THE GREAT REFORMER.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LOTTERY--THE KING'S BIRTHDAY--THE ORDER
OF MATILDA--VON FALCKENSKJOLD--THE RUSSIAN QUARREL--THE
CIVIC COUNCIL--COURT RETRENCHMENT--THE COLLEGE OF
FINANCES--ROSENBORG GARDENS--THE GARDES DU CORPS--STRUENSEE'S
PUSILLANIMITY--NEGOCIATIONS WITH RUSSIA--RUMOURS OF WAR.
At the beginning of 1771, the court quitted the palace of
Frederiksberg,[140] and returned to the Christiansborg Palace.
Christiansborg, built by Christian VI., was an enormous edifice. It
consisted of six stories above the vaults,--three of these were extremely
large and lofty, and dedicated to state purposes; three other stories ran
between, not more than eight feet high, called Mezzanines, where the
state ministers and royal attendants had suites of rooms. The queen's
apartments were in the grand or east front, on the second great story;
the king's were on the same floor, further to the south; the royal chapel
formed another division of this vast palace; a lower structure, or wing,
under which was one of the entrances to this huge edifice, formed a
continuation of the Mezzanine story. Struensee's apartments were in the
Mezzanine, opening into the grand passage leading to the royal chapel,
and next to the queen's apartments; Count Brandt's rooms were on the same
story, adjoining Struensee's, but next the chapel.[141] The queen dowager
and Prince Frederick occupied the whole of the third floor when they were
residing in Copenhagen.
The first measure taken by Struensee in this year was the appointment
of Professor Oeder, who had hitherto been a member of the agricultural
commission, as Councillor of Finances and member of the Financial
Deputation. This was a title hitherto unknown in Denmark; but Oeder
justified the choice, although he had been hitherto better known as a
botanist and author of a "_Flora Danica_." He took a considerable share
in Struensee's cabinet labours, and expressed his opinion about state
affairs and reforms openly when invited to do so. He often opposed
Struensee's views; still more often warned him against precipitate and
violent measures; and the favourite was more disposed to listen to Order
than to many others.
On January 12, the Prussian bank director, Koes, received permission
to establish a royal Danish lottery for a term of six years. For the
privilege, an annual sum of 25,000 dollars was to be paid into the
king's private exchequer. The farmer and his partners published a plan
of subscription, containing two hundred and fifty shares of 500 dollars
each; and ten per cent. profit was guaranteed the shareholders. The
directors of the lottery appointed two thousand collectors all over the
country; and a drawing took place every three weeks.
The introduction of the lottery justly aroused great public reproach.
For all that, the following Danish governments found this institution
so profitable, that they undertook the direction of it, and it was not
until public opinion began to become very decided about this corruption
offered to the poorer classes, that it was entirely abolished in the
reign of Christian VIII. Struensee only authorised the establishment
of the lottery, it is urged, because at that time the country swarmed
with pedlars, who sold tickets of foreign lotteries, by which a great
deal of money was drawn out of the country, and he tried to prevent
this by starting a home lottery for gamblers. A number of pamphlets at
once appeared in Copenhagen and other towns of the kingdom, in which
the ruinous results of lottery gambling were shown, though without any
effect. When the lottery was established at Copenhagen and Wandsbeck, the
people were attacked by a perfect mania for gambling, and while formerly
the conversation in the houses of citizens turned on the weather and town
scandal, they now talked about the best way of playing, about ambos,
ternes, and quaterns, &c.
The king's birthday, January 29, was employed by the new government as
a favourable opportunity for gaining the favour of the populace. For
this purpose, an antique fountain was erected in the manège behind the
Christiansborg Palace, from which red and white wine flowed. Everybody
was allowed to fetch it away, except the sailors of the navy. From the
balcony over the fountain a herald threw gold and silver medals among
the crowd, bearing on the obverse the king's bust, and on the reverse
the date, "January 29, 1771," with the king's motto, "Gloria ex amore
patriæ." At the same time, a roast ox and sundry roast sheep were cut up
and distributed. It seems as if the intention were to throw some lustre
upon the throne, which would compensate for the _nimbus_ with which the
now removed high-born ministers and great gentlemen had formerly invested
it in the eyes of the populace.
The king's birthday was, however, glorified in another manner. The
reigning queen established on this day a new order, called the Order
of Matilda. The statutes, which were drawn up in French, were to the
following effect:
Art. I.--The order shall be called the Order of Matilda.
Art. II.--It shall be conferred on both ladies and gentlemen; but the
number must never exceed twenty-four, the queen, its founder, included.
Art. III.--It shall only be conferred on persons who have deserved the
particular attention of the queen, independently of merit or services
rendered.
Art. IV.--It is forbidden to ask for the order; and those ladies and
gentlemen who act contrary to this rule, will deprive themselves for ever
of the hope of obtaining it.
Art. V.--Those ladies or gentlemen who, on receiving the Order of
Matilda, may possess that of the Perfect Union of the late queen, Sophia
Magdalena, shall deliver the insignia of the latter to the queen.
Art. VI.--The order shall be worn with a pink ribbon, striped with
silver. The gentlemen shall wear it round the neck, and the ladies fasten
it in the shape of a bow on the left breast.
Art. VII.--On the death of any lady or gentleman decorated with it, the
heirs are expected to send the insignia of the order to the queen.[142]
The badge itself consisted of a round medallion, with the letters C. M.
set in costly diamonds, the royal crown over it, and a laurel wreath
round. The king and queen, the queen dowager, and the hereditary Prince
Frederick, were the first royal personages who assumed the new order.
The others to whom it was given on the day of its institution, were Count
Rantzau-Ascheberg, Privy Councillor von der Osten, Lieut.-General von
Gähler, Chamberlain Enevold Brandt, Struensee, Baroness von Schimmelmann,
Frau von Gähler, and the Countess Holstein zu Holsteinborg. The evident
object was to indicate the queen's adherents by this distinction, but
Struensee's enemies asserted that he had despised the Dannebrog, but did
not yet dare demand the Elephant, and hence the new order was instituted.
There was nothing remarkable, however, in Caroline Matilda founding an
order, as well as other queens before her.
The new rulers, however, did not at all forget, through the festivities
on the royal birthday, to extend to the court the proposed system of
retrenchment in the expenses of the state. It was seen to be absolutely
necessary that the expenditure of the court should undergo strict
revision. Struensee and Brandt tried together to induce Councillor of
Legation Texier, who had accompanied the king on his tour as treasurer,
to undertake the duties of a court intendant. But this clear-sighted man
declined the offer most politely, and Struensee had to look elsewhere for
assistance.
It was quite useless to expect any good from Count Moltke, the court
marshal and son of Frederick V.'s favourite, for he was preternaturally
stupid. Abuses and foolish expenses had been multiplied under his rule,
and there were the most valid reasons for getting rid of him; but, on
the other hand, he had one of the prettiest and least strict wives at
court. Struensee had a weakness for her, and considered her necessary
for the new tone he wished to give the court. He therefore resolved on
a _mezzo termine_, and sent for a Lieutenant-Colonel von Wegener, who
had taught the princes of Hesse mathematics, and was at present at the
head of Prince Charles's household, into which he had introduced great
regularity. Struensee gave him the title of Intendant of the Court,
with charge of the expenses, while Count von Moltke would retain the
introductions, the ceremonial, and do what is called the honours. On
the king informing Moltke of all the details of which he relieved him,
while leaving him his salary, the latter became very violent, demanded
his dismissal, obtained it, insisted on his wife accompanying him to his
paternal estate, and died on arriving there. A rumour was spread that his
wife had poisoned him; but she justified herself by having an autopsy
performed, accompanied by a regular report from the physicians. This fact
struck people greatly, and the patriotic party concluded that morals were
hopelessly ruined, as such atrocious suspicions could be conceived.[143]
Shortly after, however, two dismissals took place at court, which were
not at all connected with the economical system. Page of the Chamber Von
Köppern was so impudent as to speak disrespectfully about Struensee to
the king, and thus caused his own fall. Chamberlain von Warnstedt, too,
who had hitherto been a favourite of the king, and stood in confidential
relations with Struensee, was suddenly dismissed from court. A single
incautious remark about Struensee proved his ruin. On his birthday, in
February, Warnstedt received a letter from the king, in which the monarch
intimated that being aware of Warnstedt's inclination for a military
life, he discharged him from court with a pension of 800 dollars, and had
nominated him second-lieutenant in the Schleswig dragoons, with orders to
join his regiment without delay.[144]
But dismissals were the order of the day, not only at court but among the
government officials. This fate first befell the two oldest directors
of the General Staat, Conferenzrath von Schrödersee and Etats-rath
Holm, who were both discharged without pension. They were followed by
the bailiff and under-bailiff of Copenhagen: the former because he was
alleged to behave too severely, the latter too mildly, to the peasants.
The dismissal of these two officials was ascribed to General von
Gähler, but unjustly so. Struensee was accustomed to confer with the
general frequently, who had many enemies. The sudden dismissals were
not confined to the capital and its immediate vicinity, but extended to
all parts of the monarchy. The most important of them was the removal
of Privy Councillor von Benzon, viceroy of the kingdom of Norway. This
universally respected old gentleman was dismissed on February 8; the post
of an _alter ego_ of the king in the second kingdom was not filled up
for the present, and the management of the business, which had hitherto
been transacted by the viceroy, was left to the bailiffs. After the
viceroy, the next victim was Bürgermeister von Wasmer of Bergen, who
was discharged for disobedience and insubordination. As, afterwards,
many shared the same fate without the causes for their dismissal being
imparted to them, it was natural that the most honest and valued
officials no longer felt secure. On the other hand, it is indubitable
that from this time the business of the state was carried on with greater
attention and industry than before.[145]
A decree that aroused general satisfaction appeared on February 12. It
consisted of a circular to the government colleges, in which they were
informed that in future no lackey who had waited on a master must be
proposed for a public office. In this way the hateful lackeydom was
abolished, and a permanent obstacle raised against the repeated neglect
of scientifically-educated men, on behalf of fellows who had driven a
carriage or stood behind it.
The administration of the navy was not forgotten among the reforms.
Privy Councillor Count Haxthausen was ordered to confer with Etats-rath
Willebrandt, and draw up a new organization for the Admiralty College.
About this time a friend of Struensee made his appearance at Copenhagen,
whose cruel fate, after the catastrophe of 1772, will for ever remain
a blot on Danish justice. SENECA OTHO VON FALCKENSKJOLD was descended
from an old noble Danish family, and was born, in 1738, at Slagelse, on
Seeland. Intended by his father, who held high rank in the army, for
a military career, he entered the service in his thirteenth year. On
leaving the cadet school four years later, when the Seven Years' War
broke out, Falckenskjold, instead of intriguing at Copenhagen with women
and valets, entered the service of France, served in Alsace, was slightly
wounded at Bergen, but so severely at Clostercamp, where Maréchal de
Castries defeated the Hanoverians, that he was rendered incapable of
serving for some time. When his country was threatened with a Russian
war in 1762, Falckenskjold returned home, and received a company in the
Delmenhorst regiment, and afterwards a command in Norway. When his corps
was disbanded, Falckenskjold resided for some time at Altona, where
Rantzau inspired him with a taste for politics. Shortly after, being
animated with a lively desire for information, he travelled through
Sweden, Germany, France, and England, in order to become acquainted with
the institutions of those countries and learn their language. On his
return to Copenhagen he was appointed aide-de-camp and chamberlain to
the king. When, in 1768, the war broke out between Russia and the Porte,
he entered the Russian service, was appointed lieutenant-colonel in the
engineers, served, in 1769, under Prince Galitzin, and was present at
the capture of Khotzim. In the following year, being employed with the
army of which Count Romanzow took the command, he distinguished himself
at the battle of Larga, received the cross of St. George for being the
first man to enter the Turkish entrenched camp, and was one of the first
twelve knights of this order, which had been recently founded. He also
distinguished himself at the battle of Kahul, and was appointed a full
colonel, with the commission and rank of a brigadier.
This was a man whom Struensee could employ, and therefore he recalled
him, in order to entrust to him the reform of the Danish army, and
employ him in the negotiations with Russia for the pestilent exchange
of territory. Falckenskjold was reluctant to quit the Russian service,
where he had the best prospects of speedy promotion; but he yielded
to Struensee's wishes, as a speedy return to the Russian service was
promised him, but chiefly that he might offer his assistance in the
diplomatic negociations between the two kingdoms.
On arriving in Copenhagen, Falckenskjold was nominated proprietor and
colonel of the regiment of Foot Guards, and attached to the commission
appointed to renew the suspended negociations with Russia, about which
Struensee was extremely anxious. As Falckenskjold was thoroughly
acquainted with Russian affairs, he was sent to Petersburg with the
embassy intended to press for the fulfilment of the treaty signed in
1768, and, disappointed in his expectations, returned at the period when
the menacing storm was rapidly gathering over Struensee. Brandt insisted
on his being appointed marshal of the court, but Falckenskjold could not
be persuaded to accept the office, and contented himself with being the
confidential adviser of Struensee, and in that capacity repeatedly warned
him to take his measures against any sudden change of fortune--advice
which, unfortunately, was not listened to by the dazzled favourite, who
was constantly engaged with fresh schemes.
At the time when Falckenskjold reached Copenhagen, Rantzau's faction were
urging an open war with Russia, in consequence of the non-fulfilment of
the treaty; and even Struensee did not consider such a war desperate. But
Falckenskjold was violently opposed to it, and when Struensee declared
that the bomb-ketches built to attack Algiers could be employed to
batter Cronstadt, and that the king would not hesitate to sacrifice
all his plate to defray the expenses of such an expedition, the old
soldier brought forward some pregnant facts. He reminded Struensee that
a resource of this nature, employed by Louis XIV. daring the war of the
Succession, only produced 450,000 livres. He then entered into a detail
about the expense of a single campaign against Russia, and compared it
with the present resources of Denmark, the condition of her armaments,
and the assistance she might expect from foreign powers. Besides,
supposing that the king, though he (Falckenskjold) was far from admitting
the fact, was strong enough to attack such an enemy with a hope of
success, the maritime powers, especially England, would not suffer their
relations to be interrupted in the Baltic, or allow ports advantageous
to their trade, and from which they derived a great portion of their
naval equipment, to be destroyed. Falckenskjold also urged that, there
was reason to apprehend that the King of Prussia would interfere in the
quarrel to the prejudice of Denmark, in order to carry out his designs
upon Holland.
These considerations produced an effect on Struensee, but Rantzau and
his partisans did everything to efface the impression they had produced.
The threatening tone which they openly assumed in talking about Russia,
and which they rendered the fashion in Copenhagen, was carried to so
insulting a point, that the Russian _chargé d'affaires_ repeatedly told
Falckenskjold that he would have left long before were it not for the
hopes that he (Falckenskjold) gave him. This indiscreet bravado on the
part of the Rantzau faction greatly displeased Struensee, however, and
gave weight to Falckenskjold's remonstrances.
In the meanwhile, Struensee's reforms went on uninterruptedly; and
various ameliorations in the law courts appeared one after the other.
Thus a regulation was issued relating to the corvées on the noble
estates, by which the poor serf ceased to be a helpless tool in the hands
of his owner. Certain days and hours in the week were set apart for
compulsory service, but the remaining time was left at the disposal of
the peasantry. The latter were placed under the protection of the law,
and all the privileges which belonged to them as men and citizens, were
secured to them.
In order to prevent the delay in judicial investigations through
chicanery or neglect, a list was ordered of all persons under arrest for
criminal offences, with a statement of their crimes, the time they had
been detained, and the names of their judges. The names also of those
judges were reported who had proved negligent in the performance of their
duties.
In order that trustees might not carry on usury with the property
of their wards, or squander it, but that heirs and creditors might
receive their funds in due course, a list was ordered to be sent to the
government of all the estates of deceased persons and bankrupts, the
names of the trustees and assignees, and the period when the latter were
appointed.
The two chanceries were subjected to a reorganization, the almost
sovereign heads of these colleges dismissed, and in their stead the
Danish Chancery had four, the German three, deputies, and the same number
of departments.
The civic government of Copenhagen also underwent reorganization. The
complaints raised on all sides about the misuse of authority, the slow
course of business, and the maladministration of the town revenues and
neglect in providing the city with provisions, were the ostensible
reasons for these reforms. The magistracy would, in future, consist of
a chief president, two bürgermeisters, a town syndic, a town physician,
four councillors, and two representatives. But even in this simple
matter court intrigues prevailed,--Count Holstein zu Holsteinborg was
appointed president; one of those men with whom a great name and a little
charlatanism hold the place of merit. He had been recalled from Tondern,
where he was bailiff, because his wife was considered worthy of adorning
the new court, and Brandt distinguished her.
This change, however, was not effected without considerable
dissatisfaction, for it was an encroachment on the privileges which the
city had obtained at various times from the kings, and especially for its
glorious defence against the Swedes in 1759. Still it was a notorious
fact that the magistracy misapplied their power, and did not trouble
themselves at all about the proposals of the council of thirty-two
notables, and hence the new regulations found as many approvers as
opponents.
The police of Copenhagen were next subjected to a different organization.
They were most severely prohibited from interfering any more in the
domestic affairs of the inhabitants, or troubling themselves about what
did and did not take place in private houses on Sundays, so that the
citizens of Copenhagen could henceforth say with the Englishman: "My
house is my castle."
In order to check the usual expense of funerals, which were frequently
carried on so extravagantly that the survivors were ruined, an order
was issued to the effect that, in future, all burials should take
place between one and six o'clock in the morning; but this period was
afterwards extended to nine o'clock. In Struensee's time there were
streets in Copenhagen without a name: the houses were not numbered,
and the lighting of the streets was in a wretched state. Orders were
therefore given to alter this at once, and light all the streets daily
with reverbère lamps from dusk till daylight.
The repulsive custom by which persons condemned of adultery were exposed
in the pillory and reprimanded by the clergyman of their parish in the
presence of the whole congregation, was prohibited; and it was ordered
by a royal decree that illegitimate birth should no longer be regarded
as dishonouring. Such a child would be christened precisely in the same
way, and within the same period, as legitimate children; its birth would
no longer be regarded as a lasting stain, or prevent it from learning a
trade, or carrying on business. At the same time, the domestic peace was
protected against calumny and denunciation by an order that no one but
the offended party should make a complaint about adultery.
The countless number of various law courts which existed in Copenhagen
and the rest of the country prior to Struensee's time,--such as the Aulic
Council, the Lower Court, the Upper Court, the Admiralty Court, the
Police Court, the Commercial Court, the Hospital Court, the Magistracy,
the Commercial College, the Consistory, &c.,--were all abolished on April
15, and, in their stead, a single jurisdiction,--"the Court and Town
Council of Copenhagen,"--was instituted. Land-surveyor Wessel, brother of
the celebrated satirical poet Peter Wessel, of whom the latter wrote, "He
surveys the land, and learns the laws, and is as industrious as I may be
called indolent," was appointed assessor of the new court. This step was
greatly abused by the lawyers; but the result soon proved that Struensee
had made a good choice, for within six weeks after the establishment of
the new court Wessel had got it into perfect working order.
Various changes and reductions now took place at court. The vacant post
of a Chief Master of the Ceremonies was not filled up. In the queen's
household, two ladies-in-waiting were dismissed,--Baroness von Wedel
and Fräulein von Eyben, the latter with a post in the noble convent
of St. John, at Schleswig, and a pension of 300 dollars. The numerous
supernumerary officers were dismissed; but, on the other hand, the staff
of valets was increased. In order that the pages might no longer be
admitted to that domestic and servile familiarity in the palace, which
only taught them intrigues and crooked paths to promotion, Struensee
discharged them all; and, in their place, three land and three sea
cadets, under the inspection of an officer, were ordered to wait on their
Majesties. These young men were only to remain at court for a year, and
then others would take their place. The pensions and salaries at court
were nearly all reduced, including that of Court-painter Als, who lost
nearly one-half of his 800 dollars a year. The number of horses kept
in the royal stud and stables was also reduced to one hundred, while
the sale of the superfluous cattle produced the sum of 30,000 dollars.
For the sake of economy, the embellishment and enlargement of the royal
palaces were also stopped.
During the extravagance of the preceding reign, the construction of
a marble church had been commenced, after the magnificent designs of
Jardin, a French architect. It was less an object of devotion than of
pomp and decoration. In the same reign, when the state became deeply
indebted, and frugality was necessary, the court reduced the annual
amount devoted to this church to 20,000 dollars: it was deferring its
completion for a century. Struensee cut the knot: he put a stop to the
works, broke the contracts with the stone contractors in Norway, and
offered Jardin, if he were willing to remain, an annual salary of 300
dollars, which sum a pupil of his would have rejected. The contractors
naturally declared that they were ruined: social economists complained
that it was a disgrace to the government to give up, for so slight a
cause, a magnificent undertaking, the expenses of which returned in a
thousand ways to the Treasury: artists protested against barbarism: and
the zealots were scandalized at the house of the Lord being deprived of
a trifling sum compared with that expended in the chase and playhouses.
Retrenchment in the administration was, however, even more necessary than
at court. Hence, in the first place, all those who had hitherto been in
the enjoyment of pensions from the king's privy purse, were ordered to
state their age, their position, and the services for which the pensions
had been granted, and a similar order was sent to the Board of Revenue
and the General Post Office. Many in consequence lost their pensions,
while those of others were reduced. It is true that several needy persons
were affected by this; but the changes, and especially the abolition of
franking, which had been scandalously misused by the officials, produced
savings and an augmented revenue. The latter was greatly aided by a
cabinet order to the effect that the Sound dues, which had hitherto been
paid into the king's privy purse, would henceforth be handed over to the
Treasury.
Unfortunately, the reductions effected in the king's household in this
way did not go so far as had been hoped, for the court cost more than
before, because Brandt consumed in his department all the savings made.
Masked and dress balls, pic-nics, the chase, a troupe of French actors,
the opera buffa, were all treated most profusely, and formed a revolting
contrast with the retrenchments which daily reduced some family to
misery.[146]
However, no settled plan could be devised about a better arrangement of
the finances. Strangely enough, no agreement could be arrived at as to
the real amount of the in-comings and out-goings. Gähler estimated the
annual crown receipts at 6,250,000 dollars, but Rantzau at only 4,500,000
dollars. When Christian VII. ascended the throne, the state debt amounted
to 20,000,000 dollars, and, according to Gähler's calculations, was
now reduced to 13,980,000 dollars, but according to Rantzau, only to
15,000,000 dollars. The expenses amounted, according to Schimmelmann,
to only 4,154,650 dollars, but according to Rantzau to fully 6,000,000.
Nor could they agree as to the fundamental principles of the financial
system, although the great majority, of the council of conferences
decided against any extra taxation or income tax. On May 29 the
commission handed in its final report to the king, and met for the last
time on June 10.
On the same day as the privy commission of conferences sent in its last
report on financial matters, a College of Finances was established, and
the general Board of Customs abolished. According to the regulations for
the new college, it was to consist of four departments (1st, for Denmark;
2nd, for Norway; 3rd, for Schleswig-Holstein; and 4th, for Oldenburg).
Count von Holstein, Chief President of Copenhagen, the bürgermeister of
the capital, Thyge Rothe, Financial Councillor Oeder, and Councillor of
Justice Struensee, were appointed by the king deputies of the College of
Finances.
Rothe had been a preceptor to Prince Frederick, but afterwards retired
to an estate which he obtained through his wife. Though an esteemed
writer in verse and prose, he possessed more imagination than common
sense. CHARLES AUGUSTUS STRUENSEE was an elder brother of the favourite,
professor of mathematics at the military school of Liegnitz, in Prussia,
and was well known as a writer on military subjects, and as translator
of the _Rêveries_ of Maréchal de Saxe, when he was appointed a Danish
Councillor, on November 13, 1669. Being now summoned by his brother to
Copenhagen, where he arrived at the close of April, 1771, he attracted
general attention, us the near relative of the all-powerful cabinet
secretary.
Even Reverdil is willing to admit that the choice of Oeder and Struensee
for their present posts was not improper, except from the fact of the
latter's relationship. Both were upright and learned, and both had gained
a good deal of information connected with their new duties. Struensee
had observed the administration of the Prussian States; Oeder, while
travelling to study botany, had greatly reflected on the manner in which
countries were cultivated, or the faults connected with the collection of
taxes, and the oppression exercised by the officials.
The arts and sciences also became an object of attention to Struensee
and his adherents. The Academy for Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture
at Charlottenborg, was provided with fresh regulations, of a nature
to render it of more practical use. For this purpose, all pupils who
wished to devote themselves to the arts obtained a gratuitous education,
and the distribution of large and small gold and silver medals, at
the public exhibitions, was promised as a reward to encourage merit.
In the same spirit, it was ordered that the Academy of Soroe should
in future be thrown open to the sons of bourgeois as well as of the
nobles. The intentions of the government connected with the latter order
were, however, not carried out, because the regulations were in direct
opposition to the will of the regenerator of the Academy, the celebrated
Danish playwright Holberg.
As regards trade, the principle was laid down, that factories which could
not support themselves should not be maintained at the expense of the
state. It was therefore resolved no longer to carry on any manufacture
on royal account, and several silk mills were closed. On the other hand,
the greatest possible extension of trade, by enlarging its liberties,
was recognized as a pressing necessity by the government, and many
regulations connected with this object were passed.
The government also provided public amusements for the inhabitants of
the capital, with the object of inducing other wealthy families to
take up their residence at Copenhagen. The winter amusements consisted
principally of the theatres. At the court theatre French performances
were given every Tuesday and Friday, to which not only men of rank and
position, but also respectable citizens, had free admission. After
the performance, they played at cards in the queen's rooms, and cold
refreshments were handed to them.
The Danish theatre, however, which, as has been stated, was under the
direction of Brandt and Capellmeister Sarti, was not only used for the
performance of German plays and Italian operas, but also for redoutes
and masquerades, for which free tickets of admission were sent out,
and on some occasions everybody was allowed to attend, as in the case
of the great masquerade of December 18. At the same time there was no
lack of public concerts, at which foreign artistes performed, and of
performances by travelling posture-masters and conjurors, among whom
Brambilla greatly distinguished himself as rope-dancer, pantomimist, and
pyrotechnist.
Up to this time, certain portions of the Rosenborg Palace garden had been
closed against the public. These gardens, as well as those of the palace
of Frederiksberg, adjoining the western suburb of Copenhagen, were thrown
open to everybody towards the end of May; and on Sundays and holidays the
regimental bands played in the royal gardens and the great market-places.
Rosenborg was the favourite abode of Christian IV. When first erected, it
stood outside the capital, and was his summer residence when his royal
duties forbade his being at Frederiksborg. At the time when Struensee
threw the gardens open to the public, the flower-beds still flourished
under the care of an attentive gardener. The hedges were clipped square,
the orange trees formed into the shape of balls, and four large fountains
threw their jets high into the air, and caught them again in circular
marble basins. A buffet was erected in this garden, and the commission
was granted to a Mecklenburger of the name of Gabel, a protégé of
Struensee, who was afterwards permitted to open a faro bank. The gardens
were illuminated with coloured lamps, especially the great grove near the
spring and the neighbouring alleys. At times fireworks were let off, and
it was a fine sight to see the trees and the old palace illumined by the
ascending rockets, which threw a magic brilliancy over these memorials
of past ages, to leave them the next moment enveloped in the darkness
of the grave. The concerts at Rosenborg were frequently honoured by the
presence of the court, and the king and queen were accustomed to take
refreshments in the palace, and then mingle with the crowd.[147]
The zealots were very fierce in their denunciations of these popular
amusements. Formerly, they said, the act of profaning royal mansions by
clandestine amours was considered a crime punishable with the loss of a
finger-joint, and Struensee did worse in turning a royal garden into a
scene of libertinism. It must be allowed, that though the principal walks
were lit, the deepest gloom prevailed in the thickets, and the gardens
remained open till midnight. But the _parti prêtre_ had a better cause of
abuse in the faro table, even though the Foundling Hospital shared the
profits of the bank. This was no justification for the mistake committed
by the favourite, and led his enemies to spread a report that his great
object was utterly to corrupt morals, and make the whole people as
licentious as himself and his adherents.
On May 19, Struensee effected a reduction in the army, which produced a
most disagreeable impression on the whole nation, and must be regarded
as one of the principal causes of his rapid overthrow. This was the
abolition of the two squadrons of Royal Horse Guards, composed of picked
handsome men. The Guards greatly annoyed the favourite, for several of
the officers were men of high birth, and had the right of appearing at
court when they pleased. This suppression might be a useful economy,
and the task was already far advanced. Count de St. Germain, when he
became minister in 1762, found four squadrons of _gardes du corps_, and
two regiments of Foot Guards. He reduced them to two squadrons and a
battalion, forming a single corps under the same commandant, and wearing
the same uniform. The nation believed that this was the minimum, and that
the king could not be guarded by less than seven hundred and twenty men.
Struensee, however, abolished the two squadrons by a stroke of the pen.
Those officers who could not be at once attached to other cavalry
regiments were placed on half-pay; but the non-commissioned officers and
privates received nothing, as they had the option of entering the Foot
Guards. The latter mounted guard at the palace three days after the order
for disbanding the _gardes du corps_ was made known. Struensee's enemies
regarded this step as an attack on the king's majesty and prestige,
and expressed their opinion loudly, especially when this occurrence
offered an opportunity for exposing one of the weaknesses of Struensee's
character. When the Guards were returning to barracks from the parade,
where the king's order had been read to them, for the purpose of giving
over their horses, Struensee met them. Frightened by this most unexpected
rencontre, and believing that the Horse Guards had mutinied, he retired
in great haste, tore a leaf out of his pocket-book, and wrote a few
hurried lines in pencil to Count Ahlefeldt, in which he sent in his
resignation as cabinet secretary to the king.
It can be easily imagined what a sensation this event created when the
report of it spread through the city. Struensee himself, however, ought
to have learned through his discovery of his personal character, that
he was deficient in the most important quality of a state reformer--an
undaunted heart.
It was soon seen what was the cause of the disbandment of the _gardes
du corps_ when a cabinet order was issued establishing a model corps,
or what was called the "flying body guard," which was to take the place
of the disbanded squadron, under the command of Colonel Numsen, and be
composed of detachments from the different cavalry regiments. The reason
alleged for the change was, that these detachments would regularly
relieve one another; and as each would manœuvre in presence of the
king, the officers would all know their master, and be known by him.
Economy was not the motive of the change, for these troops were granted
privileges, under pretext of the dearness of food, which swallowed up all
the savings. According to Reverdil, Struensee's real object was to form
the cavalry himself; he was a good rider, and thought he would make a
capital inspector-general. Nothing was right but what he did himself;
but, on this occasion, he concealed his vanity by a variety of pretexts.
The next regulation for the army appeared to be just, as it abolished
all the privileges and precedence of the officers of the corps of land
cadets, the guards, and the artillery, and placed them exactly on the
same footing as the other officers of the army and navy, but it was
evident that this order was intended as a humiliation for the nobility.
As Struensee was accustomed to consult Colonel von Falckenskjold
frequently about the reforms in the army, his opponents spread a
report that the colonel had advised this measure through jealousy of
the privileged officers, but this was a weak invention of the enemy.
Falckenskjold himself was one of the privileged officers, as commandant
of one of the king's own regiments, and possessed too noble a character
to entertain treacherous ideas. Moreover, at the time of the projected
reforms he was not in Copenhagen, but had been sent on diplomatic
business to Petersburg.
One of the most brilliant phases of Struensee's short government was
certainly his desire to maintain the independence of Denmark against
foreign powers. His attention was principally directed toward Russia,
which court he was well aware was very angry at the loss of its influence
in Copenhagen. In spite of the appointment of Von der Osten as foreign
minister, and his exertions to remove the unfavourable impression at
Petersburg, the chagrin felt at the fancied insult was still so great,
that hostilities were even meditated. Threatening reports of such an
intention were spread about Copenhagen, and Rantzau expressed himself
loudly about the Russian plans. But Struensee did not allow himself to be
led astray by this, and recognised too fully the value of the territorial
exchange for Denmark to let himself be led into counter-demonstrations.
He merely consulted Von der Osten and Von Falckenskjold about the
disputes with the powerful neighbour in the Baltic, and at length
decided on sending Colonel von Falckenskjold to Petersburg, as a man
well respected there, in order to arrange the misunderstanding. The
instructions which Falckenskjold received for this mission, contained
assurances of the friendly sentiments of the King of Denmark, but also
had a peculiar addition in the offer to let the Danish fleet operate in
future with the Russian against any enemies of the latter power.
Provided with letters of credit, written by the king himself, and
accompanied by Lieutenant von Beringskjold (whose father, employed as
a Danish spy in Russia during the reign of Peter III., and then as a
Russian reporter in Denmark, had been ennobled by the Danish court,
and enriched by the Russian), Falckenskjold set out from Copenhagen on
May 21, and returned from Petersburg early in the following August.
From the beginning he had doubted of any favourable result of his
negociations, and the result was nearly to that effect. The Petersburg
cabinet attached but little value to Denmark's proffered alliance; but,
through Falckenskjold's representations, was induced to make the reply,
that they were ready to carry out the treaty of 1768, if Bernstorff
were recalled, and Von der Osten and Rantzau-Ascheberg removed from the
government.[148] With these prospects the envoy returned to Copenhagen,
after convincing himself at St. Petersburg that Prussia would employ
every effort to prevent the misunderstanding between Russia and Denmark
from being made up. Still the proposals for a renewal of the alliance
were so acceptable, that Falckenskjold believed he had brought Struensee
over to his way of thinking, although the favourite hesitated about
removing Rantzau, to whom he fancied himself so greatly indebted, until
Falckenskjold represented to him the impropriety of allowing himself to
be made an instrument of this adventurer's revenge. Struensee, however,
hesitated about giving any definitive explanation, and merely expressed
his satisfaction that Falckenskjold had prevented an open breach with
Russia.
Suddenly, the rumour of an impending attack on Copenhagen was renewed.
It was stated that the empress was determined to bombard the city, and
for this purpose was equipping six ships of the line and four frigates,
which would immediately set sail from Cronstadt. It was evident that
this demonstration was only designed to force the King of Denmark into
getting rid of Struensee. But the favourite was well aware that Russia
might have ships, but had not a sufficient number of sailors to equip a
fleet. Hence he did not trouble himself much about the renewed report,
but satisfied himself with hastily fitting out three ships of the line
and two frigates, and giving orders to build several bomb-ketches.
This latter job was set about so effectively at the naval docks, that,
although the order was only issued on March 29, two bomb-galleys were
launched on May 24, two more on June 16, and on June 29 a mortar hulk,
although, at the same time, men-of-war were being equipped to defend the
capital, for the expedition against the Algerines, and as a convoy for
the West Indiamen. All these ships were manned with equal rapidity, for
sailors flocked into the capital from every part of the monarchy. The
whole turmoil of war, however, soon disappeared again, as nothing more
was heard about a Russian fleet in the Baltic.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 140: The reader will please make a distinction between
Frederiks_berg_ and Frederiks_borg_. The former was hardly a league from
the capital; the latter, about twenty miles off, in the vicinity of
Fredensborg and Hirschholm.]
[Footnote 141: Brown's "Northern Courts," vol. i. p. 108.]
[Footnote 142: Höst, vol. iii. p. 20.]
[Footnote 143: Reverdil, p. 287.]
[Footnote 144: Sir R. M. Keith, writing to his father on October 30,
1771, says: "When I was upon the road to this city, I heard of the
downfall of a Monsieur de W--, who had been in high favour with the
sovereign, and raised from page to two or three handsome posts at court.
This young gentleman had fancied to himself that he had become a man of
importance, and began to vapour: when Struensee dismissed the mighty
Maréchal de la Cour, Chambellan, &c., &c., in a very laughable manner, by
creating him very unexpectedly lieutenant of Dragoons in a regiment in
Jütland! and sending him to his garrison with a small pension. He became,
probably, as awkward a lieutenant as he had been a courtier; however,
his military progress is again at a stand, as he was called back to
town yesterday (to my great amusement), and will immediately resume his
functions as a wag of the court!"]
[Footnote 145: When a Copenhagen official was dismissed during
Struensee's short reign, a groom of the royal stud mounted on a yellow
horse, generally handed him his discharge. Hence it became a permanent
question in the capital: "whom did the yellow visit last?"]
[Footnote 146: Reverdil, p. 142.]
[Footnote 147: According to Reverdil, these amusements only perpetuated
what had been done for a fête given to the Duke of Gloucester, on his
paying his royal sister a visit. The garden at Frederiksberg, which was
much larger than that of Rosenborg, was on that occasion magnificently
illuminated and decorated, and maskers visited it for three consecutive
evenings.]
[Footnote 148: "Falckenskjold's Memoirs," p. 121.]