User blog:Jeremiah Garland/A Message from St. Petersburg

On July 19, 1745, only moments after England declared war on Spain, a meeting was held in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. In attendance were the two tsars of Russia - Vladimir Romanov I and Mikhail Volkov II - as well as the Russian prime minister Andrei Malakov (also the lord chancellor of England), the Russian tsarevich and commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Tsar Ivan Romanov VII, Russian Minister of War Rekhart Luthr, and Russian Minister of the Interior Venyamin Makmorgn. From the palace's grand conference halls the group discussed the imminent war, as well as other diplomatic matters. After the congregation concluded around one in the morning, Tsar Vladimir I returned to his living quarters and composed the following message, which arrived in London earlier today:

"Dear Russia's beloved allies of England,

''On the grand eve of your declaration of war on the Spanish monarchy, Russia's leading figures - including myself and fellow tsar Mikhail - met to discuss the matters, eager to decide which side in this impending war Russia would take. After much debate and dispute, we have reached the verdict to remain steadfast to our British brothers, and have independently declared war on the Spanish menace. Already within the past weeks, Spain has mocked and threatened Russia (as well as the Netherlands and the Swiss Cantons); this only ignited our hatred for the Spanish throne and has instigated our ultimate decision. Already numerous regimes being lead, personally, by Russia's crowned-prince and commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Tsar Ivan Vladimirovich Romanov VII, have begun their long voyage from the Baltic, and hope to reach the Spanish front within a matter of weeks. The Russian embassy in Madrid has been all but evacuated, and our dignitaries hope to set up a station on British soil, given His Majesty George II allows such actions. Our armies are eager to fight once more, and we are recruiting at our highest velocities. It brings me sadness to say that one of Russia's closest allies, the kingdom of Prussia under Antonius I, has already rejected any involvement in this war, and will remain neutral. Rest assured, Russia will try in vain to seek out word from our other allies - the Dutch, the Ottomans, the Kalmars, the Austro-Hungarians, the Romanians - in hopes of cajoling them to also declare war on the Spanish menace, and join our already powerful Anglo-Russian Coalition. Let our nations both prosper in this war, and may we all see a quick and silent end to the Spanish autocracy. As long as we are allies, we may not fall. Russia will do all in her will power to protect our English brothers, if England pledges the same to Russia. Long live England. Long live Russia.''

Hail and Farewell,

Vladimir Vasilyevich Romanov I, Tsar of Muscovy and Emperor of the Holy Russian Empire"