Aka when you can tell that she spent two decades of her life trying to win these unknown people over only for them to not find her good enough, and didn't help her or Fritz at all. (Also, aside from G1 that one time she didn't meet any of them, so I do think the sharpness is due to all those years trying to be good enough for the Hannover relations and never getting there.):
The king of England (G1) was a prince who valued himself on his sentiments; but, unfortunately, he had never applied to the enlightening of his mind. Many virtues, carried to-an-extreme, become vices. This was his case. He affected a firmness which degene rated into harshness, and a tranquillity which might be called indolence. His generosity extended only to his favourites and mistresses, by whom he suffered himself to be governed; the rest of mankind were excluded. Since his accession to the crown, his haughtiness had become insupportable. Two qua lities, however, his equity and justice, rendered him estimable. He was by no means an evil-disposed prince, but rather constant in his benevolence. His manners were cold; he spoke little, and listened only to puerilities.
The countess of Schulenburg (then duchess of Kendal and princess of Eberstein) (Katte's aunt Melusine) was his mistress, or rather his wife by the left hand. She was of that class of beings who are so very good that they are, so to say, good for nothing. She had neither vices nor virtues: she only studied to keep in favour, and to guard against being supplanted.
The princess of Wales (Caroline) had a powerful understand ing and great knowledge. She had read much, and was possessed of a particular capacity for public affairs. On her arrival in England, she gained the hearts of all : her manners were gracious; she was affable, but she had not the good fortune to retain the affections of the people: means were found to ascertain her disposition, which did not correspond to her exterior. She was imperious, false, and, ambitious. She has frequently been compared to Agrippina; like that empress, she might have exclaimed, “Let all perish, so I do but rule.” The prince, her consort (future G2), had not more genius than ricious to an unpardonable extreme.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Wilhelmine being snarky about the English relations
Date: 2021-02-21 06:27 pm (UTC)The king of England (G1) was a prince who valued himself on his sentiments; but, unfortunately, he had never applied to the enlightening of his mind. Many virtues, carried to-an-extreme, become vices. This was his case. He affected a firmness which degene rated into harshness, and a tranquillity which might be called indolence. His generosity extended only to his favourites and mistresses, by whom he suffered himself to be governed; the rest of mankind were excluded. Since his accession to the crown, his haughtiness had become insupportable. Two qua lities, however, his equity and justice, rendered him estimable. He was by no means an evil-disposed prince, but rather constant in his benevolence. His manners were cold; he spoke little, and listened only to puerilities.
The countess of Schulenburg (then duchess of Kendal and princess of Eberstein) (Katte's aunt Melusine) was his mistress, or rather his wife by the left hand. She was of that class of beings who are so very good that they are, so to say, good for nothing. She had neither vices nor virtues: she only studied to keep in favour, and to guard against being supplanted.
The princess of Wales (Caroline) had a powerful understand ing and great knowledge. She had read much, and was possessed of a particular capacity for public affairs. On her arrival in England, she gained the hearts of all : her manners were gracious; she was affable, but she had not the good fortune to retain the affections of the people: means were found to ascertain her disposition, which did not correspond to her exterior. She was imperious, false, and, ambitious. She has frequently been compared to Agrippina; like that empress, she might have exclaimed, “Let all perish, so I do but rule.”
The prince, her consort (future G2), had not more genius than ricious to an unpardonable extreme.
Re: Wilhelmine being snarky about the English relations
Date: 2021-02-26 05:20 am (UTC)