第18章
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  Theysmiledatme。ReichmanntoldmeImightsoonobtainmyfreedominapropermanner。Myfirmrelianceonmyfriend,thelieutenant,gavemeadegreeofconfidencethatamazedthemall。

  Itisnecessarytoexplainthisaffair。WhenIobtainedmyliberty,IvisitedPrinceFerdinand。Heinformedmethemajorshadnotmadeatruereport。Theirstorywas,theyhadcaughtmeatwork,and,haditnotbeenfortheirdiligence,Ishouldhavemademyescape。

  PrinceFerdinandheardthetruth,andinformedtheKing,whoonlywaitedanopportunitytorestoremetoliberty。

  OncemoreIwasimmured。Iwaitedinhopeforthedaywhenmydelivererwastomountguard。WhatagainwasmydespairwhenIsawanotherlieutenant!Ibuoyedmyselfupwiththehopethataccidentwastheoccasionofthis;butIremainedthreeweeks,andsawhimnomore。Iheardatlengththathehadleftthecorpsofgrenadiers,andwasnolongertomountguardattheStarFort。Hehasmyforgiveness,andIapplaudmyselfforneverhavingsaidanythingbywhichhemightbeinjured。Hemighthaverepentedhispromise,hemighthavetrustedanotherfriendwiththeenterprise,andhavebeenhimselfbetrayed;but,beitasitmay,hisabsencecutoffallhope。

  Inowrepentedmyfollyandvanity;Ihadbroughtmymisfortunesonmyself。Ihadmyselfrenderedmydungeonimpenetrable。DeathwouldhavefollowedbutforthedependenceIplacedinthecourtofVienna。

  Theofficersremarkedthelossofmyfortitudeandthoughtfulness;

  theversesIwroteweredesponding。Theonlycomforttheycouldgivewas——\"Patience,dearTrenck;yourconditioncannotbeworse;

  theKingmaynotliveforever。\"WereIsick,theytoldmeImighthopemysufferingswouldsoonhaveanend。IfIrecoveredtheypitiedme,andlamentedtheircontinuance。WhatmanofmyrankandexpectationseverenduredwhatIdid,everwastreatedasIhavebeentreated!

  CHAPTERVI。

  Peacehadbeenconcludedninemonths。Iwasforgotten。Atlast,whenIsupposedallhopelost,the25thofDecember,andthedayoffreedom,came。Atthehourofparade,CountSchlieben,lieutenantoftheguards,broughtordersformyrelease!

  Thesub—governorsupposedmeweakerinintellectthanIwas,andwouldnottoosuddenlytellmethesetidings。Heknewnotthepresenceofmind,thefortitude,whichthedangersIhadseenhadmadehabitual。

  MydoorsfortheLASTTIMEresounded!Severalpeopleentered;theircountenanceswerecheerful,andthesub—governorattheirheadatlengthsaid,\"Thistime,mydearTrenck,Iamthemessengerofgoodnews。PrinceFerdinandhasprevailedontheKingtoletyourironsbetakenoff。\"Accordingly,toworkwentthesmith。\"Youshallalso,\"continuedhe,\"haveabetterapartment。\"\"Iamfree,then,\"

  saidI。\"Speak!fearnot!Icanmoderatemytransports。\"

  \"Thenyouarefree!\"wasthereply。

  Thesub—governorfirstembracedme,andafterwardshisattendants。

  HeaskedmewhatclothesIwouldwish。Ianswered,theuniformofmyregiment。Thetailortookmymeasure。Reichmanntoldhimitmustbemadebythemorning。ThemanexcusedhimselfbecauseitwasChristmasEve。\"So,then,thisgentlemanmustremaininhisdungeonbecauseitisholidaywithyou。\"Thetailorpromisedtobeready。

  Iwastakentotheguard—room,congratulationswereuniversal,andthetown—majoradministeredtheoathcustomarytoallstateprisoners。

  1st。ThatIshouldavengemyselfonnoman。

  2nd。ThatIshouldneitherenterthePrussiannorSaxonstates。

  3rd。ThatIshouldneverrelatebyspeechorinwritingwhathadhappenedtome。

  4th。Andthat,solongastheKinglived,Ishouldneitherserveinacivilnormilitarycapacity。

  CountSchliebendeliveredmealetterfromtheimperialminister,GeneralReidt,tothefollowingpurport:—ThatherejoicedathavingfoundanopportunityofobtainingmylibertyfromtheKing,andthatImustobeytherequisitionsofCountSchlieben,whoseordersweretoaccompanymetoPrague。

  \"Yes,dearTrenck,\"saidSchlieben,\"IamtoconductyouthroughDresdentoPrague,withordersnottosufferyoutospeaktoanyoneontheroad。Ihavereceivedthreehundredducats,todefraytheexpensesoftravelling。Asallthingscannotbepreparedtoday,the,sub—governorhasdeterminedweshalldepartto—morrownight。\"

  Iacquiesced,andCountSchliebenremainedwithme;theothersreturnedtotown,andIdinedwiththemajorandofficersonguard,withGeneralWalrabeinhisprison。

  Onceatliberty,Iwalkedaboutthefortifications,tocollectthemoneyIhadconcealedinmydungeon。ToeverymanonguardIgaveaducat,tothesentinels,eachthree,andtenducatstobedividedamongtherelief—guard。IsenttheofficeronguardapresentfromPrague,andtheremainderofmymoneyIbestowedonthewidowoftheworthyGelfhardt。Hewasnomore,andshehadentrustedthethousandflorinstoayoungsoldier,who,spendingthemtoofreely,wassuspected,betrayedher,andshepassedtwoyearsinprison。

  Gelfhardtneverreceivedanypunishment;hewasinthefield。Hadheleftanychildren,Ishouldhaveprovidedforthem。Tothewidowofthemanwhohunghimselfbeforemyprisondoor,intheyear1756,Igavethirtyducats,lentmebySchlieben。

  Thenightwasriotous,theguardmademerry,andIpassedmostofitintheircompany。IwasvisitedbyallthegeneralsofthegarrisononChristmasmorning,forIwasnotallowedtoenterthetown。I

  dressed,viewedmyselfintheglass,andfoundpleasure;butthetumultofmypassions,thecongratulationsIreceived,andthevivacityroundme,preventedmyrememberingincidentsminutely。

  YethowwonderfulanalterationinthecountenancesofthosebywhomIhadbeenguarded!Iwastreatedwithfriendship,attention,andflattery。Andwhy?BecausethesefettershaddroppedoffwhichI

  hadneverjustlyborne。

  Eveningcame,andwithitCountSchlieben,awaggon,andfourpost—

  horses。Afteranaffectingfarewell,wedeparted。IshedtearsatleavingMagdeburg。ItseemsstrangethatIlivedheretenyears,yetneversawthetown。

  ThedurationofmyimprisonmentatMagdeburgwasnearlytenyears,andwiththetermofmyimprisonmentatGlatz,thetimeiselevenyears。ThuswasIrobbedoftime,mybodyweakened,myhealthimpaired,sothatinmydeclineoflife,asecondtime,IsufferthegloomandchainsofthedungeonatMagdeburg。

  Thereaderwouldnowhopethatmycalamitieswereatanend;yet,uponmyhonour,IwouldpreferthesufferingoftheStarForttothoseIhavesinceenduredinAustria,especiallywhileKrugelandZettoweremyreferendariesandcurators。

  AtthismomentIamobligedtobeguardedinmyexpressions。Ihaveputmyenemiestoshame;butthehopeofjusticeorrewardisvain。

  Norewardsarebestowedonhimwho,withtheconsciousnessofintegrity,demands,anddoesnotdeplore。ThefactsIshallrelatewillseemincredible,yetIhave,inmyownhands,thevouchersoftheirveracity。

  \"Ifmyrighthandisguiltyofwritinguntruthsinthisbook,maytheexecutionerseveritfrommybody,and,inthememoryofposterity,mayIliveavillain!\"

  Iwillproceedwithmyhistory。

  Onthe2ndofJanuaryIarrived,withCountSchlieben,atPrague;

  thesamedayhedeliveredmetothegovernor,theDukeofDeuxponts。

  Hereceivedmewithkindness;wedinedwithhimtwodays,andallPraguewereanxioustoseeamanwhohadsurmountedtenyearsofsufferingsounheardofasmine。HereIreceivedthreethousandflorins,andpaidGeneralReidthisthreehundredducats,whichhehadadvancedCountSchlieben,formyjourney,therepaymentofwhichhedemandedinhisletter,althoughhehadreceivedtenthousandflorins。TheexpenseofreturningIalsopaidtoSchlieben,madehimapresent,andprovidedmyselfwithsomenecessaries。AfterremainingafewdaysatPrague,acourierarrivedfromVienna,towhomIwasobligedtopayfortyflorins,withanorderfromgovernmenttobringmefromPraguetoVienna。Myswordwasdemanded;CaptainCountWela,andtwoinferiorofficers,enteredthecarriage,whichIwasobligedtopurchase,incompanywithme,andbroughtmetoVienna。Itookupathousandflorinsmore,inPrague,todefraytheseexpenses,andwasobliged,inVienna,topaythecaptainfiftyducatsfortravellingchargesback。

  Iwasbroughtbacklikeacriminal,wassentasaprisonertothebarracks,therekeptinthechamberofLieutenantBlonket,withordersthatIshouldbesufferedtowritetonoone,speaktonoone,withoutaticketfromthecounsellorsKemptorHuttner。

  ThusIremainedsixweeks;atlength,thecoloneloftheregimentofPoniatowsky,thepresentfield—marshal,CountAlton,spoketome。I

  relatedwhatIsupposedwerethereasonsofmybeingkeptaprisonerinVienna;andtotheexertionsofthismanamIindebtedthattheintentionsofmyenemieswerefrustrated,whichweretohavemeimprisonedasinsaneinthefortressofGlatz。HadtheyonceremovedmefromVienna,Ishouldcertainlyhavepinedawaymylifeinamadhouse。YetIcouldneverobtainjusticeagainstthesemen。

  TheEmpresswaspersuadedthatmybrainwasaffected,andthatI

  utteredthreatsagainsttheKingofPrussia。TheelectionofakingoftheRomanswastheninagitation,andthecourtwasapprehensivelestIshouldoffendthePrussianenvoy。GeneralReidthadbeenobligedtopromiseFredericthatIshouldnotappearinVienna,andthattheyshouldholdawaryeyeoverme。TheEmpress—Queenfeltcompassionformysupposeddisease,andaskedifnoassistancecouldbeaffordedme;towhichtheyanswered,Ihadseveraltimesletblood,butthatIstillwasadangerousman。Theyadded,thatIhadsquanderedfourthousandflorinsinsixdaysatPrague;thatitwouldbepropertoappointguardianstoimpedesuchextravagancies。

  CountAltonspokeofmeandmyharddestinytotheCountessParr,mistressoftheceremoniestotheEmpress—Queen。ThelateEmperorenteredthechamber,andaskedwhetherIeverhadanylucidintervals。\"MayitpleaseyourMajesty,\"answeredAlton,\"hehasbeensevenweeksinmybarracks,andInevermetamorereasonableman。Thereismysteryinthisaffair,orhecouldnotbetreatedasamadman。ThatheisnotsoinanywiseIpledgemyhonour。\"

  ThenextdaytheEmperorsentCountThurn,grand—masteroftheArchdukeLeopold,tospeaktome。InhimIfoundanenlightenedphilosopher,andaloverofhiscountry。TohimIrelatedhowIhadtwicebeenbetrayed,twicesoldatVienna,duringmyimprisonment;

  tohimshowedthatmyadministratorshadactedinthisvilemannerthatImightbeimprisonedforlife,andtheyremaininpossessionofmyeffects。Weconversedfortwohours,duringwhichmanythingsweresaidthatprudencewillnotpermitmetorepeat。Igainedhisconfidence,andhecontinuedmyfriendtilldeath。Hepromisedmeprotection,andprocuredmeanaudienceoftheEmperor。

  Ispokewithfreedom;theaudiencelastedanhour。AtlengththeEmperorretiredintothenextapartment。Isawthetearsdropfromhiseyes。Ifellathisfeet,andwishedforthepresenceofaRubensorApelles,topreserveascenesohonourabletothememoryofthemonarch,andpaintthesensationsofaninnocentman,imploringtheprotectionofacompassionateprince。TheEmperortorehimselffromme,andIdepartedwithsensationssuchasonlythosecanknowwho,themselvesbeingvirtuous,havemetwithwickedmen。Ireturnedtothebarrackswithjoy,andanorderthenextdaycameformyrelease。IwentwithCountAltontotheCountessParr,andbyhermediationIobtainedanaudiencewiththeEmpress。

  Icannotdescribehowmuchshepitiedmysufferingsandadmiredmyfortitude。ShetoldmeshewasinformedoftheartificespractisedagainstmeinVienna;sherequiredmetoforgivemyenemies,andpassalltheaccountsofmyadministrators。\"Donotcomplainofanything,\"saidshe,\"butactasIdesire——Iknowall——youshallberecompensedbyme;youdeserverewardandrepose,andtheseyoushallenjoy。\"

  Imusteithersignwhateverwasgiventosign,orbesenttoamadhouse。IreceivedorderstoaccompanyM。PistrichtoCounsellorZiegler;thitherIwent,andthenextdaywasobligedtosign,intheirpresence,thefollowingconditions:—

  First——ThatIacknowledgedthewillofTrencktobevalid。

  Secondly——ThatIrenouncedallclaimtotheSclavonianestates,relyingaloneonherMajesty’sfavour。

  Thirdly——ThatIsolemnlyacquittedmyaccountantsandcurators。

  And,Lastly——ThatIwouldnotcontinueinVienna。

  ThisImustsign,orlanguishinprison。

  HowdidmybloodboilwhileIsigned!ThisconfidenceIhadinmyselfassuredmeIcouldobtainemploymentinanycountryofEurope,bythelaboursofmymind,andtherecitalofallmywoes。

  AtthattimeIhadnochildren;IlittleregrettedwhatIhadlost,orthepoorportionthatremained。

  IdeterminedtoavoidAustriaeternally。Mypridewouldneversufferme,byinsidiousarts,toapproachthethrone。Iknewnosuchmodeofsolicitingforjustice,henceIwasnotamatchformyenemies;hencemymisfortunes。Appealstojusticewererepresentedasthespleneticeffusionsofamannevertobesatisfied。MytoosensitiveheartwascorrodedbythetreatmentImetatVienna。I,whowithsomuchfortitudehadsufferedsomuchinthecauseofVienna,I,onwhomtheeyesofGermanywerefixed,tobeholdwhatshouldbetherewardofthesesufferings,Iwasagain,inthiscountry,keptaprisoner,anddeliveredtothosebywhomIhadbeenplunderedasamaninsane!

  Beforemyintendeddeparturetoseekmyfortune,Ifellill,andsicknessalmostbroughtmetothegrave。TheEmpress,inhergreatclemency,sentoneofherphysiciansandafriartomyassistance,bothofwhomIwasobligedtopay。

  AtthistimeIrefusedamajor’scommission,forwhichIwasobligedtopaythefees。Beingexcludedfromactualservice,tomethetitlewasoflittlevalue;myrankinthearmyhadbeenequaltenyearsbeforeinotherservice。Thefollowingwords,insertedinmycommission,arenotunworthyofremark:—\"HerMajesty,inconsequenceofmyfidelityforherservice,demonstratedduringalongimprisonment,myendowmentsandvirtues,hadbeengraciouslypleasedtograntme,intheImperialservice,therankofmajor。\"——

  Therankofmajor!——Fromthispreamblewhowouldnothaveexpectedeithertherankofgeneral,ortherestorationofmygreatSclavonianestates?Ihadbeenfifteenyearsacaptainofcavalry,andthenwasImadeaninvalidmajorthree—and—twentyyearsago,andaninvalidmajorIstillremain!Letallthathasbeenrelatedbecalledtomind,themannerinwhichIhadbeenpillagedandbetrayed;letVienna,Dantzic,andMagdeburgheremembered;andbethismypromotionrememberedalso!Letitbeknownthatthecommissionofmajormightbeboughtforafewthousandflorins!

  ThirtythousandflorinsonlyofthemoneyIhadbeenrobbedofwouldhavepurchasedacolonel’scommission。Ishouldthenhavebeenacompanionforgenerals。

  Duringthethirty—sixyearsthatIhavebeenintheserviceofAustria,Ineverhadanymanofrank,anygreatgeneral,myenemy,exceptCountGrassalkowitz,andhewasonlymyenemybecausehehadconceivedafriendshipformyestates。

  Mycharacterwasnevercalumniated,nordidanyworthymaneverspeakofmebutwithrespect。Whowere,whoare,myenemies?——

  Jesuits,monks,unprincipledadvocates,wishingtobecomemycurators,referendaries,whodieddespicable,ornowliveinhousesofcorrection。Suchaslive,liveindreadofasimilarend,fortheEmperorJosephisabletodiscoverthetruth。Alas!thetruthisdiscoveredsolate;agehasnownearlyrenderedmeaninvalid。

  Menwithheartssobaseought,indeed,tobecomethescavengersofsociety,that,terrifiedbytheirexample,succeedingjudgesmaynotracktheheartofanhonestman,seizeonthepossessionsoftheorphanandthewidow,andexpelvirtueoutofAustria。

  IattendedtheleveeofPrinceKaunitz。Notpersonallyknowntohim,heviewedinmeacrawlinginsect。Ithoughtsomewhatmoreproudly;myactionswereupright,andsoshouldmybodybe。I

  quittedtheapartment,andwascongratulatedbythemercenarySwissporteronmygoodfortuneofhavingobtainedanaudience!

  Iappliedtothefield—marshal,fromwhomIreceivedthisanswer——

  \"Ifyoucannotpurchase,mydearTrenck,itwillbeimpossibletoadmityouintoservice;besides,youaretoooldtolearnourmanoeuvres。\"Iwasthenthirty—seven。Ibrieflyreplied,\"Yourexcellencymistakesmycharacter。IdidnotcometoViennatoserveasaninvalidmajor。MycuratorshavetakengoodcareIshouldhavenomoneytopurchase;buthadImillions,Iwouldneverobtainrankinthearmybythatmode。\"Iquittedtheroomwithashrug。ThenextdayIaddressedamemorialtotheEmpress。Ididnotre—demandmySclavonianestates,Ionlypetitioned。

  First——Thatthosewhohadcarriedoffquintalsofsilverandgoldfromthepremises,andhadrenderednoaccounttomeorthetreasury,shouldrefundatleastapart。

  Secondly——Thattheyshouldbeobligedtoreturnthethirty—sixthousandflorinstakenfrommyinheritance,andappliedtoahospital。

  Thirdly——Thatthethirty—sixthousandflorinsmightberepaid,whichCountGrassalkowitzhaddeductedfromtheallodialestates,forthreethousandsixhundredpandourswhohadfallenintheserviceoftheEmpress;InotbeingboundtopayforthelivesofmenwhohaddiedindefenceoftheEmpress。

  Fourthly——Irequiredthatfifteenthousandflorins,whichhadbeendeductedfrommycapital,andappliedtotheBohemianfortifications,shouldlikewiseberestored,togetherwiththefifteenthousandwhichhadbeenundulypaidtotheregimentofTrenck。

  Fifthly——IreclaimedthetwelvethousandflorinswhichIhadbeenrobbedofatDantzicbythetreacheryoftheImperialResident,Abramson;andpublicsatisfactionfromthemagistracyofDantzic,whohaddeliveredmeup,socontrarytothelawsofnations,tothePrussianpower。

  Ilikewiseclaimedtheinterestofsixpercent,forseventy—sixthousandflorins,detainedbytheHungarianChamber,whichamountedtotwentythousandflorins;Ihavingbeenallowedfivepercent。,andatlastfour。

  IinsistedontherestorationofmySclavonianestates,andaproperallowanceforimprovements,whichtheverysentenceofthecourthadgranted,andwhichamountedtoeightythousandflorins。

  Ipetitionedforanarbitrator;Isolicitedjusticeconcerningrights,butreceivednoanswertothisandahundredotherpetitions!

  Imustherespeakoftransactionsduringmyimprisonment。IhadboughtahouseinViennaintheyear1750;thepricewassixteenthousandflorins,thirteenthousandofwhichIhadpaidbyinstalments。Thereceiptswereamongmywritings;thesewritings,withmyothereffects,weretakenfrommeatDantzic,intheyear1754;norhaveI,tothishour,beenabletolearnmorethanthatmywritingsweresenttotheadministratorsofmyaffairsatVienna。

  WithrespecttomyhousesandpropertyinDantzic,inwhatmannertheseweredisposedofnoonecouldorwouldsay。

  AfterbeingreleasedatMagdeburg,Iinquiredconcerningmyhouse,butnolongerfounditmine。Thosewhohadgotpossessionofmywritingsmusthaverestoredtheacquittancestotheseller,consequentlyhecouldre—demandthewholesum。Myhousewasinotherhands,andIwasbroughtindebtorsixthousandflorinsforinterestandcostsofsuit。Thuswerehouseandmoneygone。WhomcanIaccuse?

  Again,Ihadmaintained,atmyownexpenseLieutenantSchroeder,whohaddesertedfromGlatz,andforwhomIobtainedacaptain’scommissionintheguardofPrinceEsterhazy,atEisenstadt。Hismisconductcausedhimtobecashiered。Inmyadministrator’saccountsIfoundthefollowing\"ToCaptainSchroeder,forcapital,interest,andcostsofsuit,sixteenhundredflorins。\"

  ItwascertainIwasnotapennyindebtedtothisperson;Ihadnoredress,havingbeenobligedtopassandsignalltheiraccounts。

  I,fouryearsafterwards,obtainedinformationconcerningthisaffair:ImetSchroeder,knewhim,andinquiredwhetherhehadreceivedthesesixteenhundredflorins。Heansweredintheaffirmative。\"Noonebelievedyouwouldevermoreseethelight。I

  knewyouwouldserveme,andthatyouwouldrelievemynecessities。

  IwentandspoketoDr。Berger;heagreedweshouldhalvethesum,andhiscontrivancewas,IshouldmakeoathIhadlentyouathousandflorins,withouthavingreceivedyournote。ThemoneywaspaidmebyM。Frauenberger,towhomIagreedtosendapresentofTokay,forMadamHuttner。\"

  Thiswasthemannerinwhichmycuratorstookcareofmyproperty!

  ManyinstancesIcouldproduce,butIamtoomuchagitatedbytherecollection。Imustspeakawordconcerningwhoandwhatmycuratorswere。

  TheCourtCounsellor,Kempf,wasmyadministrator,andCounsellorHuttnermyreferendary。ThesubstituteofKempfwasFrauenberger,who,beingobligedtoactasaclerkatPragueduringthewar,appointedoneKrebsasasub—substitute;whetherM。Krebshadalsoasub—substituteismorethanIamabletosay。

  Dr。Bertrackerwasfideicommiss—curator,thoughtherewasnofideicommissumexisting。Dr。Berger,asFideiCommiss—Advocate,wassuperintendent,andtothemallsalariesweretobepaid。

  Letusseewhatwasthebusinessthiscompanyhadtotransact。I

  hadseventy—sixthousandflorinsintheHungarianChamber,theinterestofwhichwastobeyearlyreceived,andaddedtothecapital:thiswastheiremployment,andwascertainlysotriflingthatanymanwouldhaveperformeditgratis。Thewarmademoneyscarce,andthediscountingofbillswithmyducatswasaprofitabletradetomycurators。Haditbeenhonestlyemployed,Ishouldhavefoundmycapitalincreased,aftermyimprisonment,fullsixtythousandflorins。InsteadoftheseIreceivedthreethousandflorinsatPrague,andfoundmycapitaldiminishedseventhousandflorins。

  FrauenbergerandBergerdiedrich;andImustbeconfinedasamadman,lestthisdeputyshouldhavebeenprovedarogue。ThisisthecluetotheacquittalIwasobligedtosign:—MadamK—wasaladyofthebedchamberatcourt;shecouldapproachthethrone:herchamberemployments,indeed,procuredherthekeysofdoorsthattomewereeternallylocked。

  Notsatisfiedwiththis,KempfappliedtotheEmpress,informedhertheywereacquitted,notrecompensed,andthatFrauenbergerrequiredfourthousandflorinsforremuneration。TheEmpresslaidaninterdictonthehalfofmyincomeandpension。ThuswasIobligedtoliveinpoverty;banishedtheAustriandominions,wheremyseventy—sixthousandflorinswerereducedtosixty—three,theinterestofwhichIcouldonlyreceive;andthatburthenedbytheaboveinterdict,thefideicommissum,andadministratorship。

  TheEmpressduringmysicknessorderedthatmycaptain’spay,duringmytenyears’imprisonment,shouldbegivenme,amountingtoeightthousandflorins;whichpayshealsosettledonmeasapension。BythispensionIneverprofited;for,duringtwenty—threeyears,thatandmorewasswallowedbyjourneystoVienna,chicaneryofcourtiersandagents,andcostsofsuits。Oftheeightthousandflorinsthreewerestolen;thecourtphysicianmustbepaidthriceasmuchasanother,andwhatremainedaftermyrecoverywassunkinthepreparationsIhadmadetoseekmyfortuneelsewhere。

  Howfarmycaptain’spaywasmatterofrightorfavour,lettheworldjudge,beingtoldIwentintheserviceofViennatothecityofDantzic。NeitherdidthisrestitutionofpayequalthesumIhadsenttheImperialMinistertoobtainmyfreedom。Iremainedninemonthsinmydungeonafterthearticlesweresigned,unthoughtof;

  and,whenmentionedbytheAustrians,theKinghadtwicerejectedtheproposalofmybeingsetfree。Theaffairhappenedasfollows,asIreceiveditfromPrinceHenry,PrinceFerdinandofBrunswick,andtheMinister,CountHertzberg:—GeneralReidthadreceivedmytenthousandflorinsfullsixmonths,andseemedtoremembermenomore。Onegaladay,onthe21stofDecember,theKinghappenedtobeingoodhumour;andHerMajestytheQueen,thePrincessAmelia,andthepresentmonarch,saidtotheImperialMinister,\"ThisisafitopportunityforyoutospeakinbehalfofTrenck。\"Heaccordinglywaitedhistime,didspeak,andtheKingreplied,\"Yes。\"

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