"Aude aliquid brevibus gyaris et carcere dignum,
Si vis esse aliquid; probitas laudatur et alget."
[55] "Die Struensee und Brandtische Kriminalsache".
[56] Walpole's "Journal of the Reign of George III."
[57] "Annual Register, 1772."
[58] Walpole's "Journal of the Reign of George III.," to which we are indebted for another anecdote. About a week after the account came, Count Maltzahn, the Prussian envoy, asked Mr. Dayrolles, with a sneer, "Qu'est devenu votre Reine de Danemarc?" Dayrolles replied, with spirit, "Apparement qu'elle est à Spandau avec votre Princesse de Prusse,"—who had been divorced for adultery.
[59] It is amusing to notice the transparent cloak employed by public writers even when bespattering their political foes the most fiercely. Thus Junius invariably addresses Lord N—, alludes to his M—y, and tells the premier, not that he shall be accursed, but a—d. It reminds me of the rule that only allows boxing matches in France with the gloves on, though the latter may be made of the thinnest silk.
[60] I have allowed this revolting passage to stand, as it exemplifies the language which a subject dared to use about the reigning family in those days. It is not surprising that a nation, which could tolerate language of this nature in the public press, should be ready to credit the Queen of Denmark's guilt.
[61] Reverdil, p. 396.
[62] A French petit maître, who protested against this weakness of Struensee, and in whose presence the discretion of his own countrymen in such matters was called in question, retorted: "Un Français l'aurait dit à tout le monde, et ne l'aurait avoué à personne."