B o p K ferviency to the views of the French court, and in oppofition to
* " — interefts of England. Count Bernfdorf, prime minifter, being
the only perfon in the Daniih miniftry who ventured in
any degree to oppofe the French and Pruflian party, his difmif-
fion was refolved in the cabinets of Verfailles and Berlin j and
his conduit, with regard to the armed neutrality, furniihed an
opportunity to effedt their purpofe.
The king of Pruflia having prevailed upon the reigning party
to accede to the armed neutrality, a meafure fo hoftile to the interefts
of England, Count Bernfdorf, though he could not prevent
the meafure, had yet fufficient addrefs to infert an article in.
the treaty, that Denmark ihould maintain its former alliances.
This conduit gave great difguft to the king of Pruflia; and
prince Ferdinand of Brunfwic was fent to offer Bernfdorf, that
he ihould be continued in the office of prime minifter, if he
would agree to the armed neutrality without the aforefaid ftipu-
lation; and to threaten him with inflant difmiffion, if he per-
fevered in that point. Bernfdorf, nobly difdaining to hold his
office on fuch precarious and dishonourable terms, was difiniffed
from his employments, and retired into Germany; and his removal
gave full and unlimited fcope to the Pruflian party, which
governed the queen-dowager.
Mr. Guldberg, formerly profeflor of the academy of Soroe, and
preceptor to prince Frederic, was the perfon in whom the
queen-dowager confided, and in the capacity of private Secretary
to the king was the fecret, though not the oftenfible minifter.
A change
A change was alfo introduced in the ufual mode of ifluing the c h a p . 7 h i . royal mandates, which fecured to the queen-dowager and her ■ - - a
party the moil abfolute fway.
Previous to this change, the general affairs of government
were tranfadted in the privy council, confifting of as many
members as the king chofe to appoint; all particular bufinefs
was carried through the different boards of finance, marine, and
commerce, and the king always figned the decrees and edidts
Separately in each board-
In order to extend their influence and authority, the reigning
party introduced a kind of private cabinet, in which the king
iflued his orders fblely from himfelf, and exclufively of the feve-
ral hoards. By this means the privy council- became little more
than a cypher,; the refpedtive boards were only employed in:
fulfilling the king's orders ; and, as the king himfelf was incapable,
the party, having pofieflion of his perfon, could obtain,
his Signature on all oecafions,. and was, in effedt, Sovereign without
contronl.
Nothing could alter this ftate o f affairs, but the admiffion of
the prince into the privy council; and as, according to the
laws of Denmark, he could not be fworn a member of that,
council until he had been confirmed and taken the facrament;
and as, in order to be confirmed, he was to undergo a. public
examination, the governing party contrived to delay that ceremony,
under the pretence that he was not fufficiently instructed,
in the duties of religion. Reports were induftrioufly circulated,.
and!