ALEXANDER II (1818-1881) EMPEROR OF RUSSIA, KING OF POLAND AND GRAND DUKE OF FINLAND Handwritten letter addressed to Ekaterina Dolgorukova. Letter n°64 (04/16 march 1869)

in French and Russian Tuesday, March 4/16, 1869, at ¾ past noon Wednesday, March 5/17, at 9 ½ a.m. 1) letter on double folded sheet, 4pp. numbered 1, upper right corner 2) 1p. recto verso numbered 2, top right corner Embossed imperial monogrammed paper, walnut ink. 18,5 x 12 cm This letter from Alexander II to Princess Ekaterina Dolgorukova begins as a letter from a desperate lover to his mistress: on the first page Alexander expresses his disappointments in love and his reproaches; At 2 p.m. on the same day, however, the tone changes and Alexander is once again cheerful: he recalls his walks and his day’s routine, and then asks forgiveness for his sullen mood, which he explains by his fear of God because of their carnal affair. He hopes for a happy resolution to their affair and that she will separate from her husband... ‘May God guide us with his blessing in the future!’ / ‘I love you, my dusya Katya beyond memory and hug you’