Catherine's letter to Poniatowski on the request of captive Peter a week before his killing
The arrested Peter III asked Catherine for the Negro who used to amuse him, his favourite dog, a violin, a Bible and a few novels.
True, Catherine herself tells Poniatowski in a letter that Peter also asked for his mistress, Elizaveta Vorontsova, but she refused to send her, though she granted the prisoner's other requests.
And yet what but this simple request could paint the portrait of a queer, strange and tender man?
Peter made this appeal to Catherine on 29 June, and on 6 July he was already dispatched