The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-21
GEORGE I. or ENGLAND.
BY wM..M. THAeKERAY.
(CoNGUDED3.lE


The founder Of the race was Hans
Christof, a famous warrior and plunderer
Of the thirty years war. One of Hams
sons, Otto, appeared as ambassador at
thecOurtof Louis XIV, and hadto make
a Swedish speech at his reception before
the Most Christian King. Otto was a
most famous dandy and warrior, but he
forgot the speech, and what do you think
he did? Far from being disconnected
he recited a portion of the Swedish Cate
chism to His Most Christian Majesty and
his court, not one of whom understood
his lingo with the exception of his own
suite, who had to keep their gravity as
best they might.
Otto's nephew, Aurora's elder brother,
Carl Johann of l<onigsmareI, q faVorite
of Charles H. Il beauty, a dandy, a war;
rior, q rascal of more than ordinary mark,
escaped but deserved being hanged in
England for the murder Of Tom Thyme
Of Longleat. He had a little brother in
London with him at this time as great
a beauty, as great a dandy, as great a viii
liam as his elder. This lad, Philip of
Konigsmarck, also Was implicated in the
affair; and perhaps it is a pity he ever
went over to Hanover, and was soon
4
Highness's dragons. In early life he
had been page in the court OF Celle; and
it was said that he and the pretty Prin-
cess Sophia Dorothea, who by this time
was married to her cousin George the
Electoral prince, had been in love with
each otheras children. Their loves We're
now to be renewed, not innocently, and
to come to fearful end.
"A biography of the Wife Of George L.,
by DR.. Doran, has lately appeared, and |
confess | am astounded at the verdict
which that writer has delivered, and at
his acquittal Of this most unfortunate
lady. That she had cold, selfish liber
tine of a husband no one can doubt; but
that the bad husband had a bad wife is
equally clear She was married to her
cousin for money or convenience, as all
princesses were married. She was most
beautiful, lively, witty, accomplished:
his brutality outraged her: his silence
and GOODNESS chilled her; his cruelty in
suited her. No wonder she did not love
him. How could love be a part of the
compact in such marriage as that ?
With this unlucky heart to dispose of,
the poor creature bestowed it on Philip
Of Konigsmarcl, than whom a greater
scamp does not walk the history Of the
seventeenth CtlIUttiy y huIttIStt ttilNl
eighty years after the fellow was thrust
into his unknown grave, a Swedish pro-
fessor lights upon a box of letters in the
University Library at Upsala, written
by Philip and Dorothea to each other,
and telling their miserable story.
The bewitching Konigsmarck had con-
querred two female hearts in Hanover.
Besides the Electoral princes lovely
young wife, Sophia Dorothea, Philip had
inspired a passion in a hideous old court
lady, the Countess Of Platen. The prin-
cess seems to have pursued him with the
fidelity of many years. Heaps OF letters
followed him on his campaigns, and were
answered by the daring adventurer.
The princess wanted to fly with him; to
quit her odious husband at any rate.
She besought her parents to receive her
back; had notion of taking refuge in
France and going over to the Catholic
religion; had absolutely packed her jew
els for flight, and very likely arranged
its details with her lover, in that last
longnight's interview, after which Philip
of KOnigsmarck was seen no more.
Konigsmarck, infiamed with drink
there is scarcely any vice of which, ac-
cording to his own showing, this gentle
man was not practioner-had boosted
at a supper at Dresden of his intimacy