LS signed “George R,” one page both sides, 9.25 x 14.5, October 10, 1825. Letter to Tsar Alexander I of Russia, rather humorously addressing him by his many, many titles—filling up most of the front with the greeting alone: "To The Most High, Most Potent, and Most Illustrious Prince, Our Most Dear Brother and Great Lord, Alexander The First, by the Grace of God, Emperor and Sole Monarch of all the Russias, of Moscovia, Kiovia, Wladimiria, Novgorod; Czar of Casan, Czar of Astrachan, Czar of Poland, Czar of Siberia," and so on. The letter announces the nomination of Percy Clinton Sydney Smythe, Viscount Strangford, "as Our Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Your Imperial Majesty—We have directed Viscount Strangford to repair with all possible Diligence to your Imperial Residence, and to give you the strongest assurances of our unabated Desire to strengthen and improve the Harmony and good Understanding so happily subsisting between us and your Imperial Majesty. He has also our positive Instructions to promote, by every means in his Power, a confidential communication during the whole time of his residence at your Court." Prominently signed at the conclusion by King George IV, and countersigned by Foreign Secretary George Canning. In very good to fine condition, with central vertical and horizontal folds and adhesive remnants to the upper corners of the front.
This significant letter emanates from the height of Anglo-Russian rivalry for territory and influence. Known as the 'Great Game,' the two empires engaged in military interventions and diplomatic negotiations throughout the middle of the 19th century, as both sought to acquire territory and redefine borders in central and south Asia. Percy Sidney Smythe, Viscount Strangford, was an experienced British diplomat, having served as ambassador to Portugal, Sweden, and Ottoman Turkey before being hand-picked by Canning as ambassador to Russia.
Fearing that a Russian-dominated Afghanistan would become a staging post for an invasion to conquer the 'jewel in the crown' of British India, Canning hoped to redirect Russian expansion efforts westward, rather than south. Ottoman Turkey and Russia had cut diplomatic relations in 1821, sparking fears of war in Anatolia. Canning thought that Strangford might be able to restore diplomatic relations between the Russian and Turkish courts, or serve as an intermediary in keeping the peace.
Tsar Alexander died within weeks of Strangford's arrival in St. Petersburg, and was replaced by the autocratic Nicholas I. His mission frustrated, Strangford made little progress and he was recalled in 1827. Tensions continued to mount over the course of the next twenty years, resulting in the Crimean War (1853-1856) and two Anglo-Afghan wars (1839-1842 and 1878-1880).
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