BOOK glory of the crown, or the advantage of the nation, unlefs
'— -v— < the privy council confifted of thofe perfons who poflefled
his confidence, and the confidence of the people. That,
in the prefent inftance, neither himfelf or the nation could
place any confidence in the perfons then in power; he therefore
requefted the king to diflolve the prelent privy council,
and to appoint in their place count Bernfdorf, and fuch
other perlbns whom he took the liberty of recommending. He
hoped allb, and he trufted, that his majefty would alfo iilue an
order, that no edift ihould be valid, unlefs it was figned by the
king, and counterfigned by himfelf. At the conclufion of thefe
words, which he uttered with great firmnefs and moderation, he
laid the appointment of the new privy council before his majefty,
intreating him to fign it.
The members (except baron Schach Rathlow, who alone was
acquainted with the prince's determination) were fo petrified
with aftonifhment, as to be incapable of making any refiftance.
But when the king appeared intimidated and hefitating, one o f
the members rofe, and laid, “ Sir, his majefty cannot fign fuch
“ papers without due confideration,” and endeavoured at the fame
time to fnatch them from the prince’s hand. The latter replied
with feme heat, but with great firmnefs and dignity, “ Sir, it is
“ not your bufinefs to advife his majefty on fuch occafions, but
“ mine, who am heir apparent, and am refponfible to the na-
“ tion for my conduit j” and. again tendering the papers to the
king,
king, his majefty figned them inftantly. The papers were fent
by a confidential meffenger to the chancery, and regiftered accordingly.
The privy council being thus difiolved on the firft time of
their affembling in the king’s prefehce, the prince himfelf announced
the change to the queen-dowager in terms of the higheft
refpeit.
Throughout the whole tranfaition, the conduit of the young
prince was remarkable for a difcretion and fecrecy extremely uncommon
in a perfon of his age. Being difcontented with the queen-
dowager, he had firft entered into a fecret correfpondence with
count Bernfdorf, when he was fcarcely more than fourteen years
o f age ; and had continued it near two years, Ibmetimes by letters,
and fometimes by mellages, and received from him inftruc-
tions in what manner he ihould proceed. While engaged in
this bufinefs, he entered into another correfpondence with M.
Schach Rathlow, who had the principal ihare in procuring the dif-
miffion of count Bernfdorf, but was now difpleafed with the
perfons in power, and made private offers to the prince without
being acquainted with his fecret correfpondence with Bernldorf.
The prince carried on this double intrigue under the direction of
count Bernfdorf, in whom he implicitly confided, without being
fufpefted by his preceptor Sporen, or by his governor, general
Eikfted, fo hackneyed in the intrigues of courts, and even lulled
the fufpicions of the queen-dowager: for her majefty, in a
converfation which fhe held with him about a week before the
F 2 event,