"My dear son, you will soon be the King of a flourishing people, but remember, that to be a great monarch it is absolutely necessary to be a good man. Have justice and mercy, therefore, constantly before your eyes, and above all things reflect that you were born for the welfare of your people, and not your country created for your mere emolument. In short, keep to the golden rule of doing as you would be done by, and whenever you give an order as a sovereign examine how far you would be willing to obey such an order were you a subject."[41] [41] _Gentleman's Magazine_, February, 1766. A few hours after Frederick V.'s death Bernstorff proclaimed the new King to the people from the balcony of the Christiansborg Palace in these words: "King Frederick V. is dead, but King Christian VII. lives. The Crown Prince has become the ruler of the united kingdoms of Denmark and Norway." Whereupon all the people shouted: "May the King live long and reign well like his father!" Christian was then pleased to show himself to his people, and was afterwards proclaimed throughout the city by the heralds. CHAPTER V. "THE NORTHERN SCAMP." 1766. Few monarchs ever began their reign with more ardent prayers of their people, or inspired brighter hopes, than "Christian VII., by the grace of God King of Denmark, Norway, of the Goths and Wends, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn and the Dittmarsches, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst"--to quote his full style and titles. The young King was regarded as the probable regenerator of Denmark. "The eminent virtues and truly royal disposition of the new Sovereign afford a very agreeable prospect of his future reign," writes Titley. Again: "He is in all respects a very hopeful Prince, virtuously disposed, with excellent natural parts, and solidity as well as vivacity of understanding".[42] The envoy's views were echoed by all who came in contact with the King. [42] Titley's despatch, Copenhagen, January 18, 1766. Christian VII. held his first council a few days after his father's death and acquitted himself with tact and dignity. It was his introduction to affairs of state, for though, according to the _Lex Regia_ of Denmark, the heir apparent came of age when he reached the age of fourteen, Christian had been kept quite ignorant of public business. This was the more inexcusable as his father's failing health made it likely that his accession would take place at any moment. Christian VII. was seventeen years of age when the call came for him to ascend the throne, and it found him utterly unprepared. To quote a Swedish writer: "The young monarch exchanged the schoolroom and the birch-rod for the throne and sceptre".