THE QUEEN OF SERBIA DESCRIBES THE VISIT OF A HEAD OF STATE NATALIE (Obrenović, née Keschko, 1859-1941, Queen of Serbia known as 'Natalie of Serbia' from 1882-1889, wife of Milan I)

Central portion of an Autograph Letter in French with translation without a beginning or an end, saying "that he was sick and that for this purpose he wanted to get medical treatment, entrusting the regency to his father, the trouble in the Balkans requiring a man of experience. I, who have never managed to take King Milan's actions very seriously, I simply believe that he needs money and that he came to bore people hoping that he would give some to him so that he goes away. The fact that he borrowed 27 000 francs from the King confirms me even more in this opinion. To excite public opinion and perhaps also in the hope of achieving his goal, he announces to everybody that he will back to Serbia by end of March, something that no one wants. During his entire stay here, he only shouted at me and then suddenly at time of his departure he said that he was ready to make peace with me and it is said that this old metropolitan monkey was in charge for speaking to me in this direction. Being aware of that, I made warn his Eminence that he would abstain from it otherwise he would risk leaving his audience by the window and as courage is a civic virtue little in favor in the godly man and that he must have believed me capable of the thing, he avoided such a dangerous subject during his visit. The Austrian Minister stood completely out of the picture, completely in the shade all this time, but the malicious gossip ...", 4 sides 8vo., on beautifully monogrammed paper with a gilt and red crown above the monogram, no place, no date, small holds along the central fold not much affecting the text

Transcription
… qu'il était malade et qu'il désirait dans ce but aller se soigner, en confiant la régence à son père, la situation trouble des Balkans réclamant un homme d'expérience.
Moi qui ne suis jamais parvenue à prendre très au sérieux les agissements du Roi Milan, je crois tout simplement qu'il a besoin d'argent et qu'il est venu ennuyer son monde dans l'espoir qu'il lui en donnerait pour qu'il s'en aille. Le fait qu'il a emprunté au Roi 27 mille francs me confirme encore plus dans cette opinion. Pour agiter l'opinion publique et peut-être aussi dans l'espoir d'atteindre son but, il annonce à tout venant qu'il reviendra en Serbie à la fin de Mars, chose que personne ne désire.
Pendant tout son séjour ici, il n'a fait que crier contre moi et puis brusquement au moment de son
départ il s'est mis à raconter qu'il était prêt à se réconcilier avec moi et l'on assure que ce vieux singe de métropolitain était chargé de me parler dans ce sens. Ayant été informée de la chose, j'ai fait prévenir son Eminence qu'il s'en abstienne sans quoi il risquerait de sortir de son audience par la fenêtre et comme le courage est une vertu civique peu en faveur chez le saint homme et qu'il devait me croire bien capable de la chose, il a évité lors de sa visite un sujet aussi dangereux.
Le Ministre d'Autriche s'est tenu tout à fait en dehors de tout, complètement dans l'ombre durant tout ce temps, mais les mauvaises langues …
Translation
... that he was sick and that for this purpose he wanted to get medical treatment, entrusting the regency to his father, the trouble in the Balkans requiring a man of experience.
I, who have never managed to take King Milan's actions very seriously, I simply believe that he needs money and that he came to bore people hoping that he would give some to him so that he goes away. The fact that he borrowed 27 000 francs from the King confirms me even more in this opinion. To excite public opinion and perhaps also in the hope of achieving his goal, he announces to everybody that he will back to Serbia by end of March, something that no one wants.
During his entire stay here, he only shouted at me and then suddenly at time of his departure
he said that he was ready to make peace with me and it is said that this old metropolitan monkey was in charge for speaking to me in this direction. Being aware of that, I made warn his Eminence that he would abstain from it otherwise he would risk to leave his audience by the window and as courage is a civic virtue little in favor in the godly man and that he must have believed me capable of the thing, he avoided such a dangerous subject during his visit.
The Austrian Minister stood completely out of the picture, completely in the shade all this time, but the malicious gossip ...

Item Date:  0

Stock No:  40531      £250

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