Memoirs of Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina: Princess Royal of Prussia, Margravine of Baireuth, Sister of Frederick the Great, Volume 1J. R. Osgood, 1877 - Prussia (Germany) |
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acquainted affected answer arrived Berlin Bourguai brother continued Count Finck Countess court daughter death disposition double marriage dreadful Duke of Gloucester Duke of Weissenfeld emperor endeavored English entreated Eversmann extremely father favor favorite fear Frederick gave give going governess Grumkow hand Hanover heart Heaven honor inform the queen intrigues intrusted Katte King of England King of Poland King of Prussia king's length letter Leuvener Madame de Blaspil Madame de Bulow Madame de Kamken Madame de Sonsfeld majesty manner Margrave of Schwedt margravine marry mean memoirs Mermann mind minister misfortune Miss Letti Mon-Bijou monarch morning never obliged obtain ordered passed passion person portrait Potsdam present Prince of Anhalt Prince of Baireuth Prince of Wales prince royal princess promised Ramen received replied returned Seckendorff secret sent Sir Hotham sister soon suffered tears thought tion told took treated uneasiness valet violent Wilhelmina wished
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Page 57 - The czarina, who spoke German very ill, and could not understand what the queen said to her, had her fool brought to her, and conversed with her in Russian. This poor creature was a Princess Galitzin, who had been reduced to act the fool in order to save her life. Having been implicated in a conspiracy against the czar, she had twice received the knout. I do not know what she said to the czarina, but that princess was in constant fits of laughter. At length we went to dinner, and the...
Page 176 - —They left me, surprised at my indifference. Shortly after, my sisters and several ladies came to congratulate me. I was much beloved, and was more pleased with the proofs of attachment given me on this occasion, than with the cause of these felicitations. In the evening I went to the Queen. Her satisfaction may easily be conceived : she called me her dear Princess of Wales, and addressed Madam de Sonsfeld by the appellation of my lady.
Page 76 - This year opened with new vexations. But as henceforth the court of England will have a great share in these memoirs, it is proper to give an idea of it. The king of England was a prince who valued himself on his sentiments ; but, unfortunately, he had never applied to the enlightening of his mind. Many virtues, carried to an extreme, become vices. This was his case. He affected a firmness which degenerated into harshness, and a tranquillity which might be called indolence. His generosity extended...
Page 211 - I have only attempted what you told me a hundred times you would do, if you were in my place." Vexed at this last answer, the king, in a transport of rage, drew his sword, and was going to run him through. General Mosel perceived his intentions and placed himself between them, to parry the blow. " Run me through, sire," exclaimed he ;
Page 133 - The pains of purgatory could not equal those we endured; we were obliged to be in the king's room by nine o'clock in the morning ; we dined there and durst not leave it on any account. The king passed the whole day in abusing my brother and me; he called me the " English baggage," and my brother the
Page 136 - she is the cause of your being so ill-bred. I had a tutor," added he, " who was an honest man. I shall never forget a story which he told me when I was very young. ' There was,' said he, ' a man at Carthage, ' who had been condemned to death for several crimes he had committed.
Page 244 - At the same time he dropped on his knees. One of his servants attempted to blindfold him, but he would not suffer it, and elevating his thoughts to heaven, he ejaculated " my God ! I commit my soul into thy hands ! " Scarcely had he pronounced these words, when his head, cut off at one blow, rolled at his feet. The trunk, in its fall, extended its arms towards the window where my brother had...
Page 58 - Petersburg and to the great regret of every one. Two days afterwards this court of barbarians at length set out on their journey back. The Queen immediately hastened to Mon-Bijou : and what desolation was there visible. I never beheld any thing like it : indeed, I think Jerusalem, after its siege and capture, could not have presented such another scene. This elegant palace was left by them in so ruinous a state, that the Queen was absolutely obliged to rebuild nearly the whole of...
Page 214 - In uttering these words, he seized me with one hand, and struck me several times in the face with his fist : one of his blows fell upon my temples so violently, that I fell backwards, and should have split my head against a corner of the wainscot, had not Madam de Sonsfeld broke my fall by seizing me by my head-dress.
Page 56 - ... the state-rooms of the palace, and went to meet them in the hall of the guards. The Queen gave her hand to the Czarina placing her at her right and conducted her into the audience hall. The King and the Czar followed. As soon as the latter saw me, he knew me again, having seen, me five years before. He took me up in his arms, and rubbed the very skin off my face with his rude kisses. I boxed his ears, and struggled as much as I could, saying that I would not allow any such familiarities ; and...