THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE TO THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1243, 12 April 1880, Page 3

THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE TO THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.

The marriage of the illustrious lady who now lies ill at Cannes was almost a romance. In 1831, when the present Czar was 23 years of age, a list was prepared at Sit. Petersburg of marriageable German princesses, and under the care of Count < )rloff the Czarewitch went to visit them, lie had been to Berlin and the Courts of North Germany, and wa3 on his way to Carlsrohe when he arrived at Frankfort. The prince was about to resume his journey, when he received an invitation from the Grand Duke of HesseDarmstadt to dine at the Palace of Darmstadt. A3 a matter of courtesy only, the invitation wa3 accepted, and after dinner the Court adjourned to another room for tea. There the Russian Ccetebs in search of a wife saw a young lady of sixteen, accompanied by her governess, whose appearance wa3 so charming by its simplicity that he inquired who she was. The Princess Mary was the daughter of his host, but her name was not upon the St. Petersburgh list. Presently the Royal and imperial personages proceeded to the drawing-room, where Alexander asked to be presented to the attractive girl, and a long conversation with her confirmed hi 3 first impressions. Next morning Count OrlofF informed the prince of the arrangements for proceeding to Baden. "My dear count," said the Grand Duke, "we shall go no further; I have made my choice; my journey is finished." OrlofF had not suspected how matters stood, and expostulated. The Princesses of Baden had not been seen, and the name of the Princess Mary of Hesse wa3 not on the list. Alexander would go to Carlsruhe if politeness required, but he had made up his mind to marry none other than the Princess Mary. When the new 3 reached St. Petersburgh the entourage of the Emperor endeavored to prevent this marriage; but Nicholas was tenderly attached to his son, and would not allow him to be thwarted in an afiliirof the heart. The Czarewitch married the Princess Mary a few months later.