Petersburg, the Emperor had appointed him com mander of the Amu Expedition, which was to leave the Russian capital on the 26th of April. The departure of the expedition, for the organisation of which the Eussian Geographical Society had been very active, was suddenly, at the last moment, deferred to an uncertain period, and the members elected for it are still in St Petersburg. It is very doubtful if the Grand Duke's command of the expedition would have been of any benefit to him; for the first compulsory separation from the object of his fatal love, when ordered by the Emperor to join in the campaign against Khiva, seemed only to heighten the intensity of his affection. Immediately on his return to St Petersburg the old liaison was renewed. The recklessness of the Grand Duke is much to be regretted. In spite of his youth—he is only 24 years of age—Nicolaus Constantinovitch has already distinguished himself by his bravery, and especially during the last campaign gained the approbation of General Kauffman, then his commander-in-chief. On the last St George's festival in St Petersburg, the Emperor decorated his eldest nephew with his own hands by conferring on bim the Order of St Andrew. The Grand Duke Nicolaus is of a tall, manly appearance. His pale and beardless face has something of the Sclavonic type in its expression, which is increased by his hair being cut close to his head. The last time I saw him was in Berlin, at the state dinner given in the White-hall of the royal castle in honor of the Prince and Princess of Wales on their return from Russia. He sat near the eldest daughter of Prince Friedrich Carl, and rendered himself rather conspicuous by his continued silence. It is to be hoped that on the marriage of his daughter Wjeza the Grand Duke Constantine succeeded in obtaining from the Emperor the pardon of his unworthy son, and that the young Prince will in future endeavour to amend his faults. The behaviour of the Emperor Alexander in allowing justice to have her course to his nephew would only be another proof of the rectitude of his character. Mild towards his subjects, the Czar is nevertheless in his own family circle quite severe.