CONFIRMATION OF THE SENTENCE—STRUENSEE'S CORRESPONDENCE—RANTZAU'S TREACHERY—AN UNFEELING COURT—STRUENSEE'S PENITENCE—THE SCAFFOLD—APRIL 28—EXECUTION OF BRANDT—HORRIBLE DETAILS—DEATH OF STRUENSEE—HIS CHARACTER—ENLIGHTENED DESPOTISM—THE FIRST SERVANT OF THE STATE—THE QUEEN DOWAGER.
On the same day that the sentences were signed by the Commissioners, Uldall, the counsel, went to Struensee, in order to inform him of the termination of the trial.
When the advocate entered the cell, he said to the unhappy victim of a conspiracy:
"Good count, I bring you bad news."
And with these scant words he drew a copy of the approved sentence out of his pocket.
Calmly and silently the man condemned to such a cruel death perused the sentence, but not the slightest alteration took place in his countenance. Then, he handed the ominous paper to Dr. Münter, who happened to be with him at the time.
While the latter was trembling as he read the sentence, Struensee began to talk with composure with his counsel, and asked if all the points of his accusation had been regarded in passing his sentence, especially that about the education of the crown prince; to which Uldall answered in the affirmative. Struensee added, that he must confess that, if he had had children of his own, he would not have reared them in any other way.
"And what will Brandt's fate be?" he exclaimed.
"His sentence is exactly the same as yours," Uldall replied.