[Footnote 92: In a tolerably impartial life of Struensee, published at Copenhagen while he was under sentence of death, the following portrait is drawn of him:--"He was a tall and very broad-shouldered fellow, almost of the height for the Guards; was not ill-looking, had a rather long nose, a merry look, playful and penetrating eyes, a free carriage, and sat his horse very well. Liberty followed all his movements, and he was as little affected in the presence of the king and among the courtiers, as if he were a born gentleman and had been educated at court. In short, through the qualities of his mind and person he might have been an amiable courtier and excellent statesman, if his heart had only been better."] [Footnote 93: "Authentische Aufklärungen."] [Footnote 94: "Besondere Nachrichten von den Opfern der Staaten," &c. Pelim. 1772. This was a town in Siberia, to which Marshal Münnich was banished; but I doubt whether it contained a printing press.] [Footnote 95: "Besondere Nachrichten von den Opfern," &c.] [Footnote 96: This name was probably derived from a conical mound, apparently an ancient tumulus, in the centre of the gardens, on which very fine ash trees grew.] [Footnote 97: Reverdil, pp. 61, 62.] [Footnote 98: Mr. N. W. Wraxall's Private Journal.] [Footnote 99: Whenever the word dollar is used, its value must be taken at three marcs courant, or about 3s. 6d. of our money.] [Footnote 100: The rank-order (rang-ordnung) is divided into nine classes in Denmark. To the first class belong the privy councillors of conferences, generals and lieutenant-generals, admirals and vice-admirals, and the Counts von Danneskjold Samsöe (by reason of their birth); to the second class, the councillors of conference, major-generals and rear-admirals; and to the third, actual councillors of state, colonels and commanders. Only these classes had the right to attend court up to the reign of Frederick VI.] CHAPTER IX. THE COURT DOCTOR. THE QUEEN'S ILLNESS--THE NEW DOCTOR--THE FAVOURITE--COURT REVELS--THE SMALL-POX--THE QUEEN'S FRIEND--A TRIP TO HOLSTEIN--RECALL OF BRANDT--SAD SCENES AT COURT--DOWNFALL OF HOLCK--RANTZAU-ASCHEBERG--THE FOREIGN ENVOYS--PRESENTATION OF COLOURS. Various stories are current as to the way in which Caroline Matilda and Struensee first became acquainted. Her enemies assert that she was guilty of dissimulation from the outset, and that, for some time after she had chosen the doctor as her partisan, she feigned an aversion for him; but there appears to be no foundation for this report beyond that of party spirit. After well weighing the various accounts, I am disposed to accept, in preference, the one given in Mr. N. W. Wraxall's private journal, because he had it from one of the principal actors while the events were fresh in his memory.[101]