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hands. For this purpofe, his governor, General Eikfted, who was not beloved by hisroyal pupil, was difmifi'ed ; and Sporen , his preceptor, and fuppofed to be his favourite,appointed iecretary of the cabinet. A new privy-council was nominated, confidingalmoft entirely of the queen-dowager’s creatures, in which Guldberg had the princi-pal fway. Every thing feerned to bend before the Queen-dowager, the Prince effected arevolution as fingular as it was unexpected.
On the 4th of April 1784, the Prince was confirmed in the royal chapel of Copen-hagen , in the prefence of the King and court. According to the cuflorn of the Lu-theran church, he underwent a previous examination by the King’s chaplain, whichcontinued above an hour ; and the Prince replied to every queflion in a fenfible man-ner ; fufficiently proving, from the readinefs and perfpicuity of Ins anfwers, that the re-ports of his incapacity were malicious and unfounded. He ipokein a loud, clear, manlytone of voice, with a dignity and propriety which afionifhed the afTembly; and repeatedthe oath, to continue true to the eftablifhed church, in fo feeling a manner, as drewtears from the eyes of many who were prefent.
Having, on a fubfequent occafion, received the facrament, he was admitted into thef>rivy-council; and on the morning of the 14th of April, took the accuftomed oath.About five in the afternoon, the Prince and members of the new privy-council affem-bled for the firft time in the King’s prefence. Steman, who was at the head of thetreafury, was going to propoie the ordinary bufinefs of the day, but was interrupted bythe Prince; turning to the King, His Royal Highnefs thanked his majefty for his educa-tion, and remonftrated againft many abufesin the late adminiftration of affairs, particu-larly-on the irregular mode of iffuing orders from the cabinet, and not from the dif-ferent boards of government. He then faid, “ Confcious of my own inexperience, Icannot advife your majefty for the glory of the crown, or the advantage of the nation,unlefs the privy-council confifts of thofe perfons who poflefs my confidence, and theconfidence of the people. But, in the prefent inftance, neither myfelf nor the nation“can place any confidence in the perfons now in power; I therefore requeft your ma-jefty to diffolve the prefent privy-council, and to appoint in their place Count Bernf-dorf, and fuch other perfons as I take the liberty of recommending. I hope and truftthat your majefty will iffue an order, that no edidf fhall be valid unlefs counterfignedby me.” At the conclufion of thefe words, which he uttered with great firmnefs andModeration, he laid the appointment of the new privy-council before the King, andentreated him to fign it.
All the members (except Baron Schach Rathlow, who alone was acquainted with thePrince’s determination) were fo petrified with aftoniftiment, as to be incapable ofMaking any refiftance. But when the King appeared to hefitate, one of the membersr °fe, and Laid, “ Sir, His Majefty cannot fign fuch papers without due confideration,”an d endeavoured at the fame time to fnatch them from the Prince’s hand. The PrinceReplied with fome warmth, but with great dignity, “ Sir, it is not your bufinefs to ad-Y 'feHis Majefty on fuch occafions, but mine, who am heir apparent, and refponfible tome nation for my conductand again tendering the papers to the King, His Majeftymftantly figned them. The papers were fent by a confidential meffenger to the chancery,ai id regiftered accordingly.
/I he privy, council being thus diffolved on the firft time of their affembling in theKing’s prefence, the Prince himfelf announced the change to the Queen-dowager inter ’ ns of high refpect.
i hroughout the whole tranfaftion, the conduct of the young Prince was remarkableor a diferetion and fecrecy extremely uncommon in a perfon of his age. Being difeon-
t t 2 tented