COXE’s TRAVELS IN DENMARK.

322

By means of his coufin, the Queen-dowager, the King of Pruffia * gradually acquiredan almoft abfolute fway in the cabinet of Denmark ; and directed the foreign affairs infubferviency to the views of the French court, and in oppofition to the interefts of Eng-land. Count Bernfdorf, prime-minifter, being the only perfon in the Danifh miniftrywho ventured to oppcfe the French and Pruflian party, his difmiflion was refolved inthe cabinets of Verfaiiles and Berlin ; and his conduct, with regard to the armed neu-trality, furnifhed an opportunity to effect their purpofe.

. The King of Pruffia having prevailed on the reigning party to accede to the armedneutrality, a meafure fo hoftile to the interefts of England, Count Bernfdorf, thoughunable to prevent the meafure, had yet fufficient addrefs to infert an article in the treaty,that Denmark fhould maintain its former alliances.

This conduct gave great difguft to the King of Pruffia; and Prince Ferdinand ofBrunfwick was fent to offer Bernfdorf, that he fhould be continued in the office of'prime-minifter, if he would agree to the armed neutrality without the aforefaid ftipula-tion; but to threaten him with inflant difmiflion if he perfevered in maintaining thatpoint. Bernfdorf, nobly difdaining to hold his office on fuch difhonourable terms, wasdifmiffed from his employments, and retired into Germany ; and his removal gave un-limited fcope to the Pruffian party, which governed the Oueen-dowager.

Guidberg, formerly profeffor of the academy 6f Soroe, and preceptor to Prince Fre-deric, was the perfon in whom the Oueen-dowager confided; and in the capacity ofprivate fecretary to the King, was the fecret, though not the oftenfible minifter. Achange was alfo introduced in the ufual mode of iffuing the royal mandates, which fe-cured to the Oueen-dowager and her party the rnoft abfolute fway.

Previous to this change, the general affairs of government were tranfacied in theprivy-council, confiding of as many members as the King chofe to appoint; all parti-cular bufinefs was carried through the different boards of finance, marine, and com-merce, and the King always figned the decrees and edifts feparately from each board.

To extend their influence and authority, the reigning party introduced a kind ofprivate cabinet, in which the royal orders were iffued exclusively of the feveral boards.By this means the privy-council became little more than a cypher; the refpectiveboards were only employed in fulfilling the King’s orders ; and, as the King himfelfwas incapable of governing, the Queen-dowager, who had poffeffion of his perfon,could obtain his fignature on all occafions, and was, in effedt, fovereign without con-troul.

Nothing could alter this date of affairs, but the admiffion of the Prince into the privy-council ; and as, according to the laws of Denmark , he could not be fworn a mem-ber until he had been confirmed and taken the facrament; and as, in order to be con-firmed, he was to undergo a public examination, the governing party contrived to de-lay that ceremony, under the pretence that he was not fufficiently inftrutted in the ar-ticles of religion. Reports were induftrioufly circulated, and as readily believed, bythofe whofe intereft it was to believe them, that the Prince’s abilities were extremelymoderate. And, although it was ufual for the Prince-royal to be confirmed, and takehis feat in the privy-council at thirteen, yet this ceremony was repeatedly poftponedlong after he had reached that age.

When the Prince had nearly attained his fixteenth year, they could not venture todelay his confirmation, but as the fatal hour approached, every precaution which pru-dence or art could fuggeft was taken to gain the Prince, and continue the power in the fame

* Frederic the Second.

hands.