ALEXANDER II (1818-1881). Tsar of Russia 1855-1881. Assassinated.
Autograph Telegram Signed ('Alexandre'), in French with direction in Russian, to the Empress Maria Alexandrovna. 1 page 16mo in pencil, with some letters touched up in purple ink, tipped to a larger sheet, no place, no date [1877].

'Have just come from seeing Niki, with Vladimir and all our brave sailors, decorated with the Street George Cross. You will understand my joy and emotion. Nothing new ... Saw Martha and Masha at Birboche. Most enthusiastic welcomes everywhere. Great heat. Feel very well. You will have thought of the [assassination] attempt in Paris ten years ago.'

Apparently written during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78, in which Alexander's brother the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (1831-1891) commanded the Russian Army of the Danube. In 1867 an attempt on Alexander's life, the second in two years, had been made in Paris by the Pole Berezowski.

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