cheese, which I then cut in two and joined together
again as well as I could. " Send this cheese to your
mother," said I, " inform her that it comes from
madame de Roukoule. No one will think of looking
for a letter in a cheese." This expedient removed
her fears ; she followed my plan, which proved suc-
cessful. I had besought the queen to keep the in-
formation I communicated to her majesty strictly
secret, and to acquaint me with her commands in the
same way. But she did not attend to my request.
Madame de Roukoule brought me the answer of
the queen the next morning. This lady was seventy
years old, of great probity and merit, but her age was
not calculated to inspire confidence. As she suspected
some mystery, she wished to be present at the opening
of the letter. I was therefore, though r|luctantly,
obliged to read it before her ; it contained only these
few words :
" You are a faint-hearted creature, frightened at
anything. Remember that I give you my maledic-
tion if you consent to what is demanded of you.
Affect to be ill, in order to gain time." The reading
MARGRAVINE OF BAREITH. 199
of this note stunned my brain, and the last sentence,
in particular, puzzled me very much. The advice
was good, but it required discretion ; and I was
certain that, on that point, we should be deficient.
When I found myself alone with madame de Sons-
feld, we conferred about what was to be done. We
thought it necessary to deceive madame de Roukoule,
and to impose upon her respecting my pretended
illness. Madame de Sonsfeld advised me to delay the
performance of the farce till the next day, for motives,
she said, which she might not then explain.
Eversmann came to see her that very evening.
" The king," said he, " sends me to signify to you
his commands to use your best efforts to induce the
princess to marry the duke of Weissenfeld. Her
obstinacy has exhausted the king's patience. He
informs you that quarters are prepared for you at
Spandau, whither he is determined to send you, if
the princess does not submit to his will." " I shall
leave the court," replied madame de Sonsfeld, " as
soon as his majesty thinks proper. The king cannot
have forgotten the reluctance with which I accepted
the office of governess to the princess. I objected
my want of capacity for the situation ; he forced it
upon me in spite of my remonstrances. I have in-
stilled the principles of a Christian into the mind of
the princess : I love and esteem her more than life ;
still I am ready to resign, if the king thinks me no
longer capable of performing my office. I cannot
meddle with things beyond my sphere. The princess
is old enough to know what she has to do. I wish
her determination may be agreeable to the king and
queen. As for myself, I shall remain neutral, and
shall not presume to advise her for or against."
" You are not, perhaps, acquainted," answered
Eversmann, " with the dreadful tragedy that has
taken place this morning. The blood of M. de Katt
has not appeased the resentment of the king : he is
more exasperated than ever ; and I fear your conduct
200 MEMOIRS OF THE
will induce him to proceed with you to fatal ex-
tremes." Thereupon he told her of the deplorable
end of Katt, which I shall relate in another place, as
I do not wish to break the thread of my narrative.
Madame de Sonsfeld was struck with horror ; she
was ignorant of this sad catastrophe, the particulars
of which made her shudder : her fortitude, however,
did not forsake her. " For heaven's sake, spare the
princess I" she exclaimed : " do not mention this
barbarous execution to her : her heart is kind and
merciful; the situation of the prince royal and the
misfortunes of Katt would infallibly cause her a violent
emotion, which would effectually impair her already
disordered health. As for myself, I await with calm-
ness and resignation whatever it shall please Provi-
dence to order respecting me." Being unable to
obtain any other answer, Eversmann retired rather
dissatisfied.
I was a prey to the most heart-rending anguish
during their conversation. Madame de Sonsfeld re-
ported it to me, word for word," except what related
to Katt. She was extremely depressed, and could
not hide her tears. I mistook their source, thinking
they were occasioned by Eversmann's menaces.
I prepared to act the scene which we had agreed
upon. I entrusted Mrs Mermann with my secret ;
I could depend upon her discretion and fidelity. I
dined tete-k-tete with my governess in a small parlour,
the door of which opened into a passage. Our
ordinary was so scanty, that we were starving for the
greatest part of the time. We had nothing but bare
bones boiled in water with a little salt, and small
beer instead of wine, which obliged us to drink pure
water. When we were sitting at table, we complained
that the room was too hot, and opened the door that
looked into the passage, where several people were
always going and coming. I gently slided from my
chair, faintly screaming, " I am dying ! ' Madame
de Sonsfeld immediately ran to my assistance, crying
MARGRAVINE OF BAREITII. 201
for help ; the people in the passage, seeing me in this
condition, thought me dead, and spread the rumour
of my decease all over the palace. The lamentations
of madame de Sonsfeld and of Mrs Mermann con-
firmed them in this idea. My sisters and the ladies
of the queen's household hastened to my room. I
acted my part so well for an hour, that Dr Stahl was
at length sent for. I recovered my senses before he
arrived. A thousand times did I regret inwardly the
necessity under which I was of performing a part so
contrary to my disposition. I had been laid upon my
bed ; I begged they would all retire, and leave me to
take a little repose. By this means I gave madame
de Sonsfield time to hint the truth to the physician,
who was perfectly devoted to the queen. He de-
clared that I was extremely ill; and thus the day
passed.
The next day I had again to endure the torment of
a visit from the odious Eversmann. As I had ex-
pected that he would come to examine whether my
illness was true or counterfeited, I had taken my
precautions beforehand, and got some turpentine
cakes heated, which were concealed in my bed, and
which I could make use of in case of any suspicious
visitor coming. I held them in my hands, which
grew burning hot, and made every one believe that I
had a severe fever and a raking heat. Eversmann
had been dispatched from Wusterhausen, where they
had heard of the accident that had befallen me the
day before. " Are you very ill?" said Eversmann:
" give me your hand, that I may feel whether you
have any fever?" I held it out to him immediately.
Being surprised at finding me so bad, he asked
madame de Sonsfeld " whether she had not sent for
Stahl? " I have ventured to do so," answered she,
" for the princess was in such a state yesterday, that
there was no time to be lost : but I durst not send
for him to-day again : I have, however, asked her
majesty's permission." Eversmann took madame de
202 MEMOIRS OF THE
Sonsfeld aside, and went out with her. " I had
ordered you and the princess," said he, " in the
name of the king, not to inform the queen of his
majesty's messages to you both. However, you have
had the effrontery to disobey ; the queen is acquainted
with everything. She has treated me like the vilest
of wretches ; but you may both thank my goodness,
which will not suffer me to be revenged. If I should
tell the king anything of this, he would handle you
both very roughly. I only hint this to you, that you
may not again fall into the same error." With these
words he withdrew, and saved madame de Sonsfeld
the trouble of an answer. She hastened back to my
room in great consternation, to acquaint me with
this fresh imprudence of the queen : it absolutely
stupified me. We doubted not but her majesty would
also mention it to the king; which would have
spoiled all, and have exposed us to the greatest mis-
fortunes.
Every day was marked by some new calamity.
Nothing was heard of but imprisonments, confisca-
tions, and executions ; which made me apprehensive
that the king's menaces might at last be realized,
particularly if he could find us in fault. My own
fate (I repeat it) was that which gave me the least
uneasiness : but that of the persons I loved absorbed
all my attention. I reflected all night on my situa-
tion. Good heavens ! how dreadful it was 1 I saw
myself destitute of all support ; as I could not rely
on the queen who had no power, and embroiled every
thing by her imprudences and her indiscretion. My
brother was continually uppermost in my mind. I
suspected I was not informed of the truth respect-
ing him; my intercession for him proved useless,
and I was always told that he was confined for a
twelvemonth. As I knew nothing of Katt's execu-
tion, I was afraid the proceedings might be renewed,
and their termination prove fatal. My dear gover-
ness increased my alarms. I loved her sincerely, and
MARGRAVINE OF BAREITII. 203
I would rather have suffered death than have ex-
posed her, through my obstinacy, to add to the num-
ber of illustrious victims ; I therefore firmly resolved
to sacrifice myself for others, and to marry the duke
of Weissenfeld, on condition, however, that the king
should grant a free pardon to my brother. I delayed
acquainting his majesty with my intentions until he
should send me the deputation of which Eversmann
had spoken. I took good care to keep my project
secret from madame de Sonsfeld, by whom it would
most certainly have been opposed.
Six or seven days elapsed in the same anxieties
before Eversmann renewed his visits. I affected ex-
treme debility, which still kept me confined to my
bed. He came to tell me, that the king was informed
that I saw my sisters and the ladies of the queen's
household ; that his majesty was very angry, and
ordered me, on pain of death, not to leave my room,
nor to put my head out of the window.
Indeed, such strict orders were given, that I be-
came a prisoner to all intents and purposes. No one
was admitted into my room without an express com-
mand of the king. I resigned myself in this respect,
and thought Eversmann the author of the change, in
spite of his assumed generosity. What incommoded
me most was my pretended malady, which put me
under the necessity of keeping my bed. I could only
read by fits and starts, because the wretch came every
moment to dun my ears with his duke of Weissenfeld
and his threats.
The queen came back to Berlin on the 22nd in the
morning. After having feigned to be ill, this con-
straint, combined with my troubles, actually brought
on a severe illness. My sister Charlotte had obtained
permission to see me. She immediately hastened to
my room. I loved her much. She was very witty
and lively, and of a mild disposition. But she has
since ill requited me for the friendship I felt for her.
She had scarcely entered the apartment when she
204 MEMOIRS OF THE
exclaimed : " Have you not very mucli bewailed my
poor brother, and regretted Katt ?" " Why ?" an-
swered I, terrified." How ! do not you know it ?"
continued she, relating the lamentable tragedy in a
very confused manner. I was so shocked, that I
fainted away. But it is time to relate this mournful
event.
The court martial which was to decide the fate of
the two criminals, assembled at Potsdam on the 1 st
of November. It was composed of two generals, two
colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors, two
captains, and two lieutenants. As every officer of the
army wished to be excused, they were chosen by lot.
The two generals drawn, were Dcenhoff and Linger ;
the two colonels Derschow and Pannewitz. I have
forgot the names of the lieutenant-colonels : but I
remember major Schenk, of the gens-d'armes (horse-
guards), major Weier, and captain Einsiedel, of the
king's regiment, being of the court. Each member
gave his vote by a text of Holy Writ. I recollect
that of Dosnhoff, who alluded to the grief of David,
when he was informed of Absolom's death, and ex-
claimed ; " O my son, Absalom ! my son ! my son
Absalom 1" &c. He and Linger voted for pardon ;
but the others, to natter the king, condemned my
brother and Katt to be beheaded ; an unheard-of sen-
tence in a Christian and civilized country ! The king
would have suffered the sentence to be executed, had
not ah 1 foreign powers interceded for the prince, and
particularly the emperor and the states-general . Se-
kendorff exerted himself very much ; as he had caused
the mischief, he wished to repair it. He told the
king, " that though the prince royal was his son, he
belonged to the empire, and that his majesty had no
right over him." It was with very great difficulty he
obtained his pardon. His continual solicitations,
however, gradually weakened the sanguinary inten-
tions of the king. Grumkow, who became aware of
this change, sought to take to himself the merit of it
MARGRAVINE OF BAREITH. 205
with my brother. He went to Custrin, and prevailed
with the prince to write and make his submissions to
the king.
Sekendorff also attempted to save Katt : but the
king remained inflexible. Sentence was passed upon
the unfortunate young man on the 2d of the same
month. He heard it read without changing coun-
tenance. " I submit," said he, " to the orders of
the king and Providence ; I shall suffer for a noble
cause, and I shah 1 face death without fear, having
nothing to reproach myself with." When he was
alone, he called M. de Hartenfeld, who commanded
the guard of his prison, and was one of his most in-
timate friends, and gave him the box which con-
tained the portraits of my brother and myself.
" Keep it," said he, " and remember sometimes the
unfortunate Katt : but show it to no one ; it might
yet harm, after my death, the illustrious persons I
have painted," He afterwards wrote three letters
to his grandfather, to his father, and to his brother-
in-law. I have obtained copies of them, and translated
them literally from the German.
" HONOURED GRANDFATHER,
" I cannot express the grief and agitation with
which I am writing this. I who have been the prin-
cipal object of your solicitude ; whom you destined
to be the support of your family ; whom you had
educated in sentiments calculated to render me
useful to my sovereign and my fellow-creatures ;
I who never left your house without being honoured
with your kindness and your advice ; I who was to
be the comfort and happiness of your old age;
wretch that I am ! I am now become the object of
your grief and despair. Instead of felicitating you
with gladsome tidings, I am constrained to acquaint
you with the sentence of my death, which has already
been pronounced. Do not take my sad fate too
much to heart : we must submit to tbe decrees of
Providence ; if it tries us by adversities, it also gives
206 MEMOIRS OF THE
us strength to bear them with firmness, and to over-
come them. Nothing is impossible to the Lord. He
may help us when he chuses. I place all my con-
fidence in that Supreme Being, who may yet incline
the king's heart to clemency, and obtain for me as
many favours as I have experienced severities. If it
be not the will of the Omnipotent, I shall neverthe-
less praise and bless him, being persuaded that what
he orders is for my welfare. I therefore submit with
patience to what your credit and that of your friends
may obtain of his majesty. In the mean time, I ask
you a thousand pardons for my past faults, hoping
that the benevolent Creator, who forgives the greatest
sinners, will have mercy upon me. I intreat you to
follow his example towards me, and to believe me, &c.
" November the 2d. 1730."
The following lines were found written on the
window of his prison :
" With time and patience we obtain a good con-
science. If you would know who has written this, the
name of Katt will inform you : still cheered up by hope."
Beneath this was written :
" He whom curiosity may induce to read this
writing, must know that the writer was put under
arrest, by order of his majesty, on the 16th of August
1730. He still has faint hopes of recovering his li-
berty, although the manner in which he is guarded
seems to prognosticate something fatal."
A clergyman having been sent to him the next day
to prepare him for death, Katt said : " I am a very
great sinner : too much ambition has betrayed me
into many faults, of which I sincerely repent. I relied
on my good fortune ; the favour of the prince royal
has blinded me so, as to make me forget myself. At
present, I find that all is vanity. I feel a lively re-
pentance of my sins, and I wish for death as the only
road which can lead me to a lasting and eternal hap-
piness." He passed that day and the following in
similar conversations.
MARGRAVINE Of EAREITH. ^207
The evening after this, major Scherik came to in-
form him that his execution was to take place at
Custrin, and that the coach, which was to convey him
thither, was waiting for him. He appeared somewhat
surprised at this intelligence : but soon resuming his
tranquillity, he with a smiling countenance followed
M. de Schenk, who got into the coach with him, be-
sides two other officers of the horse-guards. A large
detachment of the same regiment escorted them to
Custrin. M. de Schenk, who was much affected, told
him that he deeply lamented being entrusted with so
mournful a commission. "I am commanded by his
majesty,' 5 continued he, " to be present at your exe-
cution : I twice refused that fatal office. I must obey ;
but heaven knows what I suffer. Heaven grant that
the king's mind be altered, and that I may have the
satisfaction of proclaiming your pardon !" " You
are very good," replied Katt ; " but I am resigned to
my fate. I die for a prince whom I love, and I have
the consolation to give him, by my death, the strong-
est proof of attachment that can be required. I do not
regret the world. I am going to enjoy a felicity with-
out end." On the road he bade farewell to the two
officers who were with him, and to the men who com-
posed his escort. He arrived at Custrin at nine o'clock
in the morning, and was taken directly to the scaffold.
The day before, general Lepel, governor of the
fortress, and the president Munchow, had conducted
my brother to an apartment that had been purposely
prepared for him on the floor above that where he had
lodged. He there found a bed and some furniture.
The window-curtains were let down, which at first
prevented his seeing what was going on without. A
plain brown coat was brought to him, in which he was
obliged to dress himself. I forgot to state that a simi-
lar coat had been given to Katt. The general, having
then drawn up the curtains, pointed out to the prince
a scaffold covered with black, and as high as the
window, which had been widened and the bars of
208 MEMOIRS OF THE
which had been removed. After this, both the ge-
neral and Munchow retired. This sight, and the
downcast look of Munchow, induced my brother to
think that sentence of death was going to be passed
upon him, and that these preparations regarded him-
self, which caused him a violent agitation.
General Lepel and president Munchow entered the
prince's room in the morning a little before Katt ap-
peared, and endeavoured to prepare the prince in the
best manner they could for this horrible scene. It is
said that he was in such a state of despair and grief as
had never before been witnessed. In- the meantime
Schenk was rendering the like friendly office to Katt.
On entering the fortress he said to him : " Continue
firm, my dear Katt ; you are going to undergo a se-
vere trial ; you are at Custrin, and you will see the
prince royal." " Rather say," answered Katt. " that
I am going to have the greatest consolation that could
have been granted to me." With these words he
ascended the scaffold. My unfortunate brother was
then forced to stand at the window. He attempted
to throw himself out of it; but was prevented. " I
intreat you, for heaven's sake," said the prince to
those who were around him, " delay the execution ;
I shall inform the king that I am ready to renounce
my right to the crown, if his majesty will pardon
Katt." M. de Munchow stopped the prince's mouth
with a handkerchief. When the prince saw Katt, he
exclaimed : " How wretched I am, my dear Katt ! I
am the cause of your death. Would to heaven I were
in your place !" " Ah!" replied Katt, " if I had a
thousand lives, I would sacrifice them all for your
royal highness." 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,
MARGRAVINE OF BAREITH. 209
extended its arms towards the window where my
brother had been ; but he was there no longer : he
had fainted away, and the gentlemen about him had
laid him on his bed, where he remained senseless for
some hours. When he recovered his senses, the first
object that struck his eyes was the mangled corpse of
poor Katt, which had been placed in such a manner
that he could not avoid seeing it. This ghastly object
threw him into a second swoon, which was succeeded
by a violent fever. M. de Munchow, in spite of the
orders of the king, let the curtains down, and sent for
physicians, who found the prince in a very dangerous
state. He would not take anything that was given
him. His mind was so bewildered, and his agitation
so great, that he would have destroyed himself, had
he jnot been prevented. Religious considerations, it
was thought, would soften him ; a clergyman was
sent for to comfort him : but all in vain ; the vio-
lent convulsions ceased only when his strength was
exhausted. Tears succeeded to these dreadful agita-
tions. It was with extreme difficulty that he was
prevailed upon to take medicine. Nothing could in-
duce him to do it, but the representation that he
would also cause the queen's death and mine, if he
persisted in his own destruction. A profound me-
lancholy fastened upon him for a long time, and for
three successive days his life was in imminent danger.
The body of Katt remained exposed on the scaffold
until sun set. It was buried in one of the bastions of
the fortress. The next day the executioner went to
demand the payment for this execution from field-
marshal Wartensleben,* which had nearly cost him
his life, so greatly did it affect him.
Three or four days after, Grumkow, as I have al-
ready observed, obtained leave from the king to go to
Custrin. He entered my brother's room with a sub-
missive and respectful countenance. " I come," said
* Tt will doubtless be recollected that Katt was a relation
of the field -marshal.
T 2
210 MEMOIRS OF THE
he, " to intreat your royal highness's pardon for the
little attention I have hitherto paid to your royal
highness : I have been forced to obey the king's com-
mands; I have even punctually executed them, to be
the better enabled to render you service. The pain
which has been given you by the death of Katt, has
caused the most heartfelt sorrow both to Sekendorff
and myself. We used all our efforts to save him, but
in vain. We are going to exert ourselves still more
seriously to obtain your reconciliation with the king :
but your royal highness must lend us a helping hand,
and give me a letter full of submission to the king ; I
will present it to his majesty, and second it with all my
power." My brother could scarcely be induced to
take this step ; he complied however in the end.
Grumkow drew so affecting a picture of the sad
condition of the prince, that he moved the heart of
the king, who granted his pardon. The prince left
the fortress on the 12th of November ; but was kept
a prisoner at large in the town. The king gave him
the title of a counsellor at war, with orders regularly
to assist at the deliberations of the board of finances
and demesnes established at Custrin. His place was
that of the junior member of the board. The king
appointed also three members of the superior court of
justice to attend on the prince. These were MM. de
Wollen, de Rovedel, and de Natzmar. The latter
was a son of the field-marshal of that name. He had
a perfect knowledge of the usages of the world, having
been a great traveller ; but he was a mere shallow
fop. I cannot refrain from relating here a trait of his
inconsiderate levity.
Being one day at Vienna, in the anti-chamber of the