Peter and Alexis

"All things will end one day in Russia by some fearful revolution; the Autocracy will fall, because millions of people cry out to God against the Tsar," wrote the Hanoverian resident, Weber, from Petersburg, announcing the death of the Tsarevitch.

"The Crown Prince died, not of apoplexy, as is officially stated, but of a sword or axe," wrote Pleyer to his Emperor. "No one was admitted to the fortress the day of his death, and just before evening it was locked up. A Dutch carpenter, who worked on the new tower of the Cathedral and who had remained there for the night unnoticed, saw, towards evening, strange men near the torture chamber; this workman told it to his mother-in-law, who is the midwife at the Dutch resident's. The body of the Crown Prince was laid in a coffin of inferior make; the head was partly covered, while a neckerchief was wound round the neck as for shaving."