Louisa was a North German Marie Antoinette, but more staid and homely than the vivacious daughter of Maria Theresa.  Neither did she interfere much in politics, until the great crash came:  even when the blow was impending, and the patriotic statesmen, with whom she sympathized, begged the King to remove Haugwitz, she disappointed them by withholding the entreaties which her instincts urged but her wifely obedience restrained.  Her influence as yet was that of a noble, fascinating woman, who softened the jars occasioned by the King’s narrow and pedantic nature, and purified the Court from the grossness of the past.  But in the dark days that were to come, her faith and enthusiasm breathed new force into a down-trodden people; and where all else was shattered, the King and Queen still held forth the ideal of that first and strongest of Teutonic institutions, a pure family life.

The “Memoirs” of Hardenberg show that the Queen quietly upheld the patriotic cause;[96] and in the tone of the letter that Frederick William wrote to the Czar (August 8th) there is something of feminine resentment against the French Emperor:  after recounting his grievances at Napoleon’s hands, he continued: 

“If the news be true, if he be capable of perfidy so black, be convinced, Sire, that it is not merely a question about Hanover between him and me, but that he has decided to make war against me at all costs.  He wants no other Power beside his own....  Tell me, Sire, I conjure you, if I may hope that your troops will be within reach of succour for me, and if I may count on them in case of aggression.”

Alexander wrote a cheering response, advising him to settle his differences with England and Sweden, and assuring him of help.  Whereupon the King replied (September 6th) that he had reopened the North Sea rivers to British ships and hoped for peace and pecuniary help from London.  He concluded thus: 

“Meanwhile, Bonaparte has left me at my ease:  for not only does he not enter into any explanation about my armaments, but he has even forbidden his Ministers to give and receive any explanations whatever.  It appears, then, that it is I who am to take the initiative.  My troops are marching on all sides to hasten that moment."[97]

These last sentences are the handwriting on the wall for the ancien regime in Prussia.  Taking the bland assurances of Talleyrand and the studied indifference of Laforest as signs that Napoleon might be caught off his guard, Prussia continued her warlike preparations; and in order to gain time Lucchesini was recalled and replaced by an envoy who was to enter into lengthy explanations.  The trick did not deceive Napoleon, who on September 3rd had heard with much surprise that Russia meant to continue the war.  At once he saw the germ of a new Coalition, and bent his energies to the task of conciliating Austria, and of fomenting the disputes between Russia and Turkey.  Towards Frederick William his tone was that of a friend who grieves at an unexpected quarrel.  How—­he exclaimed to Lucchesini on the ambassador’s departure—­how could the King credit him with encouraging the intrigues of a fussy ambassador at Cassel or the bluster of Murat?