Life and Times of Her Majesty Caroline Matilda, Vol. 3 (of 3): Queen of Denmark and Norway, and Sister of H. M. George III. of EnglandWraxall, Lascelles, Sir
History
Life and Times of Her Majesty Caroline Matilda, Vol. 3 (of 3): Queen of Denmark and Norway, and Sister of H. M. George III. of England
Wraxall, Lascelles, Sir
Caroline Mathilde, Queen, consort of Christian VII, King of Denmark, 1751-1775; Denmark -- History -- Christian VII, 1766-1808
Mr. Wraxall also wrote to the queen, Baron von Seckendorf, and Baron
von Bülow, acquainting them with his arrival and his Majesty's orders.
During a fortnight, he waited in expectation that the king might possibly
signify to him his commands. But having received no communication, Mr.
Wraxall wrote, on April 21, to Baron von Bülow and Monsieur le Texier,
informing them how matters stood. He particularly requested to be told in
what manner he should act: whether they wished him to remain in London,
or return by Hanover and Celle to Hamburg. By the same post, he addressed
a letter to her Majesty at Celle, stating fully to her the facts which
he had communicated to the Danish nobility.
It was not till May 10 that Mr. Wraxall received an answer from the
Danish nobility. The letter was written by Le Texier in his own name
and that of Von Bülow. It was to the effect that the baron's absence
from Altona had occasioned the delay of some days in replying to Mr.
Wraxall's last despatch; but that, the baron being then returned,
they had maturely considered it together. They greatly regretted the
king's not having admitted their agent to an audience, as well as his
silence on the important point requested. The state of affairs at
Copenhagen was extremely critical; but till the return of young Baron
von Schimmelmann, whom they expected impatiently and daily, they were
in a degree unacquainted with the person, condition, or intentions of
their associates. The instant they were enabled to give Mr. Wraxall any
information on the subject, he should hear again. In the meanwhile, they
besought him, in the joint names of all the party, to remain quiet where
he was, and not to set out from London, either for Celle or Hamburg,
unless by his Majesty's positive directions.
In pursuance of this letter, Mr. Wraxall waited for further information,
and held himself in readiness, if it should be thought necessary, to
return to Germany, or to renew his application to George III. through Mr.
de Hinüber, if the Danish nobility should instruct him to do so; but
Providence had decreed that their efforts should be rendered vain. While
the measures concerted to restore the queen to the throne of Denmark
appeared to be near their accomplishment, she was no more. The melancholy
intelligence did not reach London till May 19, and it need hardly be
said that the news of so unexpected and lamentable an event produced a
terrible effect on her zealous agent.
On May 25, Mr. Wraxall received a letter from Baron von Seckendorf, which
I shall transcribe here, as it contains a singular and material fact,
that George III. had given, through Baron von Lichtenstein, an answer
to the request made him by the Danish nobility; but that, as the king's
letter arrived at Hanover when Caroline Matilda was either dying or dead,
the packet was returned to him unopened:--
MON TRES CHER AMI,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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