70 DENMARK. 



Charles of Sweden from his exile, he renewed the war against Den- 

 mark with the most implacable violence ; but, on the death of that 

 prince, who was killed at the siege of Fredericshall, Frederic durst 

 not refuse the offer of his Britannic majesty's mediation between him 

 and the crown of Sweden : in consequence of which a peace was con- 

 cluded at Stockholm, which left him in possession of the duchy of 

 Sleswick Frederic died in the year 1730, after having, two years 

 before, seen his capital reduced to ashes by an accidental fire. His 

 son and successor, Christian Frederic, or Christian VI, made the best 

 use of his power, and the advantages with which he mounted the 

 throne, by cultivating peace with all his neighbours, and promoting 

 the happiness of his subjects, whom he eased of many oppressive 

 taxes. 



In 1734, Christian sent 6000 men to the assistance of the emperor, 

 during the dispute of the succession to the crown of Poland. Though 

 he was pacific, yet he was jealous of his rights, especially over Ham- 

 burgh. He obliged the Hamburgers to call in the mediation of 

 Prussia, to abolish their bank, to admit the coin of Denmark as cur- 

 Tent, and to pay him a million of silver marks. In 1738 he had a dis- 

 pute with his Britannic majesty about the little lordship of Steinhorst, 

 which had been mortgaged to the latter by a duke of Holstein-Lau- 

 enburgh, and which Christian said belonged to him. Some blood was 

 spilt during the contest, which, however, ended in a treaty, by which 

 his Britannic majesty agreed to pay Christian a subsidy of 70,000/. 

 sterling a year, on condition of keeping in readiness 7000 troops for 

 the protection of Hanover. This was a gainful bargain for Denmark. 

 Two years after, he seized some Dutch ships, for trading without his 

 leave to Iceland ; but the difference was made up by the mediation of 

 Sweden. Christian died in 1746, with the character of being the father 

 of his people. 



His son and successor, Frederic V, had, in 1743, married the prin- 

 cess Louisa, daughter to his Britannic majesty George II. He im- 

 proved upon his father's plan for the happiness of his people, and 

 took no concern, except that of a mediator, in the German war. It 

 was by his intervention that the treaty of Closter-Seven was conclud- 

 ed between his royal highness the late duke of Cumberland and the 

 French general Richelieu. Upon the death of his first queen, who 

 was mother to his present Danish majesty, he married a daughter of 

 the duke of Brunsvic-Wolfenbuttle ; and died in 1766. 



His son, Christian VII, married his present Britannic majesty's 

 youngest sister, the princess Carolina-Matilda. This alliance, though 

 it wore at first a very promising appearance, had a very unfortunate 

 termination. In the month of January, 1772, by the intrigues, or at 

 least the active agency of the queen-dowager, mother-in-law to the 

 present king, Matilda was charged with an illicit commerce with 

 count Struensee, the minister and favourite of the king ; and with 

 being engaged with him, his brother, and count Brandt, in a conspi- 

 racy to deprive her husband and sovereign of his crown. She was 

 in consequence arrested, and confined in the castle of Cronenburg. 

 Her son, the prince-royal, who had entered into the fifth year of his » 

 age, was put under the care of a lady of quality, who was appointed 

 governess, under the superintendency of the queen-dowager. Stru- 

 ensee and Brandt were seized, put in irons, and very rigorously treat- 

 ed in prison : they both underwent long and frequent examinations, 

 and at length received sentence of death. They were beheaded on 



