THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1221, 27 April 1880, Page 2

THE COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.

The marriage of the illustrious lady who now lies ill at Cannes was almost a romance. In 1831, when the ptesent Czir was 23 years of aye, a lust wan prepared at Sfc Petersburg" of marriageable German princesses, and under the care of ( "ount Orioft' the C/irewitch went to visit them. He had been to iJciiui and tho ( ourts of North Germany, and was on his way to Carlsrnho when ho arrived at Frankfort. The Prince was about to resume his journey, when he received an invitation from the Grand Duke of Hesse- Darmstadt to dine at the Palace of Darmstadt. As a matter of courtesy only, the invitation was accepted, and after dinner the Court adjourned to another room for tea. There theie the Russian Otulebs iv search of a wife siw a young lady of sixteen, accompanied by her governess, whose appearance was so charming by its simplicity that he inquhed who she w<is The Princess Mary was the daughter of hi-> liosb, but her name was not upou the St. Petersburg list. Presently the loyal and imperial personages proceeded to the dnvwmg-room, where Alexandra asked to be presented to the attractive gill, and a long convention with her confirmed his first impressions: NeXt morning Count Orioft" informed the prince of the arrange, meats 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." Orloft' 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 was not on the list. Alexander would go to Carlsruhe if politeness reqired, but he had made up his mind to marry none other than the Princess Mary. When the news reached St. Petersburg the entourage of the Emperor endeavored to prevent his marriage ; but Nicholas was tenderly attached to his son, and would not allow him to be thwarted in an affair of the heart. The C/arewitch married the Princess Mary a few months later.

Among the books announced as preparing for publication is a ne w v*ork by Colou el Malleson, entitled " He- at, the garden and granary of Central Asia," in which the immediato occupation of Herat by England is advocated ; a History of the late Zulu War," the joint work of Major ABhe (late King's Dragoon Guards), and the late Captain Wyatt-Edgellof the 17th Lancers, wko lost his life at Ulundi ; " Japan : its History, Traditions, and Religions." by Mr E. J. Reed, M. P. ; Unbeaten Tracks in Japan," by Miss Bird, author of a book of adventures in the Rocky Mountains ; anew volume by Dr Sehliem vim , to be entitled " Tlias, the Country of the Trojans," m which the doctor will give an account of his latest researches in theplaiuof.T.roj%