The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from Copenhagen.

"When you desire a particular Account of the black Scenes transacting here, you forget where I am, and the Danger that attends writing too freely on so ticklish a Subject. Placed at your Ease, in happy England, you think every Land under the same just Laws, under the same benign Government. Alas! these Blessings have not, as yet, warmed this frozen Region; and poor Struensee will, I am much afraid, be a melancholy Example to what Height of Cruelty the Ambition of a wicked Woman, aided by a powerful Faction, can reach. Your Princess, and our Queen, is, I hope, safe from personal Injury; her Enemies must be contented with blackening her Reputation. For this, Thanks to the Terror of your national Resentment, and the Spirit of your Ambassador, who thundered in the Ears of their bloody Senate Remonstrances worthy the Representative of the King of Great Britain. But the Situation of the poor abandoned Count is deplorable: After suffering an Imprisonment, severe beyond the Conception of an Englishman, and enough to break the most undaunted Spirit, he was brought before his Judges, or rather his Accusers, loaded with Irons, pale from Famine and Want of Rest; in a Word, a horrid, squalid Spectre. Long did he resist every Argument, every Threat, that could be used to induce him to accuse the injured Queen. At last they ordered him to be led to the Room where the hellish Instruments of Torture were arranged; on Sight of which his Spirit, totally broken and depressed, could withstand no longer, but, in an Ecstasy of Grief and Despair, he cried out, in French, Human Nature cannot bear this! My honoured, my much injured Sovereign and Benefactress, forgive my Weakness therein. Heaven will vindicate your Innocence. Then, turning to his Conductors, he desired to be led back to this Court of Inquisition, and it is said confessed every Thing they wished. Adieu, enough of this horrid Subject, and believe me ever yours, &c."