THE EXECUTION. CONFIRMATION OF THE SENTENCE--STRUENSEE'S CORRESPONDENCE--RANTZAU'S TREACHERY--AN UNFEELING COURT--STRUENSEE'S PENITENCE--THE SCAFFOLD--APRIL 28--EXECUTION OF BRANDT--HORRIBLE DETAILS--DEATH OF STRUENSEE--HIS CHARACTER--ENLIGHTENED DESPOTISM--THE FIRST SERVANT OF THE STATE--THE QUEEN DOWAGER. On the same day that the sentences were signed by the Commissioners, Uldall, the counsel, went to Struensee, in order to inform him of the termination of the trial. When the advocate entered the cell, he said to the unhappy victim of a conspiracy: "Good count, I bring you bad news." And with these scant words he drew a copy of the approved sentence out of his pocket. Calmly and silently the man condemned to such a cruel death perused the sentence, but not the slightest alteration took place in his countenance. Then, he handed the ominous paper to Dr. Münter, who happened to be with him at the time. While the latter was trembling as he read the sentence, Struensee began to talk with composure with his counsel, and asked if all the points of his accusation had been regarded in passing his sentence, especially that about the education of the crown prince; to which Uldall answered in the affirmative. Struensee added, that he must confess that, if he had had children of his own, he would not have reared them in any other way. "And what will Brandt's fate be?" he exclaimed. "His sentence is exactly the same as yours," Uldall replied. "And could his counsel do nothing to save him?" Struensee went on to ask. "He said everything that could be urged in his favour, but Count Brandt has too much laid to his charge." This information caused Struensee greater emotion than the news of his own fate. But he soon regained his composure, and added a few words about a petition to the king for mercy, although he at the same time expressed his conviction, that even this last step would meet with no success. When Struensee and Münter were left alone again, the man who was now Death's own assured his friend that his impending punishment did not terrify him. He had thought that he might be broken on the wheel, and was already considering whether he could suffer this kind of death with patience. "If I have deserved such a death," he then added, "my infamy would not be removed, though those disgraceful circumstances were not annexed to it. And if I had not deserved it, which I cannot assert, sensible people would do me justice, and I should gain in point of honour. And upon the whole, what is honour or infamy in this world to me? My judges had the law before them, and therefore they could not decide otherwise. I confess my crime is great: I have violated the majesty of the king. Many things I might not have done if I had been sufficiently acquainted with the law,--But why did I neglect it?"