As regards the bouquet, it is not denied that he was aware of the sale, but he defends himself with his sacred assurance, that he supposed the sale took place with the king's assent. The commission is aware that the ornament did not fetch its full value, as one stone alone in it was estimated at 18,000 dollars. He excuses his knowledge of Brandt's conduct to the king, and pretends that he had not been so fully aware of the affair before. All the rest consists of excuses and palliations, which are only founded on his statements, but which have been proved quite differently by me. Consequently I refer to my former demands, and claim the verdict I proposed. F. W. WIWET. _Copenhagen, April 23, 1772._ FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 91: "Mémoires de Falckenskjold," p. 196.] [Footnote 92: An allusion to Bernstorff as Minister of Foreign Affairs.] CHAPTER XIII. STRUENSEE'S APOLOGY. THE TRAVELLING DOCTOR--COUNT HOLCK--THE FOREIGN TOUR--STRUENSEE AT COURT--THE QUEEN'S CONFIDENCE--THE MUTUAL FRIEND--THE HOLSTEIN PROGRESS--HOLCK DISMISSED--THE MINISTRY--THE KING'S ADVISERS--COUNT VON RANTZAU--THE RUSSIAN ALLIANCE--THE NEW CABINET--STRUENSEE'S ADVICE--THE CABINET MINISTER--EDUCATION OF THE PRINCE ROYAL. The two advocates for the prosecution and defence of Struensee having thus alleged everything that could ruin the prisoner; the first, by exciting the temper of the judges with malicious insinuations; the second, by most shamefully neglecting his duty, as I think has been sufficiently proved, Uldall had a right of reply to Wiwet's last diatribe. As he declined to avail himself of it, however, the next step taken was to hand in the prisoner's own defence--a defence written, be it borne in mind, under the most appalling circumstances. It was in a dungeon, with fetters on his hands and feet, and an iron collar round his neck, fastened to a chain clenched in the wall, that the unfortunate Struensee drew up this hopeless appeal, only a few days before he was dragged to the scaffold. STRUENSEE'S APOLOGY. Nothing is more difficult, and perhaps it is utterly impossible to give a clear and correct account and explanation of the motives, causes, and intentions, which originated every single event and action in a situation such as mine was at court. This has been demanded of me, however, and I have explained myself to the royal commission in my answers to the questions laid before me for this purpose in such a way as the nature of things permitted. But it is very possible that now and again obscurities, mistakes, and probably apparent contradictions, may have crept in. For this I hope to compensate by a conscientious statement of the motives, opportunities, and causes, that produced the events in which I took part, or which I alone occasioned, and I will run the risk of my narrative either serving as my apology, or rendering me even more criminal.