SHARING THE SPOIL.
ARREST OF STRUENSEE AND BRANDT--FALCKENSKJOLD'S PRISON--A
LADY'S PERILS--CAROLINE MATILDA--A TERRIBLE SCENE--OSTEN'S
PERSUASION--ARRIVAL AT KRONBORG--THE QUEEN'S DESPAIR--THE KING IN
PUBLIC--POPULAR EXCESSES--REWARDS--GENERAL VON HUTH.
Immediately after the signature of the orders, Köller delightedly
offered his services in the odious task of arresting Count Struensee.
Followed by Captain Malleville, Lieutenants von Eyben and Frank, and a
number of soldiers, he proceeded to the rooms occupied by the favourite
on the Mezzanine. Before he entered the bedroom, he made the captain
promise to kill Struensee in the event of himself (Köller) being shot.
But this precaution proved to be quite unnecessary.
On seeing the intruder, and hearing that he had orders to arrest him,
Struensee asked him if he knew to whom he was speaking, and to whom he
was intimating this command. The colonel replied:
"Yes; I know very well who you are. You are a count and a cabinet
minister; but now you are my prisoner."
Struensee requested to see the royal warrant, but as Köller did not
possess this, he said:
"I cannot show you any written order; but I am answerable with my head
that the order to arrest you was given me by the king."
Still, the count refused to surrender; so Köller placed his sword-point
against his chest, and said very seriously: "I have orders to take you
either dead or alive." Struensee sank back, fainting, on a sofa. When
he recovered, he asked for a cup of chocolate, which was refused him.
The colonel advised him to make haste and get out of the palace before
daybreak, as otherwise he could not protect him against the infuriated
populace.
Moved by these arguments, Struensee proceeded to dress himself, and
was so unprepared for the event, that he only had the masquerade dress
which he had so recently taken off. He was obliged, therefore, to put
on the pink domino breeches, but was allowed to take his furs, as the
weather was bitterly cold. Bound hand and foot, the late omnipotent
minister was dragged to a coach, and conveyed, under a powerful escort,
to the citadel. As he got into the coach, he groaned, "Great God,
what crime have I committed?" When he got out of the coach again, he
requested that a trifle might be given the driver, and Köller handed
the latter a dollar. The driver expressed his thanks, but said, in
good Danish, "I would have done it for nothing."
Struensee was then conducted to the commandant of the citadel, in whose
presence he cursed terribly, till he was ordered to be silent. He was
taken by the commandant's orders to the cell in which a notorious
pirate of the name of Norcross had been confined for a long time. On
entering it, he opened his eyes very wide, and said to the officer,
"Where are my valets?" The answer was, "I did not see any of your
valets following you." "But my secretary?"--"He is not here either." "I
must have my furs; confound it, it is cold here, and I have no wish to
be frozen to death." On seeing a wretched wooden chair, he exclaimed,
"What is the meaning of this chair? bring me my sofa." The officer
replied, with a frosty look, "There is nothing at your service here,
sir, but a night commode." On receiving this answer the prisoner burst
into an awful rage, and ran with his head against the wall to dash out
his brains; but the watch prevented his design. On the commandant being
informed of this, he ordered Struensee to be laid in chains, which hurt
him more than all the other treatment, and he passionately cried, "I am
treated _en canaille_."[41]
The simultaneous arrest of Count Brandt was confided to a turncoat
and now zealous accomplice of the conspirators, Colonel von Sames,
ex-commandant of Copenhagen. Formerly an admirer of Struensee, he had
joined the minister's enemies after his own enforced retirement to
make way for Major-General von Gude, and was now anxious to regain
the favour of the new government. Accompanied by a guard, he crept to
Brandt's apartments, but found the door locked. On Sames threatening to
burst it open with the butt-ends of muskets unless it were opened to
allow him to execute a royal order, Brandt at length turned the key,
but met the intruders with his drawn sword. When the guard, however,
made preparations to disarm him, he threw his sword away, remarking:
"This must be a mistake. I am a minister of state, and have committed
no crime for which I can be arrested."
The officer observed that it was no error, and begged him to yield.
He did so, with the words: "Eh bien, monsieur, je vous suivrai
tranquillement."
He was also conveyed to the citadel in a coach; and on entering the
quarters of the commandant, said to him:
"Do not be angry, sir, at my disturbing you at so early an hour."
"Not at all, sir," the commandant replied; "we have been expecting you
here for a long time."
After this, Count Brandt walked up and down the room several times;
looked about him; hummed an Italian air; and at length said:
"On my soul, there are fine apartments in this castle;" to which the
commandant replied, with very bloodthirsty humour:
"Yes, sir; but you will have an opportunity of seeing finer ones."
A few minutes after, Brandt's cell was shown him. It was very dark;
and, on entering it, he said good-humouredly to his companions: "On
my word, the commandant spoke the truth." Even though chained like
Struensee, Brandt retained his firmness; amused himself with playing
the flute; and generally showed a much sturdier character than the
wretched Struensee.
After the new city commandant, Von Eickstedt, had provided for the
safety of the king, and given his commands at the main guard, he rode,
accompanied by Colonel von Arnsdorff and a lieutenant, at five o'clock
in the morning, to the new barracks, for the purpose of arresting
Colonel von Falckenskjold and his friend, Lieutenant-Colonel von
Hesselberg, who were quartered there. After entering the colonel's
room, Eickstedt awoke him, and expressed his regret at being forced to
arrest a brother officer; then he read aloud his own appointment as
commandant, and the warrant, and handed Falckenskjold the papers for
his inspection. The prisoner carefully examined the order, and the king
and prince's signatures, and believed he had discovered that both the
order and the signatures were in Eickstedt's own handwriting.[42]
Still, we can hardly think that the conspirators would have ventured
upon such audacity; but it may be fairly assumed that the signature
of the king, who was frightened to death, was as illegible as that of
the counter-signer with the uneasy conscience. After Eickstedt had
expressed some alarm about the temper of the regiment, with which their
colonel was a great favourite, and Falckenskjold had calmed him, he
quitted the colonel, leaving a lieutenant and a sergeant to guard him.
On January 21, at eleven o'clock at night, a major and eight or ten
subalterns rushed into Falckenskjold's bedroom, made him get up, and
transferred him to the navy prison, intended for the vilest criminals.
The cell was reached by a narrow flight of stairs, and the interior
was not more than ten feet square. An officer constantly remained with
the prisoner, who was compelled to sleep on the boards. As he was not
allowed any knives, he was obliged to tear his food with his fingers.
At first, he was allowed to keep his tooth-powder and some tea; but
shortly after, he was deprived of them, as they might be poisoned.
Eight days after, Falckenskjold was transferred to a large room, which
it was impossible to warm, and stopped here for weeks, till he was
brought before the commission of investigation, and his unhappy fate
eventually decided.
While Eickstedt was carrying out his task, Major von Rönpstorff rode
to the deposed town commandant in order to put him under arrest, and
take away the keys of the fortress, which were delivered to the first
bürgermeister, Matthiesen, as the victorious party placed no confidence
in the chief president, Von Holstein. From this house, the major went
to Justiz-rath Struensee, whom he also arrested, and conveyed to the
citadel. At the same time, Professor Berger was also arrested by
Lieutenant von Eyben. The remainder were placed under house arrest, and
had sentries posted over them, with the exception of Von Bülow, whose
word of honour not to leave the house was considered sufficient.
Colonel von Köller undertook the task of arresting Lieutenant-General
Gähler and his wife. The latter jumped out of bed in her night-dress,
and tried to escape by the back-stairs; but she found them invested by
two dragoons, and she was removed, with her husband, to the citadel.
Councillor of Legation Sturtz also stood on the lists of proscription,
as a partisan of Struensee, but was not arrested till some time later,
when he fancied himself too secure. The domestics of Counts Struensee
and Brandt were put into the Blue Tower, which was usually employed as
a debtors' prison.
It was half-past eight o'clock A.M., when all these imprisonments
had been carried out. But the most revolting scene in this palace
revolution had been going on, in the meanwhile, at the Christiansborg.
Supplied with the note in the king's handwriting, and backed up by
three lieutenants, Beck, Oldenborg, and Bay, Count zu Rantzau-Ascheberg
proceeded to the apartments of the reigning queen, Caroline Matilda,
entered the ante-chamber, and tried to get into the bedroom, but found
the door locked. The queen was aroused by the disturbance, and summoned
her women. They hurried to her; and the queen saw fear and terror in
their faces.
"What is the matter?" she asked; but the women were silent. She
repeated the question, and received the reply that Rantzau was in the
ante-room with several officers, and was asking admission in the king's
name. The queen sprang out of bed in alarm, and threw on a few articles
of clothing.
"Make haste and summon Struensee, he must come directly," she ordered
her women; but they replied that the count had already been removed.
"Betrayed! lost! eternally lost!" the queen exclaimed, with an outburst
of despair. "Well," she continued, after a little reflection, "let them
come in, the traitors, I am prepared for everything."
When the doors were opened by the women, the queen walked boldly toward
the persons entering, and asked them what they wanted. Moved by the
young queen's decided behaviour, Rantzau gave her a low bow, then said
that he had come by the king's order, read her her consort's note, and
handed it to her. She took it, and read it through without displaying
any alarm; but then threw it disdainfully on the ground, and trampled
upon it.
"Ha!" she said, "in that I recognise the traitors and the king."
Rantzau implored her to submit to the king's orders.
"Orders!" she exclaimed, contemptuously; "orders about which he knows
nothing, and which the most shameful treachery has extorted from his
imbecility. No, a queen does not obey such commands."
Rantzau looked serious, and said that his duty admitted of no delay.
"I will obey no orders till I have seen the king," the queen answered
him; "let me go to him: I must--I will speak to him."
And she advanced some steps toward the door: but Rantzau stepped before
her with heightened anger, and his entreaties became menaces.
"Villain!" the impassioned queen cried to him, "is that the language
of a servant to his monarch? Go, most contemptible of men. Go, you are
loaded with shame and disgrace, but I am not afraid of you."
These words from the dauntless young queen infuriated the haughty
Rantzau, but he did not dare to carry out his ruffianly orders by
seizing the brave princess: hence he gave his comrades an imperious
glance to interfere. The boldest of the three advanced and seized the
queen round the waist, but she tore herself away from him, shrieked for
assistance as loudly as she could, and hastened along the passage to
the secret stairs; but her women held her back, and said:
"Your Majesty cannot pass out, for all the doors are guarded by
sentries, and no one will listen to your cry for help."
Left alone with four armed soldiers, and rendered desperate by anger
and shame, the unfortunate princess rushed to a window, tore it open,
and was about to hurl herself out, but an officer seized her round the
waist and held her back by force. Beside herself with passion, she
seized the impudent man by the hair, and struggled with him alone, when
another of the officers had to assist his comrade against a defenceless
woman. She resisted him as well, and, though half naked, continued the
struggle with the courage of despair, till she at length fell back in
a fainting state. Rantzau watched this scene with great gusto, and
when the women brought their mistress round again, he ordered them to
conduct her into an adjoining room, and dress her, while he sent for
Count von der Osten, who might induce her to yield.
Although this practised diplomatist was acquainted with all the facts
of the conspiracy, he had refrained from taking any active part in
it. Now, however, that he knew Struensee and Brandt were safe in the
citadel, he accepted Rantzau's invitation the more willingly, because
he at once saw that the revolution could only be carried through by
the queen's overthrow. By his quiet and sensible representations he
at length succeeded in persuading the now weeping queen to yield
compliance.
"_Je n'ai rien fait: le roi sera juste_," she said quietly, in the
consciousness of her innocence; but then she became more impetuous,
and declared to the count that she would not move a step from the spot
unless she were allowed to take her children with her. The diplomatist,
however, succeeded in making her comprehend that the prince royal
must not be removed, and the poor mother at length agreed that she
would only take with her the little princess, whom she was herself
suckling.[43]
At length the preparations for departure were completed, and Fräulein
von Mösting, one of the ladies-in-waiting, came in to accompany
the queen. Rantzau and two officers followed their prisoner to the
coaches held in readiness for her in the back yard of the palace. On
the stairs, Rantzau offered her his hand to conduct her down, but she
repulsed it with disgust, and exclaimed: "_Loin avec vous, traître!
Je vous déteste!_" She then walked alone to the carriage, and entered
it. Fräulein von Mösting seated herself by her side, and a bed-chamber
woman opposite to her, but the fourth seat was occupied by Major von
Carstenskjold,[44] of Eickstedt's dragoons, with his drawn sabre. In
the second coach followed the nurse with the little Princess Louisa
Augusta, and two of the queen's attendants. The carriages were guarded
by thirty dragoons, and Queen Caroline Matilda bade an eternal farewell
to her capital and her palace.
During the tedious journey to the fortress, the queen remained in
profound sorrow, and did not utter a word: but when the coach drove
through the gloomy archway into the yard of the fortress of Kronborg,
she started up, and said in a lamentable voice: "Great God! it is all
over with me. The king has deserted me!"
When she left the carriage and attempted to ascend the stairs, the
unhappy queen's strength failed her, and she was carried up to a
sleeping apartment, in order to be laid on a bed. On seeing the couch,
however, she shrieked: "Away! away from here! There is no rest for the
miserable, no rest for me any more!"
She was seated in an easy-chair; heavy sighs burst from her oppressed
bosom; her whole body seemed bowed down by the weight of sorrow, till
at length she found tears to relieve her.
"Thanks, Heaven, thanks!" she fervently exclaimed; "that consolation
comes from Thee, and it is the only one of which my enemies cannot rob
me."
She heard her daughter's voice and flew to her.
"You, too, here! dear, innocent creature! Oh, in that case your poor
mother is not utterly wretched."
And the queen clasped the child to her breast, and then seated it in
her lap. Two days elapsed ere the unfortunate queen could be induced to
take any food, and lie down on a bed; then, she gradually regained her
calmness, and accepted her fate more patiently.
It seemed as if the victorious queen dowager studied every occasion by
which she could humiliate her victim. Caroline Matilda was not even
allowed to have the necessary clothes to appear with decency, and to
prepare herself against the severity of the weather; she was conveyed
to Kronborg not like a state prisoner, but with all the marks of
contempt shown to the worst offenders. A queen, whose personal charms
would have melted the heart of a ruffian, was scarcely allowed in this
inhospitable fortress what is requisite to support nature, and not
indulged with more conveniences in her apartments than those granted
to the lowest criminals. She was treated, during the earlier part of
her captivity, with great indignity by her unfeeling keepers and an
insolent soldiery, and confined in rooms which would have hardly been
allotted to her favourite dogs in the days of her prosperity.[45]
After the queen dowager had been informed by Von der Osten of the
successful removal of Caroline Matilda, the conspirators at once set to
work completing the affair they had begun. In the first place, it was
considered necessary to make the king go through a scene, which would
convince him that everything that had been as yet effected, met with
the approval of the multitude.
The constant driving, and the galloping of dragoons through the
streets at an early hour, aroused attention and apprehension among
the townspeople: for the conspirators had taken care that in the last
days the most dangerous rumours of attempts on the king's life should
be propagated. At length, the terrible events of the last hours oozed
out. The town captain, Treld, appeared in the streets, and when he was
asked what was to be done, he answered: "What else, but shout huzzah
that everything has succeeded!" The mob now burst into an universal
shout of "Long live King Christian VII.;" and several voices were heard
applauding the queen dowager and Prince Frederick. After this, the
masses flocked to the palace, and at 10 A.M. the king, followed by his
brother, stepped out on the balcony, while the old queen showed herself
at the window in _négligée_. The king waved his pocket-handkerchief,
and when the populace responded to this salute by a deafening shout, he
joined in, and hurrahed to his dear people, who were offering him such
enthusiastic thanks for the heroic deed he had just carried out.
A few hours later, the king, splendidly dressed, and accompanied by his
brother, entered a state-coach drawn by eight white horses, and drove
through the city, to show himself to his people. The throng was so
great, that the carriage could hardly pass, and many, in their delight,
proposed to take out the horses and drag the king themselves. They
drove slowly through all the principal streets: Prince Frederick had
let down the window on his side, seemed greatly delighted, and bowed
incessantly to the surging crowd, and the windows crowded with ladies
and gentlemen. The king, however, as usual, kept his window up, and
stared indifferently at the crowd: loud shouts of joy were raised in
all the houses which the royal procession passed. The ladies expressed
their delight by waving their handkerchiefs; some of them even pulled
off their caps and shook them in the air, in order to testify their
enthusiasm at the incomparable felicity of seeing their beloved
sovereign, who had escaped from the mighty peril with which he had been
menaced by Struensee and Queen Caroline Matilda.
When the drive was over, and the king and prince returned to the
Christiansborg, the whole victorious party had assembled at court,
to offer their congratulations to the three royal personages on the
successful overthrow of the "Cabal," as they deigned to christen the
defeated party. But the king only made his appearance in company for a
moment.
After dinner the king, the old queen and the prince, went to the French
play, where they all sat in the royal box, and were received with
universal rejoicings when they entered. The whole city was illuminated,
the townspeople nearly all turned out in their Sunday clothes, salvoes
were fired from the ramparts, rockets were discharged, and the whole
population seemed drunk with joy.
But the people, once unchained, were not satisfied with mere
rejoicings, and hence soon turned the seamy side of their character
outwards. The public regarded Esther Gabel, one of the queen's
waiting-women, as Struensee's mistress. This girl's father had
purchased Count Schulin's house, situated in one of the most frequented
streets, and by the cabinet minister's orders, and partly at his
expense, it was said, had converted it into a public establishment for
balls, concerts, and assemblies, with a splendour hitherto unknown
in Denmark. Struensee's enemies, however, spread a report that the
minister had engaged fifteen pretty English girls to wait on the
guests, and the portraits of these girls were hung up to attract the
visitors. Toward evening, when the streets were crowded, a man, wearing
a gold-laced hat, stopped in front of this house, drew his sword, and
shouted to the people as he smashed the lamps: "This house, the English
b----, is given up." Scarce had this man--it was Beringskjold--given
these instructions, when the mob rushed into the house, destroyed or
carried off all the furniture and valuables in it, and smashed every
pane of glass. In the upper floor of the large building there still
remained a portion of Count Schulin's library, which was afterwards
valued at 8,000 dollars, and this now perished, or was stolen. In the
cellar was a large stock of spirits; the furious mob naturally forced
their way into it, drank what they pleased, and then staved all the
wine and rum casks, so that they waded up to the ankles in liquor, and
afterwards it took a day and a half to pump the cellar dry.
After these desperadoes had finished their barbarous job, and had done
damage to the amount of 40,000 species dollars, though without finding
the fifteen English beauties, they attacked the "Jungfern Comptoire,"
which were scattered over the city, and employed for improper purposes:
in a few hours only the bare walls remained of these houses, which
were sixty in number. The unfortunate girls found in them were dragged
into the streets by the hair or legs, and treated with the most cruel
brutality.[46]
In order to check the mischief, the head of the police at once asked
Eickstedt for dragoons to drive out the ruffians. But the court were
of a different opinion. They were afraid that the interference of the
military might entail loss of life, and they did not wish to overcloud
so glorious a day as January 17 had been. Therefore, instead of the
dragoons, a Herr von Bülow, page of Prince Frederick, was sent to the
mob, with instructions to offer them the king's thanks for the devotion
displayed toward his house upon the abolition of Struensee's despotism,
and to promise that the king would henceforth reign to the general
satisfaction, and especially remember the sailors. The king, however,
ordered that every one should now go quietly home. But the envoy
had scarce ended the first part of his address to the people, when
Beringskjold shouted in a stentorian voice: "There, you hear, the king
thanks you for destroying this ---- house. So to work again!"
An attempt of the mob to get hold of Struensee's state-coach, which
was valued at 6,000 dollars, was prevented by the palace guard. The
intention of destroying the house of the chief of the police was also
foiled. They had set to work about it, when a respected dockyard
official forced his way into the mob and induced them to desist, by
making himself responsible for this man's right sentiments. It was not
till the crowd made preparations to plunder the Mont de Piété that
Eickstedt's dragoons dispersed them. On the next day, patrols of the
line, the bürger guard and the marines, paraded the streets, in order
to prevent further excesses; and in the afternoon royal heralds rode
about the city, announcing that the king thanked his people for the
fidelity they had displayed, but had learned, to his displeasure, that
their zeal had gone too far. Hence he forbad any further excesses, and
any one caught in the act might expect exemplary punishment. With this
the plundering certainly ceased, but the patrolling had to be continued
for a whole week, before persons and property could again enjoy perfect
security. On January 23 a police order was issued that all those
persons who held stolen property by purchase, or in any other way,
must, under penalty of heavy fines, deliver the articles to the police
officers, so that they might be returned to their rightful owners.
In the meanwhile the principal participators in the conspiracy had
received their reward. Count von Rantzau-Ascheberg was requited for the
brutality he had displayed toward Caroline Matilda, by his nomination
as General-in-Chief of the Infantry and Knight of the Elephant. At the
same time he was told that the government undertook to pay his debts.
Major-General von Eickstedt and his Pomeranian landsman, Von Köller,
were promoted lieutenant-generals, and decorated with the star of the
Dannebrog. Köller was also offered naturalization, with the name of an
extinct illustrious noble family. He replied that, being a Pomeranian
gentleman, he esteemed his own name as much as any other; but that,
as he intended to devote his life to Denmark, he consented to adopt a
name belonging to that country. He was, therefore, known henceforth as
Köller-Banner. He was also created first aide-de-camp, with apartments
in the palace, and inspector of the king's chamber.[47]
Commissary-General von Beringskjold, who, in addition to his other
services, had given the signal for plundering, was rewarded with a
chamberlain's key, received a pension of 2,000 dollars, and was let off
a sum of nearly 40,000 species dollars, which he had been unable to pay
for the crown estate he had purchased in the island of Moën. Of his two
sons, the elder was appointed page, with a salary of 1,000 dollars,
while the younger was promised a captaincy in the army.
All the officers of Eickstedt's and Köller's regiments, even Captain
von Falckenskjold, the colonel's brother, although he had been asleep
during the arrest, gained one or two steps. Jessen, the ex-valet, who
had played the go-between, received a gratification of 2,000 dollars,
and was honoured shortly after by the title of councillor of justice.
Major von Carstenskjold, who with his drawn sabre had prevented any
possible attempt at flight on the part of Caroline Matilda, from a
coach surrounded by thirty dragoons, was made a lieutenant-colonel for
his gallant conduct. Colonel von Sames, as he was overhead and ears in
debt, received, as a reward for his altered sentiments, 10,000 dollars
in cash. Lastly, Major von Rönpstorff, of the prince royal's regiment,
was given his lieutenant-colonelcy for commanding the escort required
for the arrests.
It is not quite clear why at the same time the well-known
artillery-general, Von Huth, was appointed a general of infantry. When,
at the time of the Russian war, General St. Germain was summoned to
Denmark as commander-in-chief of the army, he effected the retirement
of Huth, because he was afraid of so scientific a rival. Huth,
consequently, retired with a pension of 2,000 dollars, and went home
to Hesse. Under Struensee's government St. Germain had been recalled,
but no satisfactory arrangement was made: the French general returned
to Paris, and was there appointed minister of war. Immediately after,
General von Huth was recalled to active service by the advice of the
Landgrave Charles, with whom he was on very intimate terms; but he kept
aloof from Struensee.
Guldberg, the chief councillor of the conspirators, was the only man
who received no reward. But as this ostensible modesty was certainly
purposed, it serves to throw light on the man who from this time
governed Denmark for twelve years. He was certain of his influence, and
consequently was in no hurry about personal distinctions. His clear
understanding also told him, that an apparent disinterestedness would
be of great advantage to him with the public.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 41: These curious details are derived from a scarce pamphlet,
"Leben, Begebenheiten und unglückliches Ende der beiden Grafen
Struensee und Brandt, 1772" (no imprint).]
[Footnote 42: "Mémoires de Falckenskjold," p. 238.]
[Footnote 43: There are as many variations in the account of Caroline
Matilda's arrest as there are writers on it, but I have mainly followed
that of Prince Charles of Hesse, even passing over the "Private
Journal" in its favour, for the following reasons:--First, Prince
Charles was a friend of the queen dowager, and continued in the Danish
service: hence he had every opportunity of hearing the correct details
from some of the principal actors. On the other hand, Mr. Wraxall's
informants were friends of the queen, and both already under arrest,
so they could only repeat the affair at second-hand: and even though
Mr. Wraxall was in Copenhagen so shortly after the occurrence, all
Englishmen were regarded as spies, and I do not think he found any
opportunity of hearing the exact facts from the chief conspirators.
The two narratives, however, differ very slightly, and this is a
confirmation of the correctness of the Landgrave's story, because
Mr. Wraxall was informed by the queen herself of the whole details.
Unfortunately, he delivered to George III. all the confidential papers
and letters connected with the affair, and from this cause I am unable
to say with certainty whether the "Private Journal" is based on the
story of Caroline Matilda herself. Still, my grandfather was not
the man to give up important papers and keep a copy of them, and I
therefore believe that the narrative I have before me is drawn up from
the statements of Bülow and Le Texier.]
[Footnote 44: A descendant of this officer accompanied the Princess
Alexandra in her triumphal entrance into London. But this is only a
further proof of the well-established fact that the whirligigs of time
bring strange revenges.]
[Footnote 45: The latest traveller in Denmark, De Flaux, gives us the
following account of Caroline Matilda's apartments at Kronborg:--"In
a tower is a small oval room, the windows of which are still lined
with iron bars. It was here that the queen was confined. I was shown
the _prie-dieu_ used by this unfortunate princess. It was on the faded
velvet that covered it that she rested her beautiful head. Who knows
whether the spots on it were not produced by the tears of despair
she shed. Was it not while kneeling on this chair that she heard the
terrible sentence that sent her two friends to the scaffold, and
herself dishonoured to the Castle of Aalborg?" Mr. N. W. Wraxall,
describing his visit to Kronborg, says that the rooms which the
commandant had the mercy to give his prisoner were vast, unfurnished,
hideous, bare walls; never warm in July.]
[Footnote 46: Reverdil adds to this fearful picture: "There was another
house let to the Italian actresses, and doubtless more impure than the
others; but the people behaved more civilly here, and, wishing to treat
it like the rest, ordered the girls to leave it first, _respecting in
their persons the amusements of the king_."]
[Footnote 47: Reverdil, p. 343.]