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 246 CHAPTER XI. THE MASTER OF REQUESTS. Education of the Crown Prince--Frederick VI.--Condition of the King--A Royal Squabble--The Swedish Princes--The Foundling Hospital--Count von der Osten--The Empress Catharine--Suppression of the Privy Council--The Grand Vizier--The Council of Conferences--The Free Press 286 CHAPTER XII. 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 311 CHAPTER XIII. THE CABINET MINISTER. Birth of a Princess--The Cabinet Minister--The Lex Regia--General Dissatisfaction--The New Counts--Struensee's Coat of Arms--Foreign Affairs--A Favourite has no Friends--The German Grievance--A Dangerous Foe--Ingratitude of Brandt--Return of Reverdil--Arrival at Court--Homicidal Mania--The King of Prussia--Habits of the Court--The Prince Royal 342 LIFE AND TIMES OF CAROLINE MATILDA. CHAPTER I. AUGUSTA, PRINCESS OF WALES. DEATH OF THE PRINCE OF WALES--HIS CHARACTER--HIS EPITAPH--THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY--BIRTH OF CAROLINE MATILDA--LORD BUTE--MELCOMBE'S DIARY--THE GREAT NO-POPERY CRY--CHARACTER OF GEORGE III.--MAJORITY OF THE PRINCE OF WALES--COURT CABALS--MISS CHUDLEIGH--HORACE, PRINCE OF SCANDALIA. On a March evening, in 1751, the beau monde of London was gently agitated by the news that Frederick, Prince of Wales, had just expired, at his house in Leicester Fields. He died somewhat suddenly, and in the arms of one Desnoyers, a French dancing master, who, having been called in to soothe the prince's mind by playing the fiddle at his bedside, had the honour of holding him in his arms during the final struggle. Orpheus, we read, could charm savage beasts by the sound of his lyre; but the violin, however eloquently played, had no authority over tyrant Death. The prince had received a blow in the side from a cricket-ball some months previously, while playing at that game on the lawn of Cliefden House. This had formed an internal abscess, which eventually burst, and the discharge suffocated him.[1]