Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-08
George the First and sophia of zeiI.

George the First. The following authentic par
ticuars will interest many readers-
"Sophia, at the time of their marriage, was
only sixteen years ofage, and was princess
of great personal charms and men.al encow- !
ments. yet her attractions did not retain the
affections of her husband After she had brought
him a son and daughter, he neglected his a.
miable consort, aud attached himself to favor
ite mistress.
'Such was the situation of Sophia when
Count Kongsmark, Swedish nobleman, arri-
we'd at Hanover. He was man ofgood figure,
and professional galantry had been formerly
enamoured of Sophia at Zell, and was supposed
to have made some impression on her heart On
the sight Of her his passion, which had been di-
minished by absence, broke out with increasing
violence; he had the impudence publicly to re-
new his attentions and as George was absent
at the army, he made his solicitations with re-
doubled ardour. Information Of his attachment,
and of his success, was conveyed to Ernest Au-
gustus and one evening, as the Count came
out of her apartment, and was crossing pas
!
/ intercept him, in the presence of the Elec,or
and tradition still marks the spot where this
murder was committed. Sophia was immedi-
ately put under arrest and though she solemn
ly protested her innocence yet circumstances
spoke strongly against her.
George who never loved his wife, gave i'm
plicit credit 10 the account of her infdclity, as
related by his father consented to her impris-
onment, and obtained from the ecclesiastical
consistory divorce, which was passed on the
2Sth Of December, 1904 And even her father,
the Duke ofZell who doated on his only daugh-
ter, does not seem to have entertained any
doubts of her guilt, for he always continued up
on the strictest terms of friendship with Ernest
Augustus, and his son-n-law.
"The unfortunate Sophia was confined in the
castle of Alden, situated or the small river Al
Ter, in the duchy OF Zell. She terminated her
miserable existence, after long captivity OF
thirty-two years, on the 18th of November,
1926 in the sixty-frSt year of her age, or seven
months before the death of George the First
and she was announced in the Gazette under
the title OF the Electress Dowogcr of Hanover.
During her whole confinement she behaved
with no less mdness than dignity and on re-
celvlng the sacrament once every week, ne
yer omitted, on that awful occasion, making
the most solemn asseveratons that she was moi
guilty Of the crime laid to her charge. Suhse
quent circumstances have come to light, which
appear to Justify her memory; and reports are
current in Hanover that her character was base
ly DETAINED, and that she fell a sacrifice to th,
,, lealously and perfdy Of the Countess OF Platcn
,, fayourte mistress of Ernest Augustus Beins
enamoured of Count Konigsmark, who slighie,
her overtures, jealousy took possession of he
breast she determined to sacrifice both the 10
yer and the princess to her vengeance, and cir
, cumstances favored her design.
The prince was absent at the army; Ernes
Augustus waAa man of warm passions and VIC
lent temper, easily irrituted, incapable of con
troll. Sophia herself had treated Count Kon
: igsmark with regard and attention, and the 10
yer was hot-headed, self-suflc ent, prid,ng him
self on his personal accomplishments, and ac
customed to succeed in affairs fgallantry.
! "Those who eXcupate Sophia assert eithe
that a common visit was construed into an aC
OF crimnalty, OF that the Countess Of Plateil, a
$ late hour, summoned Count Konigsmark i
the name Of the princess, though without he
, connivance that on being introduced Sophi
was surprised at his intrusion, that on 9ulttn
the apartment he was discovered by Ernest Al
gCstus, whom the countess had placed IN til
gallery, and was instantly assassinated by pei
-, sons whom she had suborned for that purpose
, "Many persons of credit at Hanover hav
not scrupled, since the death of Ernest Augu,
tus and George the Frst, to express their belle
that the imputaton cast on Sophia was falls
and unjust. 1t is also reported that her hu:
band having made an offer OF reconciliation, sh
gave this noble and dlsdantul answer of haugt
ty virtue unconc ous Of stain 1T what am az
cused offs true, am unworthy OF his bed; an
' if my accusation is false, he is unworthy ofm'
| will not accept his offers"
Y OLp NEwsPAPERs.-Many people tax
T. newspapers, but few preserve them yet tn
most interesting reading imaginable 10 a file {
d old newspapers. II brings up the very age
with oil It's hustle and every day affairs, an
marks its genius and its spirit more than III