| Citation |
PC.772.037
6-13 Apr 1772:453 (274)
London, . . . Feb. 3. . . Extract of a letter from a Dutch
merchant in Copenhagen, to his friend in London, Jan. 19.
At a masked ball, the King and Queen being present,
Colonel Scheffer, Col. of the Guard, went up to the Count --
----, late physician, and then favourite Minister and told
him he was in arrest; Count Rantzaw, General and Commander
in Chief, confirmed it, and he was instantly carried away.
Then Count Rantzaw, spoke to the King, and advised him,
that, for the safety of the Queen, and to save her from the
resentment of the Guards and people, he would sign an order
for her confinement, with which request the King complied.
Rantzaw then secured the Queen, and she was conveyed away in
her masquerade habit to a castle at a distance. The King
was then conducted into an inner apartment, the masquers,
musicians, &c. being kept in by the centinels, who guarded
the masquerade. Upon a signal given, the greater part of
the company threw off their masquerade dresses, and appeared
armed, declaring for the guards, &c. At the same time, the
burghers, sailors, and soldiers not on duty, surrounded the
house, and with loud shouts cried out for good government,
and justice against the Queen and some others, and insisted
that the King should appear. To pacify them, Count Rantzaw
brought him to the window. . . [several paragraphs on
political strife, &c.]
The Baron [Schimmelman], well assured of these
transactions went to his master, informed him, convinced
him, and got his consent, that the parties, should be
secured. For this purpose, a ball was ordered, to which all
the nobility, great officers, and servants of the Court were
invited. Here the Q. Physician, and other accused parties,
were seized in the presence of the Nobles, and properly
secured. . . [1/2 column reviewing above actions]
A correspondent says, he cannot think but the seizure of
the King and Queen of Denmark at a masquerade, will put an
entire stop to that stupid kind of diversion, as the very
mention of it, one would think, cannot fail to make Princes
shudder at the recollection of what is capable of being
acted under the specious shew of mirth and festivity.
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