CHAPTER II.
THE TWO COUNTS.
STRUENSEE'S SENTENCE—HIS GENERAL CONDUCT—THE MAITRE DES REQUETES—THE GERMAN LANGUAGE—STRUENSEE'S DESPOTISM—THE COUNCIL OF THE THIRTY-TWO—THE CABINET MINISTER—THE KING'S PRESENTS—STRUENSEE'S PRECAUTIONS—HIS DOWNFALL—THE SENTENCE APPROVED—COUNT BRANDT—HIS ASSAULT ON THE KING—HIS BEHAVIOUR—THE ROYAL ASSENT.
STRUENSEE'S SENTENCE.[5]
Apart from the fact that Count John Frederick Struensee has already been convicted, and has himself confessed that he has committed a terrible crime, which involves in an eminent degree an assault on the king's supremacy, or the crime of high treason, and according to the law (especially art. 1 of cap. iv. of book vi.) deserves the severe penalty of death; it is sufficiently notorious and proven that his whole conduct and management during the time when he had a share in the administration of the affairs was a chain, which, on one side, was composed of vain and audacious impetuosity; on the other, of tricks and intrigues, all of which operated to secure him the whole power and authority to the exclusion of others. At the same time he boldly employed all the measures which appeared to be useful in attaining his ends, without in the slightest degree reflecting whether they were permitted or not, and how far they accorded with the form of government and the constitution, the genius of the nation and the regulations and laws, both civil and fundamental, or were in strict opposition to them.
His great design was partly to become privy cabinet minister, with the extraordinary and unparalleled authority which he filched in the last month of July, partly to exclude all the subjects from their king, and the king from them; partly to exercise at court and over his Majesty such an unbridled power as has been seen with astonishment.
In order to attain this end, he strove, during his Majesty's foreign journey, to gain his most gracious favour by proved care for the king's health and pleasure. When his Majesty returned, Struensee behaved quietly, and seemed to think of nothing less than the attachment of charges and honours, although his ambition and his love of power desired them.
He lived at court, amused himself, demanded no increase of his salary, and seemed to satisfy himself with peace and voluptuousness; but in secret he zealously strove to lay the foundation on which he intended to raise his proud fortune.
It was not his business to learn the language of the country, to study the position and true interest of the kingdom, and to learn its civil laws and constitution. This was the way which he ought to have chosen; but about all these things he was, and remained, in the deepest ignorance. Instead of this, he preferred to establish the principles which his Majesty should follow in the government, so that he might use them in concealing his infamous propositions behind them, and as he had every reason to apprehend that either faithfully minded men might reveal his designs, or that the king himself should detect them; in order to prevent the former effect, he calumniated without distinction all those who had the honour of being allowed to approach the monarch, and in order to secure the latter, he strove to acquire a powerful protection, and to have in the king's neighbourhood so close, constant, and trustworthy a friend, that it was rendered almost impossible for his Majesty to penetrate this man's ways and designs.
No sooner had he got his machine in perfect readiness in the year 1770 than he at once set it in motion.
Since the sovereignty our kings have had a council, composed of men who were experienced in the laws and customs of the country, and had studied the true state-system and real interests of the land, while, at the same time, they knew the rules which were applicable in cases that occurred.