Sir,
'The tragical Death of the Count de Hoym having been variously reported both in printed Papers and written Letters, and with Circumstances not strictly true; the King has order'd me to give you an exact Information of this Affair.
'You will remember what the late King, of glorious Memory, signified to his Ministers abroad, concerning the Reasons and Circumstances that preceded, accompanied, and followed the Disgrace of the Count de Hoym.
'This Count having been a second time arrested for other Crimes, after the Death of the late King, was committed in 1733, to Sonnenstein, from whence the present King was so merciful as to release him some Weeks after; contenting himself to bind him again by Oaths stronger than the former; whereby the Count obliged himself to continue quiet at his Estate, without concerning himself with any but his own private Affairs.
'Yet towards the close of the Year 1734, and at the time when the King was in Poland, the Count, notwithstanding his Engagements, took the Opportunity of his Majesty's Absence, to set on foot other Intrigues, in defiance of his Oaths and his Promises; whereof the King being timely inform'd, order'd him to be arrested and committed Prisoner to Konigstein; which was the reason of his attempting his Life by a Pistol, whereof I acquainted you by my Circular Letter of the 15th of January, 1735.
'An Information was afterwards preparing for the Trial of him and his Accomplices; but not many days after the first Examination, the said Count being stung by the Remorse of his Conscience, and vexed to see all his Pranks laid open, chose to shorten the Course of Justice by putting an end to his own Life, notwithstanding the undeniable Proofs he had before experienc'd of his Majesty's Clemency. For this purpose he first pretended to be sick, and having order'd his Domestics not to disturb him, he hang'd himself the 21st of April last, at Night, with a Handkerchief ty'd to a Hook that supported his Looking-glass. The Letter he wrote to his Domestics with a Pencil, and which was found upon the Floor, is an indisputable Mark of the deliberate Purpose and cold Blood with which he executed this Design. Moreover, in searching his Pockets a Razor was found on him, with a Penknife, Scissars, and the like Instruments.
The Family of the Deceas'd having petition'd the King not to proceed against the Corpse with the Severity of the Law, his Majesty has been so good as to order the Body of the Self-murderer to be privately interr'd, just without the Church-Yard of the Garrison at the Fort of Konigstein.'
I am, &c.
The Night before the Count dispatch'd himself, he left a Note upon his Table for his two Servants, as follows:
'Be prudent, make no Noise or Alarm, untie me immediately, put me to Bed, and then shut the Door after you, by bolting it when you are out, which you may do by the help of this Pack-thread; and by this means no body will know you have been in my Chamber. The World will doubtless believe I died of an Apoplexy; if you perform my Orders discreetly and faithfully, my Family will pay you 1000 Ducats, on sight of this Note.'