Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia | Letter signed, with an autograph postscript, about the Crimean War, 14 January 1854

Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia

Long letter signed ("Nikolai"), with a two-line autograph postscript, to Prince Mikhail Semyonovich [Vorontsov], about the Crimean War, 14 January 1854

in Russian, reporting rumours that the allied fleet is about to enter the Black Sea, asking for a report on the situation in the Caucasus now that Vorontsov has returned to his position after an illness, impressing upon him the necessity to teach the Turks that persistent revolt can lead only to their destruction, expressing his view that war with France and England is now almost inevitable and informing Vorontsov that Menshikov has news of the allied fleet's intention of entering the Black Sea; in the postscript Nicholas points out that he is adding something in his own handwriting to emphasize the importance of the letter which has his full support

7 pages, large quarto, annotated in another hand at the head of the first page (14 January), St Petersburg, 2 January 1854 (old style), [14 January 1854, new style]  

This is a notable letter signed by the Tsar about the Crimean War. Britain and France were worried about the Russian threat to the crumbling Ottoman Empire and sent troops to the Dardanelles to block any Russian move to capture Constantinople. The allied fleet entered the Black Sea on 4 January, following the wholesale destruction of the Turkish fleet by the Russians at Sinope, but had not yet declared war. Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov (1782-1856) was a retired war hero, celebrated for exploits during the Napoleonic wars and for capturing Dagestan in the Caucasian War of 1848-1853.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, 17 November 1983, lot 313.