THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LETTER FROM GOVERNOR’S MANSION IN TOBOLSK (WITH FLOOR PLAN)

THE ROMANOV FAMILY: LETTER FROM GOVERNOR’S MANSION IN TOBOLSK

(WITH FLOOR PLAN)

Prince Vasily (“Valya”) Dolgorukov in Tobolsk

This letter below was sent by Prince Vasily Alexandrovich Dolgorukov (“Valya”) to his mother after he arrived in Tobolsk with the Romanov family and suite. Originally written in French and translated by Nick Nicholson.

Tobolsk  (14 August, 1917)

My very dear Mother, 
You will see here the houses where we live. The 1st is reserved exclusively for the family, the 2nd [belonging to] the Merchant Kornilov has 7 rooms above containing Hendrikova, Schneider, Ilyusha, me, two ladies-in-waiting, and two domestics. One room is destined for the TsIK.  Below, the Commandant, Botkin and a room for his daughter, one for the Doctor, Derevenko, and two officers. For meals one crosses the main street to the house.  The sick ones, Alexis and Marie, are getting better.  In general, my dear, it is filthy and barely civilized — it’s frightening!  Thank God I’m doing well at present.  It is too hot. I asked Makarov to have the permission [Russian sentence: It will all work out when needed to return with feelings. Makarov promised to work on it. Everything else is going well.]  I embrace you to my heart warmly, and kiss your hands.  How God has protected us until this lodging! Your Valia [Final word illeg.]

 This floor plan of the Tobolsk governor’s mansion was attached to Dolgorukov’s letter, drawn in his own hand (English text in red is mine – HA).
Suite members who accompanied the Romanov family to Siberian exile: Prince Vasily Dolgorukov (right) with Countess Anastasia Hendrikova, Pierre Gilliard, Count Ilya Tatishchev and Catherine Schneider. All but Gilliard perished by the Bolshevik hand in 1918. 
Dolgorukov sawing wood with Nicholas II outside the governor’s mansion in Tobolsk in 1917.
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