Preparing for the trip (1862)

October-December, 1862.

At the end of the month, King Otto of Greece was deposed by a popular revolt, nothing too worrying, the Greeks did not plan to eliminate the monarchy, instead they planned a referendum.

The London conference of 1832 prohibited members of the royal house from the United Kingdom, France or Russia from occupying the throne, despite this Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was surprised by the results (the Greeks ignoring the conference).

There were no official candidates, and the ballots were "disorganized" in a sense, with each Greek choosing who or what to vote for (republic or monarchy, and / or candidate for monarch).

********

Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire (somewhere between October and December).

Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Gorchakov walked alongside Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, speaking about the American situation "With all your forgiveness, I insist that writing would be more practical" Gorchakov insists the Grand Duke.

"And I insist, minister, that the execution must be better than the intention. It is better to speak directly than to write letters, especially when the secretary of the embassy is in Saint Petersburg with us" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich sentenced.

The foreign minister and the Grand Duke do not stop despite their opinions to the contrary, and are soon together with Bayard Taylor, secretary of the U.S. embassy in St. Petersburg.

After the necessary protocols involved in the diplomatic meeting and the Grand Duke's presence, Taylor and Gorchakov speak.

"Russia desires above all the maintenance of the American Union as one indivisible nation" Minister Alexander Gorchakov issues his message, the message of Russian foreign diplomacy towards the American civil war.

"I think it will be even better if I go" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich insists as he shares a meal with his parents, brothers and sister (Nicholas 19-20, Vladimir 15, Alexei 12, Maria 8-9, Sergei 5 and Paul from 1-2).

"The last time you went abroad you almost ended up dead" Tsar Alexander II replies, it is difficult to say if seriously or if there was an attempted dark joke, but Empress Maria Alexandrovna was certainly worried.

"The United States is different from Japan, besides I will go with the navy" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich responds.

"... Let's say I let you go to America. What will you do there?" The emperor asks "You have recently shown good judgment in handling the Poles. Why not stay in Russia and continue?"

"... I did not do anything important father, the Polish rebellion was already doomed, I just made it a little more visible to you and the world. In America there are things that Russia can benefit from" Grand Duke Alexander replies .

"You are right, America seems to be a dream of freedom for many" The Tsesarevich Nicholas interrupted excitedly "I too would like to go".

Immediately the Empress Maria Alexandrovna became defensive, even more than when Alexander Alexandrovich proposed to go.

Then Grand Duke Alexander speaks again "If you don't want me to go to the navy, I have money, I can go as a private citizen" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich mentions.

There is silence from Tsar Alexander II "... You know, the British are still our enemy, and they support the southern insurrection" Alexander II points out, the two older sons were quiet, the younger ones were paying less attention and were busy eating. , making little messes on the table from time to time.

"If the navy is in New York and San Francisco, it is to monitor the Atlantic movements of the English, that is the objective, not only our relations with the Americans. As much as they are positive" Emperor Alexander II sentenced.

Nicholas gulps "I understand" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich mentions.

Soon the Tsesarevich Nicholas followed his younger brother in example, an affable smile was shown on the emperor, his weak point came out with his children.

Maria Alexandrovna kept insisting on the safety of Nicholas, but Alexander II could not help but accept some of the enthusiasm of his sons for going to America.

More privately, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich expressed his desire to buy some things in America, with the money he earned from art sales and the salary from the navy that he obtained.

Emperor Alexander II gave his second son some freedom, as long as he did not commit another scandal.

*******

Back in St. Petersburg, Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich and Konstantin Petrovich Pobedonostsev, the Tsesarevich's law teacher, as well as other educators, were aware of the soon-to-be voyage that the two brothers would make with the Russian navy.

"I'm worried about the Tsesarevich" Pobedonostsev exclaims, on the part of him the Grand Duke waited for more details in silence "America is a nest of Protestantism, liberalism and-" The tutor couldn't help but mention.

"Tell me, Grand Duke. What do you think makes a good Russian patriot? Being someone who has already seen firsthand the effects that the uncivilized world can have" Pobedonostsev asks.

"Exactly what uncivilized world?" The Grand Duke asks "Japan?"

Pobedonostsev nods.

"A Russian patriot ... Orthodoxy, nationalism and autocracy, as Nicholas I would define it ..." Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich responds.

"Exactly. Those are the values of a patriotic Russian, you see what Christian and democratic values generate in the Poles, they have been sending threats to Russians in Warsaw, they have tried to assassinate your uncle and other Russian patriots" Pobodenostsev insists.

A part of the Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich sinks.

"I'm afraid America will further corrupt Tsesarevich Nicholas" Pobodenostsev goes back to his original point, Nicholas "And I think you could avoid that."

"... I will do what I can, it is a business trip and diplomacy not tourism" Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich, briefly attracting Pobodenostsev's curiosity but also a long smile.

*******

"The trip to the United States will be in September 1863, bound for New York. It will end in June 1864 if nothing happens or Nicholas and I don't decide to leave earlier.

Mom is worried about Nicholas, trying to plan every minute detail of his life. Dad is well-intentioned but that doesn't always mean we succeed.

I have to be careful, just do the necessary business and lose as little time as possible, the problem is that Nicholas probably thinks of the trip as an adventure and not pragmatically.

Pobodenostsev wants me to see that Nicholas does not stray from the path ... I have to find a way to use Pobodenostsev, without being used myself.

The Russian court is difficult, only near Dad there are still some liberals, westernphiles, conservatives, Slavophiles, Pan-Slavists, etc.

If I don't learn to play the game of politics well, I could end up engulfed by some conspiracy or group within the court.

Fortunately I am not the heir or emperor yet, they pay more attention to the Tsar and the Tsesarevich, they probably just think of me as a step closer to the two of them. "

Grand Duke Alexander Alexandrovich was writing in his room, but then he frowned and ripped the sheet off, turning it into a ball of burning paper.