THE KING ON HIS TRAVELS.
BIRTH OF THE CROWN PRINCE--BEHAVIOUR OF THE KING--REMOVAL OF
MILADY--ENEVOLD BRANDT--DISMISSAL OF THE GRANDE MAITRESSE--BARON
SCHIMMELMANN--BRANDT'S ATTACK ON HOLCK--HIS BANISHMENT--THE KING'S
JOURNEY--THE HOLSTEIN-GOTTORP EXCHANGE--STRUENSEE APPOINTED
PHYSICIAN--ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.
On January 28, 1768, the guns of the forts and fleets of Seeland
announced the birth of a son and heir to Christian, in the future
Frederick VI. The child was sickly and feeble; but, for all that, the
public would not let themselves be robbed of an excuse for legitimate
rejoicing. As this auspicious event occurred on the evening prior to the
anniversary of the king's birthday, there was a double festivity. All
the foreign ministers waited on the king to offer their felicitations;
and two days after, the little prince was christened; having as sponsors
Queen Juliana Maria, the hereditary prince, and Frau von Berkentin, as
proxy for the babe's ailing great-aunt. The queen was attended day and
night in turn by the grand mistress, a lady-in-waiting, and the wife of
a Knight of the Elephant; the royal babe by two other ladies, according
to rank; and this continued until all the "court competent" ladies had
shared the privilege. That titles and orders should be distributed on
such an occasion, was but natural; but the influence of Count Holck was
remarkably displayed, through the numerous marks of honour bestowed on
nearly all his relations.
If Juliana Maria had formed any ambitious plans, the birth of the crown
prince must have foiled them, temporarily at least. The king's weak
constitution, the debauchery he indulged in in his youth, the perceptible
injury he had done his health, his dislike of any employment, the slight
respect his people displayed toward him,--might have fostered, in the
heart of this far-sighted woman, a hope that either the throne or the
royal authority would pass to her son sooner or later. This flattering
hope was now dispelled, and with it all the great expectations her
ambition had fed on.[51]
The administration still remained in the same hands as before, with
the exception of Count Danneskjold Samsöe. This minister had been most
unexpectedly dismissed on October 26, 1767, having fallen a victim to the
intrigues of the two Russian envoys, Saldern and Filosofow, who had a
support in Bernstorff, because with their assistance the latter had paved
the way for the exchange of the Gottorp portion of Holstein for the
counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. Soon after, Bernstorff and Saldern
succeeded in getting rid of the second opponent of the Russian policy,
General St. Germain, to whom, on November 22, the king sent the following
note:--
MON CHER MARÉCHAL,
Diverses raisons m'obligent à vous dispenser des soins et des peines qui
vous causent les affaires du directoire. Vous auriez tort de regarder
ceci comme une disgrâce: Je désire que vous soyez persuadé de la
confiance avec la quelle je vous remettrais l'armée s'il s'agissait de la
conduire contre l'ennemi.
Sur ce, &c.[52]
* * * * *
Though the general was at liberty to go to court, he did so but rarely,
and was not particular in his remarks: hence he received a second note,
to the effect that, as he did not seem pleased in Copenhagen, he had
better go and live elsewhere. By his own proposal, he received, instead
of his annual pay of 14,000 dollars, 60,000 thalers, paid once for all;
but, as he lost the money a year after by the failure of a Hamburg house,
the landgrave obtained him a pension of 4,000 dollars.
Bernstorff and Reventlow could now have come to an understanding to
share the power between them; but the latter was so incautious as to
quarrel with his old friend. The consequence was, that Bernstorff induced
the king, without any great difficulty, to deprive Reventlow, for whom
Christian had a well-founded hatred, of his post, and recall his old
opponent in his place. On February 5, 1768, Reventlow was pensioned off
on 4,000 dollars, and Count Adam Gottlob von Moltke took his former seat
in the council of state.
The dismissal of Reventlow was followed by that of his nephew, Von
Sperling, in which the king's new favourite had a good deal to say. On
the day of Reventlow's retirement, Sperling was appointed bailiff of
Hütten, in Schleswig, retaining his former salary of 1,800 thalers,
but with an order to proceed to his new post at once. On the next day
he quitted the capital, and never appeared at court again. His uncle,
however, succeeded, by the aid of Baron von Schimmelmann, in being
recalled to the council of state a fortnight after, where he was obliged
to take his seat by the side of his enemy, Moltke.
About this time the king displayed a remarkable interest in the
improvement of agriculture, which he justly regarded as the surest and
most natural source of national prosperity. _Motu proprio_, he issued a
decree on April 15, to appoint a "general commission for agriculture,"
which would be dependent on himself. Count Moltke was nominated president
of this commission; and though the old gentleman never regained the
power he had possessed under Frederick V., still he became once more one
of the most influential men in the kingdom. Reventlow took proper notice
of this fact; and as he was experienced in court intrigues, he effected a
reconciliation with his opponent, and employed his energies exclusively
in securing his regained power.
Satisfactory, to some extent, though this behaviour on the part of the
king was, his private life still continued to be a scandal and offence.
Before Reverdil left Christian, he saw the faint traces of morality he
had striven to keep up, fade away. Motives of public welfare, respect
for individuals, the necessity of being beloved and deserving the love,
and even a desire for glory, no longer worked on the king. So soon as
Reverdil's influence had expired with his absence, the king indulged in
worse extravagances than before. Milady heightened his incipient mania by
the excesses into which she led him. He was seen returning one morning,
in broad daylight, from her house in a state of intoxication. The
people soon recognised him, and pursued him with hootings and insults,
until the guards at the palace gates, by presenting arms, offered a
melancholy contrast with the preceding scene. This woman led the king
on the following nights into the streets, accompanied by one or two
persons,--valets or disguised courtiers. They insulted passers-by, and
were thrashed several times. They spent a whole night (Milady dressed as
an officer, Holck and a fourth person better disguised) in destroying
some wretched hovels, when they threw the furniture into the streets,
after beating and driving out the nymphs with their sword blades. The
watch hurried up to put a stop to it; but, on recognising the actors,
they restricted themselves to preventing the mob from defending the
oppressed. The crime of the inhabitants of these impure "kips," was
having spoken ill of Milady, their rival.
The moment was at hand, however, when even respectable persons would not
dare take this liberty. Milady induced her lover to buy her an hôtel,
create her a baroness, in short, grant her the same distinctions as so
many mistresses of his august predecessors had enjoyed. The ministers,
at length, resolved to arrest her, and implored the assistance of
Schimmelmann and Saldern. The latter accompanied them to the king, and
forced from him an order to have her removed. She was sent to Hamburg,
where the obsequious senate put her in prison. Eventually, Struensee set
her at liberty.[53]
Inside the palace, the orgies were of a different nature. The king took a
delight in being beaten by Count Holck; and it is said that the favourite
carried the correction to an extreme length, and thus obtained presents
for himself or appointments for his friends. At other times, his Majesty,
lying on the ground, represented a criminal on the wheel; one of his
favourites was the executioner, and counterfeited his movements with a
roll of paper. This amusement filled Christian's mind with gloomy ideas,
and augmented his inclination for cruelty and melancholy.
The ministry was composed in the following way after the changes already
referred to:--Baron Reedz Thott never interfered in any affairs of state
but those connected with his department; we have seen the terms on which
Reventlow and Moltke stood to each other; and the fourth minister, Count
Rosenkrantz, though in his heart an enemy of Bernstorff, did not dare to
openly oppose the premier. Bernstorff had two powerful supporters in the
Gottorp envoy, Von Saldern, and the Russian Filosofow, but was compelled
to buy their favour dearly, by giving his assent to all their cabals.
The following may serve as an example of the omnipotence of these two
gentlemen:--
When Count von Rantzau-Ascheberg, at that time commander-in-chief in
Norway, came on a journey into the neighbourhood of Copenhagen, he was
informed by a court courier that he must remain a Danish mile from
the Residenz of the king. Page of the Chamber Enevold Brandt was the
deliverer of this order from the royal cabinet. The hatred of the Russian
ambassadors against Rantzau was aroused by the circumstance that he had
taken part in the conspiracy against the life of Peter III. As, however,
he did not consider himself properly rewarded by the new rulers in
Petersburg, he quitted Russia, and had become her most embittered foe.
A letter of Saldern, quoted by Reverdil, will give an excellent idea of
the man:--
"This great trouble comes from the queen; she has lost her right arm
in Reventlow; she has still the left in Plessen, a wicked woman, but
I will also deprive her of this arm. Sperling was her paid spy, and
is a thorough scoundrel. If he had but carried on his trade with an
honourable view! but it is only jealousy of little Holck, who, in truth,
is also a scoundrel, but better at heart than Sperling. When the king
goes to the queen, she tells him he ought to be ashamed; the whole town
says that he lets himself be governed by me. She only acts thus out
of revenge, because I sent away her flea-catcher. The king tells me
all this, and we laugh at it together.... Between ourselves, Reventlow
will soon be employed again, but in some place where he can be useful.
It was necessary to humiliate him a little; had we not, we should not
have gained our ends. He is as fit for the post of governor or for the
finances as a donkey is to play the organ."
A still further proof of Russian influence and Bernstorff's servility
was offered in February, 1768. Frau von Plessen, the queen's first lady,
though not standing very high in the king's good graces, owing to her
influence over Caroline Matilda, still commanded his respect, and he
patiently endured her diatribes about his licentious life. But Count
Holck was her enemy, because she had openly said that the count was
only so obliging a court-marshal for the sake of retaining the king's
favour; and, in fact, she strove hard to remove this dangerous young man
from court. On the other hand, Holck was no less desirous of getting
rid of her constant preaching and reproof. Still the count, powerful
though he was, did not succeed in overthrowing Frau von Plessen, for she
possessed the queen's entire confidence and affection, and her Majesty
had a will of her own. At length, however, the terrible Herr von Saldern
came forward and interfered in the cabal. Frau von Plessen, by Caroline
Matilda's instigation, urged the king to free himself from the dangerous
subjection in which Saldern held him, and to treat him with greater
dignity and decision; but the king betrayed her to this man, whose pride
was deeply offended, and he did not rest till he obtained Christian's
promise to dismiss Frau von Plessen.[54]
On February 27, the king went to the palace of Frederiksborg, five
(Danish) miles from the capital, and two days after his departure Frau
von Plessen received a royal order to quit the court at once, without
previously taking leave of the queen. In obedience to the order, the
_grande maîtresse_ proceeded on the same day to her estate of Kokkedal,
situated on the Sound. When the queen heard of the removal of the _grande
maîtresse_, she opposed it, but all her objections were unheeded, and
she at length gave her consent, on condition that Frau von Berkentin,
the governess of Prince Frederick, who entertained hopes of succeeding
Frau von Plessen, and had consequently mixed herself up in the intrigue,
should also be dismissed from court.
On the night of March 5, Frau von Berkentin received orders to leave
the Christiansborg Palace before daybreak, and the capital within three
days. Two days after, Frau von Plessen was commanded to quit the kingdom,
and was not granted a pension. The vacant post of _grande maîtresse_
was bestowed on the wife of Privy Councillor von der Lühe, who did not
succeed, however, in gaining the affections of her royal mistress,
probably because she was the sister of the detested Count Holck. For a
long time past, the queen had been very angry with the court-marshal as
the king's seducer, and this dislike was naturally heightened when Holck
played so prominent a part in the dismissal of Frau von Plessen. To these
causes of dislike must be added that the young fop, puffed up with pride
and importance, at times went so far as to forget the respect he owed the
queen.
Count Holck's victory over Frau von Plessen was further glorified by
the king investing him with the star of the Dannebrog order. With this
intrigue ended the ambassadorial career of the notorious Gottorp envoy,
Herr von Saldern. On March 13, 1768, he had his farewell audience of the
king. His career was a curious one: he afterwards went as plenipotentiary
to Poland, where he rendered himself equally formidable by his imperious
disposition. In that country, so says Reverdil, he continued to receive
bribes from all parties, as he had always done. He was afterwards mixed
up in a conspiracy formed by the grand duchess of Russia against the
empress, her mother-in-law. The latter took a noble revenge by dismissing
him from her service. He still remained a Knight of the Elephant, and
owner of two free estates in that very province of Holstein where, as
bailiff, he had been accused on sufficient evidence of peculation,
embezzlement, and forgery. That Russia should select a Danish subject who
had been guilty of such offences as her envoy, proves pretty clearly what
respect was entertained for Denmark by her powerful neighbour.
During Saldern's further short stay at Copenhagen, he made himself
remarkable by employing all his influence to bring about the next episode
in the life of King Christian VII., which dealt a further blow to the
embarrassed finances.
During the reign of Frederick V., it had been proposed that the crown
prince should travel in foreign countries, but the design was not carried
out for various reasons. It is very probable that the king's increasing
libertinism suggested to the advisers of the crown a resumption of this
plan, so as to withdraw Christian from an _entourage_, who led him
into incessant follies and extravagance. It was Von Saldern who first
discussed this plan with Bernstorff, and when the other ministers were
consulted and reluctantly agreed that the king might be induced to live
more reputably through an acquaintance with other riders and courts, Von
Saldern and Bernstorff proposed to let him make a tour through Germany,
Holland, England, and France. As, however, the ministers were afraid
of the king's propensities, they urged him to take with him Count von
Bernstorff to manage affairs, and in order that money might not run
short, they appointed Baron von Schimmelmann treasurer for the journey.
This gentleman was a perfect type of the adventurer of those days. He
was a Saxon (according to others, a native of Stettin), who had first
been a lighterman on the Elbe, conveying merchandise between Dresden
and Hamburg. Eventually, he set up in business on his own account, and
became bankrupt; after awhile he managed to pay off his debts, and
turned purveyor to the Prussian armies, but, being afraid lest the King
of Prussia might learn what profits he had made, and "squeeze" him, he
retired to Altona. Denmark has always given a hearty welcome to moneyed
immigrants. Schimmelmann, moreover, possessed financial ability, and made
himself useful in a moment of distress. He made a deal of money out of
government, and bought two estates near Hamburg of the crown, and that
of Lindenburg, in Jütland, which was raised into a barony. He spent the
summer at Hamburg, with the title of plenipo. to the states of Lower
Saxony, and in winter went to Copenhagen, where he dabbled in financial
operations. In addition to the title of Baron, he had that of Grand
Treasurer, and the ribbon of the Dannebrog. He stood very well with the
Russians, who frequently made use of him.[55]
When the proposal to travel was laid before Christian, he accepted
it with delight, and Holck was no less pleased at the opportunity of
showing off. As Saldern was unable to accompany the king, he contrived
to place in his suite, as a spy and confidential agent, a Major Düring,
who had passed from the service of Russia into that of Christian, as
aide-de-camp. Saldern's real motive for urging the tour appears to have
been that, in this case, the King of Denmark could not well avoid paying
a visit to Petersburg, and complimenting the empress on the ratification
of the exchange. This hope, however, was not realized.
In the meantime, Holck continued to revel in his good fortune. He was
betrothed to Fräulein von Stockfleth, step-daughter of the bailiff of
Aggerhuus, although the young lady had not yet attained the legal age
for confirmation. The bridegroom's longing for his young bride, or her
fortune--which he very quickly spent, by the way--was so great, however,
that he obtained an order from the king to the bishop of the diocese, in
which the latter was requested, himself, to examine and confirm the young
lady, and so soon as this was done, her step-father brought the girl, who
was not fifteen years of age, to Copenhagen, in April, for the purpose of
being married to the count. But a menacing story was gathering on the
favourite's hitherto cloudless horizon.
Christian VII. found pleasure in the society of Page of the Chamber
ENEVOLD BRANDT, as well as in that of Count Conrad von Holck. This man,
who plays a principal part in the tragedy which will be presented to the
reader hereafter, was born at Copenhagen in 1738, and was consequently
thirty years of age at this time. His father was Conferenzrath Brandt,
private secretary and intendant of Queen Sophia Magdalena, and his
mother a daughter of Conferenzrath Berregaard. The father died before
his son's birth, and his mother afterwards married Baron von Söhlenthal,
administrator of the county of Rantzau, in Holstein. Young Brandt
was brought up in his step-father's house, and at an early age went
to Copenhagen, in order to attend the lectures of the celebrated
jurisconsult Kofod Ancher. In July 18, 1755, he was nominated court
page,[56] and afterwards studied at the noble academy of Soroe, where he
passed a brilliant examination in law, on September 26, 1756. On May 12,
1759, he was appointed an _assessor auscultans_ in the Danish Chancery;
on May 26, 1760, a page of the bed-chamber; and on February 24, 1767, an
assessor of the supreme court. In September of the same year he made a
tour on the Continent, and on his return met with a favourable reception
at court. Brandt was anything but good looking, and Falskenskjold
describes him to us as positively ugly. There was something repellent in
his face, which was pitted with small-pox, and his physical constitution
was as ruined as his morals. Although he could not be denied talent, his
behaviour often rendered him ridiculous. Thus, for instance, he was fond
of singing in public, though he had a weak voice; and he was equally fond
of dancing, though he cut a very awkward figure.
As page of the bed-chamber, Brandt took part in all the court
festivities. He was one of the performers in _Zaire_, and was a good deal
about the king's person; but, like all the courtiers, he was eclipsed in
the autocrat's favour by Count Holck. Either through envy, or because he
really considered the count's conduct worthy of blame, Brandt ventured
to write, on May 2, a letter of accusation to the king, in which he
very evidently displayed the intention of overthrowing the favourite.
In it, he first accused the favourite of ingratitude; "for Count Holck
leaves your Majesty at all moments, in order to amuse himself on his own
account." Not long before, his Majesty had given up a beloved object with
forced resignation, and felt deep sorrow at doing so.[57] He (Brandt) had
hurried to Schimmelmann and Holck, for the purpose of describing to them
his Majesty's great grief; which, however, had not made the slightest
impression on Holck, although his Majesty frequently sacrificed his own
amusements for Holck's sake. Hardly three months before, Holck had said
to him (Brandt) that he was terribly tired of the king, who constantly
repeated the same ideas; in short, his Majesty was unsupportable. If
Danneskjold came, the king yielded to his will, and revoked what he had
just sanctioned, and was so weak as to allow the person who last spoke to
him to be in the right. Thus Holck had expressed himself to him (Brandt),
of whom he was in his heart afraid.
This was nothing, however, in comparison with the contemptuous terms the
count employed to others about his Majesty. So long as the king remained
in his own country, a single moment would suffice to reveal everything
to his most gracious master, who would say to himself: "This man was
never devoted to me: he only pursues his own pleasure, and wishes me to
sacrifice my name and money. Though I have been so attached to this my
favourite, yet he, whose friendship and devotion I purchase with money,
whose relations I overwhelm with honours and lustre, and whom I have
raised to a position which no other man ever reached at his age; yet
this man, who pretends to be faithfully attached to me, who assumes a
character which is beyond his abilities, has only served me with feigned
love and falsehood. He has employed me to distinguish all his friends,
and I have thus given a public testimony of the power which he exercises
over me."
Assuredly his Majesty, like so many other enlightened persons, would have
made such reflections; and he (Brandt) would have awaited their result,
had his most gracious king remained in Denmark. But now the moment had
arrived to ring the alarm bell, for the king, in his impending tour,
would certainly present Count von Holck to all the nations of Europe as
the most distinguished man in Denmark, and as connected with the king by
a close friendship. But then the favourite would be put on his trial;
he would be judged; and what an opinion would be entertained about his
Majesty! The point now was not a sacrifice to be made, but solely to
regard matters as they really were. He (Brandt) implored his Majesty
not to punish Holck for his audacity. Equally incapable of thinking
as of blushing at his bad thoughts, Holck would seek a support in his
worthlessness. "But, dearest, best of kings," Brandt concluded his
charge, "be free, and do not stake your own respect before the greatest
part of Europe! Your star announces to you the admiration of the whole
world: my predictions will be fulfilled, for my head gives me the most
varied assurances of it; and, I may add, that my heart gives me still
sweeter ones."
This wretched twaddle, which Suhm has before me quoted as a moderate
proof of the mental qualities of the usually so talented Brandt, may
serve here as a specimen of the cabals and miserable intrigues that went
on at the Danish court in the reign of Christian VII. When the king had
informed his favourite of the contents of Brandt's letter, Count Holck's
papa-in-law attempted a defence in an equally worthless parody of the
denunciation, which he handed to the king. In this we find as conclusion,
that Count Holck was a young man, according to the laws of nature given
to pleasure; but he had never appealed to the king's privy purse to
defray his expenses. He had, on many occasions, aided most zealously in
executing his commissions. Brandt, however, had offended against the
duties of gratitude, friendship, and virtue; and the king's sharp eye
would be able to estimate this black conduct at its true value. Brandt
had assailed his friend, but the weapons which he employed had turned
against himself, for he had called in question his Majesty's power of
judgment. Still, it would become his Majesty to forgive the offence, for
Brandt's moderate abilities must serve as his excuse.
It is true that Brandt had as many powerful friends at court as Hoick had
enemies, for even Caroline Matilda was regarded as his protectress. But
the ministers were on Holck's side, and hence he succeeded in retaining
his master's favour. On May 4, just as Brandt was leaving the Supreme
Court, a letter written in French, and signed by the king, was handed
to him. It was to the effect, that the atrocious conduct of which he
had been guilty, the step he had dared to take, and the object of which
was plain to everybody, naturally drew down on him the king's deepest
contempt. His Majesty, therefore, ordered him to quit the capital within
twenty-four hours, and the states of the realm in eight days, under
penalty of the severest displeasure if he dared ever to return. The next
day Brandt left Copenhagen in a melancholy mood, for he had spent his own
fortune in Paris, and his step-father, Von Söhlenthal, had just died.
On the day after this court interlude King Christian quitted the capital,
in order to commence his travels in foreign parts. The queen had desired
to accompany him, but this was refused her, and she wept bitterly when he
took leave of her. In Frau von Plessen she had lost a maternal friend,
and in Frau von der Lühe, who took her place, she only saw a guardian and
spy. Hence it is not surprising that Caroline Matilda acted on the wise
resolution of living in the strictest retirement during her husband's
absence. How could she, a girl of seventeen, sympathise with the ladies
who graced or disgraced the court at that day? Among these were, in
addition to Frau von der Lühe and the maid of honour, Von Eyben, Frau von
Gähler, the Baroness von Bülow, the Melleville, and a number of other
ladies, none of whom, however, had an unsullied reputation, but all their
cavaliers and adorers.
The suite accompanying the king when he left Copenhagen consisted of
no less than fifty-six persons, among them being Von Bernstorff, the
premier, the supreme Court-Marshal Frederick von Moltke, Court-Marshal
Count Holck, and many other gentlemen of position. From Korsöer the
party sailed across the Great Belt to the island of Fühnen, where the
king met his ex-valet Kirchhoff, who, on his dismissal from court, had
been appointed customs inspector at Nyborg, and to whom Christian gave
the title of Councillor of Justice, in his delight at seeing a face he
knew. From here the journey was continued through the islands, Jütland
and Schleswig to Gottorp, where the king paid a visit to the Dowager
Margravine of Brandenburg Kulmbach,[58] widow of the late viceroy,
as whose successor the king had nominated Landgrave Charles, his
brother-in-law, prior to leaving Copenhagen. Here he remained till May
28. At the village of Bau, before Flensburg, the two Russian envoys, Von
Saldern and Filosofow, received the king, and accompanied him to the city
of Schleswig, where numerous festivities took place in honour of the
exalted guest, while diplomatic affairs were being discussed which grew
into such importance for Denmark.
When Christian VII. ascended the throne the entire kingdom was oppressed
by heavy debts, entailed by the impending war with Russia, in 1762, about
the duchies, and by the extravagance of the two last kings. Reventlow, as
first deputy of the College of Finances strove gradually to liquidate
these debts, and at first met with some success, partly by raising a
new tax, partly by employing the £100,000 which the British parliament
granted Caroline Matilda as dower. On the other hand, however, the
burial of Frederick V., and the marriage of the princesses, had entailed
great expenses on the royal treasury. Notwithstanding that the country
had been spared the customary princess tax, raised on the marriage of
princesses belonging to the royal family, there was a great difficulty
in raising the funds for the royal tour. At first 64,000 species a
month were granted for it, but this sum was not nearly sufficient for
the numerous suite, and it came out eventually that more than thrice
the amount was expended monthly. Hence an addition of 20,000 thalers a
month was demanded from Copenhagen, and the deficiency was covered by
the excessively wealthy Baron von Schimmelmann, who made a temporary
advance of 400,000 species, and afterwards paid a similar amount for
presents made by the king abroad, taking as security the import dues of
the kingdom of Norway. If we add to this sum the king's private outlay,
we may, without fear of exaggeration, assume the total expenditure on
the tour at one million and a half of dollars, or £225,000, which the
indebted states of Denmark had to pay for the unsuccessful attempt to
improve the king's morals.
In Schleswig, the king's suite was slightly reduced, as the chief page,
Von der Lühe, Count Gustavus von Holck, and the physician in ordinary,
Etats-rath von Berger, returned hence to Copenhagen. On May 29, the king,
accompanied by the two Russian envoys, proceeded to Kiel, where the
Prince-Bishop of Lübeck paid his respects to him, and Von Saldern took
leave for the very last time. In order to give this important Gottorp
minister a proof of his special satisfaction for the zeal which he had
displayed in the exchange, the king raised him and his son here to the
rank of count, under the name of Saldern Gunderoth. Bernstorff also
received the same honour.
I have said so much about this exchange and yet so little, that I will
venture on one political paragraph, especially as the matter crops up
every now and then in the papers. Charles Frederick, sovereign duke of
Holstein Gottorp, threw in his fortunes with those of Charles XII. of
Sweden, his relation, and shared his disasters. Frederick IV., king
of Denmark, robbed him of a portion of his states, and had himself
recognised as legitimate owner of them in the treaty which he concluded,
in 1720, with Sweden; but the Duke of Holstein protested against that
portion of the treaty which despoiled him; and though that prince was at
the time very feeble, the King of Denmark in vain offered him a million
of crowns to give up his rights. The house of Holstein-Gottorp eventually
acquired a formidable power in the north: a younger branch ascended
the Swedish throne, and the head of the elder branch became Emperor of
Russia, under the title of Peter III., in 1762. Peter made a claim to
his hereditary states, and was preparing to enforce it, when he was got
rid of, and Catharine, his successor, agreed to an amicable settlement of
the affair by an exchange.
It is difficult to understand why Russia gave up so magnificent a chance
of founding a maritime power as she would have had by the possession of
Holstein. So long as she held it, it would have been a _tête du pont_
by which to enter Germany, and she would not have failed to exercise
a predominant influence in Denmark. There is reason for believing
that Saldern caused Christian VII. to be regarded as a member of the
reigning house of Russia who must be treated generously; so that, feeling
himself under the beneficent influence of the imperial family to which
he belonged by blood, he might become entirely devoted to it. In any
case, the treaty by which Russia exchanged her claims on ducal Schleswig
and Holstein for the counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, which were
intended to form an appanage for a junior branch of the Holstein family,
was signed in 1768.[59]
From Kiel the king went, on the following day, to Traventhal Castle,
and thence to Ahrensburg, near Hamburg, where JOHN FREDERICK STRUENSEE,
hitherto physician of Altona, and of the lordship of Pinneberg, was
appointed surgeon in ordinary, and joined the king's suite.
On June 6, Christian VII. left his own states and sailed across the
Elbe at Zollenspicker, under the incognito of Count von Traventhal. His
reputation preceded him.[60] In consequence of Voltaire's well-known
defence of Jean Calas, King Christian had sent the poet, through
Reverdil, a handsome sum of money for the family of the victim of French
justice, and their renowned protector had sung the praises of the
benefactor in a poem which "went the round" of the press. It was stated
in it that King Christian sought unhappy persons in foreign parts because
there were none such in his own country.
It might really be believed that there were no poor in Denmark, when we
notice the abundant proofs of charity and special favour which the King
of the Danes everywhere left behind him during his tour in foreign parts.
Still, it was neither these presents nor the lustre of the throne that
produced a pleasant impression on foreigners; it was, on the contrary,
the king's personal appearance. At this period Christian seemed to have
shaken off his natural gloom, and was remarkably witty; at the same time,
he was extremely gallant and easy in his manners. Travelling evidently
had its ordinary effect on him, at least temporarily.
While his suite were sent on to Amsterdam _viâ_ Osnabrück and Münster,
the king resolved to make a détour to Hanau with Bernstorff and Holck,
and surprise his brother-in-law, Landgrave Charles, whom he had recently
appointed viceroy of the duchies, and his own dearly-beloved sister
Louise, who had just given birth to a daughter, afterwards known as
the lovely Maria, Queen of Denmark, wife of Frederick VI. Landgrave
Charles, though greatly surprised at the visit, gave the king a hearty
welcome; and they all went to Philipsruhe, where Christian spent a week
in feasting, dancing, and all sorts of amusement. With his natural
expansiveness, the king blurted out to his brother-in-law all he had on
his heart. At the first town ball Christian sate down by his side, and
said to him: "Listen to me, my dear prince, I have something to say to
you. You will hear all sorts of things that have been said about you; I
must tell you candidly I was angry with you at that time, I really do
not know why, and so I told a frightful lot of falsehoods about you to
everybody; but you must not take any notice of them, for I am now very
fond of you again." The prince, while thanking his brother-in-law for
this confidence, naturally asked, "But how was it possible that you, who
knew me so well, could act thus toward me?" to which the king replied,
"Oh! I do not know; but I was very savage with you."[61]
From Hanau the king went through Frankfort to Mainz, sailed on
the following day in a yacht down the Rhine to Coblenz, visited
Ehrenbreitstein and Rheinfels, and travelled on land from Bonn to
Cologne and Wesel. After staying two days in the latter town, he accepted
an invitation from the Hereditary Stadtholder, the Prince of Orange, to
St. Loo, and thence went straight to Amsterdam, where he rejoined his
suite.
The king remained six days in Amsterdam, thirteen at the Hague, and ten
at Brussels, being everywhere received by an enormous crowd, and honoured
by grand banquets, for which he evinced his gratitude by costly presents.
From Brussels the journey was continued _viâ_ Ghent, Bruges, and Ostend,
to Dunkirk, from which town the Princes of Croy and Robecq accompanied
the king to Calais. Here Captain Campbell was awaiting the brother-in-law
of George III. with the _Mary_ yacht, and he landed safely at Dover late
on the evening of August 10. His Danish Majesty, we read, was saluted
by the cannon of the castle, forts, and vessels of the harbour, and was
received with every possible mark of distinction and respect.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 51: "Authentische Aufklärungen," p. 15.]
[Footnote 52: "Reverdil's Memoirs."]
[Footnote 53: "Reverdil's Memoirs."]
[Footnote 54: "Authentische Aufklärungen," p. 18.]
[Footnote 55: Reverdil.]
[Footnote 56: At the Danish court, chamberlains have the relative rank
of major-generals; pages of the chamber that of lieutenant-colonels; and
court hunting and riding pages that of captains.]
[Footnote 57: Evidently an allusion to the loss of Milady.]
[Footnote 58: Of this lady, the author of "Mémoires de mon Temps" says:
"C'était une femme admirable et d'un grand esprit; beaucoup de lecture et
beaucoup de monde."]
[Footnote 59: "Mémoires de Falckenskjold," to which the reader who
desires to know further details is respectfully referred.]
[Footnote 60: In the "Mémoires de mon Temps" we read: "Il (le roi)
manquait entièrement de l'application, mais avait beaucoup d'esprit, qui
était très vif même, avait la repartie extrêmement prompte, très gaie,
fort bonne mémoire, en un mot, un jeune homme charmant, qu'ou ne put
qu'aimer.... Il avait une passion démesurée de connaitre des femmes," &c.]
[Footnote 61: "Mémoires de mon Temps," p. 49.]