THE CONSPIRACY.
STRUENSEE'S BLINDNESS--DANGEROUS RUMOURS--WE ARE SEVEN--VON
BERINGSKJOLD--A CONSPIRATOR--THE QUEEN DOWAGER'S ASSENT--SECRET
MEETINGS--THE MASKED BALL--A FATALITY--RANTZAU'S VACILLATION--THE
VISIT TO THE KING--THE ORDER TO ARREST CAROLINE MATILDA.
The new year began, as the previous one had terminated, with
a fruitless warning to Struensee. In spite of the anger which
Rantzau-Ascheberg entertained against the minister, he had not given
up all hope of inducing him to alter his mode of conduct. The Swedish
envoy, Baron von Sprengtporten, who had no cause to be dissatisfied
with Struensee's policy, and wished to effect a reconciliation between
the cabinet minister and Rantzau, persuaded the latter to pay Struensee
a visit.[29]
Shortly after new year's day Rantzau waited on the minister, turned
the conversation to the events of the day, and represented the perils
that menaced his old friend if he persisted in his present system.
Struensee, who was by this time completely blinded by self-conceit,
thanked his former attached partisan for his well-intended advice,
but was of opinion that he could trust to the purity of his designs,
and dismissed Rantzau with his expectations unfulfilled. Perhaps the
interview would have been decisive had Rantzau had an honest intention
of moving Struensee, and been a man who could imbue him with any degree
of confidence. But if the unhappy minister had calmly considered the
circumstances of the remarkable visit, and the meaning of this unusual
conversation, it is possible that Rantzau might still have been induced
to stand off from his designs, especially as up to the last moment he
was very doubtful of the result.[30]
Rantzau, however, made a second attempt. At the next meeting of the
College of Generalty he drew Falckenskjold on one side, imparted to him
that a rumour of a conspiracy against Struensee was in circulation, and
added, that in his opinion an investigation should be instituted. He
offered to help in it; but Falckenskjold heard the news coldly, because
he considered Rantzau himself a suspicious character, and answered him,
"In that case you should apply personally to Struensee."--"He will not
listen to me," Rantzau retorted, and turned away.[31]
If we compare these repeated warnings, and the insurrectionary temper
of the city with the last out-breaks, we cannot but accept it as a
certain fact, that Struensee had grown blind to every danger that
threatened him. He had not only the discharged ministers, officials,
and courtiers, against him, but also the party of the king, the queen
dowager, and Prince Frederick, the whole of the nobility, the clergy,
and the bourgeoisie. It may fairly be said that he was an Ishmael,
against whom every man's hand was raised, and he could rely on nobody
but an imbecile king, ready to listen to the last speaker, and a young,
inexperienced, and unfortunately deceived queen. Struensee must have
built upon the almost inexplicable power which he had over the king,
and that he would not be induced to injure his minister. Perhaps, too,
he allowed himself to be persuaded by his pride sooner to venture
everything than undergo the humiliation of resigning his authority.
As the reader will remember, from the anonymous letters sent to
Brandt, secret designs were formed as early as the summer of 1771 to
overthrow Struensee. But at that time it was not found possible to
induce the queen dowager to take part in any plan for the removal of
the favourite. It was supposed for a while that a suitable instrument
had been found in Reverdil to draw the king out of Struensee's hands;
and Berger, the physician in ordinary, undertook to sound him. The
honest Swiss, however, replied that, though he was not at all an
admirer of Struensee, he had not sufficient influence over the king to
induce him to discharge his minister. As, too, Reverdil was greatly
attached to the queen, this was probably a further reason why he should
feel disinclined to aid in the overthrow of her favourite.[32]
After seven months' absence, the court returned to Copenhagen on
January 8, 1772, and the usual festivities began with a ball at the
Christiansborg Palace on the following evening. At the end of the
French performance at the palace theatre, which was given thrice a
week, the ladies and gentlemen who had attended the theatre were
allowed admission to the queen's ante-rooms. The first of the
performances was on Saturday evening, January 11, and the queen paid a
short visit to the company present; on the following Monday there was a
_Cour_.
Arrangements for securing the safety of the royal family were also
made in the capital. The palace guard was doubled, a double cavalry
post was drawn up at each entrance to the palace, and in front of the
_corps de garde_, and day and night pickets of cavalry, with drawn
sabres, patrolled the streets.
At the same time, the most fabulous reports were spread. It was
declared that the garrison and the whole army, especially the
artillery, had received private instructions, and had been supplied
with many rounds of cartridge. Their hatred of the cabinet minister
caused even sensible persons to credit the most absurd reports; among
others, the invention that the king was going to abdicate, and the
queen be declared regent during the minority of her son. Even the
letter S, set in diamonds, affixed to the cap of Struensee's running
footman, gave rise to the most disquieting explanations. In a word,
such a violent and general fermentation prevailed in the capital,
that it must lead to the worst, if a leader could only be found.
For, though Struensee's enemies were so numerous, they as yet had no
nucleus round which to gather. A fervent hatred of the minister filled
all hearts, but fear kept the bitterness in check: they shouted and
roared, but obeyed the authority, until the right leaders were found
in the higher circles. These persons were Queen Juliana Maria, the
hereditary Prince Frederick Guldberg, the prince's private secretary,
Count Rantzau-Ascheberg, Colonels von Eickstedt and Von Köller, and the
serviceable Beringskjold.
Juliana Maria and her son had long felt insulted by the seclusion in
which they were kept, but the lady had been very careful to keep her
sentiments concealed. She was described by her foes as an ambitious and
blood-thirsty woman: other writers, however, among them the excellent
Reverdil, declare that she was more sinned against than sinning. Even
the way employed to draw her into the plot against the favourite, was
of a nature to deceive even a more sensible woman. In order to secure
her adhesion, a paper was shown her containing a full account of the
court plot: January 28 was the day fixed for the king's abdication, and
the appointment of Matilda as regent, and Struensee as protector. The
elder Struensee was said to have drawn up the deed of abdication; and
in order that no proof might be wanting, a copy of this plan, _which
never existed in the original_, was allowed to fall into the hands of
Suhm, who was known to be a red-hot Dane. This copy he at once sent to
Juliana Maria, and employed the following argument to persuade her:--
"There was no time to be lost; for the man who meditated usurping the
regency ere long, would not hesitate before a further crime. The death
of the king assured him the couch of Queen Matilda, and the prince
royal, either immolated, or succumbing beneath the rigours of his
education, would make way for his sister, the too manifest proof of
their adulterine amours. For what other motive had Struensee revoked
the law which prohibited a repudiated wife from marrying the accomplice
of her infidelity?"[33]
Prince Frederick was not naturally bad hearted; but being as weak in
mind as he was crippled in his person, he entirely depended on his
mother's will. The annoyance of these two royal personages at their
estrangement from court was notorious, and shared by many persons; but
assuredly by no one so much as by Guldberg, who, as private secretary
to Prince Frederick, was the confidant of both.
OWE HÖRG GULDBERG was born in 1731, at the town of Horsens in Jütland,
where his father, who had failed in business, was sexton of the Town
Church. The poor circumstances of his family rendered it necessary
for him to obtain assistance while attending the Town Gymnasium, and
he could not have continued his further studies, had not a well-to-do
uncle helped him. After leaving school, he went to Copenhagen, but
could not continue his studies for any length of time, for want of
means. Hence he returned to Jütland, where he became a tutor, and
employed his leisure hours in preparing himself for the university
examination. In 1754 he passed the theological examination, and
received a certificate of "haud illaudabilis;" after which he remained
in Copenhagen, and turned author, although he devoted himself to
religious subjects. The first book he published bore the title "Memoirs
of a Converted Freethinker," and was an unmistakable allusion to such
men as Struensee. Soon after he commenced a universal history of
the world, which was not continued, however, as he began diligently
studying the classics, which procured him, in 1761, a professorship at
the Sorö Academy, and three years later the post of governor to the
hereditary prince, who was then eleven years of age. Guldberg obtained
the title of Etats-rath in 1770, about the time when Struensee was
appointed a councillor of conference.
Guldberg was a man considerably below the middle height. His forehead
was lofty, and his nose aquiline: his eyes glistened sharply and
expressively, and round his lips there was a certain softness. The
chief expression of his face, however, was that earnestness which is
generally found in the countenances of pietists. Another description
of Guldberg[34] speaks more decisively as to the true character of
this leader of the conspiracy against Struensee and Caroline Matilda.
According to this author, Guldberg's person was a faithful copy of
Fielding's Blifil, with the face of a cat, and the glance of a fox.
Twining and slippery as an eel, crawling and submissive with higher
persons, he was violent and coarse with subordinates.
Consequently, we may reasonably assume that it was not so much
Guldberg's devotion to his mistress as his religious opinion of the
mischief produced by Struensee's ministry and his national Danism,
which urged him to take a zealous but most cautious part in the
conspiracy against the minister, for he was perfectly well aware
that his neck would be in danger if it failed. The most cautious of
the coterie, and holding a high position, he had become the leader
of the conspiracy, owing to his direct influence over the two royal
participators in it.
As regards Rantzau-Ascheberg, whose character has already been
depicted, we have only to say of him that he was now as angry with the
Danish government, _i.e._, Struensee, for his foiled expectations, as
he had been with the Petersburg government. With extreme haughtiness he
combined a permanent dissatisfaction with what existed, and a liking
for extraordinary undertakings. In one respect he resembled Struensee:
in decisive moments his courage broke down. Proud and ignorant, he
appeared to believe that a noble descent and an arrogant manner must
suffice to make him be regarded as a man of importance. He was utterly
ignorant of the behaviour of an elegant and polished aristocrat.
Naturally imperious and violent in everything he undertook, he seemed
to regard reason and conscience as bugaboos to frighten children and
weak-minded persons.
The fifth of the conspirators was VON KÖLLER, colonel of the Holstein
infantry regiment. A partisan of Rantzau, he was one of the most
important members of the conspiracy, because in his person he united
all the qualities which are requisite to carry out revolutions coupled
with high treason. A bold, though coarse soldier, urged by unbridled
ambition, and equally passionate in temper, he was at the same time
an impudent boaster, had an imposing person, and the strength of an
athlete.[35]
Brevet Major-General HANS HENRY VON EICKSTEDt commanded the regiment
of Seeland dragoons which had taken the place of the disbanded Guards.
Like Köller, he was a native of Pomerania, whence his ancestors came
to Denmark toward the end of the seventeenth century, and purchased
several estates in Holstein. Eickstedt bought himself a regiment,
which was possible in the Danish army at that day, and, on the
accession of Christian VII., he was appointed colonel and chief of the
above-mentioned dragoon regiment. He was considered a worthy man but
of rather limited intellect, which was probably the reason why it was
proposed to put him on half-pay in 1771; but Falckenskjold, who knew
his value in an administrative capacity, prevented his dismissal. When
the Seeland dragoons were ordered to Copenhagen, and to do duty at the
palace, Eickstedt believed he had a claim for promotion, and as his
request was not acceded to, he joined the malcontents.
When the proposed conspiracy was hinted to him, Eickstedt, who up to
this time had been unknown by the court and the nobles, and to whom
this opportunity of playing a distinguished part appeared like a dream,
was so raised above the sphere of his usual thoughts by the mere idea
of being able to do a queen a service, that he was unable to reflect
over the consequences of the commission entrusted to him. He blindly
obeyed the queen dowager's will, and promised to do everything that was
asked of him.[36]
The seventh in rank among the conspirators was the Commissary-General
of War VON BERINGSKJOLD, who had been an acquaintance of Rantzau in
Petersburg. His baptismal name was Magnus Bering; he was born in 1720,
the son of a tradesman at Horsens, and was descended from Vitus Bering,
the celebrated circumnavigator in the Russian service. The daughter of
this seafarer, who was said to be married to Councillor of Chancery
Lüxdorph, was raised to noble rank.
After Magnus Bering had studied for awhile at Copenhagen, he
established himself as a colonial merchant, but soon became bankrupt,
and cheated a poor student out of his entire fortune. As Bering was
prosecuted for this, he escaped to Germany, entered the imperial
service, and was ennobled, in 1753, by the Emperor Francis I. by the
name of Beringskjold. He then proceeded to Petersburg, where he set
up as a merchant again, and at the same time performed the part of a
Danish spy. During his residence in the latter city the overthrow of
Peter III. was decided on, and, as we have already seen, he and Rantzau
took part in that sanguinary event. The emperor's murder had been
scarce accomplished ere Beringskjold set out at once for Copenhagen
with the most agreeable news for the Danish court, and for his good
tidings received a pension and the post of commissary-general.
Shortly after, Beringskjold purchased the royal domain of Nygaard, the
present Marienborg, on the island of Möen, but, as he was unable to
raise the sum of 10,000 dollars when the time arrived for a payment on
account, he was dispossessed of the estate again. This fatality forced
him to return to Copenhagen, where he renewed his old acquaintance with
Rantzau, and willingly joined the conspiracy against Struensee, as he
was always ready for intrigues and spying services.[37]
At the first glance, we might consider it an historical enigma that
men like these five could succeed in carrying out in a few hours
a thorough revolution, and that no other acts of violence should
take place, save the immediate revolting ill-treatment of the three
persons selected as victims. For us, however, it is no riddle. We are
acquainted with Struensee's incaution: the hatred which the clerical
party entertained for him: the detestation of the Danes: the numerous
foes he had in the army and navy and the officials: in a word, his
utter isolation. Struensee himself said, after his fall, that he had
no other friends but the weak king and queen; and as, in spite of the
numerous warnings that had been given him, he could not resolve to
take the necessary precautions for his ministry and his person, he
positively offered the conspirators an opportunity for overthrowing him.
The greatest activity in this respect was displayed by the most
notorious of the conspirators, Von Beringskjold. Well trained at
Petersburg, he was fully aware that palace revolutions could not
be carried out without military assistance. He it was that played
the principal part in gaining over Von Eickstedt, and laid all the
plans for inducing Maria Juliana to place herself at the head of the
conspiracy. He found the proper person to effect this in Jacob Jessen,
ex-valet of Frederick V., who was now living on a pension, but was
at the same time purveyor of wines to the queen dowager. In October,
1771, Beringskjold went to this man, and mentioned, in the course of
conversation, how opposed Struensee's government was to the _Lex Regia_
and the laws of the country, that universal dissatisfaction prevailed
in consequence, and that evil might be apprehended. When Jessen refused
to believe the last statement, Beringskjold invited him to come to his
house at ten o'clock the following morning, as Colonel von Eickstedt
would then be with him. Jessen could remain hidden, and listen to
the conversation with Eickstedt, by which he would most assuredly be
convinced that a plan existed to overthrow Struensee.
Jessen appeared at the appointed hour, and heard that, beside Von
Eickstedt, Colonel von Köller was also present. The gentlemen expressed
their determination to overthrow Struensee, and the two colonels
reckoned on the support of their regiments and of the artillery in
doing so. A few days after, Colonel Eickstedt sent the ex-valet a
message, through Beringskjold, to grant him an interview, which
was to take place at the rooms of the latter. Jessen went, and the
colonel proposed to him to go quietly to Fredensborg--where the queen
dowager and her son were residing at the time--and inform them that
an insurrection against Struensee was being prepared, for which he
(Eickstedt), Colonel Köller, and other gentlemen had drawn up the
plan. The queen and hereditary prince were invited to place themselves
at the head of the anti-Struensee party, in order by their authority
to prevent the excited populace from committing excesses on innocent
persons.
The queen dowager had already been fully prepared for the event by
the forged document shown her by Suhm. She consulted with Guldberg,
and declared her willingness to accept the proposal made to her. The
party of the queen dowager was thus organized. Valet Jessen conveyed
the good news to Copenhagen, and there performed from time to time
the part of negociator between the conspirators at Fredensborg and
those in the capital. In order to avoid notice, he made his reports in
writing, and addressed his letters sometimes to his mother-in-law, the
waiting-woman, Jacobi, at others to his little daughter, Juliana Maria
Jessen, who was afterwards a celebrated poetess, and at that time was
living with her grandmother.
When the queen dowager returned to Copenhagen in November, the secret
meetings of her party were held at the house of Abildgaard, chaplain
of the Holmenschurch, close to the palace, whose wife was a relation
of Beringskjold. The rectory had two entrances, from two different
streets, and Jessen, who was thoroughly acquainted with the ins and
outs of the Christiansborg Palace, offered the conspirators the
most valuable aid at these secret meetings. He was also thoroughly
conversant with the private staircases that led in the palace from
the queen's apartments to those of the king and Struensee, so that
it was eventually an easy matter for the conspirators to cut off all
communication between the three parties most interested, at the moment
when they carried out their enterprise.
The outbreak of the conspiracy was settled for the night between
January 16 and 17, 1772. On Thursday, the 16th, a _bal paré en domino_
was given in the palace theatre at Christiansborg, to which all nine
rank-classes were admitted.
The French Opera House, as the theatre royal was called, was most
gorgeously decorated. Innumerable chandeliers and lamps displayed the
rich gilding of the boxes, with their hangings of violet and silk. The
pit, appropriated on other occasions to the spectators, was raised to a
level with the stage, so that the whole formed one large hall; while a
numerous orchestra occupied the sides of the stage, which represented a
grove. In the background, a large bower, dimly lighted with variegated
lamps, led to some small lateral cabinets, hung with red damask, the
rich decorations of which--splendid mirrors, sparkling chandeliers,
and gilt sofas--plainly showed that they were destined for royal
personages. A semicircular saloon at the back of all closed the grand
perspective, which was doubled by the mirrors against the walls, for it
was the dressing-room of the theatre. A series of spacious and splendid
saloons occupied the rest of the wing.
In the boxes, card-tables were arranged; the king played at quadrille
with General von Gähler, Frau von Gähler, and Justiz-rath Struensee.
The young queen, however, seemed to be remarkably cheerful on this
evening; danced continually; and looked very beautiful. A circumstance
occurred which ought to have attracted attention. The king, queen,
and court entered the ball-room at ten o'clock; but Prince Frederick,
contrary to his usual custom, and, in some measure, contrary to the
respect due from him to their Majesties, did not arrive till more than
an hour later. His countenance was flushed, and his disordered looks
revealed the agitation of his mind. As soon as he came, the queen
advanced to him, and said playfully:
"Vous venez d'arriver bien tard, mon frère, qu'avez vous?"
"C'est que j'ai eu des affaires, madame," he replied.
"Il me semble," the queen remarked, gaily, "que vous auriez mieux fait
de penser à vos plaisirs qu'à vos affaires, pendant une soirée de bal."
The prince made little or no reply, and the conversation ended.
Köller was even more impudent. While playing at cards, Struensee went
up to him and said: "Are you not going to dance?" To which Köller made
answer: "No, I shall play a little longer; but my hour to dance will
arrive presently."[38]
Courtiers and officials were still longing to read a kindly glance
on the face of the omnipotent minister and even the pious hypocrite,
Guldberg, was present, for the first time in his life, at such an
entertainment. Of the foreign envoys, Colonel Keith was the only one
present. The king and queen and their nearest intimates supped together
in a box, while Prince Frederick was left to get his supper at a
buffet like the meanest of the guests. Curiously enough, Reverdil had
interceded for the prince on the previous day, and begged Brandt to
admit him to the king's table, but it was refused. Reverdil was much
affected, for he was ignorant that the measure was full, and that one
act of insolence more or less was of no consequence.
The king retired at midnight; but the queen continued dancing till
nearly three o'clock. The company soon followed; and the two last
persons who remained in the ball-room were Brandt and the Countess von
Holstein, his mistress. They were engaged in conversation, when Le
Texier, the master of the revels, went up to Brandt, and said:
"Every one is gone, and I must order the lights to be put out."
"I will give directions to that effect," Count Brandt replied; "leave
it to me."
A singular fatality seems to have attended the queen and her
friends. In order to seize so large a body of men, many of whom it
was unquestionable would resist if they were not taken by surprise
and separately, it was necessary to attack them singly and alone.
The Countess von Holstein had invited a select party of ladies and
gentlemen, among whom were Struensee and Brandt, to drink tea in her
apartments after the conclusion of the ball. If this party had taken
place, it would have frustrated the plans of the queen dowager and
her son. They would, probably, have considered it too dangerous to
attack several of the first men in Denmark, collected together in one
room, who were capable of resistance, and might either have escaped or
defended themselves successfully. In such an attempt, the royal palace,
where the principal among them were lodged, must have been rendered a
scene of blood and horror. But one of the ladies who was invited, Frau
von Schimmelmann, having a violent headache, excused herself; Frau von
Bülow, unwilling to go without her friend, made her excuses likewise;
and the Countess von Holstein, being the only female remaining of the
party, it was abandoned.
In the meanwhile, the preparations for carrying out the plan of the
conspirators were being made very silently. The grenadier company of
Colonel Köller's Holstein regiment had the guard, on this day, at the
palace, together with a troop of the Seeland dragoons, commanded by
Von Eickstedt. The military charge of the palace was, consequently,
confided to two of the accomplices. At nine in the evening, Colonel
Eickstedt entered the stables of the _corps de garde_, and inquired of
the stable-sentry whether Lieutenant Schlemann, the officer of the day,
was in his room.
"Yes," the dragoon answered; "does your excellency wish me to call him?"
"No," the colonel said at first, so as not to betray the fact that
he had solely come to speak to this officer. But after pretending to
remember something, he turned again to the sentry, with the remark:
"By the way, you can tell the lieutenant that I am here."
Soon after, the lieutenant came down into the stable from the officers'
guard-room.
"I see," the colonel addressed him, "that all your horses are saddled.
Have you received orders to that effect?"
"No, I did it on my own responsibility," the lieutenant replied. "I
was afraid lest the mob might employ this evening in making unpleasant
riots, and hence I wished to be in readiness to move at once. Still, if
you command it, I will give the order to unsaddle."
As Eickstedt naturally did not desire this, but was quite satisfied
with the lieutenant's precaution, he ordered the latter to keep all
the horses saddled throughout the night. After the lieutenant had
accompanied his commanding officer to the gates, he was about to
retire, but Eickstedt gave him a nod, and whispered to him to come to
his apartments precisely at half-past three in the morning; he would
then find the door open, but must not pass Colonel Falckenskjold's
quarters, or drop a word to a single being of what he (Eickstedt) had
just intimated to him.
The entire plot, however, all but failed owing to Rantzau's
vacillation. This man, upon whose courage, fidelity, and secrecy
no reliance could be placed, determined not only to withdraw his
assistance from the party in which he had enlisted, but to reveal the
whole conspiracy. At eight o'clock on the evening before the ball, he
drove to the house of Justiz-rath Struensee. When he was told here
that the Justiz-rath had not yet returned from a dinner party, he
urged the servant to inform his master directly he returned home that
Count Rantzau desired a visit from him as soon as possible. The count
had hardly driven away, when the Justiz-rath arrived, and the servant
delivered the message.
"The count is always in such a hurry about trifles," the minister's
brother answered, "that the visit will safely keep till to-morrow
morning."
He therefore deferred the visit, and dressed himself for the masquerade
ball.
An apparently so insignificant occurrence decided the happiness and
existence of numerous persons and the fate of the whole monarchy for
twelve long years!
Rantzau went home, and sent to tell Colonel Köller that an attack of
gout prevented him from keeping his appointment as agreed. In order
to support the deception, he even had his feet wrapped up in flannel.
The count resided in a royal mansion called the Palace, separated from
Christiansborg by a ditch. The conspirators were in a state of great
alarm, and sent off Beringskjold to the count. When Rantzau appealed
to the state of his feet, the envoy suggested a sedan-chair, and on
the count still persisting, he delivered the ultimatum from Köller
that he would have him fetched by grenadiers if he did not come. This
threat was effectual, and Rantzau appeared at the meeting-place, being
conveyed to it by two grenadiers of the guard in a chair.
The ball was over at about half-past two, and profound silence
prevailed in the palace. The conspirators alone did not sleep.
The two commandants, Eickstedt and Köller, took care that the garrison
and palace guards should be held in readiness for any event. When
Lieutenant Schlemann kept his appointment with Colonel von Eickstedt,
he found there Von Rönpstorff, the major of the regiment, who had
several lieutenants awakened. When these officers arrived, Eickstedt
lighted a candle, placed it under the table, and read to the meeting by
this mystic illumination an order signed by the queen dowager and the
hereditary prince.
This usurped order from persons who, in spite of their royal position,
had not the slightest right to command the garrison troops, was to the
effect that the king, having been hitherto surrounded by several bad
people, the two exalted signers of the secret order commanded Colonels
von Köller and Von Eickstedt to seize on the same night the Counts
Struensee and Brandt, and several other persons named, and also to
place the commandant, Major-General von Gude, under arrest. In this way
the two chief actors secured the perfect fidelity of all the persons
connected with them. After Eickstedt had read this precious document,
which was drawn up by Guldberg, he warned the officers to be on the
watch, and promised them to be himself at the spot where the greater
danger was. He ordered the officer of the dragoon picket to have the
horses bitted in the greatest secrecy, to advance at half-past three
in the morning, to occupy all the entrances, and to allow no one to
go in or out. He must try at first to keep them back politely, but
if kindness did not avail, he must employ violence, if necessary, in
effecting this.
About the same hour, Colonel Köller went the rounds of the city guards,
and took the officers of the day with him to the captain's guard-room
at the palace. Here he stated to them that he had received orders to
arrest Counts Struensee and Brandt and several others, and that he felt
assured of having their aid in doing so, if he required it; after which
the officers returned to their posts.
Everything was perfectly quiet in the palace, when, at four o'clock
A.M., the hereditary prince, Guldberg, Rantzau, Eickstedt, Köller, and
the ex-valet Jessen, assembled in the rooms of the queen dowager. After
Guldberg had shortly repeated here all they had arranged, and offered
up a prayer, the conspirators, guided by Jessen, went along dark
passages to the king's apartments, forced their way into the bedroom
of the valet Brieghil, aroused him, and induced him to follow them. As
they found the right entrance to the king's sleeping apartment locked,
they were obliged to go round by the secret staircase. Brieghil went in
front, and behind him came Guldberg, carrying a candle in each hand.
When Juliana Maria, surrounded by her companions, approached the
king's bed, the latter woke, sprang up with a start of terror, and
asked, timidly, on seeing so many persons assembled in his bedroom in
the middle of the night, what they wanted with him? The queen dowager
replied:
"My son, your Majesty, do not be frightened. You do not see us here as
enemies, but as your true friends; and we have come----"
Here she began to shed abundant tears. Rantzau had agreed to be
spokesman, but now held back, and Köller was obliged to thrust him
forward. Thus forced, he at length said to the king that his Majesty's
mother and brother had come to liberate him and the country.
After this, the stepmother went up to the bed, embraced the king, and
repeated what Rantzau had just said. Almost fainting from terror, the
poor weak king asked for a glass of water, and when he had drunk it,
merely remarked that Rantzau had told him Eickstedt was there too.
The latter stepped forward and confirmed Rantzau's statement, with
the addition that the people were in a state of revolt, for a design
was being carried on against his Majesty and his government, in which
Struensee and the queen were the leaders.
When Christian heard the name of Matilda, he refused to place any
credence in the affair, but Juliana Maria assured him of the truth, and
Guldberg confirmed it. Rantzau then pulled out of his pocket the orders
already drawn up, and laid them before the king to sign, upon which
Christian exclaimed:
"My God! this will cost streams of blood!" Rantzau answered:
"Your Majesty may be of good cheer; with the help of the Almighty, I
take everything upon myself, and will, as far as possible, prevent
danger."
Pen and ink were produced, and the weak king was induced to sign two
orders, whose contents his stepmother explained to him. By the first,
Eickstedt was made a major-general and commandant of the city; by the
second, Eickstedt and Köller received full powers to take all the
measures necessary for the preservation of the king and the country.
After the king had signed these documents while still in bed, and the
hereditary prince countersigned them, the former expressed a wish to
get up. When he was dressed, the queen dowager, her son, and Guldberg
led the king to the prince's apartments. Here he remained for some
hours, and they were employed in inducing him to write a note to his
consort, from Juliana Maria's dictation, which contained the following
absurd words:--
"Comme vous n'avez pas voulu suivre les bons conseils, ce n'est pas ma
faute, si je me trouve obligé de vous faire conduire à Kronenbourg."
After this, the king signed fifteen different orders, drawn up by
Guldberg, which decided the fate of no less than seventeen persons.
These were in turn: Count Struensee, Count Brandt, Professor Struensee,
Lieutenant Struensee, Chamberlain Colonel von Falckenskjold,
Lieutenant-General von Gähler, Frau von Gähler, Major-General
Gude, Lieutenant-Colonel von Hesselberg, Equerry Baron von Bülow,
Rear-Admiral Hansen, Etats-rath Willebrand, Lieutenant Abö, Cabinet
Secretary von Zoëga, the Intendant Martini, and Panning, Count
Struensee's private secretary. When this was completed, the king,
animated by the sweet thought of doing injury, by the flattering
idea of being delivered from Brandt for ever, and by the remote hope
of shedding blood, spent the rest of the morning in drawing up the
requisite orders. Those which concerned the queen, such as the order to
Rantzau to arrest her, another to the commandant of Kronborg, where she
was to be taken, and the order to the intendant of the court to provide
the carriages, the king copied himself from Guldberg's minutes the
others he merely signed.[39]
While all this was going on in the royal apartments, Eickstedt placed
himself at the head of a troop of dragoons in order to inform all
officers on duty of his new dignity, strengthened the palace guard with
forty gunners, and then had all the gates of the fortress closed.[40]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 29: In order to gain the confidence of the queen dowager and
her party, Rantzau had taken formal leave of the royal family while at
Hirschholm, and was living in _quasi_ retirement. At the same time he
quieted his creditors by assuring them that, so soon as Struensee was
overthrown, he intended to pay off all his debts.--_Reverdil_, p. 326.]
[Footnote 30: "Authentische Aufklärungen," p. 150.]
[Footnote 31: "Mémoires de Falckenskjold," p. 157.]
[Footnote 32: When the well-known Baron Grimm, some years after the
palace revolution of 1772, requested Reverdil to give him a description
of Struensee, he answered him: "Tacitus has drawn it for us," and read
the baron the following passage from the ANNALS:--"Poor, unknown, and
restless, he managed by secret machinations to satisfy the malicious
temper of the prince, and ere long he brought every celebrated man
into danger. Thus he attained power with one but hatred with all, and
furnished an example how rich men are made poor, and despised men
grand, by which he entailed first the ruin of others and then his own."]
[Footnote 33: Reverdil, p. 329.]
[Footnote 34: By Jörgensen Jomton, a well-known literary man, and
confidant of Christian VIII.]
[Footnote 35: Struensee is reported to have said of Köller: "He looks
as if he had no mother, but was brought into the world by a man.
Something innate in him stamps him ruffian."]
[Footnote 36: "Authentische Aufklärungen," p. 152.]
[Footnote 37: "One Beringskjold, an infamous, abandoned wretch, capable
of every crime or villany, and whom fame declares to be the man who put
Peter, the late Emperor of Russia, to death."--_N. W. Wraxall's Private
Journal._]
[Footnote 38: "Mémoires de mon Temps," p. 60.]
[Footnote 39: Reverdil, p. 336.]
[Footnote 40: In giving the above account, I have principally followed
the reports of the party favourable to the queen dowager, except in
those cases where a bias was evident. The fullest account will be found
in the "Memoiren von Köller Banner;" but I have also inserted numerous
bits from pamphlets, though I did not deem it necessary to quote my
authority in each case.]