sight can never be effaced. Well, Signior, we will not discuss this diplomatic adventure; whether your suspicions be just or ill founded, is it not true that no one was acquainted with your unhappy secret but those two miserable wretches who cannot now reveal it? You appear to attach much importance to public opinion; but the credit which it gives or takes away does not consist in what we know ourselves, but in what others say of us; or else there would be few men who would dare to appear in society. The death of these wretches assures you of an eternal silence, all is buried with them. O, Signior! raise your ●yes, look at your wife; she still breathes, perhaps she is innocent, and I dare believe she is so, since I have had no certain proofs to the contrary. The vain attempts which you have made to deprive her of life, do they not appear to you as a kind of voucher, and speak loudly in her favor? Ah, Signior, be at the same time just and generous, and listen to your wife."

Before Don Alvaro, who was lost in thought, could reply, his wife said in a feeble voice, which penetrated my heart, "No, no, whoever you are, do not intercede for me, your trouble would be lost; I hold life in detestation; great God what cause should I have to regret it? One alone would render it dear to me, and that was his affection; I have lost it. O, then,

T

"These two men whom you here behold, have merited the death which they have received; the one for having related things which he could not have seen; the other not for the harm he did, but for that which he intended, in bctraying, by the most atrocious ingratitude, my husband, his benefactor and mine. Sometimes this wretch would approach me in my lord's absence; but with a look awed him, and he always behaved with a reserve which gave me no reason to complain, and which reassured me. It is true, that on the night of the dreadful catastrophe, which has eternally ruined my happiness, I beheld him walk from behind a picture, without knowing how he could have found an entrance into my chamber. I was much terrified and surprized, and was just going to call for help when I heard my husband's voice at the door. As he has conducted you hither, Signior, I presume you are acquainted with the rest. Let him put a period to a life which is now odious to me, but let him be the judge if

reigned throughout the palace.

Koller then went round to the dif ferent posts, collected his principal officers and proceeded with them to the guard-room. He there declared that by the express orders of the King, he required their assistance to take the reigning Queen and all her adherents into custody, and commanded them to follow him. The officers were so astonished at the subject of his harrangue, that not one of them thought of asking him to produce his orders. They ac

they found the door locked, and none of the keys and picklocks with which they were provided would open it. The loss of a mo»› ment was of consequence to the undertaking. Ranzau flew to the apartment of the page in waiting, entered the room with great noise, affected the utmost consternation, and ordered him to repair immediately, to the chamber of the monarch. The affrighted page has tened to the assistance of his master, and at the door found queen Juliana, Prince Frederic, and

Dowager, where Count Ranzau arrived, attended by one Guldberg, who had been employed in drawing up the plan of the conspiracy, and in writing out the necessary orders. Col. Eichstadt had in the mean time armed his dragoons, and surrounded the palace, in order to prevent the entrance of any person, and to re

The

open it immediately. The unusual hour, the known characters of the persons, and their anxious impatience, excited his suspicions, and he refused to comply. queen's consternation was inexpressible, the Prince trembled, while Ranzau and Guldberg," whose candie fell from his shaking hands,, did not venture to take the

ent parts were soon distributed among the conspirators; Ranzau was appointed to arrest the queen, Koller to secure Struensee, and the rest of the officers to take Count Brandt and the other principal leaders of the party into custody, Koller immediately hastened to the apartments of the minister, and the officers dispersed to their different posts, while Juliana, Ranzau, and Guildberg, who carried a candle before them, went to the chamber of the king..

To their great disappointment

was strong and resolute, and they wished to make no noise. Ranzau therefore endeavoured to effect that by fear, which he could not by persuasion; he told him that the whole town was up in arms;, that the rebels were ready to break into the palace; that the guards could not withstand their fury; and that no time was to be lost if they wished to save the life of the monarch. The queen and her son joined in affecting the utmost solicitude for the safety of the king. The page was first

fied by these appearances, she rose to enquire herself into the cause of their terror; when one of them informed her that Count Ranzau, accompanied by a train of officers, had entered the antichamber, and desired to be announced to her in the name of the king. 'Ranzau cried she,' and in the name of the King? Run to Struensee, and call him to my assistance.' She was then informed that Struensee had been secured and carried to prison. 'I am betrayed, I am undone, I am lost forever! But, added she, znore composedly, let the traitors come in; I am prepared to meet my fate.' Half dressed, she met

them with the most undaunted fortitude. Ranzau respectfully addressed her, and read the orders of the king she heard him without interruption, desired to read

them herself, and Ranzau delivered the papers to her. Having read it quite through without betraying the least sign of fear, she threw it upon the ground with contempt and cried—“ The character of treachery in you, and of weakness in the king, is so strongly stamped upon this whole transaction, that I shall not obey these orders.' Ranzau entreated her to conform to the commands of the monarch. 'Commands! cried she with indignation, commands of which he himself is ignorant— commands forced by the most vilainous treachery from foolish im- . becility; such commands shall never be obeyed by a queen.'Upon this Ranzau grew more serious in his expostulations, and informed her that his orders must be obeyed, and without loss of lime.' Till I have seen the king,' returned she, your orders shall not be executed upon me. Bring me to him immediately; I must, I will see him.' She then stepped towards the door, but Ranzau stopped her he grew impatient, and his entreaties were changed into threats. Wretch cried the enraged princess, is this the language of a subject to his queen? Go, thou most contemptible of beings! go from my sight, covered with your own infamy, but never feared by me!' The pride of Ranzau was touched; he cast an enraged look at his officers, fraught with a dreadful meaning ; and the boldest of them; stepped.

: