[Footnote 116: In the first number of his Magazine, Struensee had published an epigram, pointed at this state of matters in Copenhagen:-- "An die Fürsten. Ihr heisst mit Recht die Fürsten dieser Erde, Denn Ihr erschafft: o schöne That! Ihr sprechet ein allmächtig: Werde! Schnell wird aus dem Lakai ein--Rath." (To the Princes.--You are justly called the princes of the earth, for you create; ah! glorious deed: you utter an almighty be! and quickly a lackey becomes a--Councillor.)] [Footnote 117: "Authentische Aufklärungen," pp. 51, 52.] CHAPTER X. THE QUEEN'S FRIEND. THE PRINCESS OF WALES--MOTHER AND DAUGHTER--GEORGE III.--THE CABAL--THE WAR WITH ALGIERS--THE PALACE OF HIRSCHHOLM--FALL OF THE PREMIER--PROPOSED REFORMS--STRUENSEE'S MAXIMS--THE COUNCIL OF STATE--THE ROYAL HUNT--A LOVELY WOMAN--BRANDT'S FOLLY. On June 9, 1770, the Dowager Princess of Wales set out with her son, the Duke of Gloucester, and a numerous retinue from Carlton House _en route_ for the Continent. As this was the first time during thirty-four years that her royal highness had quitted England, her departure gave rise to the wildest conjectures among her opponents. As mystery and policy were imputed to all her motives by the so-called liberal party, her declaration, straightforward though it was, that she was going to visit her brother and her daughters, was not believed. Some said that she was going to meet Lord Bute, while others expected that some _coup d'état_ was about to be carried out during her absence, to which she might plead not having been privy. As the Duke of Gloucester accompanied her, more charitable persons supposed that she was trying to break off his liaison with Lady Waldegrave; others, or the uncharitable, declared that the princess was displeased with the increasing powers of the queen, her daughter-in-law, while others again supposed that she was conveying her treasures out of the country for safety. The resolute old lady cared little what was said about her, and, though she was hooted as she passed through Canterbury, I dare say her feeling was, "laudatur ab hiss." She was allowed to embark quietly at Dover, and, much to Walpole's affected surprise, no bonfires or illuminations took place in London in honour of her departure. The princess ostensibly wanted to see her daughter, the Princess of Brunswick, probably for some little family intrigue; but the journey was really intended to the address of Caroline Matilda. Some good-natured friend had told George III. an exaggerated story about his sister's conduct; and this, together with the political crisis which was preparing in Denmark, led to the Princess of Wales's journey. In those benighted days it was considered of the utmost importance by English ministers that Bernstorff should remain in power, because he was devoted to Russia, and thus prevented a Gallo-Danish alliance.