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324 COXE’S TRAVELS IN DENMARK.
tented with the Queen-dowager, he had firit entered into a fecret correfpondence with
Count Bernfdorf, continued his intercourfe near two years, fometimes by letters, and
fometimes by meflages, and received from him in{tru€tions in what manner to proceed.
While engaged in this bufinefs, he entered into another correfpondence with Schach
Rathlow, who had the principal fhare in procuring the difmiffion of Count Bernfdorf,
but was now difpleafed with the perfons in power, and made private offers to the Prince,
without being acquainted with his fecret correfpondence with Bernfdorf. The Prince
carried on this double intrigue under the direction of Count Bernfdorf, in whom he
implicitly confided, without being fufpected by his preceptor Sporen, or by his governor,
General Eikfted, and even lulled the fufpicions of the Queen-dowager : her Majefty, in
a converfation which fhe held with him about a week before the event, taxed him with
holding a fecret correfpondence ; to which he returned an evafive anfwer with fuch un-
concern and ferenity, that he entirely removed her fufpicions.
Thusa boy, not fixteen years of age, duped veterans in court-intrigues, by pretending
to be entirely friendly to the Queen-dowager’s party, and to acquiefce in the nomina-
tion of the new privy-council, at the moment he was determined to remove them. And
although the project was entrufted to above ten perfons, yet not one of them betrayed
the fmalleft fymptom which could create fufpicion.
Every meafure which prudence diétated was adopted on this important occafion.
General Hut had affembled the guards in order to force the privy-council to compliance,
fhould the members make any oppofition; and the governor of the citadel was prepared
to admit the Prince within the fortrefs, if affairs had not turned out to his wifhes. For-
tunately the courage and addrefs of the Prince, and the popularity of his caufe, rendered
thefe precautions unneceflary.
The Prince treated with great mildnefs all thofe perfons whom he removed from their
places. He conferred on the ex-minifter Guldberg, a penfion of 5000* rix-dollars,
and appointed him governor of Aarhus, a {pecies of honourable banifhment. He no-
minated Steman governor of Haderfleben; affured him, he was convinced of the fide-
lity with which he had difcharged his office of treafurer, adding, that if he could not
fufficiently reward him, he would amply provide for his children.
The chief perfons who acted as the Prince’s confidants, and who have fince filled the
principal offices in court and ftate, were M. de Schach Rathlow, Count Bernfdorf,
Count Shimmelman, General Hut, and M. de Bulow, then gentleman of the bed-cham-
ber, and now marfhal of the Prince’s court.
The only foreigner who is fuppofed to have had any knowledge of the tranfaction,
was Mr. Elliot, who had repaired to Copenhagen from Berlin in the capacity of Britifh
envoy; and the King of Great Britain was the firft fovereign to whom the Prince-royal
communicated his fuccefs.
Cuap. VI.—Enxcurfion to Hirfbolm, Fredericfborg, Friedenfberg, and Fredericfwerk.
THE fhortnefs of my ftay at Copenhagen during my firft tour, and the earlinefs of
the feafon, prevented me from making excurfions in the environs of Copenhagen. My
fecond tour in 1784, having afforded me an opportunity of gratifying my curiofity, I
made an agreeable expedition to the palaces of Hirfholm, Frederictborg, Frieden{berg,
and to the iron founderies of Fredericiwerk.
* soock } “&
Hirfholm,
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