In regard to Denmark, the queen declares that, in the present situation of the court, she has not a wish for any correspondence or connection there, beyond what immediately concerns the welfare and education of her children. That she has never written a single letter to Denmark since she left it, or received one thence. That the only person belonging to that kingdom from whom she hears lives in Holstein, and is not connected with the court.
The queen having expressed great anxiety with respect to the false impressions which may be instilled into the minds of her children, particularly regarding herself, I thought it my duty to say that such impressions, however cruelly intended, could not, at the tender age of her Majesty's children, nor for some years to come, take so deep a root as not to be entirely effaced by more candid instructions, and the dictates of filial duty, when reason and reflection shall break in upon their minds. The queen seemed willing to lay hold of that hope, yet could not help bursting into tears, when she mentioned the danger of losing the affections of her children.
Her Majesty appears very desirous to communicate directly to her royal brother all her views and wishes in the most confidential manner, hoping to obtain in return his Majesty's advice and directions, which she intends implicitly to follow. She said that, in matters of so private and domestic a nature, it would give her much greater pleasure to learn his Majesty's intentions upon every point from his own pen, than through the channel of any of his electoral servants.
It gave me great satisfaction to find her Majesty in very good spirits, and so much pleased with the palace at Zell, the apartments of which are very spacious, and handsomely furnished. She wishes to have an apartment fitted up in the palace for her sister, the Princess of Brunswick, as she thinks that the etiquette of this country does not permit that princess, in her visits to Zell, to be lodged out of the palace, without great impropriety. Her Majesty said that she intended to write herself to the king on this head.
The queen told me that the very enterprising and dangerous part which Queen Juliana has acted in Denmark, has created greater astonishment in Brunswick (where the abilities and character of that princess are known) than, perhaps, in any other city of Europe.
Her Majesty talked to me of several late incidents at the court of Denmark, but without appearing to take much concern in them. She mentioned, with a smile, some of the paltry things which had been sent as a part of her baggage from Denmark, adding, that this new instance of their meanness had not surprised her. But the Princess of Brunswick, who happened to be present when the baggage was opened, expressed her indignation at the treatment in such strong terms, that she (the queen) could not help taking notice of it in her letters to the king.
She let me understand that a small collection of English books would be very agreeable to her, leaving the choice of them entirely to his Majesty.
Her Majesty more than once expressed how much she considered herself obliged to the king's ministers, for the zeal they had shown in the whole of the late unhappy transactions relating to Denmark and to herself. She is particularly sensible to the great share your lordship had in all those affairs, and has commanded me to convey to your lordship her acknowledgments for that constant attention to her honour and interests, which she is persuaded the king will look upon as an additional mark of your lordship's dutiful attachment to his royal person and family.
It only remains that I should beg your forgiveness for the great length to which I have swelled this letter. The only excuse I can offer arises from my ardent desire to excuse the king's orders with the utmost possible precision.
I am, &c., &c.,
R. M. KEITH.[45]