Her Majesty was gracious enough to express to me the strongest assurances of her protection. She was pleased to say:
"I lament that I have no means left me of proving to you at this time my satisfaction. You have run every hazard in order to serve me. I will, whatever may be the event of the present attempt, recommend you to the king, my brother. He can, and will, I have no doubt, recompense you properly. Meanwhile, write to me freely and unreservedly from England on every point, and rely on my recollection of your services."
When the queen was about to withdraw, she opened the door, but held it a few minutes in her hand, as if she had something to say: she then retired. I little thought her death was so near, and that I should never see her again. In a short time afterwards, Mantel came to me, and wrapping me up in his cloak as before, conducted me by a private staircase out of one of the postern gates of the castle. It was quite dark, and he therefore showed me the way through the suburbs to the inn. When I got there, it was midnight.
On the following morning, Mr. Wraxall waited on Baron von Seckendorf. The latter delivered to him the two letters, one from the Danish nobility, and one from the queen to George III. They were under separate covers, but both were sealed and addressed by herself. Mr. Wraxall received orders from her Majesty, concerning what he had written on March 14 from Hamburg, namely, to deliver the letters on his arrival in London to Baron von Lichtenstein, if he was still there, and in case of his having quitted England, he would follow the instructions which might be left by him respecting the mode of conveying the despatches to the king.
Baron von Seckendorf, at the same time, communicated to Mr. Wraxall, by the queen's command, a message with which she had charged him. It contained the most gracious assurances of her favour and protection, "as due," she was pleased to say, "to his zeal, exertions, and disinterestedness."
Mr. Wraxall left Celle immediately afterwards, and took the road to Osnabrück and Holland. From Rotterdam he wrote to Baron von Bülow, as well as to Mr. le Texier, informing them of all that had happened at Celle, and of his being on his way to England. On April 1, he embarked at Helvoetsluys, and reached London on the morning of the 5th.
On the next day, Mr. Wraxall called at Baron von Lichtenstein's lodgings, but, to his great mortification, learned that the baron had left England ten days previously. He left behind him, however, the following letter for the Queen of Denmark's agent:—
J'ai reçu, monsieur, la lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire en date du 14 de Mars. Je suis très faché que mes occupations, et mon emploi à Hannovre, ne me permettent pas de m'arréter ici jusqu'au temps de votre retour, pour avoir la satisfaction d'apprendre le succès de votre voyage, n'en ayant pas eu, comme vous vous imaginez, des nouvelles par la personne en question. En attendant, j'ai donné l'avis de votre arrivée prochaine. Vous trouverez çi joint l'adresse de la personne à laquelle on veut que vous remettiez vos lettres, dont vous pourriez être chargé. Je dois vous dire de n'être pas surpris, se vous ne recevez point de réponse. On l'adressera à moi. Des raisons que vous savez, c'est à dire qu'on ne donnera rien d'écrit de sa main touchant cette affaire, ne permettent pas d'agir autrement. Si on ne change pas de sentiment, et si on ne vous fait pas dire par celui auquel vous donnerez vos lettres, d'attendre ici, je ne vois pas d'autre expédient que de retourner dans une quinzaine de jours et de venir me trouver à Hannovre, où je compte d'être infailliblement vers la fin du mois d'Avril. J'ai l'honneur d'être avec la considération la plus distinguée,
Monsieur,
Votre très humble et
Très obéissant serviteur,
N. L.A Londres, ce 24 Mars, 1775.