“I could learn nothing about your journey. La Rose[188] said he thought it would be very inadvisable for you to travel, for your illness might come from your being enceinte, and travelling would be hurtful to you—even dangerous. La Court said she did not believe the Prince would go; but one cannot be sure about that—the only sure thing is that you must stop where you are. I will tell you more to-morrow. Arrange for some one to wait for me in the gallery at half-past eleven. I will write to you all I know, and you may be sure that after the sweet privileges you have given me I could never change. On the contrary, I love you a thousand times more every day. Your charms fire me so much that I can hardly live. I have the sweetest dreams about you. Farewell until to-morrow.”
The Duke of Hanover’s journey was wholly successful, and if gratified ambition can make a man happy he returned to Hanover a happy man. The labours and the intrigues of years were at last crowned with success, the dearest object of his life was granted—he came back Elector. The news was eagerly expected. Colt writes: “A courier is come hither with the welcome news that the electoral bonnet was given on the 9th, and just now we have had advice that the new Elector will be here this day”.[189]
The new Elector arrived as advised, and the whole city turned out to meet him. His entry was a triumphal procession. There were great court ceremonials: all the foreign envoys went in state to pay their respects to the Elector; there was a general thanksgiving in the churches and much firing of cannon.
In the court functions Sophie Dorothea—henceforth to rank as the Electoral Princess—was called upon to play her part. As she was naturally fond of gaiety, there is no doubt she rapidly recovered from her “illness,” and entered with zest into the spirit of the festival. Equally certain is it that Königsmarck’s jealousy was again aroused. He made little or no excuse for the exigencies of her position, and indeed would seem to have resented her access of rank as a personal affront; he was certainly jealous of her husband, if we may judge from the following remonstrance, which is perhaps better given in the French:—
“Princesse Electorale! L’on peut à présent vous nommer comme cela, car apparemment le prince Electoral vous aura investie de ce titre d’honneur cette nuit passée. Les embrassades sont-elles plus charmantes quand on est dans ce rang!... Je ne peux dormir de rage, qu’un prince électoral me prive du plaisir de voir ma charmante maîtresse. Je vous aurai félicité aujourd’hui de votre nouvelle dignité, mais je doute que votre époux ait fait son devoir, aujourd’hui, car si l’on doit juger de son empressement pour vous revoir, l’investiture ne sera faite qu’à six heures du matin. Je souhaite que celle-ci vous soit rendue immédiatement après vous aurez en fraîche mémoire les plaisirs électorals.... Hélas! je n’oserais vous faire souvenir de ceux que nous avons eus ensemble; ils vous paraîtront si minces (je me sers du mot mince, parce qu’une chanson dit: ‘Hélas, mon prince, que vos amours sont minces’) que vous n’en aurez plus l’idée.”
This letter brings the correspondence to a close for a time. Soon after the court festivities consequent on the Electorate came to a close, and Königsmarck left on a visit to his estates near Hamburg.
The year 1692 ended brilliantly for the House of Hanover.