The members of the privy council received in their patents the title of Ministers of State and Excellencies. Count Thott became reporter for the two Chanceries; Privy Councillor Schack Rathlau for the Treasury; Count von der Osten for Foreign Affairs; Count Rantzau-Ascheberg for the Army; and Admiral Römeling for the Navy. Count Thott, as president during the king's absence, had a salary of 6,000 dollars; the other members 5,000. The question was long discussed whether a secretary should not be attached to the council in the person of Chamberlain Suhm, the writer of the famous open letter to the king; but they altered their mind at the eleventh hour, and resolved not to keep any report of the proceedings of the council. Köller was not taken into the council, because two representatives of the army could not sit in it. On the day when the council was established, however, he was made a Danish nobleman, and an unfurled banner was given him as his coat of arms. Guldberg, who drew up the instructions, still contented himself with the mere title of Etats-rath, but, for all that, was the most influential man in the government, and esteemed Eickstedt. Rantzau, on the other hand, soon remarked that his authority was departing. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 48: This grand sermon was duly printed, and is lying before me, but I mercifully spare the reader further extracts. I may mention, however, that the text was taken from St. Matthew, chap. viii. 1-13.] [Footnote 49: This lad was but seventeen years of age, and nothing was known as yet of his capacity.] [Footnote 50: Among other insults to Struensee, may be mentioned his portrait being placed in the shops, with the following couplet, containing a reference to his name, beneath it:-- "Sic regi mala multa STRUENS SE perdidit ipse, Jam victus claustris, qui modo victor erat." Which, for the benefit of the ladies, may be translated: "Thus the man who prepared much evil for the king destroyed himself; and he now lies in prison, who was shortly ago lord of all."] [Footnote 51: The titles were _L'Ambilieux_ and _L'Indiscret_, either by accident or through a vile eagerness on the part of the comedians.] [Footnote 52: "Authentische Aufklärungen," p. 271.] [Footnote 53: Reverdil, p. 363. Sturtz wrote to him afterwards that this affair had seriously injured his health; and, in fact, he died at the early age of forty years.] [Footnote 54: "Gespräch im Reiche der Todten," a very virulent Danish pamphlet, with the motto, "Aude aliquid brevibus gyaris et carcere dignum, Si vis esse aliquid; probitas laudatur et alget." ] [Footnote 55: "Die Struensee und Brandtische Kriminalsache".] CHAPTER VII. WHAT THEY SAID IN ENGLAND. COLONEL KEITH--BAD NEWS FROM COPENHAGEN--DEATH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES--THE PUBLIC PRESS--JUNIUS'S LETTER--ATTICUS--A FOUL LIBEL--THE EARL OF BUTE DENOUNCED--ANOTHER APPEAL FOR THE QUEEN--THE STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION--THE APPROACHING TRIAL.