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
Count Brandt has broken the fidelity which he owed to the king his master
by virtue of the oath he took to his Majesty, by being an accomplice in
the improper intercourse and intimacy which Count Struensee had acquired
with the person to whom he certainly owed reverence and affection, but
no tenderness. Count Brandt confesses this, and that Count Struensee
confided it to him is proved by his, Brandt's, own confession, lit. a,
pp. 40 and 41. It is true that Count Struensee, in his declaration, lit.
a, p. 50, will not quite admit Count Brandt's statement; but no doubt
can be possible when we remember that Count Brandt was placed about his
Majesty to prevent other persons having access to the king, in order that
Count Struensee might have the better opportunity to play his part. What
could induce Count Struensee to share the booty with him, and to allow
him to rise in honour equally with himself, unless it were done to render
him, Brandt, faithful, silent, and attentive?
That Count Brandt was cognizant of this illicit familiarity is
furthermore shown by Count Struensee's reply to Count Brandt's letter,
in which we read: "Je n'ai partagé avec personne la confiance que je
vous ai donné: vous êtes le seul qui possède mes secrets, et à qui je
m'explique sur tous les objets sans reserve." Count Brandt, generally
as a subject, and specially as a royal official, Danish count and
chamberlain, was commanded by the law to promote the king's welfare
and prevent his detriment by his utmost efforts. Hence two duties were
offered him: either to reveal the affair to the king, or to observe to
the guilty party that such things must not be allowed; to oppose such a
disgusting life, and threaten to reveal it to the king. I fancy I can
hear a sincere friend of the king and of the honour of the royal family
speaking thus to Count Struensee: "Audacious traitor and most impudent of
the human race! you who ought to recognise and honour the supremacy and
majesty, turn back from your impudence, and know that I, even through my
birth, am bound to avert everything that entails the dishonour of the
house of the king and his family." I believe that such language would
have had more effect than all the memoirs. But, unhappily, money flowed,
which Count Brandt needed; and hence he did not dare say, "May you be
damned with your money!" I certainly see that I may be answered: "Why did
not others do so? Why did the Fiscal General himself neglect it?" But to
this it may be answered: "No one knew so much about it as Count Brandt.
No one was so near the king as he; he kept every one away from the king,
for the purpose that his royal Majesty might learn nothing about it
from one or the other." But it was his duty, as he was always about the
king, and was accurately acquainted with everything. If he were, on the
contrary, to object that such matters did not concern him, although he
is forced to confess having warned Count Struensee of what happened to
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