On the occasion of Heinrich's birthday, have a Lehndorff description of how he celebrated Heinrich turning 30 on 18th January 1756. Bear in mind that Lehndorff actually has fallen in love with Charles Hotham at this point and is making emigration plans. He's in as serious a state about leaving Heinrich as he'll ever get. The Duc de Nivernais was the unfortunate guy who had the job to negotiate the continuation of the France/Prussia Treaty when the news of the Prussia/England treaty were about to break.
18th January. Morning with the King. Then I present my congratulations to Prince Heinrich who receives me very amiably. I lunch in small company with the Duc de Nivernais with whose manners I am delighted. After the reception at the Queen's, I accompangny Prince Heinrich to Countess Monroy and introduce him as my cousin. The ruse works perfectly well since the Prince has put on a different outfit, we arrived in a hired carriage, and didn't fall out of character. Afterwards the Prince comes to me and I present him with a small party. At first, I let him enter a darkened room, where he finds the following words written at the wall with phosphorus: "The most worthy of mortals shall await the God's messenger here!" A moment later, a man disguised as Mercury enters and gives him a letter from the assembly of gods, where it's said that the entire Olympus has been busy selecting presents worthy of him: Jupiter and his brothers had wanted to turn over the rulership of their realms to him, but after a vote Jupiter had decided that the Prince could not abandon his current position where he's crucial for the happiness of mankind and thus indispensable to it. Mars and Apollo had wanted to give him their courage and their mind, but Minerva then humiliated them by proving to them that the Prince surpasses them in both by far. At last, the noble assembly was much embarrassed at finding a worthy present, until Venus freed them through the suggestion to send him letters by his grandmother, Queen Sophie, whose worthy heir he was. At the same time, Mercury gave him letters from this Queen which I had received from Fräulein v. Fuchs. While the Prince reads them now, I change into evening wear and present my congratulations for the day. Then we dine in high spirits.
Toutes nos félicitations, Henri!
18th January. Morning with the King. Then I present my congratulations to Prince Heinrich who receives me very amiably. I lunch in small company with the Duc de Nivernais with whose manners I am delighted. After the reception at the Queen's, I accompangny Prince Heinrich to Countess Monroy and introduce him as my cousin. The ruse works perfectly well since the Prince has put on a different outfit, we arrived in a hired carriage, and didn't fall out of character. Afterwards the Prince comes to me and I present him with a small party. At first, I let him enter a darkened room, where he finds the following words written at the wall with phosphorus: "The most worthy of mortals shall await the God's messenger here!"
A moment later, a man disguised as Mercury enters and gives him a letter from the assembly of gods, where it's said that the entire Olympus has been busy selecting presents worthy of him: Jupiter and his brothers had wanted to turn over the rulership of their realms to him, but after a vote Jupiter had decided that the Prince could not abandon his current position where he's crucial for the happiness of mankind and thus indispensable to it. Mars and Apollo had wanted to give him their courage and their mind, but Minerva then humiliated them by proving to them that the Prince surpasses them in both by far. At last, the noble assembly was much embarrassed at finding a worthy present, until Venus freed them through the suggestion to send him letters by his grandmother, Queen Sophie, whose worthy heir he was. At the same time, Mercury gave him letters from this Queen which I had received from Fräulein v. Fuchs. While the Prince reads them now, I change into evening wear and present my congratulations for the day. Then we dine in high spirits.