[PAUL I]: (1754-1801) Emperor of Russia 1796-1801. The only son of Peter III and Catherine the Great. Assassinated. An extremely interesting A.L.S., in an unknown hand, related to the assassination of the Emperor, five pages, 4to, n.p., 22nd April 1801, in French. A cleanly and carefully written lengthy letter, dated less than a month after Paul I was assassinated, reporting with precision and detail about the conspiracy, about all events happened the last day, indicating the names of witnesses, conspirators, and Imperial Family members behaviour. The letter also explains the attitude, knowledge of conspiracy and decisions taken by the Grand Dukes Konstantin and Alexander, the Emperor´s sons. The text states in part `Since September 1800 it was decided in St. Petersburg to remove Paul from governing, and it was intended to do so with the pretext of madness, and to proclaim Regent the Grand Duke Alexander… but for the execution of such a plan needed persons who would join to hatred and personal revenge the impossibility of playing any kind of role during the length of his Reign.´ further saying `..The Emperor was becoming each day harder with his punishments, more and more unfair and arbitrary with his decisions… Finally fated helped the conspirators´ intentions when H.I.M, having ordered to build the Castle of St. Michael so promptly and expensively, moved with his family and favourites even before the walls were fully finished...´ further giving details about the castle, its secret doors and underground passages, `..and it was in that castle that the unfortunate Paul I was assassinated on the night of the 23rd to 24th March 1801.´ The letter further explains what the Emperor did on his last day, and reports on the assassination details stating in part `..It was through that secret door that Amalgonoff, Aide-de-Camp to the Emperor, came in; the Hussard standing before the Emperor´s bedroom forbid him to disturb the Sovereign, arguing that he was sleeping…when the conspirators arrived he only had time to shout Bount (revolt), and immediately after he got a sabre stroke to his head… When the Hussard shouted, Paul barely sleepy, jumped out of his bed…Prince Zoubov, leading the conspirators, sabre in hand, said that Paul Petrovich is a mad man who must leave the throne and who is unworthy to reign.. Nicolas hit the Emperor´s hand, breaking it, and leaving him disarmed…..then Prince Zoubov, his brother Nicolas, Bennigsen and…took the scarf of the Aide de Camp and used it to strangle the unfortunate Paul..´ and before concluding stating `The two Grand Dukes left the St Michel castle at 11h in the night and went to the Winter Palace; when they were told about their father´s death, they were horrified, and Alexander loathed to take a crown covered with blood..´ At the conclusion bearing a 5 verses poem referring to the Emperor Paul I, and a final annotation stating `General Pahlen was leading the troops, and towards midnight all those who had been designated by the conspirators to be arrested, were indeed arrested´ A very interesting content and lengthy contemporary report on Paul I assassination. Overall age wear, with edges irregularly trimmed. G £500-800 Grand Duke Alexander (1777-1825) Son of Paul I and future Emperor of Russia. Grand Duke Constantin (1779-1831) Son of Paul I. Nikolay Alexandrovich Zubov (1763-1805) Russian Count. Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen (1745-1826) Baltic-German General and Count. Governor of St. Petersburg 1798-1801. Levin August von Bennigsen (1745-1826) German General in the service of the Russian Empire.