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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2669-h.zip b/2669-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fd6808a --- /dev/null +++ b/2669-h.zip diff --git a/2669-h/2669-h.htm b/2669-h/2669-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8daea3d --- /dev/null +++ b/2669-h/2669-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5870 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + P.headingsummary { margin-left: 5%;} + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4, H5 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + table { border-collapse: collapse; } + td { vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid black;} + td p { margin: 0.2em; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck, by Baron Trenck</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck, by +Baron Trenck, Edited by Henry Morley, Translated by Thomas Holcroft + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck + Vol. 2 (of 2) + + +Author: Baron Trenck + +Editor: Henry Morley + +Release Date: October 16, 2007 [eBook #2669] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BARON +TRENCK*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the 1886 Cassell & Co. edition by David +Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org, proofed by Kenyon, Uzma G., Marie +Gilham, L. F. Smith and David.</p> +<h1><span class="smcap">the</span><br /> +LIFE AND ADVENTURES<br /> +<span class="smcap">of</span><br /> +BARON TRENCK</h1> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">translated +by</span><br /> +THOMAS HOLCROFT.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">Vol.</span> +II.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">CASSELL & COMPANY, <span +class="smcap">Limited</span>:<br /> +<span class="smcap"><i>london</i></span>, <span +class="smcap"><i>paris</i></span><i>, </i><span +class="smcap"><i>new york & melbourne</i></span>.<br /> +1886.</p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> +<p>Thomas Holcroft, the translator of these Memoirs of Baron +Trenck, was the author of about thirty plays, among which one, +<i>The Road to Ruin</i>, produced in 1792, has kept its place +upon the stage. He was born in December, 1745, the son of a +shoemaker who did also a little business in horse-dealing. +After early struggles, during which he contrived to learn French, +German, and Italian, Holcroft contributed to a newspaper, turned +actor, and wrote plays, which appeared between the years 1791 and +1806. He produced also four novels, the first in 1780, the +last in 1807. He was three times married, and lost his +first wife in 1790. In 1794, his sympathy with ideals of +the French revolutionists caused him to be involved with Hardy, +Horne Tooke, and Thelwall, in a charge of high treason; but when +these were acquitted, Holcroft and eight others were discharged +without trial.</p> +<p>Holcroft earned also by translation. He translated, +besides these Memoirs of Baron Trenck, Mirabeau’s <i>Secret +History of the Court of Berlin</i>, <i>Les Veillées du +Château</i> of Madame de Genlis, and the posthumous works +of Frederick II., King of Prussia, in thirteen volumes.</p> +<p>The Memoirs of Baron Trenck were first published at Berlin as +his <i>Merkwürdige Lebensbeschreibung</i>, in three volumes +octavo, in 1786 and 1787. They were first translated into +French by Baron Bock (Metz, 1787); more fully by Letourneur +(Paris, 1788); and again by himself (Strasbourg, 1788), with +considerable additions. Holcroft translated from the French +versions.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">H.M.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p>Blessed shade of a beloved sister! The sacrifice of my +adverse and dreadful fate! Thee could I never avenge! +Thee could the blood of Weingarten never appease! No +asylum, however sacred, should have secured him, had he not +sought that last of asylums for human wickedness and human +woes—the grave! To thee do I dedicate these few +pages, a tribute of thankfulness; and, if future rewards there +are, may the brightest of these rewards be thine. For us, +and not for ours, may rewards be expected from monarchs who, in +apathy, have beheld our mortal sufferings. Rest, noble +soul, murdered though thou wert by the enemies of thy +brother. Again my blood boils, again my tears roll down my +cheeks, when I remember thee, thy sufferings in my cause, and thy +untimely end! I knew it not; I sought to thank thee; I +found thee in the grave; I would have made retribution to thy +children, but unjust, iron-hearted princes had deprived me of the +power. Can the virtuous heart conceive affliction more +cruel? My own ills I would have endured with magnanimity; +but thine are wrongs I have neither the power to forget nor +heal.</p> +<p>Enough of this.—</p> +<p>The worthy Emperor, Francis I., shed tears when I afterwards +had the honour of relating to him in person my past miseries; I +beheld them flow, and gratitude threw me at his feet. His +emotion was so great that he tore himself away. I left the +palace with all the enthusiasm of soul which such a scene must +inspire.</p> +<p>He probably would have done more than pitied me, but his death +soon followed. I relate this incident to convince posterity +that Francis I. possessed a heart worthy an emperor, worthy a +man. In the knowledge I have had of monarchs he stands +alone. Frederic and Theresa both died without doing me +justice; I am now too old, too proud, have too much apathy, to +expect it from their successors. Petition I will not, +knowing my rights; and justice from courts of law, however +evident my claims, were in these courts vain indeed to +expect. Lawyers and advocates I know but too well, and an +army to support my rights I have not.</p> +<p>What heart that can feel but will pardon me these +digressions! At the exact and simple recital of facts like +these, the whole man must be roused, and the philosopher himself +shudder.</p> +<p>Once more:—I heard nothing of what had happened for some +days; at length, however, it was the honest Gelfhardt’s +turn to mount guard; but the ports being doubled, and two +additional grenadiers placed before my door, explanation was +exceedingly difficult. He, however, in spite of precaution, +found means to inform me of what had happened to his two +unfortunate comrades.</p> +<p>The King came to a review at Magdeburg, when he visited +Star-Fort, and commanded a new cell to be immediately made, +prescribing himself the kind of irons by which I was to be +secured. The honest Gelfhardt heard the officer say this +cell was meant for me, and gave me notice of it, but assured me +it could not be ready in less than a month. I therefore +determined, as soon as possible, to complete my breach in the +wall, and escape without the aid of any one. The thing was +possible; for I had twisted the hair of my mattress into a rope, +which I meant to tie to a cannon, and descend the rampart, after +which I might endeavour to swim across the Elbe, gain the Saxon +frontiers, and thus safely escape.</p> +<p>On the 26th of May I had determined to break into the next +casemate; but when I came to work at the bricks, I found them so +hard and strongly cemented that I was obliged to defer the labour +till the following day. I left off, weary and spent, at +daybreak, and should any one enter my dungeon, they must +infallibly discover the breach. How dreadful is the destiny +by which, through life, I have been persecuted, and which has +continually plunged me headlong into calamity, when I imagined +happiness was at hand!</p> +<p>The 27th of May was a cruel day in the history of my +life. My cell in the Star-Fort had been finished sooner +than Gelfhardt had supposed; and at night, when I was preparing +to fly, I heard a carriage stop before my prison. O God! +what was my terror, what were the horrors of this moment of +despair! The locks and bolts resounded, the doors flew +open, and the last of my poor remaining resources was to conceal +my knife. The town-major, the major of the day, and a +captain entered; I saw them by the light of their two +lanterns. The only words they spoke were, “Dress +yourself,” which was immediately done. I still wore +the uniform of the regiment of Cordova. Irons were given +me, which I was obliged myself to fasten on my wrists and ankles; +the town-major tied a bandage over my eyes, and, taking me under +the arm, they thus conducted me to the carriage. It was +necessary to pass through the city to arrive at the Star-Fort; +all was silent, except the noise of the escort; but when we +entered Magdeburg I heard the people running, who were crowding +together to obtain a sight of me. Their curiosity was +raised by the report that I was going to be beheaded. That +I was executed on this occasion in the Star-Fort, after having +been conducted blindfold through the city, has since been both +affirmed and written; and the officers had then orders to +propagate this error that the world might remain in utter +ignorance concerning me. I, indeed, knew otherwise, though +I affected not to have this knowledge; and, as I was not gagged, +I behaved as if I expected death, reproached my conductors in +language that even made them shudder, and painted their King in +his true colours, as one who, unheard, had condemned an innocent +subject by a despotic exertion of power.</p> +<p>My fortitude was admired, at the moment when it was supposed I +thought myself leading to execution. No one replied, but +their sighs intimated their compassion; certain it is, few +Prussians willingly execute such commands. The carriage at +length stopped, and I was brought into my new cell. The +bandage was taken from my eyes. The dungeon was lighted by +a few torches. God of heaven! what were my feelings when I +beheld the whole floor covered with chains, a fire-pan, and two +grim men standing with their smiths’ hammers!</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>To work went these engines of despotism! Enormous chains +were fixed to my ankle at one end, and at the other to a ring +which was incorporated in the wall. This ring was three +feet from the ground, and only allowed me to move about two or +three feet to the right and left. They next riveted another +huge iron ring, of a hand’s breadth, round my naked body, +to which hung a chain, fixed into an iron bar as thick as a +man’s arm. This bar was two feet in length, and at +each end of it was a handcuff. The iron collar round my +neck was not added till the year 1756.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>No soul bade me good night. All retired in dreadful +silence; and I heard the horrible grating of four doors, that +were successively locked and bolted upon me!</p> +<p>Thus does man act by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, +having received the commands of another man so to act.</p> +<p>O God! Thou alone knowest how my heart, void as it was +of guilt, beat at this moment. There sat I, destitute, +alone, in thick darkness, upon the bare earth, with a weight of +fetters insupportable to nature, thanking Thee that these cruel +men had not discovered my knife, by which my miseries might yet +find an end. Death is a last certain refuge that can indeed +bid defiance to the rage of tyranny. What shall I +say? How shall I make the reader feel as I then felt? +How describe my despondency, and yet account for that latent +impulse that withheld my hand on this fatal, this miserable +night?</p> +<p>This misery I foresaw was not of short duration; I had heard +of the wars that were lately broken out between Austria and +Prussia. Patiently to wait their termination, amid +sufferings and wretchedness such as mine, appeared impossible, +and freedom even then was doubtful. Sad experience had I +had of Vienna, and well I knew that those who had despoiled me of +my property most anxiously would endeavour to prevent my +return. Such were my meditations! such my night +thoughts! Day at length returned; but where was its +splendour? Fled! I beheld it not; yet was its +glimmering obscurity sufficient to show me what was my +dungeon.</p> +<p>In breadth it was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near +me once more stood a night-table; in a corner was a seat, four +bricks broad, on which I might sit, and recline against the +wall. Opposite the ring to which I was fastened, the light +was admitted through a semi-circular aperture, one foot high, and +two in diameter. This aperture ascended to the centre of +the wall, which was six feet thick, and at this central part was +a close iron grating, from which, outward, the aperture +descended, and its two extremities were again secured by strong +iron bars. My dungeon was built in the ditch of the +fortification, and the aperture by which the light entered was so +covered by the wall of the rampart that, instead of finding +immediate passage, the light only gained admission by +reflection. This, considering the smallness of the +aperture, and the impediments of grating and iron bars, must +needs make the obscurity great; yet my eyes, in time, became so +accustomed to this glimmering that I could see a mouse run. +In winter, however, when the sun did not shine into the ditch, it +was eternal night with me. Between the bars and the grating +was a glass window, most curiously formed, with a small central +casement, which might be opened to admit the air. My +night-table was daily removed, and beside me stood a jug of +water. The name of TRENCK was built in the wall, in red +brick, and under my feet was a tombstone with the name of TRENCK +also cut on it, and carved with a death’s head. The +doors to my dungeon were double, of oak, two inches thick; +without these was an open space or front cell, in which was a +window, and this space was likewise shut in by double +doors. The ditch, in which this dreadful den was built, was +enclosed on both sides by palisades, twelve feet high, the key of +the door of which was entrusted to the officer of the guard, it +being the King’s intention to prevent all possibility of +speech or communication with the sentinels. The only motion +I had the power to make was that of jumping upward, or swinging +my arms to procure myself warmth. When more accustomed to +these fetters, I became capable of moving from side to side, +about four feet; but this pained my shin-bones.</p> +<p>The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven +days, and everybody supposed it would be impossible I should +exist in these damps above a fortnight. I remained six +months, continually immersed in very cold water, that trickled +upon me from the thick arches under which I was; and I can safely +affirm that, for the first three months, I was never dry; yet did +I continue in health. I was visited daily, at noon, after +relieving guard, and the doors were then obliged to be left open +for some minutes, otherwise the dampness of the air put out their +candles.</p> +<p>This was my situation, and here I sat, destitute of friends, +helplessly wretched, preyed on by all the torture of thought that +continually suggested the most gloomy, the most horrid, the most +dreadful of images. My heart was not yet wholly turned to +stone; my fortitude was sunken to despondency; my dungeon was the +very cave of despair; yet was my arm restrained, and this excess +of misery endured.</p> +<p>How then may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of +man? My fortitude, after some time, began to revive; I +glowed with the desire of convincing the world I was capable of +suffering what man had never suffered before; perhaps of at last +emerging from this load of wretchedness triumphant over my +enemies. So long and ardently did my fancy dwell on this +picture, that my mind at length acquired a heroism which Socrates +himself certainly never possessed. Age had benumbed his +sense of pleasure, and he drank the poisonous draught with cool +indifference; but I was young, inured to high hopes, yet now +beholding deliverance impossible, or at an immense, a dreadful +distance. Such, too, were the other sufferings of soul and +body, I could not hope they might be supported and live.</p> +<p>About noon my den was opened. Sorrow and compassion were +painted on the countenances of my keepers. No one spoke; no +one bade me good morrow. Dreadful indeed was their arrival; +for, unaccustomed to the monstrous bolts and bars, they were kept +resounding for a full half-hour before such soul-chilling, such +hope-murdering impediments were removed. It was the voice +of tyranny that thundered.</p> +<p>My night-table was taken out, a camp-bed, mattress, and +blankets were brought me; a jug of water set down, and beside it +an ammunition loaf of six pounds’ weight. “That +you may no more complain of hunger,” said the town-major, +“you shall have as much bread as you can eat.” +The door was shut, and I again left to my thoughts.</p> +<p>What a strange thing is that called happiness! How shall +I express my extreme joy when, after eleven months of intolerable +hunger, I was again indulged with a full feast of coarse +ammunition bread? The fond lover never rushed more eagerly +to the arias of his expecting bride, the famished tiger more +ravenously on his prey, than I upon this loaf. I ate, +rested; surveyed the precious morsel; ate again; and absolutely +shed tears of pleasure. Breaking bit after bit, I had by +evening devoured all my loaf.</p> +<p>Oh, Nature! what delight hast thou combined with the +gratification of thy wants! Remember this, ye who gorge, ye +who rack invention to excite appetite, and yet which you cannot +procure! Remember how simple are the means that will give a +crust of mouldy bread a flavour more exquisite than all the +spices of the East, or all the profusion of land or sea! +Remember this, grow hungry, and indulge your sensuality.</p> +<p>Alas! my enjoyment was of short duration. I soon found +that excess is followed by pain and repentance. My fasting +had weakened digestion, and rendered it inactive. My body +swelled, my water-jug was emptied; cramps, colics, and at length +inordinate thirst racked me all the night. I began to pour +curses on those who seemed to refine on torture, and, after +starving me so long, to invite me to gluttony. Could I not +have reclined on my bed, I should indeed have been driven, this +night, to desperation; yet even this was but a partial relief; +for, not yet accustomed to my enormous fetters, I could not +extend myself in the same manner I was afterwards taught to do by +habit. I dragged them, however, so together as to enable me +to sit down on the bare mattress. This, of all my nights of +suffering, stands foremost. When they opened my dungeon +next day they found me in a truly pitiable situation, wondered at +my appetite, brought me another loaf; I refused to accept it, +believing I nevermore should have occasion for bread; they, +however, left me one, gave me water, shrugged up their shoulders, +wished me farewell, as, according to all appearance, they never +expected to find me alive, and shut all the doors, without asking +whether I wished or needed further assistance.</p> +<p>Three days had passed before I could again eat a morsel of +bread; and my mind, brave in health, now in a sick body became +pusillanimous, so that I determined on death. The irons, +everywhere round my body, and their weight, were insupportable; +nor could I imagine it was possible I should habituate myself to +them, or endure them long enough to expect deliverance. +Peace was a very distant prospect. The King had commanded +that such a prison should be built as should exclude all +necessity of a sentinel, in order that I might not converse with +and seduce them from what is called their duty: and, in the first +days of despair, deliverance appeared impossible; and the +fetters, the war, the pain I felt, the place, the length of time, +each circumstance seemed equally impossible to support. A +thousand reasons convinced me it was necessary to end my +sufferings. I shall not enter into theological disputes: +let those who blame me imagine themselves in my situation; or +rather let them first actually endure my miseries, and then let +them reason. I had often braved death in prosperity, and at +this moment it seemed a blessing.</p> +<p>Full of these meditations, every minute’s patience +appeared absurdity, and resolution meanness of soul; yet I wished +my mind should be satisfied that reason, and not rashness, had +induced the act. I therefore determined, that I might +examine the question coolly, to wait a week longer, and die on +the fourth of July. In the meantime I revolved in my mind +what possible means there were of escape, not fearing, naked and +chained, to rush and expire on the bayonets of my enemies.</p> +<p>The next day I observed, as the four doors were opened, that +they were only of wood, therefore questioned whether I might not +even cut off the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately +concealed: and should this and every other means fail, then would +be the time to die. I likewise determined to make an +attempt to free myself of my chains. I happily forced my +right hand through the handcuff, though the blood trickled from +my nails. My attempts on the left were long ineffectual; +but by rubbing with a brick, which I got from my seat, on the +rivet that had been negligently closed, I effected this also.</p> +<p>The chain was fastened to the run round my body by a hook, one +end of which was not inserted in the rim; therefore, by setting +my foot against the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend +this hook back, and open it, as to force out the link of the +chain. The remaining difficulty was the chain that attached +my foot to the wall: the links of this I took, doubled, twisted, +and wrenched, till at length, nature having bestowed on me great +strength, I made a desperate effort, sprang forcibly up, and two +links at once flew off.</p> +<p>Fortunate, indeed, did I think myself: I hastened to the door, +groped in the dark to find the clinkings of the nails by which +the lock was fastened, and discovered no very large piece of wood +need be cut. Immediately I went to work with my knife, and +cut through the oak door to find its thickness, which proved to +be only one inch, therefore it was possible to open all the four +doors in four-and-twenty hours.</p> +<p>Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent detection I +hastened to put on my chains; but, O God! what difficulties had I +to surmount! After much groping about, I at length found +the link that had flown off; this I hid: it being my good fortune +hitherto to escape examination, as the possibility of ridding +myself of such chains was in nowise suspected. The +separated iron links I tied together with my hair ribbon; but +when I again endeavoured to force my hand into the ring, it was +so swelled that every effort was fruitless. The whole might +was employed upon the rivet, but all labour was in vain.</p> +<p>Noon was the hour of visitation, and necessity and danger +again obliged me to attempt forcing my hand in, which at length, +after excruciating torture, I effected. My visitors came, +and everything had the appearance of order. I found it, +however, impossible to force out my right hand while it continued +swelled.</p> +<p>I therefore remained quiet till the day fixed, and on the +determined fourth of July, immediately as my visitors had closed +the doors upon me, I disencumbered myself of my irons, took my +knife, and began my Herculean labour on the door. The first +of the double doors that opened inwards was conquered in less +than an hour; the other was a very different task. The lock +was soon cut round, but it opened outwards; there was therefore +no other means left but to cut the whole door away above the +bar.</p> +<p>Incessant and incredible labour made this possible, though it +was the more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling, I +being totally in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed, +from my body; my fingers were clotted in my own blood, and my +lacerated hands were one continued wound.</p> +<p>Daylight appeared: I clambered over the door that was half cut +away, and got up to the window in the space or cell that was +between the double doors, as before described. Here I saw +my dungeon was in the ditch of the first rampart: before me I +beheld the road from the rampart, the guard but fifty paces +distant, and the high palisades that were in the ditch, and must +be scaled before I could reach the rampart. Hope grew +stronger; my efforts were redoubled. The first of the next +double doors was attacked, which likewise opened inward, and was +soon conquered. The sun set before I had ended this, and +the fourth was to be cut away as the second had been. My +strength failed; both my hands were raw; I rested awhile, began +again, and had made a cut of a foot long, when my knife snapped, +and the broken blade dropped to the ground!</p> +<p>God of Omnipotence! what was I at this moment? Was +there, God of Mercies! was there ever creature of Thine more +justified than I in despair? The moon shone very clear; I +cast a wild and distracted look up to heaven, fell on my knees, +and in the agony of my soul sought comfort: but no comfort could +be found; nor religion nor philosophy had any to give. I +cursed not Providence, I feared not annihilation, I dared not +Almighty vengeance; God the Creator was the disposer of my fate; +and if He heaped afflictions upon me He had not given me strength +to support, His justice would not therefore punish me. To +Him, the Judge of the quick and dead, I committed my soul, seized +the broken knife, gashed through the veins of my left arm and +foot, sat myself tranquilly down, and saw the blood flow. +Nature, overpowered fainted, and I know not how long I remained, +slumbering, in this state. Suddenly I heard my own name, +awoke, and again heard the words, “Baron +Trenck!” My answer was, “Who +calls?” And who indeed was it—who but my honest +grenadier Gelfhardt—my former faithful friend in the +citadel! The good, the kind fellow had got upon the +rampart, that he might comfort me.</p> +<p>“How do you do?” said Gelfhardt. +“Weltering in my blood,” answered I; “to-morrow +you will find me dead.”—“Why should you +die?” replied he. “It is much easier for you to +escape here than from the citadel! Here is no sentinel, and +I shall soon find means to provide you with tools; if you can +only break out, leave the rest to me. As often as I am on +guard, I will seek opportunity to speak to you. In the +whole Star-Fort, there are but two sentinels: the one at the +entrance, and the other at the guard-house. Do not despair; +God will succour you; trust to me.” The good +man’s kindness and discourse revived my hopes: I saw the +possibility of an escape. A secret joy diffused itself +through my soul. I immediately tore my shirt, bound up my +wounds, and waited the approach of day; and the sun soon after +shone through the window, to me, with unaccustomed +brightness.</p> +<p>Let the reader judge how far it was chance, or the effect of +Divine providence, that in this dreadful hour my heart again +received hope. Who was it sent the honest Gelfhardt, at +such a moment, to my prison? For, had it not been for him, +I had certainly, when I awoke from my slumbers, cut more +effectually through my arteries.</p> +<p>Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done: +yet what could be done, what expected, but that I should now be +much more cruelly treated, and even more insupportably ironed +than before—finding, as they must, the doors cut through +and my fetters shaken off?</p> +<p>After mature consideration, I therefore made the following +resolution, which succeeded happily, and even beyond my +hopes. Before I proceed, however, I will speak a few words +concerning my situation at this moment. It is impossible to +describe how much I was exhausted. The prison swam with +blood; and certainly but little was left in my body. With +painful wounds, swelled and torn hands, I there stood shirtless, +felt an inclination to sleep almost irresistible, and scarcely +had strength to keep my legs, yet was I obliged to rouse myself, +that I might execute my plan.</p> +<p>With the bar that separated my hands, I loosened the bricks of +my seat, which, being newly laid, was easily done, and heaped +them up in the middle of my prison. The inner door was +quite open, and with my chains I so barricaded the upper half of +the second as to prevent any one climbing over it. When +noon came and the first of the doors was unlocked, all were +astonished to find the second open. There I stood, +besmeared with blood, the picture of horror, with a brick in one +hand, and in the other my broken knife, crying, as they +approached, “Keep off, Mr. Major, keep off! Tell the +governor I will live no longer in chains, and that here I stand, +if so he pleases, to be shot; for so only will I be +conquered. Here no man shall enter—I will destroy all +that approach; here are my weapons; lucre will I die in despite +of tyranny.” The major was terrified, wanted +resolution, and made his report to the governor. I meantime +sat down on my bricks, to wait what might happen: my secret +intent, however, was not so desperate as it appeared. I +sought only to obtain a favourable capitulation.</p> +<p>The governor, General Borck, presently came, attended by the +town-major and some officers, and entered the outward cell, but +sprang back the moment he beheld a figure like me, standing with +a brick and uplifted arm. I repeated what I had told the +major, and he immediately ordered six grenadiers to force the +door. The front cell was scarcely six feet broad, so that +no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment, and when +they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend, they leaped +terrified back. A short pause ensued, and the old +town-major, with the chaplain, advanced towards the door to +soothe me: the conversation continued some time: whose reasons +were most satisfactory, and whose cause was the most just, I +leave to the reader. The governor grew angry, and ordered a +fresh attack. The first grenadier was knocked down, and the +rest ran back to avoid my missiles.</p> +<p>The town-major again began a parley. “For +God’s sake, my dear Trenck,” said he, “in what +have I injured you, that you endeavour to effect my ruin? I +must answer for your having, through my negligence, concealed a +knife. Be persuaded, I entreat you. Be +appeased. You are not without hope, nor without +friends.” My answer was—“But will you not +load me with heavier irons than before?”</p> +<p>He went out, spoke with the governor, and gave me his word of +honour that the affair should be no further noticed, and that +everything should be exactly reinstated as formerly.</p> +<p>Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was +taken. The condition I was in was viewed with pity; my +wounds were examined, a surgeon sent to dress them, another shirt +was given me, and the bricks, clotted with blood, removed. +I, meantime, lay half dead on my mattress; my thirst was +excessive. The surgeon ordered me some wine. Two +sentinels were stationed in the front cell, and I was thus left +four days in peace, unironed. Broth also was given me +daily, and how delicious this was to taste, how much it revived +and strengthened me, is wholly impossible to describe. Two +days I lay in a slumbering kind of trance, forced by unquenchable +thirst to drink whenever I awoke. My feet and hands were +swelled; the pains in my back and limbs were excessive.</p> +<p>On the fifth day the doors were ready; the inner was entirely +plated with iron, and I was fettered as before: perhaps they +found further cruelty unnecessary. The principal chain, +however, which fastened me to the wall, like that I had before +broken, was thicker than the first. Except this, the +capitulation was strictly kept. They deeply regretted that, +without the King’s express commands, they could not lighten +my afflictions, wished me fortitude and patience, and barred up +my doors.</p> +<p>It is necessary I should here describe my dress. My +hands being fixed and kept asunder by an iron bar, and my feet +chained to the wall, I could neither put on shirt nor stockings +in the usual mode; the shirt was therefore tied, and changed once +a fortnight; the coarse ammunition stockings were buttoned on the +sides; a blue garment, of soldier’s cloth, was likewise +tied round me, and I had a pair of slippers for my feet. +The shirt was of the army linen; and when I contemplated myself +in this dress of a malefactor, chained thus to the wall in such a +dungeon, vainly imploring mercy or justice, my conscience void of +reproach, my heart of guilt—when I reflected on my former +splendour in Berlin and Moscow, and compared it with this sad, +this dreadful reverse of destiny, I was sunk in grief, or roused +to indignation, that might have hurried the greatest hero or +philosopher to madness or despair. I felt what can only be +imagined by him who has suffered like me, after having like me +flourished, if such can be found.</p> +<p>Pride, the justness of my cause, the unbounded confidence I +had in my own resolution, and the labours of an inventive head +and iron body—these only could have preserved my +life. These bodily labours, these continued inventions, and +projected plans to obtain my freedom, preserved my health. +Who would suppose that a man fettered as I was could find means +of exercising himself? By swinging my arms, acting with the +upper part of my body, and leaping upwards, I frequently put +myself in a strong perspiration. After thus wearying myself +I slept soundly, and often thought how many generals, obliged to +support the inclemencies of weather, and all the dangers of the +field—how many of those who had plunged me into this den of +misery, would have been most glad could they, like me, have slept +with a quiet conscience. Often did I reflect how much +happier I was than those tortured on the bed of sickness by gout, +stone, and other terrible diseases. How much happier was I +in innocence than the malefactor doomed to suffer the pangs of +death, the ignominy of men, and the horrors of internal +guilt!</p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p>In the following part of my history it will appear I often had +much money concealed under the ground and in the walls of my den, +yet would I have given a hundred ducats for a morsel of bread, it +could not have been procured. Money was to me +useless. In this I resembled the miser, who hoards, yet +hives in wretchedness, having no joy in gentle acts of +benevolence. As proudly might I delight myself with my +hidden treasure as such misers; nay, more, for I was secure from +robbers.</p> +<p>Had fastidious pomp been my pleasure, I might have imagined +myself some old field-marshal bedridden, who hears two grenadier +sentinels at his door call, “Who goes there?” My +honour, indeed, was still greater; for, during my last +year’s imprisonment, my door was guarded by no less than +four. My vanity also might have been flattered: I might +hence conclude how high was the value set upon my head, since all +this trouble was taken to hold me in security. Certain it +is that in my chains I thought more rationally, more nobly, +reasoned more philosophically on man, his nature, his zeal, his +imaginary wants, the effects of his ambition, his passions, and +saw more distinctly his dream of earthly good, than those who had +imprisoned, or those who guarded me. I was void of the +fears that haunt the parasite who servilely wears the fetters of +a court, and daily trembles for the loss of what vice and cunning +have acquired. Those who had usurped the Sclavonian +estates, and feasted sumptuously from the service of plate I had +been robbed of, never ate their dainties with so sweet an +appetite as I my ammunition bread, nor did their high-flavoured +wines flow so limpid as my cold water.</p> +<p>Thus, the man who thinks, being pure of heart, will find +consolation when under the most dreadful calamities, convinced, +as he must be, that those apparently most are frequently least +happy, insensible as they are of the pleasures they might +enjoy. Evil is never so great as it appears.</p> +<blockquote><p>“Sweet are the uses of adversity,<br /> +Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,<br /> +Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.”</p> +<p style="text-align: right"><i>As you Like it</i>.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Happy he who, like me, having suffered, can become an example +to his suffering brethren!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Youth</span>, prosperous, and imagining +eternal prosperity, read my history attentively, though I should +be in my grave! Read feelingly, and bless my sleeping dust, +if it has taught thee wisdom or fortitude!</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Father</span>, reading this, say to thy +children, I felt thus like them, in blooming youth, little +prophesied of misfortune, which after fell so heavy on me, and by +which I am even still persecuted! Say that I had virtue, +ambition, was educated in noble principles; that I laboured with +all the zeal of enthusiastic youth to become wiser, better, +greater than other men; that I was guilty of no crimes, was the +friend of men, was no deceiver of man or woman; that I first +served my own country faithfully, and after, every other in which +I found bread; that I was never, during life, once intoxicated; +was no gamester, no night rambler, no contemptible idler; that +yet, through envy and arbitrary power, I have fallen to misery +such as none but the worst of criminals ought to feel.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Brother</span>, fly those countries where +the lawgiver himself knows no law, where truth and virtue are +punished as crimes; and, if fly you cannot, be it your endeavour +to remain unknown, unnoticed; in such countries, seek not favour +or honourable employ, else will you become, when your merits are +known, as I have been, the victim of slander and treachery: the +behests of power will persecute you, and innocence will not +shield you from the shafts of wicked men who are envious, or who +wish to obtain the favour of princes, though by the worst of +means.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Sire</span>, imagine not that thou readest +a romance. My head is grey, like thine. Read, yet +despise not the world, though it has treated me thus +unthankfully. Good men have I also found, who have +befriended me in misfortunes, and there, where I had least claim, +have I found them most. May my book assist thee in noble +thoughts; mayest thou die as tranquilly as I shall render up my +soul to appear before the Judge of me and my persecutors. +Be death but thought a transition from motion to rest. Few +are the delights of this world for him who, like me, has learned +to know it. Murmur not, despair not of Providence. +Me, through storms, it has brought to haven; through many griefs +to self-knowledge; and through prisons to philosophy. He +only can tranquilly descend to annihilation who finds reason not +to repent he has once existed. My rudder broke not amid the +rocks and quicksands, but my bark was cast upon the strand of +knowledge. Yet, even on these clear shores are impenetrable +clouds. I have seen more distinctly than it is supposed men +ought to see. Age will decay the faculties, and mental, +like bodily sight, must then decrease. I even grew weary of +science, and envied the blind-born, or those who, till death, +have been wilfully hoodwinked. How often have I been asked, +“What didst thou see?” And when I answered with +sincerity and truth, how often have I been derided as a liar, and +been persecuted by those who determined not to see themselves, as +an innovator singular and rash!</p> +<p>Sire, I further say to thee, teach thy descendants to seek the +golden mean, and say with Gellert—“The boy Fritz +needs nothing;—his stupidity will insure his success, +Examine our wealthy and titled lords, what are their abilities +and honours, then inquire how they were attained, and, if thou +canst, discover in what true happiness consists.”</p> +<p>Once more to my prison. The failure of my escape, and +the recovery of life from this state of despair, led me to +moralise deeper than I had ever done before; and in this depth of +thought I found unexpected consolation and fortitude, and a firm +persuasion I yet should accomplish my deliverance.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt, my honest grenadier, had infused fresh hope, and my +mind now busily began to meditate new plans. A sentinel was +placed before my door, that I might be more narrowly watched, and +the married men of the Prussian states were appointed to this +duty, who, as I will hereafter show, were more easy to persuade +in aiding my flight than foreign fugitives. The Pomeranian +will listen, and is by nature kind, therefore may easily be +moved, and induced to succour distress.</p> +<p>I began to be more accustomed to my irons, which I had before +found so insupportable; I could comb out my long hair, and could +tie it at last with one hand. My beard, which had so long +remained unshaven, gave me a grim appearance, and I began to +pluck it up by the roots. The pain at first was +considerable, especially about the lips; but this also custom +conquered, and I performed this operation in the following years, +once in six weeks, or two months, as the hair thus plucked up +required that length of time before the nails could again get +hold. Vermin did not molest me; the dampness of my den was +inimical to them. My limbs never swelled, because of the +exercise I gave myself, as before described. The greatest +pain I found was in the continued unvivifying dimness in which I +lived.</p> +<p>I had read much, had lived in, and seen much of the +world. Vacuity of thought, therefore, I was little troubled +with; the former transactions of my life, and the remembrance of +the persons I had known, I revolved so often in my mind, that +they became as familiar and connected as if the events had each +been written in the order it occurred. Habit made this +mental exercise so perfect to me, that I could compose speeches, +fables, odes, satires, all of which I repeated aloud, and had so +stored my memory with them that I was enabled, after I had +obtained my freedom, to commit to writing two volumes of my +prison labours. Accustomed to this exercise, days that +would otherwise have been days of misery appeared but as a +moment. The following narrative will show how munch esteem, +how many friends, these compositions procured me, even in my +dungeon; insomuch that I obtained light, paper, and finally +freedom itself. For these I have to thank the industrious +acquirements of my youth; therefore do I counsel all my readers +so to employ their time. Riches, honours, the favours of +fortune, may be showered by monarchs upon the most worthless; but +monarchs can give and take, say and unsay, raise and pull +down. Monarchs, however, can neither give wisdom nor +virtue. Arbitrary power itself, in the presence of these, +is foiled.</p> +<p>How wisely has Providence ordained that the endowments of +industry, learning, and science, given by ourselves, cannot be +taken from us; while, on the contrary, what others bestow is a +fantastical dream, from which any accident may awaken us! +The wrath of Frederic could destroy legions, and defeat armies; +but it could not take from me the sense of honour, of innocence, +and their sweet concomitant, peace of mind—could not +deprive me of fortitude and magnanimity. I defied his +power, rested on the justice of my cause, found in myself +expedients wherewith to oppose him, was at length crowned with +conquest, and came forth to the world the martyr of suffering +virtue.</p> +<p>Some of my oppressors now rot in dishonourable graves. +Others, alas! in Vienna, remain immured in houses of correction, +as Krugel and Zeto, or beg their bread, like Gravenitz and +Doo. Nor are the wealthy possessors of my estates more +fortunate, but look down with shame wherever I and my children +appear. We stand erect, esteemed, and honoured, while their +injustice is manifest to the whole world.</p> +<p>Young man, be industrious: for without industry can none of +the treasures I have described be purchased. Thy labour +will reward itself; then, when assaulted by misfortune, or even +misery, learn of me and smile; or, shouldst thou escape such +trials, still labour to acquire wisdom, that in old age thou +mayest find content and happiness.</p> +<p>The years in my dungeon passed away as days, those moments +excepted when, thinking on the great world, and the deeds of +great men, my ambition was roused: except when, contemplating the +vileness of my chains, and the wretchedness of my situation, I +laboured for liberty, and found my labours endless and +ineffectual; except while I remembered the triumph of my enemies, +and the splendour in which those lived by whom I had been +plundered. Then, indeed, did I experience intervals that +approached madness, despair, and horror: beholding myself +destitute of friend or protector, the Empress herself, for whose +sake I suffered, deserting me; reflecting on past times and past +prosperity; remembering how the good and virtuous, from the cruel +nature of my punishment, must be obliged to conclude me a wretch +and a villain, and that all means of justification were cut off: +O God! How did my heart beat! with what violence! +What would I not have undertaken, in these suffering moments, to +have put my enemies to shame! Vengeance and rage then rose +rebellious against patience; long-suffering philosophy vanished, +and the poisoned cup of Socrates would have been the nectar of +the gods.</p> +<p>Man deprived of hope is man destroyed. I found but +little probability in all my plans and projects; yet did I trust +that some of them should succeed, yet did I confide in them and +my honest Gelfhardt, and that I should still free myself from my +chains.</p> +<p>The greatest of all my incitements to patient endurance was +love. I had left behind me, in Vienna, a lady for whom the +world still was dear to me; her would I neither desert nor +afflict. To her and my sister was my existence still +necessary. For their sakes, who had lost and suffered so +much for mine, would I preserve my life; for them no difficulty, +no suffering was too great; yet, alas! when long-desired liberty +was restored, I found them both in their graves. The joy, +for which I had borne so much, was no more to be tasted.</p> +<p>About three weeks after my attempt to escape, the good +Gelfhardt first came to stand sentinel over me; and the sentinel +they had so carefully set was indeed the only hope I could have +of escape; for help must be had from without, or this was +impossible.</p> +<p>The effort I had made had excited too munch surprise and alarm +for me to pass without strict examination; since, on the ninth +day after I was confined, I had, in eighteen hours, so far broken +through a prison built purposely for myself, by a combination of +so many projectors, and with such extreme precaution, that it had +been universally declared impenetrable.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt scarcely had taken his post before we had free +opportunity of conversing together; for, when I stood with one +foot on my bedstead, I could reach the aperture through which +light was admitted.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt described the situation of my dungeon, and our first +plan was to break under the foundation which he had seen laid, +and which he affirmed to be only two feet deep.</p> +<p>Money was the first thing necessary. Gelfhardt was +relieved during his guard, and returned bringing within him a +sheet of paper rolled on a wire, which he passed through my +grating; as he also did a piece of small wax candle, some burning +amadone (a kind of tinder), a match, and a pen. I now had +light, and I pricked my finger, and wrote with my blood to my +faithful friend, Captain Ruckhardt, at Vienna, described my +situation in a few words, sent him an acquittance for three +thousand florins on my revenues, and requested he would dispose +of a thousand florins to defray the expenses of his journey to +Gummern, only two miles from Magdeburg. Here he was +positively to be on the 15th of August. About noon, on this +same day, he was to walk with a letter in his hand; and a man was +there to meet him, carrying a roll of smoking tobacco, to whom he +must remit the two thousand florins, and return to Vienna.</p> +<p>I returned the written paper to Gelfhardt by the same means it +had been received, gave him my instructions, and he sent his wife +with it to Gummern, by whom it was safely put in the post.</p> +<p>My hopes daily rose, and as often as Gelfhardt mounted guard, +so often did we continue our projects. The 15th of August +came, but it was some days before Gelfhardt was again on guard; +and oh! how did my heart palpitate when he came and exclaimed, +“All is right! we have succeeded.” He returned +in the evening, and we began to consider by what means he could +convey the money to me. I could not, with my hands chained +to an iron bar, reach the aperture of the window that admitted +air—besides that it was too small. It was therefore +agreed that Gelfhardt should, on the next guard, perform the +office of cleaning my dungeon, and that he then should convey the +money to me in the water-jug.</p> +<p>This luckily was done. How great was my astonishment +when, instead of one, I found two thousand florins! For I +had permitted him to reserve half to himself, as a reward for his +fidelity; he, however, had kept but five pistoles, which he +persisted was enough.</p> +<p>Worthy Gelfhardt! This was the act of a Pomeranian +grenadier! How rare are such examples! Be thy name +and mine ever united! Live thou while the memory of me +shall live! Never did my acquaintance with the great bring +to my knowledge a soul so noble, so disinterested!</p> +<p>It is true, I afterwards prevailed on him to accept the whole +thousand; but we shall soon see he never had them, and that his +foolish wife, three years after, suffered by their means; +however, she suffered alone, for he soon marched to the field, +and therefore was unpunished.</p> +<p>Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put my plan of +burrowing under the foundation into execution. The first +thing necessary was to free myself from my fetters. To +accomplish this, Gelfhardt supplied me with two small files, and +by the aid of these, this labour, though great, was effected.</p> +<p>The cap, or staple, of the foot ring was made so wide that I +could draw it forward a quarter of an inch. I filed the +iron which passed through it on the inside; the more I filed this +away, the farther I could draw the cap down, till at last the +whole inside iron, through which the chains passed, was cut quite +through! by this means I could slip off the ring, while the cap +on the outside continued whole, and it was impossible to discover +any cut, as only the outside could be examined. My hands, +by continued efforts, I so compressed as to be able to draw them +out of the handcuffs. I then filed the hinge, and made a +screw-driver of one of the foot-long flooring nails, by which I +could take out the screw at pleasure, so that at the time of +examination no proofs could appear. The rim round my body +was but a small impediment, except the chain, which passed from +my hand-bar: and this I removed, by filing an aperture in one of +the links, which, at the necessary hour, I closed with bread, +rubbed over with rusty-iron, first drying it by the heat of my +body; and would wager any sum that, without striking the chain +link by link, with a hammer, no one not in the secret would have +discovered the fracture.</p> +<p>The window was never strictly examined; I therefore drew the +two staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, and +which I daily replaced, carefully plastering them over. I +procured wire from Gelfhardt, and tried how well I could imitate +the inner grating: finding I succeeded tolerably, I cut the real +grating totally away, and substituted an artificial one of my own +fabricating, by which I obtained a free communication with the +outside, additional fresh air, together with all necessary +implements, tinder, and candles.</p> +<p>That the light might not be seen, I hung the coverlid of my +bed before the window, so that I could work fearless and +undetected.</p> +<p>Every thing prepared, I went to work. The floor of my +dungeon was not of stone, but oak plank, three inches thick; +three beds of which were laid crossways, and were fastened to +each other by nails half an inch in diameter, and a foot +long. Raving worked round the head of a nail, I made use of +the hole at the end of the bar, which separated my hands, to draw +it out, and this nail, sharpened upon my tombstone, made an +excellent chisel.</p> +<p>I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that I +might work downwards, and having drawn away a piece of board +which was inserted two inches under the wall, I cut this so as +exactly to fit; the small crevice it occasioned I stopped up with +bread and strewed over with dust, so as to prevent all suspicious +appearance. My labour under this was continued with less +precaution, and I had soon worked through my nine-inch +planks. Under them I came to a fine white sand, on which +the Star Fort was built. My chips I carefully distributed +beneath the boards. If I had not help from without, I could +proceed no farther; for to dig were useless, unless I could rid +myself of my rubbish. Gelfhardt supplied me with some ells +of cloth, of which I made long narrow bags, stuffed them with +earth, and passed them between the iron bars, to Gelfhardt, who, +as he was on guard, scattered or conveyed away their +contents.</p> +<p>Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I +obtained more instruments, together with a pair of pistols, +powder, ball, and a bayonet.</p> +<p>I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, instead of +two, was sunken four feet deep. Time, labour, and patience +were all necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered; but few +things are impossible, where resolution is not wanting.</p> +<p>The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, +corresponding with the foundation, and wide enough to kneel and +stoop in: the lying down on the floor to work, the continual +stooping to throw out the earth, the narrow space in which all +must be performed, these made the labour incredible: and, after +this daily labour, all things were to be replaced, and my chains +again resumed, which alone required some hours to effect. +My greatest aid was in the wax candles, and light I had procured; +but as Gelfhardt stood sentinel only once a fortnight, my work +was much delayed; the sentinels were forbidden to speak to me +under pain of death: and I was too fearful of being betrayed to +dare to seek new assistance.</p> +<p>Being without a stove, I suffered much this winter from cold; +yet my heart was cheerful as I saw the probability of freedom; +and all were astonished to find me in such good spirits.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt also brought me supplies of provisions, chiefly +consisting of sausages and salt meats, ready dressed, which +increased my strength, and when I was not digging, I wrote +satires and verses: thus time was employed, and I contented even +in prison.</p> +<p>Lulled into security, an accident happened that will appear +almost incredible, and by which every hope was nearly +frustrated.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt had been working with me, and was relieved in the +morning. As I was replacing the window, which I was obliged +to remove on these occasions, it fell out of my hand, and three +of the glass panes were broken. Gelfhardt was not to return +till guard was again relieved: I had therefore no opportunity of +speaking with him, or concerting any mode of repair. I +remained nearly an hour conjecturing and hesitating; for +certainly had the broken window been seen, as it was impossible I +should reach it when fettered, I should immediately have been +more rigidly examined, and the false grating must have been +discovered.</p> +<p>I therefore came to a resolution, and spoke to the sentinel +(who was amusing himself with whistling), thus: “My good +fellow, have pity, not upon me, but upon your comrades, who, +should you refuse, will certainly be executed: I will throw you +thirty pistoles through the window, if you will do me a small +favour.” He remained some moments silent, and at last +answered in a low voice, “What, have you money, +then?”—I immediately counted thirty pistoles, and +threw them through the window. He asked what he was to do: +I told him my difficulty, and gave him the size of the panes in +paper. The man fortunately was bold and prudent. The +door of the pallisadoes, through the negligence of the officer, +had not been shut that day: he prevailed on one of his comrades +to stand sentinel for him, during half an hour, while he meantime +ran into the town, and procured the glass, on the receipt of +which I instantly threw him out ten more pistoles. Before +the hour of noon and visitation came, everything was once more +reinstated, my glaziery performed to a miracle, and the life of +my worthy Gelfhardt preserved!—Such is the power of money +in this world! This is a very remarkable incident, for I +never spoke after to the man who did me this signal service.</p> +<p>Gelfhardt’s alarm may easily be imagined; he some days +after returned to his post, and was the more astonished as he +knew the sentinel who had done me this good office; that he had +five children, and a man most to be depended on by his officers, +of any one in the whole grenadier company.</p> +<p>I now continued my labour, and found it very possible to break +out under the foundation; but Gelfhardt had been so terrified by +the late accident, that he started a thousand difficulties, in +proportion as my end was more nearly accomplished; and at the +moment when I wished to concert with him the means of flight, he +persisted it was necessary to find additional help, to escape in +safety, and not bring both him and myself to destruction. +At length we came to the following determination, which, however, +after eight months’ incessant labour, rendered my whole +project abortive.</p> +<p>I wrote once more to Ruckhardt, at Vienna; sent him a new +assignment for money, and desired he would again repair to +Gummern, where he should wait six several nights, with two spare +horses, on the glacis of Klosterbergen, at the time appointed, +everything being prepared for flight. Within these six days +Gelfhardt would have found means, either in rotation, or by +exchanging the guard, to have been with me. Alas! the sweet +hope of again beholding the face of the sun, of once more +obtaining my freedom, endured but three days: Providence thought +proper otherwise to ordain. Gelfhardt sent his wife to +Gummern with the letter, and this silly woman told the +post-master her husband had a lawsuit at Vienna, that therefore +she begged he would take particular care of the letter, for which +purpose she slipped ten rix-dollars into his hand.</p> +<p>This unexpected liberality raised the suspicions of the Saxon +post-master, who therefore opened the letter, read the contents, +and instead of sending it to Vienna, or at least to the general +post-master at Dresden, he preferred the traitorous act of taking +it himself to the governor of Magdeburg, who then, as at present, +was Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick.</p> +<p>What were my terrors, what my despair, when I beheld the +Prince himself, about three o’clock in the afternoon, enter +my prison with his attendants, present my letter, and ask, in an +authoritative voice, who had carried it to Gummern. My +answer was, “I know not.” Strict search was +immediately made by smiths, carpenters, and masons, and after +half an hour’s examination, they discovered neither my hole +nor the manner in which I disencumbered myself of my chains; they +only saw that the middle grating, in the aperture where the light +was admitted, had been removed. This was boarded up the +next day, only a small air-hole left, of about six inches +diameter.</p> +<p>The Prince began to threaten; I persisted I had never seen the +sentinel who had rendered me this service, nor asked his +name. Seeing his attempts all ineffectual, the governor, in +a milder tone, said, “You have ever complained, Baron +Trenck, of not having been legally sentenced, or heard in your +own defence; I give you my word of honour, this you shall be, and +also that you shall be released from your fetters, if you will +only tell me who took your letter.” To this I +replied, with all the fortitude of innocence, “Everybody +knows, my lord, I have never deserved the treatment I have met +with in my country. My heart is irreproachable. I +seek to recover my liberty by every means in my power: but were I +capable of betraying the man whose compassion has induced him to +succour my distress; were I the coward that could purchase +happiness at his expense, I then should, indeed, deserve to wear +those chains with which I am loaded. For myself, do with me +what you please: yet remember I am not wholly destitute: I am +still a captain in the Imperial service, and a descendant of the +house of Trenck.”</p> +<p>Prince Ferdinand stood for a moment unable to answer; then +renewed his threats, and left my dungeon. I have since been +told that, when he was out of hearing, he said to those around +him, “I pity his hard fate, and cannot but admire his +strength of mind!”</p> +<p>I must here remark that, when we remember the usual +circumspection of this great man, we are obliged to wonder at his +imprudence in holding a conversation of such a kind with me, +which lasted a considerable time, in the presence of the +guard. The soldiers of the whole garrison had afterwards +the utmost confidence, as they were convinced I would not meanly +devote others to destruction, that I might benefit myself. +This was the way to gain me esteem and intercourse among the men, +especially as the Duke had said he knew I must have money +concealed, for that I had distributed some to the sentinels.</p> +<p>He had scarcely been gone an hour, before I heard a noise near +my prison. I listened—what could it be? I heard +talking, and learned a grenadier had hanged himself to the +pallisadoes of my prison.</p> +<p>The officer of the town-guard, and the town-major again +entered my dungeon to fetch a lanthorn they had forgotten, and +the officer at going out, told me in a whisper, “One of +your associates has just hanged himself.”</p> +<p>It was impossible to imagine my terror or sensations; I +believed it could be only my kind, my honest Gelfhardt. +After many gloomy thoughts, and lamenting the unhappy end of so +worthy a fellow, I began to recollect what the Prince had +promised me, if I would discover the accomplice. I knocked +at the door, and desired to speak to the officer; he came to the +window and asked me what I wanted; I requested he would inform +the governor that if he would send me light, pen, ink, and paper, +I would discover my whole secret.</p> +<p>These were accordingly sent, an hour’s time was granted; +the door was shut, and I was left alone. I sat myself down, +began to write on my night-table, and was about to insert the +name of Gelfhardt, but my blood thrilled, and shrank back to my +heart. I shuddered, rose, went to the aperture of the +window and called, “Is there no man who in compassion will +tell me the name of him who has hanged himself, that I may +deliver many others from destruction?” The window was +not nailed up till the next day; I therefore wrapped five +pistoles in a paper, threw them out, called to the sentinel, and +said, “Friend, take these, and save thy comrades; or go and +betray me, and bring down innocent blood upon thy +head!”</p> +<p>The paper was taken up; a pause of silence ensued: I heard +sighs, and presently after a low voice said, “his name is +Schutz; he belonged to the company of Ripps.” I had +never heard the name before, or known the man, but I however +immediately wrote <span class="smcap">Schutz</span>, instead of +Gelfhardt. Having finished the letter I called the +lieutenant, who took that and the light away, and again barred up +the door of my dungeon. The Duke, however, suspected there +must be some evasion, and everything remained in the same state: +I obtained neither hearing nor court-martial. I learned, in +the sequel, the following circumstances, which will display the +truth of this apparently incredible story.</p> +<p>While I was imprisoned in the citadel, a sentinel came to the +post under my window, cursed and blasphemed, exclaiming aloud +against the Prussian service, and saying, if Trenck only knew my +mind, he would not long continue in his hole! I entered +into discourse with him, and he told me, if I could give him +money to purchase a boat, in which he might cross the Elbe, he +would soon make my doors fly open, and set me free.</p> +<p>Money at that time I had none; but I gave him a diamond +shirt-buckle, worth five hundred ferns, which I had +concealed. I never heard more from this man; he spoke to me +no more. He often stood sentinel over me, which I knew by +his Westphalian dialect, and I as often addressed myself to him, +but ineffectually; he would make no answer.</p> +<p>This Schutz must have sold my buckle, and let his riches be +seen; for, when the Duke left me, the lieutenant on guard said to +him—“You must certainly be the rascal who carried +Trenck’s letter; you have, for some time past, spent much +money, and we have seen you with louis-d’ors. How +came you by them?” Schutz was terrified, his +conscience accused him, he imagined I should betray him, knowing +he had deceived me. He, therefore, in the first agonies of +despair, came to the pallisadoes, and hung himself before the +door of my dungeon.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p>How wonderful is the hand of Providence! The wicked man +fell a sacrifice to his crime, after having escaped a whole year, +and the faithful, the benevolent-hearted Gelfhardt was thereby +saved.</p> +<p>The sentinels were now doubled, that any intercourse with them +might be rendered more difficult. Gelfhardt again stood +guard, but he had scarcely opportunity, without danger, to speak +a few words: he thanked me for having preserved him, wished me +better fortune, and told me the garrison, in a few days, would +take the field.</p> +<p>This was dreadful news: my whole plan was destroyed at a +breath. I, however, soon recovered fresh hopes. The +hole I had sunken was not discovered: I had five hundred florins, +candles, and implements.</p> +<p>The seven years’ war broke out about a week after, and +the regiment took the field. Major Weyner came, for the +last time, and committed me to the care of the new major of the +militia, Bruckhausen, who was one of the most surly and stupid of +men. I shall often have occasion to mention this man.</p> +<p>All the majors and lieutenants of the guard, who had treated +me with compassion and esteem, now departed, and I became an old +prisoner in a new world. I acquired greater confidence, +however, by remembering that both officers and men in the militia +were much easier to gain over than in the regulars; the truth of +which opinion was soon confirmed.</p> +<p>Four lieutenants were appointed, with their men, to mount +guard at the Star Fort in turn, and before a year had passed, +three of them were in my interest.</p> +<p>The regiments had scarcely taken the field ere the new +governor, General Borck, entered my prison, like what he was, an +imperious, cruel tyrant. The King, in giving him the +command, had informed him he must answer for my person with his +head: he therefore had full power to treat me with whatever +severity he pleased.</p> +<p>Borck was a stupid man, of an unfeeling heart, the slave of +despotic orders; and as often as he thought it possible I might +rid myself of my fetters and escape, his heart palpitated with +fear. In addition to this, he considered me as the vilest +of men and traitors, seeing his King had condemned me to +imprisonment so cruel, and his barbarity towards me was thus the +effect of character and meanness of soul. He entered my +dungeon not as an officer, to visit a brother officer in misery, +but as an executioner to a felon. Smiths then made their +appearance, and a monstrous iron collar, of a hand’s +breadth, was put round my neck, and connected with the chains of +the feet by additional heavy links. My window was walled +up, except a small air-hole. He even at length took away my +bed, gave me no straw, and quitted me with a thousand revilings +on the Empress-Queen, her whole army, and myself. In words, +however, I was little in his debt, and he was enraged even to +madness.</p> +<p>What my situation was under this additional load of tyranny, +and the command of a man so void of human pity, the reader may +imagine. My greatest good fortune consisted in the ability +I still had to disencumber myself of all the irons that were +connected with the ankle-rims, and the provision I had of light, +paper, and implements; and though it was apparently impossible I +should break out undiscovered by both sentinels, yet had I the +remaining hope of gaining some officer, by money, who, as in +Glatz, should assist my escape.</p> +<p>Had the commands of the King been literally obeyed escape +would have been wholly impossible; for, by this, all +communication would have been totally cut off with the +sentinels. To this effect the four keys of the four doors +were each to be kept by different persons; one with the governor, +another with the town-major, the third with the major of the day, +and the fourth with the lieutenant of the guard. I never +could have found opportunity to have spoken with any one of them +singly. These commands at first were rigidly observed, with +this exception, that the governor made his appearance only every +week. Magdeburg became so full of prisoners that the +town-major was obliged to deliver up his key to the major of the +day, and the governor’s visitations wholly subsided, the +citadel being an English mile and a half distant from the Star +Fort.</p> +<p>General Walrabe, who had been a prisoner ever since the year +1746, was also at the Star Fort, but he had apartments, and three +thousand rix-dollars a year. The major of the day and +officer of the guard dined with him daily, and generally stayed +till evening. Either from compassion, or a concurrence of +fortunate circumstances, these gentlemen entrusted the keys to +the lieutenant on guard, by which means I could speak with each +of them alone when they made their visits, and they themselves at +length sought these opportunities. My consequent +undertakings I shall relate, with all the arts and inventions of +a wretched prisoner endeavouring to escape.</p> +<p>Borck had selected three majors and four lieutenants for this +service as those he could best trust. My situation was +truly deplorable. The enormous iron round my neck pained +me, and prevented motion; and I durst not attempt to disengage +myself from the pendant chains till I had, for some months, +carefully observed the mode of their examination, and which parts +they supposed were perfectly secure. The cruelty of +depriving me of my bed was still greater: I was obliged to sit +upon the bare ground, and lean with my head against the damp +wall. The chains that descended from the neck collar were +obliged to be supported first with one band, and then with the +other; for, if thrown behind, they would have strangled me, and +if hanging forward occasioned most excessive headaches. The +bar between my hands held one down, while leaning on my elbow; I +supported with the other my chains; and this so benumbed the +muscles and prevented circulation, that I could perceive my arms +sensibly waste away. The little sleep I could have in such +a situation may easily be supposed, and, at length, body and mind +sank under this accumulation of miserable suffering, and I fell +ill of a burning fever.</p> +<p>The tyrant Borck was inexorable; he wished to expedite my +death, and rid himself of his troubles and his terrors. +Here did I experience what was the lamentable condition of a sick +prisoner, without bed, refreshment, or aid from human +being. Reason, fortitude, heroism, all the noble qualities +of the mind, decay when the corporal faculties are diseased; and +the remembrance of my sufferings, at this dreadful moment, still +agitates, still inflames my blood, so as almost to prevent an +attempt to describe what they were.</p> +<p>Yet hope had not totally forsaken me. Deliverance seemed +possible, especially should peace ensue; and I sustained, +perhaps, what mortal man never bore, except myself, being, as I +was, provided with pistols, or any such immediate mode of +despatch.</p> +<p>I continued ill about two months, and was so reduced at last +that I had scarcely strength to lift the water-jug to my +mouth. What must the sufferings of that man be who sits two +months on the bare ground in a dungeon so damp, so dark, so +horrible, without bed or straw, his limbs loaded as mine were, +with no refreshment but dry ammunition bread, without so much as +a drop of broth, without physic, without consoling friend, and +who, under all these afflictions, must trust, for his recovery, +to the efforts of nature alone!</p> +<p>Sickness itself is sufficient to humble the mightiest mind; +what, then, is sickness, with such an addition of torment? +The burning fever, the violent headaches, my neck swelled and +inflamed with the irons, enraged me almost to madness. The +fever and the fetters together flayed my body so that it appeared +like one continued wound—Enough! Enough! The +malefactor extended living on the wheel, to whom the cruel +executioner refuses the last stroke—the blow of +death—must yet, in some short period, expire: he suffers +nothing I did not then suffer; and these, my excruciating pangs, +continued two dreadful months—Yet, can it be +supposed? There came a day! A day of horror, when +these mortal pangs were beyond imagination increased. I sat +scorched with this intolerable fever, in which nature and death +were contending; and when attempting to quench my burning +entrails with cold water, the jug dropped from my feeble hands, +and broke! I had four-and-twenty hours to remain without +water. So intolerable, so devouring was my thirst, I could +have drank human blood! Ay, in my madness, had it been the +blood of my father!</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * * *</p> +<p>Willingly would I have seized my pistols, but strength had +forsaken me, I could not open the place I was obliged to render +so secure.</p> +<p>My visitors next day supposed me gone at last. I lay +motionless, with my tongue out of my mouth. They poured +water down my throat, and I revived.</p> +<p>Oh, God! Oh, God! How pure, how delicious, how +exquisite was this water! My insatiable thirst soon emptied +the jug; they filled it anew, bade me farewell, hoped death would +soon relieve my mortal sufferings, and departed.</p> +<p>The lamentable state in which I lay at length became the +subject of general conversation, that all the ladies of the town +united with the officers, and prevailed on the tyrant, Borck, to +restore me my bed.</p> +<p>Oh, Nature, what are thy operations? From the day I +drank water in such excess I gathered strength, and to the +astonishment of every one, soon recovered. I had moved the +heart of the officer who inspected my prison; and after six +months, six cruel months of intense misery, the day of hope again +began to dawn.</p> +<p>One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieutenant +Sonntag, who came alone, spoke in confidence, and related his own +situation, complained of his debts, his poverty, his necessities; +and I made him a present of twenty-five louis-d’ors, for +which he was so grateful that our friendship became unshaken.</p> +<p>The three lieutenants all commiserated me, and would sit hours +with me, when a certain major had the inspection; and he himself, +after a time, would even pass half the day with me. He, +too, was poor: and I gave him a draft for three thousand florins; +hence new projects took birth.</p> +<p>Money became necessary; I had disbursed all I possessed, a +hundred florins excepted, among the officers. The eldest +son of Captain K---, who officiated as major, had been cashiered: +his father complained to me of his distress, and I sent him to my +sister, not far from Berlin, from whom he received a hundred +ducats. He returned and related her joy at hearing from +me. He found her exceedingly ill; and she informed me, in a +few lines, that my misfortunes, and the treachery of Weingarten, +had entailed poverty upon her, and an illness which had endured +more than two years. She wished me a happy deliverance from +my chains, and, in expectation of death, committed her children +to my protection. She, however, grew better, and married a +second time, Colonel Pape; but died in the year 1758. I +shall forbear to relate her history: it indeed does no honour to +the ashes of Frederic, and would but less dispose my own heart to +forgiveness, by reviving the memory of her oppressions and +griefs.</p> +<p>K---n returned happy with the money: all things were concerted +with the father. I wrote to the Countess Bestuchef, also to +the Grand Duke, afterwards Peter III., recommended the young +soldier, and entreated every possible succour for myself.</p> +<p>K---n departed through Hamburg, for Petersburg, where, in +consequence of my recommendation, he became a captain, and in a +short time major. He took his measures so well that I, by +the intervention of his father, and a Hamburg merchant, received +two thousand rubles from the Countess, while the service he +rendered me made his own fortune in Russia.</p> +<p>To old K---, who was as poor as he was honest, I gave three +hundred ducats; and he, till death, continued my grateful +friend. I distributed nearly as much to the other officers; +and matters proceeded so far that Lieutenant Glotin gave back the +keys to the major without locking my prison, himself passing half +the night with me. Money was given to the guard to drink; +and thus everything succeeded to my wish, and the tyrant Borck +was deceived. I had a supply of light; had books, +newspapers, and my days passed swiftly away. I read, I +wrote, I busied myself so thoroughly that I almost forgot I was a +prisoner. When, indeed, the surly, dull blockhead, Major +Bruckhausen, had the inspection, everything had to be carefully +reinstated. Major Z---, the second of the three, was also +wholly mine. He was particularly attached to me; for I had +promised to marry his daughter, and, should I die in prison, to +bequeath him a legacy of ten thousand florins.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Sonntag got false handcuffs made for me, that were +so wide I could easily draw my hands out; the lieutenants only +examined my irons, the new handcuffs were made perfectly similar +to the old, and Bruckhausen had too much stupidity to remark any +difference.</p> +<p>The remainder of my chains I could disencumber myself of at +pleasure. When I exercised myself, I held them in my hands, +that the sentinel might be deceived by their clanking. The +neck-iron was the only one I durst not remove; it was likewise +too strongly riveted. I filed through the upper link of the +pendant chain, however, by which means I could take it off, and +this I concealed with bread in the manner before mentioned.</p> +<p>So I could disencumber myself of most of my fetters, and sleep +in ease. I again obtained sausages and cold meat, and thus +my situation, bad as it still was, became less miserable. +Liberty, however, was most desirable: but, alas! not one of the +three lieutenants had the courage of a Schell: Saxony, too, was +in the hands of the Prussians, and flight, therefore, more +dangerous. Persuasion was in vain with men determined to +risk nothing, but, if they went, to go in safety. Will, +indeed, was not wanting in Glotin and Sonntag; but the first was +a poltroon, and the latter a man of scruples, who thought this +step might likewise be the ruin of his brother at Berlin.</p> +<p>The sentinels were doubled, therefore my escape through my +hole, which had been two years dug, could not, unperceived by +them, be effected: still less could I, in the face of the guard, +clamber the twelve feet high pallisadoes. The following +labour, therefore, though Herculean, was undertaken.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Sonntag, measuring the interval between the hole I +had dug and the entrance in the gallery in the principal rampart, +found it to be thirty-seven feet. Into this it was possible +I might, by mining, penetrate. The difficulty of the +enterprise was lessened by the nature of the ground, a fine white +sand. Could I reach the gallery my freedom was +certain. I had been informed how many steps to the right or +left must be taken, to find the door that led to the second +rampart: and, on the day when I should be ready for flight, the +officer was secretly to leave this door open. I had light, +and mining tools, and was further to rely on money and my own +discretion.</p> +<p>I began and continued this labour about six months. I +have already noticed the difficulty of scraping out the earth +with my hands, as the noise of instruments would have been heard +by the sentinels. I had scarcely mined beyond my dungeon +wall before I discovered the foundation of the rampart was not +more than a foot deep; a capital error certainly in so important +a fortress. My labour became the lighter, as I could remove +the foundation stones of my dungeon, and was not obliged to mine +so deep.</p> +<p>My work at first proceeded so rapidly, that, while I had room +to throw back my sand, I was able in one night to gain three +feet; but ere I had proceeded ten feet I discovered all my +difficulties. Before I could continue my work I was obliged +to make room for myself, by emptying the sand out of my hole upon +the floor of the prison, and this itself was an employment of +some hours. The sand was obliged to be thrown out by the +hand, and after it thus lay heaped in my prison, must again be +returned into the hole; and I have calculated that after I had +proceeded twenty feet, I was obliged to creep under ground, in my +hole, from fifteen hundred to two thousand fathoms, within +twenty-four hours, in the removal and replacing of the +sand. This labour ended, care was to be taken that in none +of the crevices of the floor there might be any appearance of +this fine white sand. The flooring was the next to be +exactly replaced, and my chains to be resumed. So severe +was the fatigue of one day, in this mode, that I was always +obliged to rest the three following.</p> +<p>To reduce my labour as much as possible, I was constrained to +make the passage so small that my body only had space to pass, +and I had not room to draw my arm back to my head. The +work, too, must all be done naked, otherwise the dirtiness of my +shirt must have been remarked; the sand was wet, water being +found at the depth of four feet, where the stratum of the gravel +began. At length the expedient of sand-bags occurred to me, +by which it might be removed out and in more expeditiously. +I obtained linen from the officers, but not in sufficient +quantities; suspicions would have been excited at observing so +much linen brought into the prison. At last I took my +sheets and the ticking that enclosed my straw, and cut them up +for sand-bags, taking care to lie down on my bed, as if ill, when +Bruckhausen paid his visit.</p> +<p>The labour, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable as +to incite despondency. I frequently sat contemplating the +heaps of sand, during a momentary respite from work; and thinking +it impossible I could have strength or time again to replace all +things as they were, resolved patiently to wait the consequence, +and leave everything in its present disorder. Yes! I can +assure the reader that, to effect concealment, I have scarcely +had time in twenty-four hours to sit down and eat a morsel of +bread. Recollecting, however, the efforts, and all the +progress I had made, hope would again revive, and exhausted +strength return: again would I begin my labours, that I might +preserve my secret and my expectations: yet has it frequently +happened that my visitors have entered a few minutes after I had +reinstated everything in its place.</p> +<p>When my work was within six or seven feet of being +accomplished, a new misfortune happened that at once frustrated +all further attempts. I worked, as I have said, under the +foundation of the rampart near where the sentinels stood. I +could disencumber myself of my fetters, except my neck collar and +its pendent chain. This, as I worked, though it was +fastened, got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the +sentinels about fifteen feet from my dungeon. The officer +was called, they laid their ears to the ground, and heard me as I +went backward and forward to bring my earth bags. This was +reported the next day; and the major, who was my best friend, +with the town-major, and a smith and mason, entered my +prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant by a sign +gave me to understand I was discovered. An examination was +begun, but the officers would not see, and the smith and mason +found all, as they thought, safe. Had they examined my bed, +they would have seen the ticking and sheets were gone.</p> +<p>The town-major, who was a dull man, was persuaded the thing +was impossible, and said to the sentinel, “Blockhead! you +have heard some mole underground, and not Trenck. How, +indeed, could it be, that lee should work underground, at such a +distance from his dungeon?” Here the scrutiny +ended.</p> +<p>There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their +hour of coming, they must have found me at work: but this, during +ten years, never happened: for the governor and town-major were +stupid men, and the others, poor fellows, wishing me all success, +were willingly blind. In a few days I could have broken +out, but, when ready, I was desirous to wait for the visitation +of the man who had treated me so tyranically, Bruckhausen, that +his own negligence might be evident. But this man, though +he wanted understanding, did not want good fortune. He was +ill for some time, and his duty devolved on K---.</p> +<p>He recovered; and the visitation being over, the doors were no +sooner barred than I began my supposed last labour. I had +only three feet farther to proceed, and it was no longer +necessary I should bring out the sand, I having room to throw it +behind me. What my anxiety was, what my exertions were, may +well be imagined. My evil genius, however, had decreed that +the same sentinel, who had heard me before, should be that day on +guard. He was piqued by vanity, to prove he was not the +blockhead he had been called; he therefore again laid his ear to +the ground, and again heard me burrowing. Ho called his +comrades first, next thee major; lee came, and heard me likewise; +they then went without the pallisadoes, and heard me working near +the door, at which place I was to break into the gallery. +This door they immediately opened, entered the gallery with +lanthorns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed.</p> +<p>Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light, and +saw the heads of those who were expecting me. This was +indeed a thunder-stroke! I crept back, made my way through +the sand I had cast behind me, and awaited my fate with +shuddering! I had the presence of mind to conceal my +pistols, candles, paper, and some money, under the floor which I +could remove. The money was disposed of in various holes, +well concealed also between the panels of the doors; and under +different cracks in the floor I hid my small files and +knives. Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors +resounded: the floor was covered with sand and sand-bags: my +handcuffs, however, and the separating bar, I had hastily resumed +that they might suppose I had worked with them on, which they +were silly enough to credit, highly to my future advantage.</p> +<p>No man was more busy on this occasion than the brutal and +stupid Bruckhausen, who put many interrogatories, to which I made +no reply, except assuring him that I should have completed my +work some days sooner, had it not been his good fortune to fall +sick, and that this only had been the cause of my failure.</p> +<p>The man was absolutely terrified with apprehension; he began +to fear me, grew more polite, and even supposed nothing was +impossible to me.</p> +<p>It was too late to remove the sand; therefore the lieutenant +and guard continued with me, so that this night at least I did +not want company. When the morning came, the hole was first +filled up; the planking was renewed. The tyrant Borck was +ill, and could not come, otherwise my treatment would have been +still more lamentable. The smiths had ended before the +evening, and the irons were heavier than ever. The foot +chains, instead of being fastened as before, were screwed and +riveted; all else remained as formerly. They were employed +in the flooring till the next day, so that I could not sleep, and +at last I sank down with weariness.</p> +<p>The greatest of my misfortunes was they again deprived me of +my bed, because I had cut it up for sand-bags. Before the +doors were barred Bruckhausen and another major examined my body +very narrowly. They often had asked me where I concealed +all my implements? My answer was, “Gentlemen, +Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me +everything I want, supplies me with light: we play whole nights +at piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver +me out of your power.”</p> +<p>Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they +were barring the last door, I called, “Come back, +gentlemen! you have forgotten something of great +importance.” In the interim I had taken up one of my +hidden files. When they returned, “Look ye, +gentlemen,” said I, “here is a proof of the +friendship Beelzebub has for me, he has brought me this in a +twinkling.” Again they examined, and again they shut +their doors. While they were so doing, I took out a knife, +and ten louis-d’ors, called, and they re turned, grumbling +curses; I then shewed the knife and the louis-d’ors. +Their consternation was excessive; and I diverted my misfortunes +by jesting at such blundering, short-sighted keepers. It +was soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple +and vulgar, that I was a magician to whom the devil brought all I +asked.</p> +<p>One Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this +report. A foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if +he might only be permitted to see me through the door, being very +desirous to see a wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we +jointly determined to sport with his credulity. The major +gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, which I put on when the +doors were opening, and threw myself in an heroic attitude. +The affrighted burger drew back; but Holtzkammer stopped him, and +said, “Have patience for some quarter of an hour, and you +shall see he will assume quite a different +countenance.” The burger waited, my mask was thrown +by, and my face appeared whitened with chalk, and made +ghastly. The burger again shrank back; Holtzkammer kept him +in conversation, and I assumed a third farcical form. I +tied my hair under my nose, and a pewter dish to my breast, and +when the door a third time opened, I thundered, “Begone, +rascals, or I’ll set your necks—awry!” +They both ran: and the silly burger, eased of his fifty dollars, +scampered first.</p> +<p>The major, in vain, laid his injunctions on the burger never +to reveal what he had beheld, it being a breach of duty in him to +admit any persons whatever to the sight of me. In a few +days, the necromancer Trenck was the theme of every alehouse in +Magdeburg, and the person was named who had seen me change my +form thrice in the space of one hour. Many false and +ridiculous circumstances were added, and at last the story +reached the governor’s ears. The citizen was cited, +and offered to take his oath of what himself and the major had +seen. Holtzkammer accordingly suffered a severe reprimand, +and was some days under arrest. We frequently laughed, +however, at this adventure, which had rendered me so much the +subject of conversation. Miraculous reports were the more +easily credited, because no one could comprehend how, in despite +of the load of irons I carried, and all the vigilance of my +guards, I should be continually able to make new attempts, while +those appointed to examine my dungeon seemed, as it were, blinded +and bewildered. A proof this, how easy it is to deceive the +credulous, and whence have originated witchcraft, prophecies, and +miracles.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p>My last undertaking had employed me more than twelve months, +and so weakened me that I appeared little better than a +skeleton. Notwithstanding the greatness of my spirit, I +should have sunk into despondency, at seeing an end like this to +all my labours, had I not still cherished a secret hope of +escaping, founded on the friends I had gained among the +officers.</p> +<p>I soon felt the effects of the loss of my bed, and was a +second time attacked by a violent fever, which would this time +certainly have consumed me had not the officers, unknown to the +governor, treated me with all possible compassion. +Bruckhausen alone continued my enemy, and the slave of his +orders; on his day of examination rules and commands in all their +rigour were observed, nor durst I free myself from my irons, till +I had for some weeks remarked those parts on which he invariably +fixed his attention. I then cut through the link, and +closed up the vacancy with bread. My hands I could always +draw out, especially after illness had consumed the flesh off my +bones. Half a year had elapsed before I had recovered +sufficient strength to undertake, anew, labours like the +past.</p> +<p>Necessity at length taught me the means of driving Bruckhausen +from my dungeon, and of inducing him to commit his office to +another. I learnt his olfactory nerves were somewhat +delicate, and whenever I heard the doors unbar, I took care to +make a stir in my night-table. This made him give back, and +at length he would come no farther than the door. Such are +the hard expedients of a poor unhappy prisoner!</p> +<p>One day he came, bloated with pride, just after a courier had +brought the news of victory, and spoke of the Austrians, and the +august person of the Empress-Queen with so much virulence, that, +at last, enraged almost to madness, I snatched the sword of an +officer from its sheath, and should certainly have ended him, had +he not made a hasty retreat. From that day forward he durst +no more come without guards to examine the dungeon. Two men +always preceded him, with their bayonets fixed, and their pieces +presented, behind whom he stood at the door. This was +another fortunate incident, as I dreaded only his +examination.</p> +<p>The following anecdote will afford a specimen of this +man’s understanding. While digging in the earth I +found a cannon-ball, and laid it in the middle of my +prison. When he came to examine—“What in the +name of God is that?” said he. “It is a part of +the ammunition,” answered I, “that my Familiar brings +me. The cannon will be here anon, and you will then see +fine sport!” He was astonished, told this to others, +nor could conceive such a ball might by any natural means enter +my prison.</p> +<p>I wrote a satire on him, when the late Landgrave of +Hesse-Cassel was governor of Magdeburg; and I had permission to +write as will hereafter appear: the Landgrave gave it to him to +read himself; and so gross was his conception, that though his +own phraseology was introduced, part of his history and his +character painted, yet he did not perceive the jest, but laughed +heartily with the hearers. The Landgrave was highly +diverted, and after I obtained my freedom, restored me the +manuscript written in my own blood.</p> +<p>About the time that my last attempt at escaping failed, +General Krusemarck came to my prison, whom I had formerly lived +with in habits of intimacy, when cornet of the body guard. +Without testifying friendship, esteem, or compassion, he asked, +among other things, in an authoritative tone, how I could employ +my time to prevent tediousness? I answered in as haughty a +mood as he interrogated: for never could misfortune bend my +mind. I told him, “I always could find sources of +entertainment in my own thoughts; and that, as for my dreams, I +imagined they would at least be as peaceful and pleasant as those +of my oppressors.” “Had you in time,” +replied he, “curbed this fervour of yours, had you asked +pardon of the King, perhaps you would have been in very different +circumstances; but he who has committed an offence in which he +obstinately persists, endeavouring only to obtain freedom by +seducing men from their duty, deserves no better fate.”</p> +<p>Justly was my anger roused! “Sir,” answered +I, “you are a general of the King of Prussia, I am an +Austrian captain. My royal mistress will protect, perhaps +deliver me, or, at least, revenge my death; I have a conscience +void of reproach. You, yourself, well know I have not +deserved these chains. I place my hope in time, and the +justness of my cause, calumniated and condemned, as I have been, +without legal sentence or hearing. In such a situation, the +philosopher will always be able to brave and despise the +tyrant.”</p> +<p>He departed with threats, and his last words were, “The +bird shall soon be taught to sing another tune.” The +effects of this courteous visit were soon felt. An order +came that I should be prevented sleeping, and that the sentinels +should call, and wake me every quarter of an hour; which dreadful +order was immediately executed.</p> +<p>This was indeed a punishment intolerable to nature! Yet +did custom at length teach me to answer in my sleep. Four +years did this unheard of cruelty continue! The noble +Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel at length put an end to it a year +before I was released from my dungeon, and once again, in mercy, +suffered me to sleep in peace.</p> +<p>Under this new affliction, I wrote an Elegy which may be found +in the second volume of my works, a few lines of which I shall +cite.</p> +<blockquote><p>Wake me, ye guards, for hark, the quarter +strikes!<br /> +Sport with my woes, laugh loud at my miseries<br /> +Hearken if you hear my chains clank! Knock! Beat!<br +/> +Of an inexorable tyrant be ye<br /> +Th’ inexorable instruments! Wake me, ye slaves;<br /> +Ye do but as you’re bade. Soon shall he lie<br /> +Sleepless, or dreaming, the spectres of conscience<br /> +Behold and shriek, who me deprives of rest.</p> +<p> Wake me: Again the quarter strikes! +Call loud<br /> +Rip up all my bleeding wounds, and shrink not!<br /> +Yet think ’tis I that answer, God that hears!<br /> +To every wretch in chains sleep is permitted:<br /> +I, I alone, am robb’d of this last refuge<br /> +Of sinking nature! Hark! Again they thunder!<br /> +Again they iterate yells of Trenck and death.</p> +<p>Peace to thy anger, peace, thou suffering heart!<br /> +Nor indignant beat, adding tenfold pangs to pain.</p> +<p> Ye burthened limbs, arise from momentary<br +/> +Slumbers! Shake your chains! Murmur not, but rise!<br +/> +And ye! Watch-dogs of Power! let loose your rage:<br /> +Fear not, for I am helpless, unprotected.<br /> +And yet, not so—The noble mind, within<br /> +Itself, resources finds innumerable.</p> +<p>Thou, Oh God, thought’st good me t’ imprison +thus:<br /> +Thou, Oh God, in Thy good time, wilt me deliver.</p> +<p> Wake me then, nor fear! My soul +slumbers not.<br /> +And who can say but those who fetter me,<br /> +May, ere to-morrow, groan themselves in fetters!<br /> +Wake me! For lo! their sleep’s less sweet than +mine.</p> +<p>Call! Call! From night to morn, from twilight to +dawn,<br /> +Incessant! Yea, in God’s name, Call! +Call! Call!<br /> +Amen! Amen! Thy will, Oh God, be done!<br /> +Yet surely Thou at length shalt hear my sighs!<br /> +Shalt burst my prison doors! Shalt shew me fair<br /> +Creation! Yea, the very heav’n of heav’ns!</p> +</blockquote> +<p>With whom these orders originated, unexampled in the history +even of tyranny, I shall not venture to say. The major, who +was my friend, advised me to persist in not answering. I +followed his advice; and it produced this good effect that we +mutually forced each other to a capitulation: they restored me my +bed, and I was obliged to reply.</p> +<p>Immediately after this regulation, the sub-governor, General +Borck, my bitter enemy, became insane, was dispossessed of his +post, and Lieutenant-General Reichmann, the benevolent friend of +humanity, was made sub-governor.</p> +<p>About the same time the Court fled from Berlin, and the Queen, +the Prince of Prussia, the Princess Amelia, and the Margrave +Henry, chose Magdeburg for their residence. Bruckhausen +grew more polite, probably perceiving I was not wholly deserted, +and that it was yet possible I might obtain my freedom. The +cruel are usually cowards, and there is reason to suppose +Bruckhausen was actuated by his fears to treat me with greater +respect.</p> +<p>The worthy new governor had not indeed the power to lighten my +chains, or alter the general regulations; what he could, he +did. If he did not command, he connived at the doors being +occasionally at first, and at length, daily, kept open some +hours, to admit daylight and fresh air. After a time, they +were open the whole day, and only closed by the officers when +they returned from their visit to Walrabe.</p> +<p>Having light, I began to carve, with a nail, on the pewter cup +in which I drank, satirical verses and various figures, and +attained so much perfection that my cups, at last, were +considered as master-pieces, both of engraving and invention, and +were sold dear, as rare curiosities. My first attempts were +rude, as may well be imagined. My cup was carried to town, +and shown to visitors by the governor, who sent me another. +I improved, and each of the inspecting officers wished to possess +one. I grew more expert, and spent a whole year in this +employment, which thus passed swiftly away. The perfection +I had now acquired obtained me the permission of candle-light, +and this continued till I was restored to freedom.</p> +<p>The King gave orders these cups should all be inspected by +government, because I wished, by my verses and devices, to inform +the world of my fate. But this command was not obeyed; the +officers made merchandise of my cups, and sold them at last for +twelve ducats each. Their value increased so much, when I +was released from prison, that they are now to be found in +various museums throughout Europe. Twelve years ago the +late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel presented one of them to my wife; +and another came, in a very unaccountable manner, from the +Queen-Dowager of Prussia to Paris. I have given prints of +both these, with the verses they contained, in my works; whence +it may be seen how artificially they were engraved.</p> +<p>A third fell into the hands of Prince Augustus Lobkowitz, then +a prisoner of war at Magdeburg, who, on his return to Vienna, +presented it to the Emperor, who placed it in his museum. +Among other devices on this cup, was a landscape, representing a +vineyard and husbandmen, and under it the following +words:—<i>By my labours my vineyard flourished</i>, <i>and +I hoped to have gathered the fruit</i>; <i>but Ahab +came</i>. <i>Alas</i>! <i>for Naboth</i>.</p> +<p>The allusion was so pointed, both to the wrongs done me in +Vienna, and my sufferings in Prussia, that it made a very strong +impression on the Empress-Queen, who immediately commanded her +minister to make every exertion for my deliverance. She +would probably at last have even restored me to my estates, had +not the possessors of them been so powerful, or had she herself +lived one year longer. To these my engraved cups was I +indebted for being once more remembered at Vienna. On the +same cup, also, was another engraving of a bird in a cage, held +by a Turk, with the following inscription:—<i>The bird +sings even in the storm</i>; <i>open his cage</i>, <i>break his +fetters</i>, <i>ye friends of virtue</i>, <i>and his songs shall +be the delight of your abodes</i>!</p> +<p>There is another remarkable circumstance attending these +cups. All were forbidden under pain of death to hold +conversation with me, or to supply me with pen and ink; yet by +this open permission of writing what I pleased on pewter, was I +enabled to inform the world of all I wished, and to prove a man +of merit was oppressed. The difficulties of this engraving +will be conceived, when it is remembered that I worked by +candle-light on shining pewter, attained the art of giving light +and shade, and by practice could divide a cup into two-and-thirty +compartments as regularly with a stroke of the hand as with a +pair of compasses. The writing was so minute that it could +only be read with glasses. I could use but one hand, both, +being separated by the bar, and therefore held the cup between my +knees. My sole instrument was a sharpened nail, yet did I +write two lines on the rim only.</p> +<p>My labour became so excessive, that I was in danger of +distraction or blindness. Everybody wished for cups, and I +wished to oblige everybody, so that I worked eighteen hours a +day. The reflection of the light from the pewter was +injurious to my eyes, and the labour of invention for apposite +subjects and verses was most fatiguing. I had learnt only +architectural drawing.</p> +<p>Enough of these cups, which procured me so much honour, so +many advantages, and helped to shorten so many mournful +hours. My greatest encumbrance was the huge iron collar, +with its enormous appendages, which, when suffered to press the +arteries in the back of my neck, occasioned intolerable +headaches. I sat too much, and a third time fell +sick. A Brunswick sausage, secretly given me by a friend, +occasioned an indigestion, which endangered my life; a putrid +fever followed, and my body was reduced to a skeleton. +Medicines, however, were conveyed to me by the officers, and, now +and then, warm food.</p> +<p>After my recovery, I again thought it necessary to endeavour +to regain my liberty. I had but forty louis-d’ors +remaining, and these I could not get till I had first broken up +the flooring.</p> +<p>Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive, and obtained his +discharge. I supplied bins with money to defray the +expenses of his journey, and with an order that four hundred +florins should be annually paid him from my effects till his +death or my release. I commissioned him to seek an audience +from the Empress, endeavour to excite her compassion in my +behalf, and to remit me four thousand florins, for which I gave a +proper acquittance, by the way of Hamburgh. The money-draft +was addressed to my administrators, Counsellors Kempf and +Huttner.</p> +<p>But no one, alas! in Vienna, wished my return; they had +already begun to share my property, of which they never rendered +me an account. Poor Sonntag was arrested as a spy, +imprisoned, ill treated for some weeks, and, at last, when naked +and destitute, received a hundred florins, and was escorted +beyond the Austrian confines. The worthy man fell a +shameful sacrifice to his honesty, could never obtain an audience +of the Empress, and returned poor and miserable on foot to +Berlin, where he was twelve months secretly maintained by his +brother, and with whom he died. He wrote an account of all +this to the good Knoblauch, my Hamburgh agent, and I, from my +small store, sent him a hundred ducats.</p> +<p>How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on +earth, hearing accounts like these from Vienna.</p> +<p>A friend, whom I will never name, by the aid of one of the +lieutenants, secretly visited me, and supplied me with six +hundred ducats. The same friend, in the year 1763, paid +four thousand florins to the imperial envoy, Baron Reidt, at +Berlin, for the furthering of my freedom, as I shall presently +more fully show. Thus I had once more money.</p> +<p>About this time the French army advanced to within five miles +of Magdeburg. This important fortress was, at that time, +the key of the whole Prussian power. It required a garrison +of sixteen thousand men, and contained not more than fifteen +hundred. The French might have marched in unopposed, and at +once have put an end to the war. The officers brought me +all the news, and my hopes rose as they approached. What +was my astonishment when the major informed me that three waggons +had entered the town in the night, had been sent back loaded with +money, and that the French were retreating. This, I can +assure my readers, on my honour, is literally truth, to the +eternal disgrace of the French general. The major, who +informed me, was himself an eye-witness of the fact. It was +pretended the money was for the army of the King, but everybody +could guess whither it was going; it left the town without a +convoy, and the French were then in the neighbourhood. Such +were the allies of Maria Theresa; the receivers of this money are +known in Paris. Not only were my hopes this way frustrated, +but in Russia likewise, where the Countess of Bestuchef and the +Chancellor had fallen into disgrace.</p> +<p>I now imagined another, and, indeed, a fearful and dangerous +project. The garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted +but of nine hundred militia, who were discontented men. Two +majors and two lieutenants were in my interest. The guard +of the Star Fort amounted but to a hundred and fifteen men. +Fronting the gate of this fort was the town gate, guarded only by +twelve men and an inferior officer; beside these lay the +casemates, in which were seven thousand Croat prisoners. +Baron K---y, a captain, and prisoner of war, also was in our +interest, and would hold his comrades ready at a certain place +and time to support my undertaking. Another friend was, +under some pretence, to hold his company ready, with their +muskets loaded, and the plan was such that I should have had four +hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution.</p> +<p>The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected +and feared, as sentinels over me; he was to command them to take +away my bed, and when encumbered, I was to spring out, and shut +them in the prison. Clothing and arms were to have been +procured, and brought me into my prison; the town-gate was to +have been surprised; I was to have run to the casemate, and +called to the Croats, “Trenck to arms!” My +friends, at the same instant, were to break forth, and the plan +was so well concerted that it could not have failed. +Magdeburg, the magazine of the army, the royal treasury, arsenal, +all would have been mine; and sixteen thousand men, who were then +prisoners of war, would have enabled me to keep possession.</p> +<p>The most essential secret, by which all this was to have been +effected, I dare not reveal; suffice it to say, everything was +provided for, everything made secure; I shall only add that the +garrison, in the harvest months, was exceedingly weakened, +because the farmers paid the captains a florin per man each day, +and the men for their labour likewise, to obtain hands. The +sub-governor connived at the practice.</p> +<p>One Lieutenant G--- procured a furlough to visit his friends; +but, supplied by me with money, he went to Vienna. I +furnished him with a letter, addressed to Counsellors Kempf and +Huttner, including a draft for two thousand ducats; wherein I +said that, by these means, I should not only soon be at liberty, +but in possession of the fortress of Magdeburg; and that the +bearer was entrusted with the rest.</p> +<p>The lieutenant came safe to Vienna, underwent a thousand +interrogatories, and his name was repeatedly asked. This, +fortunately, he concealed. They advised him not to be +concerned in so dangerous an undertaking; told him I had not so +much money due to me, and gave him, instead of two thousand +ducats, one thousand florins. With these he left Vienna, +but with very prudent suspicions which prevented him ever +returning to Magdeburg. A month had scarcely passed before +the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, then chief governor, entered +my prison, showed me my letter, and demanded to know who had +carried the letter, and who were to free me and betray +Magdeburg. Whether the letter was sent immediately to the +King or the governor I know not; it is sufficient that I was once +more betrayed at Vienna. The truth was, the administrators +of my effects had acted as if I were deceased, and did not choose +to refund two thousand ducats. They wished not I should +obtain my freedom, in a manner that would have obliged the +government to have rewarded me, and restore the effects they had +embezzled and the estates they had seized. What happened +afterwards at Vienna, which will be related in its place, will +incontestably prove this surmise to be well founded.</p> +<p>These bad men did not, it is true, die in the manner they +ought, but they are all dead, and I am still living, an honest, +though poor man: they did not die so. Be this read and +remembered by their luxurious heirs, who refuse to restore my +children to their rights.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<p>My consternation on the appearance of the Landgrave, with my +letter in his hand, may well be supposed; I had the presence of +mind, however, to deny my handwriting, and affect astonishment at +so crafty a trick. The Landgrave endeavoured to convict me, +told me what Lieutenant Kemnitz had repeated at Vienna concerning +my possessing myself of Magdeburg, and thereby showed me how +fully I had been betrayed. But as no such person existed as +Lieutenant Kemnitz, and as my friend had fortunately concealed +his name, the mystery remained impenetrable, especially as no one +could conceive how a prisoner, in my situation, could seduce or +subdue the whole garrison. The worthy prince left my +prison, apparently satisfied with my defence; his heart felt no +satisfaction in the misfortunes of others.</p> +<p>The next day a formal examination was taken, at which the +sub-governor Reichmann presided. I was accused as a traitor +to my country; but I obstinately denied my handwriting. +Proofs or witnesses there were none, and in answer to the +principal charge, I said, “I was no criminal, but a man +calumniated, illegally imprisoned, and loaded with irons; that +the King, in the year 1746, had cashiered me, and confiscated my +parental inheritance; that therefore the laws of nature enforced +me to seek honour and bread in a foreign service; and that, +finding these in Austria, I became an officer and a faithful +subject of the Empress-Queen; that I had been a second time +unoffendingly imprisoned; that here I was treated as the worst of +malefactors, and my only resource was to seek my liberty by such +means as I could; were I therefore in this attempt to destroy +Magdeburg, and occasion the loss of a thousand lives, I should +still be guiltless. Had I been heard and legally sentenced, +previous to my imprisonment at Glatz, I should have been, and +still continued, a criminal; but not having been guilty of any +small, much less of any great crime, equal to my punishment, if +such crime could be, I was therefore not accountable for +consequences; I owed neither fidelity nor duty to the King of +Prussia; for by the word of his power he had deprived me of +bread, honour, country, and freedom.”</p> +<p>Here the examination ended, without further discovery; the +officers, however, falling under suspicion, were all removed, and +thus I lost my best friends; yet it was not long before I had +gained two others, which was no difficult matter, as I knew the +national character, and that none but poor men were made militia +officers. Thus was the governor’s precaution +fruitless, and almost everybody secretly wished I might obtain my +freedom.</p> +<p>I shall never forget the noble manner in which I was treated +on this occasion by the Landgrave. This I personally +acknowledged, some years afterwards, in the city of Cassel, when +I heard many things which confirmed all my surmises concerning +Vienna. The Landgrave received me with all grace, favour, +and distinction. I revere his memory, and seek to honour +his name. He was the friend of misfortune. When I not +long afterwards fell ill, he sent me his own physician, and meat +from his table, nor would he suffer me, during two months, to be +wakened by the sentinels. He likewise removed the dreadful +collar from my neck; for which he was severely reprimanded by the +King, as he himself has since assured me.</p> +<p>I might fill a volume with incidents attending two other +efforts to escape, but I will not weary the reader’s +patience with too much repetition. I shall merely give an +abstract of both.</p> +<p>When I had once more gained the officers, I made a new attempt +at mining my way out. Not wanting for implements, my chains +and the flooring were soon cut through, and all was so carefully +replaced that I was under no fear of examination. I here +found my concealed money, pistols, and other necessaries, but +till I had rid myself of some hundredweight of sand, it was +impossible to proceed. For this purpose I made two +different openings in the floor: out of the real hole I threw a +great quantity of sand into my prison; after which I closed it +with all possible care. I then worked at the second with so +much noise, that I was certain they must hear me without. +About midnight the doors began to thunder, and in they came, +detecting me, as I intended they should. None of them could +conceive why I should wish to break out under the door, where +there was a triple guard to pass. The sentinels remained, +and in the morning prisoners were sent to wheel away the +sand. The hole was walled up and boarded, and my fetters +were renewed. They laughed at the ridiculousness of my +undertaking, but punished me by depriving me of my light and bed, +which, however, in a fortnight were both restored. Of the +other hole, out of which most of the earth had been thrown, no +one was aware. The major and lieutenant were too much my +friends to remark that they had removed thrice the quantity of +sand the false opening could contain. They supposed this +strange attempt having failed, it would be my last, and +Bruckhausen grew negligent.</p> +<p>The governor and sub-governor both visited me after some +weeks, but far from imitating the brutality of Borck, the +Landgrave spoke to me with mildness, promised me his interest to +regain my freedom, when peace should be concluded; told me I had +more friends than I supposed, and assured me I had not been +forgotten by the Court at Vienna.</p> +<p>He promised me every alleviation, and I gave him my word I +would no more attempt to escape while he remained governor. +My manner enforced conviction and he ordered my neck-collar to be +taken off, my window to be unclosed, my doors to be left open two +hours every day, a stove to be put in my dungeon, finer linen for +my shirts, and paper to amuse myself by writing my +thoughts. The sheets were to be numbered when given, and +then returned, by the town-major, that I might not abuse this +liberty.</p> +<p>Ink was not allowed me, I therefore pricked my fingers, +suffered the blood to trickle into a pot; by these means I +procured a substitute for ink, both to write and draw.</p> +<p>I now engraved my cups, and versified. I had opportunity +to display my abilities to awaken compassion. My emulation +was increased by knowing that my works were seen at Courts, that +the Princess Amelia and the Queen herself testified their +satisfaction. I had subjects to engrave from sent me; and +the wretch whom the King intended to bury alive, whose name no +man was to mention, never was more famous than while he vented +his groans in his dungeon. My writings produced their +effect, and really regained my freedom. To my cultivation +of the sciences and presence of mind I am indebted for all; these +all the power of Frederic could not deprive me of. +Yes! This liberty I procured, though he answered all +petitions in my behalf—“He is a dangerous man: and so +long as I live he shall never see the light!” Yet +have I seen it during his life: after his death I have seen it +without revenging myself, otherwise than by proving my virtue to +a monarch who oppressed because he knew me not, because he would +not recall the hasty sentence of anger, or own he might be +mistaken. He died convinced of my integrity, yet without +affording me retribution! Man is formed by misfortune; +virtue is active in adversity. It is indifferent to me that +the companions of my youth have their ears gratified, delighted +with the titles of General! Field-Marshal I have learned to +live without such additions; I am known in my works.</p> +<p>I returned to my dungeon. Here, after my last conference +with the Landgrave, I waited my fate with a mind more at ease +than that of a prince in a palace. The newspapers they +brought me bespoke approaching peace, on which my dependence was +placed, and I passed eighteen months calmly, and without further +attempt to escape.</p> +<p>The father of the Landgrave died; and Magdeburg now lost its +governor. The worthy Reichmann, however, testified for me +all compassion and esteem; I had books, and my time was +employed. Imprisonment and chains to me were become +habitual, and freedom in hope approached.</p> +<p>About this time I wrote the poems, “The Macedonian +Hero,” “The Dream Realised,” and some +fables. The best of my poems are now lost to me. The +mind’s sensibility when the body is imprisoned is strongly +roused, nor can all the aids of the library equal this +advantage. Perhaps I may recover some in Berlin; if so, the +world may learn what my thoughts then were. When I was at +liberty, I had none but such as I remembered, and these I +committed to writing. On my first visit to the Landgrave of +Hesse-Cassel I received a volume of them written in my own blood; +but there were eight of these which I shall never regain.</p> +<p>The death of Elizabeth, the deposing of Peter III., and the +accession of Catherine II. produced peace. On the receipt +of this intelligence I tried to provide for all +contingencies. The worthy Captain K--- had opened me a +correspondence with Vienna: I was assured of support; but was +assured the administrators and those who possessed my estates +would throw every impediment in the way of freedom. I tried +to persuade another officer to aid my escape, but in vain.</p> +<p>I therefore opened my old hole, and my friends assisted me to +disembarrass myself of sand. My money melted away, but they +provided me with tools, gunpowder, and a good sword. I had +remained so long quiet that my flooring was not examined.</p> +<p>My intent was to wait the peace; and should I continue in +chains, then would I have my subterranean passage to the rampart +ready for escape. For my further security, an old +lieutenant had purchased a house in the suburbs, where I might +lie concealed. Gummern, in Saxony, is two miles from +Magdeburg; here a friend, with two good horses, was to wait a +year, to ride on the glacis of Klosterbergen on the first and +fifteenth of each month, and at a given signal to hasten to my +assistance.</p> +<p>My passage had to be ready in case of emergency; I removed the +upper planking, broke up the two beds, cut the boards into chips, +and burnt them in my stove. By this I obtained so much +additional room as to proceed half way with my mine. Linen +again was brought me, sand-bags made, and thus I successfully +proceeded to all but the last operation. Everything was so +well concealed that I had nothing to fear from inspection, +especially as the new come garrison could not know what was the +original length of the planks.</p> +<p>I must here relate a dreadful accident, which I cannot +remember without shuddering, and the terror of which has often +haunted my very dreams.</p> +<p>While mining under the rampart, as I was carrying out the +sand-bag, I struck my foot against a stone which fell down and +closed up the passage.</p> +<p>What was my horror to find myself buried alive! After a +short reflection, I began to work the sand away from the side, +that I might turn round. There were some feet of empty +space, into which I threw the sand as I worked it away; but the +small quantity of air soon made it so foul that I a thousand +times wished myself dead, and made several attempts to strangle +myself. Thirst almost deprived me of my senses, but as +often as I put my mouth to the sand I inhaled fresh air. My +sufferings were incredible, and I imagine I passed eight hours in +this situation. My spirits fainted; again I recovered and +began to labour, but the earth was as high as my chin, and I had +no more space where I might throw the sand. I made a more +desperate effort, drew my body into a ball, and turned round; I +now faced the stone; there being an opening at the top, I +respired fresher air. I rooted away the sand under the +stone, and let it sink so that I might creep over; at length I +once more arrived in my dungeon!</p> +<p>The morning was advanced; I sat down so exhausted that I +supposed it was impossible I had strength to conceal my +hole. After half an hour’s rest, my fortitude +returned: again I went to work, and scarcely had I ended before +my visitors approached.</p> +<p>They found me pale: I complained of headache, and continued +some days affected by the fatigue I had sustained. After a +time strength returned; but perhaps of all my nights of horror +this was the most horrible. I repeatedly dreamt I was +buried in the centre of the earth; and now, though three and +twenty years are elapsed, my sleep is still haunted by this +vision.</p> +<p>After this accident, when I worked in my cavity, I hung a +knife round my neck, that if I should be enclosed I might shorten +my miseries. Over the stone that had fallen several others +hung tottering, under which I was obliged to creep. +Nothing, however, could deter me from trying to obtain my +liberty.</p> +<p>When my passage was ready, I wrote letters to my friends at +Vienna, and also a memorial to my Sovereign. When the +militia left Magdeburg and the regulars returned, I took leave of +my friends who had behaved so benevolently. Several weeks +elapsed before they departed and I learnt that General Reidt was +appointed ambassador from Vienna to Berlin.</p> +<p>I had seen the world; I knew this General was not averse to a +bribe: I wrote him a letter, conjuring him to act with ardour in +my behalf. I enclosed a draft for six thousand florins on +my effects at Vienna, and he received four thousand from one of +my relations. I have to thank these ten thousand florins +for my freedom, which I obtained nine months after. My +vouchers show the six thousand florins were paid in April, 1763, +to the order of General Reidt. The other four thousand I +repaid, when at liberty, to my friend.</p> +<p>I received intelligence before the garrison departed that no +stipulation had been made on my behalf at the peace of +Hubertsberg. The Vienna plenipotentiaries, after the +articles were signed, mentioned my name to Hertzberg, with but +few assurances of every effort being made to move Frederic, a +promise on which I could much better rely than on my protectors +at Vienna, who had left me in misfortune. I determined to +wait three months longer, and should I still find myself +neglected, to owe my escape to myself.</p> +<p>On the change of the garrison, the officers were more +difficult to gain than the former. The majors obeyed their +orders; their help was unnecessary; but still I sighed for my old +friends. I had only ammunition-bread again for food.</p> +<p>My time hung very heavy; everything was examined on the change +of the garrison. A stricter scrutiny might occur, and my +projects be discovered. This had nearly been effected, as I +shall here relate. I had so tamed a mouse that it would eat +from my mouth; in this small animal I discovered proofs of +intelligence.</p> +<p>This mouse had nearly been my ruin. I had diverted +myself with it one night; it had been nibbling at my door and +capering on a trencher. The sentinels hearing our +amusement, called the officers: they heard also, and thought all +was not right. At daybreak the town-major, a smith, and +mason entered; strict search was begun; flooring, walls, chains, +and my own person were all scrutinised, but in vain. They +asked what was the noise they had heard; I mentioned the mouse, +whistled, and it came and jumped upon my shoulder. Orders +were given I should be deprived of its society; I entreated they +would spare its life. The officer on guard gave me his word +he would present it to a lady, who would treat it with +tenderness.</p> +<p>He took it away and turned it loose in the guardroom, but it +was tame to me alone, and sought a hiding place. It had +fled to my prison door, and, at the hour of visitation, ran into +my dungeon, testifying its joy by leaping between my legs. +It is worthy of remark that it had been taken away blindfold, +that is to say, wrapped in a handkerchief. The guard-room +was a hundred paces from the dungeon.</p> +<p>All were desirous of obtaining this mouse, but the major +carried it off for his lady; she put it into a cage, where it +pined, and in a few days died.</p> +<p>The loss of this companion made me quite melancholy, yet, on +the last examination, I perceived it had so eaten the bread by +which I had concealed the crevices I had made in cutting the +floor, that the examiners must be blind not to discover +them. I was convinced my faithful little friend had fallen +a necessary victim to its master’s safety. This +accident determined me not to wait the three months.</p> +<p>I have related that horses were to be kept ready, on the first +and fifteenth, and I only suffered the first of August to pass, +because I would not injure Major Pfuhl, who had treated me with +more compassion than his comrades, and whose day of visitation it +was. On the fifteenth I determined to fly. This +resolution formed, I waited in expectation of the day, when a new +and remarkable succession of accidents happened.</p> +<p>An alarm of fire had obliged the major to repair to the town; +he committed the keys to the lieutenant. The latter, coming +to visit me, asked—“Dear Trenck, have you never, +during seven years that you have been under the guard of the +militia, found a man like Schell?” “Alas! +sir,” answered I, “such friends are rare; the will of +many has been good; each knew I could make his fortune, but none +had courage enough for so desperate an attempt! Money I +have distributed freely, but have received little +help.”</p> +<p>“How do you obtain money in this dungeon?” +“From a correspondent at Vienna, by whom I am still +supplied.” “If I can serve you, command me: I +will do it without asking any return.” So saying, I +took fifty ducats from between the panels, and gave them to the +lieutenant. At first he refused, but at length accepted +them with fear. He left me, promised to return, pretended +to shut the door, and kept his word. He now said debt +obliged him to desert; that this had long been his determination, +and that, desirous to assist me at the same time if he could find +the means, I had only to show how this might be effected.</p> +<p>We continued two hours in conference: a plan was formed, +approved, and a certainty of success demonstrated; especially +when I told him I had two horses waiting. We vowed eternal +friendship; I gave him fifty ducats, and his debts, not amounting +to more than two hundred rix-dollars, which he never could have +discharged out of his pay.</p> +<p>He was to prepare four keys to resemble those of my dungeon; +the latter were to be exchanged on the day of flight, being kept +in the guard-room while the major was with General Walrabe. +He was to give the grenadiers on guard leave of absence, or send +them into the town on various pretences. The sentinels he +was to call from their duty, and those placed over me were to be +sent into my dungeon to take away my bed; while encumbered with +this, I was to spring out and lock them in, after which we were +to mount our horses, which were kept ready, and ride to +Gummern. Every thing was to be prepared within a week, when +he was to mount guard. We had scarcely formed our project +before the sentinels called the major was coming; he accordingly +barred the door, and the major passed to General Walrabe.</p> +<p>No man was happier than myself; my hopes of escape were +triple; the mediation at Berlin, the mine I had made, and my +friend the lieutenant.</p> +<p>When most my mind ought to have been clear, I seemed to have +lost my understanding. I came to a resolution which will +appear extravagant and pitiable. I was stupid enough, mad +enough, to form the design of casting myself on the magnanimity +of the Great Frederic! Should this fail, I still thought my +lieutenant a saviour.</p> +<p>Having heated my imagination with this scheme, I waited the +visitation with anxiety. The major entered, I bespoke him +thus:</p> +<p>“I know, sir, the great Prince Ferdinand is again in +Magdeburg. Inform him that he may examine my prison, double +the sentinels, and give me his commands, stating what hour will +please him I should make my appearance on the glacis of +Klosterbergen. If I prove myself capable of this, I then +hope for the protection of Prince Ferdinand: and that he will +relate my proceeding to the King, who may he convinced of my +innocence.”</p> +<p>The major was astonished; the proposal he held to be +ridiculous, and the performance impossible. I persisted; he +returned with the sub-governor, Reichmann, the town-major, +Riding, and the major of inspection. The answer they +delivered was, that the Prince promised me his protection, the +King’s favour, and a release from my chains, should I prove +my assertion. I required they would appoint a time; they +ridiculed the thing as impossible, and said that it would be +sufficient could I prove the practicability of such a scheme; but +should I refuse, they would break up the flooring, and place +sentinels in my dungeon, adding, the governor would not admit of +any breaking out.</p> +<p>After promises of good faith, I disencumbered myself of my +chains, raised my flooring, gave them my implements, and two +keys, my friends had procured me, to the doors of the +subterranean gallery. This gallery I desired them to sound +with their sword hilts, at the place through which I was to +break, which might be done in a few minutes. I described +the road I was to take through the gallery, informed them that +two of the doors had not been shut for six months, and to the +others they had the keys; adding, I had horses waiting at the +glacis, that would be now ready; the stables for which were +unknown to them. They went, examined, returned, put +questions, which I answered with precision. They left me +with seeming friendship, came back, told me the Prince was +astonished at what he had heard, that he wished me all happiness, +and then took me unfettered, to the guard-house. The major +came in the evening, treated us with a supper, assured me +everything would happen to my wishes, and that Prince Ferdinand +had written to Berlin.</p> +<p>The guard was reinforced next day. The whole guard +loaded with ball before my eyes, the drawbridges were raised in +open day, and precautions were taken as if I intended to make +attempts as desperate as those I had made at Glatz.</p> +<p>I now saw workmen employed on my dungeon, and carts bringing +quarry-stones. The officers on guard behaved with kindness, +kept a good table, at which I ate; but two sentinels, and an +under-officer, never quitted the guard-room. Conversation +was cautious, and this continued five or six days; at length, it +was the lieutenant’s turn to mount guard; he appeared to be +as friendly as formerly, but conference was difficult; he found +an opportunity to express his astonishment at my ill-timed +discovery, told me the Prince knew nothing of the affair, and +that the report through the garrison was, I had been surprised in +making a new attempt.</p> +<p>My dungeon was completed in a week. The town-major +re-conducted me to it. My foot was chained to the wall with +links twice as strong as formerly; the remainder of my irons were +never after added.</p> +<p>The dungeon was paved with flag-stones. That part of my +money only was saved which I had concealed in the panels of the +door, and the chimney of my stove; some thirty louis-d’ors, +hidden about my clothes, were taken from me.</p> +<p>While the smith was riveting my chains, I addressed the +sub-governor. “Is this the fulfilment of the pledge +of the Prince? Think not you deceive me, I am acquainted +with the false reports that have been spread; the truth will soon +come to light, and the unworthy be put to shame. Nay, I +forewarn you that Trenck shall not be much longer in your power; +for were you to build your dungeon of steel, it would be +insufficient to contain me.”</p> +<p>They smiled at me. Reichmann told me I might soon obtain +my freedom in a proper manner. My firm reliance on my +friend, the lieutenant, gave me a degree of confidence that +amazed them all.</p> +<p>It is necessary to explain this affair. When I obtained +my liberty, I visited Prince Ferdinand. He informed me the +majors had not made a true report. Their story was, they +had caught me at work, and, had it not been for their diligence, +I should have made my escape. Prince Ferdinand heard the +truth, and informed the King, who only waited an opportunity to +restore me to liberty.</p> +<p>Once more I was immured. I waited in hope for the day +when my deliverer was to mount guard. What again was my +despair when I saw another lieutenant! I buoyed myself up +with the hope that accident was the occasion of this; but I +remained three weeks, and saw him no more. I heard at +length that he had left the corps of grenadiers, and was no +longer to mount guard at the Star Fort. He has my +forgiveness, and I applaud myself for never having said anything +by which he might be injured. He might have repented his +promise, he might have trusted another friend with the +enterprise, and have been himself betrayed; but, be it as it may, +his absence cut off all hope.</p> +<p>I now repented my folly and vanity; I had brought my +misfortunes on myself. I had myself rendered my dungeon +impenetrable. Death would have followed but for the +dependence I placed in the court of Vienna.</p> +<p>The officers remarked the loss of my fortitude and +thoughtfulness; the verses I wrote were desponding. The +only comfort they could give was—“Patience, dear +Trenck; your condition cannot be worse; the King may not live for +ever.” Were I sick, they told me I might hope my +sufferings would soon have an end. If I recovered they +pitied me, and lamented their continuance. What man of my +rank and expectations ever endured what I did, ever was treated +as I have been treated!</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p>Peace had been concluded nine months. I was +forgotten. At last, when I supposed all hope lost, the 25th +of December, and the day of freedom, came. At the hour of +parade, Count Schlieben, lieutenant of the guards, brought orders +for my release!</p> +<p>The sub-governor supposed me weaker in intellect than I was, +and would not too suddenly tell me these tidings. He knew +not the presence of mind, the fortitude, which the dangers I had +seen had made habitual.</p> +<p>My doors for the <span class="smcap">last time</span> +resounded! Several people entered; their countenances were +cheerful, and the sub-governor at their head at length said, +“This time, my dear Trenck, I am the messenger of good +news. Prince Ferdinand has prevailed on the King to let +your irons be taken off.” Accordingly, to work went +the smith. “You shall also,” continued he, +“have a better apartment.” “I am free, +then,” said I. “Speak! fear not! I can +moderate my transports.”</p> +<p>“Then you are free!” was the reply.</p> +<p>The sub-governor first embraced me, and afterwards his +attendants.</p> +<p>He asked me what clothes I would wish. I answered, the +uniform of my regiment. The tailor took my measure. +Reichmann told him it must be made by the morning. The man +excused himself because it was Christmas Eve. “So, +then, this gentleman must remain in his dungeon because it is +holiday with you.” The tailor promised to be +ready.</p> +<p>I was taken to the guard-room, congratulations were universal, +and the town-major administered the oath customary to all state +prisoners.</p> +<p>1st. That I should avenge myself on no man.</p> +<p>2nd. That I should neither enter the Prussian nor Saxon +states.</p> +<p>3rd. That I should never relate by speech or in writing +what had happened to me.</p> +<p>4th. And that, so long as the King lived, I should +neither serve in a civil nor military capacity.</p> +<p>Count Schlieben delivered me a letter from the imperial +minister, General Reidt, to the following purport:—That he +rejoiced at having found an opportunity of obtaining my liberty +from the King, and that I must obey the requisitions of Count +Schlieben, whose orders were to accompany me to Prague.</p> +<p>“Yes, dear Trenck,” said Schlieben, “I am to +conduct you through Dresden to Prague, with orders not to suffer +you to speak to any one on the road. I have received three +hundred ducats, to defray the expenses of travelling. As +all things cannot be prepared today, the, sub-governor has +determined we shall depart to-morrow night.”</p> +<p>I acquiesced, and Count Schlieben remained with me; the others +returned to town, and I dined with the major and officers on +guard, with General Walrabe in his prison.</p> +<p>Once at liberty, I walked about the fortifications, to collect +the money I had concealed in my dungeon. To every man on +guard I gave a ducat, to the sentinels, each three, and ten +ducats to be divided among the relief-guard. I sent the +officer on guard a present from Prague, and the remainder of my +money I bestowed on the widow of the worthy Gelfhardt. He +was no more, and she had entrusted the thousand florins to a +young soldier, who, spending them too freely, was suspected, +betrayed her, and she passed two years in prison. Gelfhardt +never received any punishment; he was in the field. Had he +left any children, I should have provided for them. To the +widow of the man who hung himself before my prison door, in the +year 1756, I gave thirty ducats, lent me by Schlieben.</p> +<p>The night was riotous, the guard made merry, and I passed most +of it in their company. I was visited by all the generals +of the garrison on Christmas morning, for I was not allowed to +enter the town. I dressed, viewed myself in the glass, and +found pleasure; but the tumult of my passions, the +congratulations I received, and the vivacity round me, prevented +my remembering incidents minutely.</p> +<p>Yet how wonderful an alteration in the countenances of those +by whom I had been guarded! I was treated with friendship, +attention, and flattery. And why? Because these +fetters had dropped off which I had never justly borne.</p> +<p>Evening came, and with it Count Schlieben, a waggon, and four +post-horses. After an affecting farewell, we +departed. I shed tears at leaving Magdeburg. It seems +strange that I lived here ten years, yet never saw the town.</p> +<p>The duration of my imprisonment at Magdeburg was nearly ten +years, and with the term of my imprisonment at Glatz, the time is +eleven years. Thus was I robbed of time, my body weakened, +my health impaired, so that in my decline of life, a second time, +I suffer the gloom and chains of the dungeon at Magdeburg.</p> +<p>The reader would now hope that my calamities were at an end; +yet, upon my honour, I would prefer the suffering of the Star +Fort to those I have since endured in Austria, especially while +Krugel and Zetto were my referendaries and curators.</p> +<p>At this moment I am obliged to be guarded in my +expressions. I have put my enemies to shame; but the hope +of justice or reward is vain. No rewards are bestowed on +him who, with the consciousness of integrity, demands, and does +not deplore. The facts I shall relate will seem incredible, +yet I have, in my own hands, the vouchers of their veracity.</p> +<p>“If my right hand is guilty of writing untruths in this +book, may the executioner sever it from my body, and, in the +memory of posterity, may I live a villain!”</p> +<p>I will proceed with my history.</p> +<p>On the 2nd of January I arrived, with Count Schlieben, at +Prague; the same day he delivered me to the governor, the Duke of +Deuxponts. He received me with kindness; we dined with him +two days, and all Prague were anxious to see a man who had +surmounted ten years of suffering so unheard of as mine. +Here I received three thousand florins, and paid General Reidt +his three hundred ducats, which he had advanced Count Schlieben, +for my journey, the repayment of which he demanded in his letter, +although he had received ten thousand florins. The expense +of returning I also paid to Schlieben, made him a present, and +provided myself with some necessaries. After remaining a +few days at Prague, a courier arrived from Vienna, to whom I was +obliged to pay forty florins, with an order from government to +bring me from Prague to Vienna. My sword was demanded; +Captain Count Wela, and two inferior officers, entered the +carriage, which I was obliged to purchase, in company with me, +and brought me to Vienna. I took up a thousand florins +more, in Prague, to defray these expenses, and was obliged, in +Vienna, to pay the captain fifty ducats for travelling charges +back.</p> +<p>I was brought back like a criminal, was sent as a prisoner to +the barracks, there kept in the chamber of Lieutenant Blonket, +with orders that I should be suffered to write to no one, speak +to no one, without a ticket from the counsellors Kempt or +Huttner.</p> +<p>Thus I remained six weeks; at length, the colonel of the +regiment of Poniatowsky, the present field-marshal, Count Alton, +spoke to me. I related what I supposed were the reasons of +my being kept a prisoner in Vienna; and to the exertions of this +man am I indebted that the intentions of my enemies were +frustrated, which were to have me imprisoned as insane in the +fortress of Glatz. Had they once removed me from Vienna, I +should certainly have pined away my life in a madhouse. Yet +I could never obtain justice against these men. The Empress +was persuaded that my brain was affected, and that I uttered +threats against the King of Prussia. The election of a king +of the Romans was then in agitation, and the court was +apprehensive lest I should offend the Prussian envoy. +General Reidt had been obliged to promise Frederic that I should +not appear in Vienna, and that they should hold a wary eye over +me. The Empress-Queen felt compassion for my supposed +disease, and asked if no assistance could be afforded me; to +which they answered, I had several times let blood, but that I +still was a dangerous man. They added, that I had +squandered four thousand florins in six days at Prague; that it +would be proper to appoint guardians to impede such +extravagancies.</p> +<p>Count Alton spoke of me and my hard destiny to the Countess +Parr, mistress of the ceremonies to the Empress-Queen. The +late Emperor entered the chamber, and asked whether I ever had +any lucid intervals. “May it please your +Majesty,” answered Alton, “he has been seven weeks in +my barracks, and I never met a more reasonable man. There +is mystery in this affair, or he could not be treated as a +madman. That he is not so in anywise I pledge my +honour.”</p> +<p>The next day the Emperor sent Count Thurn, grand-master of the +Archduke Leopold, to speak to me. In him I found an +enlightened philosopher, and a lover of his country. To him +I related how I had twice been betrayed, twice sold at Vienna, +during my imprisonment; to him showed that my administrators had +acted in this vile manner that I might be imprisoned for life, +and they remain in possession of my effects. We conversed +for two hours, during which many things were said that prudence +will not permit me to repeat. I gained his confidence, and +he continued my friend till death. He promised me +protection, and procured me an audience of the Emperor.</p> +<p>I spoke with freedom; the audience lasted an hour. At +length the Emperor retired into the next apartment. I saw +the tears drop from his eyes. I fell at his feet, and +wished for the presence of a Rubens or Apelles, to preserve a +scene so honourable to the memory of the monarch, and paint the +sensations of an innocent man, imploring the protection of a +compassionate prince. The Emperor tore himself from me, and +I departed with sensations such as only those can know who, +themselves being virtuous, have met with wicked men. I +returned to the barracks with joy, and an order the next day came +for my release. I went with Count Alton to the Countess +Parr, and by her mediation I obtained an audience with the +Empress.</p> +<p>I cannot describe how much she pitied my sufferings and +admired my fortitude. She told me she was informed of the +artifices practised against me in Vienna; she required me to +forgive my enemies, and pass all the accounts of my +administrators. “Do not complain of anything,” +said she, “but act as I desire—I know all—you +shall be recompensed by me; you deserve reward and repose, and +these you shall enjoy.”</p> +<p>I must either sign whatever was given to sign, or be sent to a +madhouse. I received orders to accompany M. Pistrich to +Counsellor Ziegler; thither I went, and the next day was obliged +to sign, in their presence, the following conditions:—</p> +<p>First—That I acknowledged the will of Trenck to be +valid.</p> +<p>Secondly—That I renounced all claim to the Sclavonian +estates, relying alone on her Majesty’s favour.</p> +<p>Thirdly—That I solemnly acquitted my accountants and +curators. And,</p> +<p>Lastly—That I would not continue in Vienna.</p> +<p>This I must sign, or languish in prison.</p> +<p>How did my blood boil while I signed! This confidence I +had in myself assured me I could obtain employment in any country +of Europe, by the labours of my mind, and the recital of all my +woes. At that time I had no children; I little regretted +what I had lost, or the poor portion that remained.</p> +<p>I determined to avoid Austria eternally. My pride would +never suffer me, by insidious arts, to approach the throne. +I knew no such mode of soliciting for justice, hence I was not a +match for my enemies; hence my misfortunes. Appeals to +justice were represented as the splenetic effusions of a man +never to be satisfied. My too sensitive heart was corroded +by the treatment I met at Vienna. I, who with so much +fortitude had suffered so much in the cause of Vienna, I, on whom +the eyes of Germany were fixed, to behold what should be the +reward of these sufferings, I was again, in this country, kept a +prisoner, and delivered to those by whom I had been plundered as +a man insane!</p> +<p>Before my intended departure to seek my fortune, I fell ill, +and sickness almost brought me to the grave. The Empress, +in her great clemency, sent one of her physicians and a friar to +my assistance, both of whom I was obliged to pay.</p> +<p>At this time I refused a major’s commission, for which I +was obliged to pay the fees. Being excluded from actual +service, to me the title was of little value; my rank in the army +had been equal ten years before in other service. The +following words, inserted in my commission, are not unworthy of +remark:—“Her Majesty, in consequence of my fidelity +for her service, demonstrated during a long imprisonment, my +endowments and virtues, had been graciously pleased to grant me, +in the Imperial service, the rank of major.”—The rank +of major!—From this preamble who would not have expected +either the rank of general, or the restoration of my great +Sclavonian estates? I had been fifteen years a captain of +cavalry, and then was I made an invalid major three-and-twenty +years ago, and an invalid major I still remain! Let all +that has been related be called to mind, the manner in which I +had been pillaged and betrayed; let Vienna, Dantzic, and +Magdeburg he remembered; and be this my promotion remembered +also! Let it be known that the commission of major might be +bought for a few thousand florins! Thirty thousand florins +only of the money I had been robbed of would have purchased a +colonel’s commission. I should then have been a +companion for generals.</p> +<p>During the thirty-six years that I have been in the service of +Austria, I never had any man of rank, any great general, my +enemy, except Count Grassalkowitz, and he was only my enemy +because he had conceived a friendship for my estates.</p> +<p>My character was never calumniated, nor did any worthy man +ever speak of me but with respect. Who were, who are, my +enemies?—Jesuits, monks, unprincipled advocates, wishing to +become my curators, referendaries, who died despicable, or now +live in houses of correction. Such as live, live in dread +of a similar end, for the Emperor Joseph is able to discover the +truth. Alas! the truth is discovered so late; age has now +nearly rendered me an invalid. Men with hearts so base +ought, indeed, to become the scavengers of society, that, +terrified by their example, succeeding judges may not rack the +heart of an honest man, seize on the possessions of the orphan +and the widow, and expel virtue out of Austria.</p> +<p>I attended the levée of Prince Kaunitz. Not +personally known to him, he viewed in me a crawling insect. +I thought somewhat more proudly; my actions were upright, and so +should my body be. I quitted the apartment, and was +congratulated by the mercenary Swiss porter on my good fortune of +having obtained an audience!</p> +<p>I applied to the field-marshal, from whom I received this +answer—“If you cannot purchase, my dear Trenck, it +will be impossible to admit you into service; besides, you are +too old to learn our manoeuvres.” I was then +thirty-seven. I briefly replied, “Your excellency +mistakes my character. I did not come to Vienna to serve as +an invalid major. My curators have taken good care I should +have no money to purchase; but had I millions, I would never +obtain rank in the army by that mode.” I quitted the +room with a shrug. The next day I addressed a memorial to +the Empress. I did not re-demand my Sclavonian estates, I +only petitioned.</p> +<p>First—That those who had carried off quintals of silver +and gold from the premises, and had rendered no account to me or +the treasury, should refund at least a part.</p> +<p>Secondly—That they should be obliged to return the +thirty-six thousand florins taken from my inheritance, and +applied to a hospital.</p> +<p>Thirdly—That the thirty-six thousand florins might be +repaid, which Count Grassalkowitz had deducted from the allodial +estates, for three thousand six hundred pandours who had fallen +in the service of the Empress; I not being bound to pay for the +lives of men who had died in defence of the Empress.</p> +<p>Fourthly—I required that fifteen thousand florins, which +had been deducted from my capital, and applied to the Bohemian +fortifications, should likewise be restored, together with the +fifteen thousand which had been unduly paid to the regiment of +Trenck.</p> +<p>Fifthly—I reclaimed the twelve thousand florins which I +had been robbed of at Dantzic by the treachery of the Imperial +Resident, Abramson; and public satisfaction from the magistracy +of Dantzic, who had delivered me up, so contrary to the laws of +nations, to the Prussian power.</p> +<p>I likewise claimed the interest of six per cent, for +seventy-six thousand florins, detained by the Hungarian Chamber, +which amounted to twenty thousand florins; I having been allowed +five per cent., and at last four.</p> +<p>I insisted on the restoration of my Sclavonian estates, and a +proper allowance for improvements, which the very sentence of the +court had granted, and which amounted to eighty thousand +florins.</p> +<p>I petitioned for an arbitrator; I solicited justice concerning +rights, but received no answer to this and a hundred other +petitions!</p> +<p>I must here speak of transactions during my +imprisonment. I had bought a house in Vienna in the year +1750; the price was sixteen thousand florins, thirteen thousand +of which I had paid by instalments. The receipts were among +my writings; these writings, with my other effects, were taken +from me at Dantzic, in the year 1754; nor have I, to this hour, +been able to learn more than that my writings were sent to the +administrators of my affairs at Vienna. With respect to my +houses and property in Dantzic, in what manner these were +disposed of no one could or would say.</p> +<p>After being released at Magdeburg, I inquired concerning my +house, but no longer found it mine. Those who had got +possession of my writings must have restored the acquittances to +the seller, consequently he could re-demand the whole sum. +My house was in other hands, and I was brought in debtor six +thousand florins for interest and costs of suit. Thus were +house and money gone. Whom can I accuse?</p> +<p>Again, I had maintained, at my own expense Lieutenant +Schroeder, who had deserted from Glatz, and for whom I obtained a +captain’s commission in the guard of Prince Esterhazy, at +Eisenstadt. His misconduct caused him to be +cashiered. In my administrator’s accounts I found the +following</p> +<p>“To Captain Schroeder, for capital, interest, and costs +of suit, sixteen hundred florins.”</p> +<p>It was certain I was not a penny indebted to this person; I +had no redress, having been obliged to pass and sign all their +accounts.</p> +<p>I, four years afterwards, obtained information concerning this +affair: I met Schroeder, knew him, and inquired whether he had +received these sixteen hundred florins. He answered in the +affirmative. “No one believed you would ever more see +the light. I knew you would serve me, and that you would +relieve my necessities. I went and spoke to Dr. Berger; he +agreed we should halve the sum, and his contrivance was, I should +make oath I had lent you a thousand florins, without having +received your note. The money was paid me by M. +Frauenberger, to whom I agreed to send a present of Tokay, for +Madam Huttner.”</p> +<p>This was the manner in which my curators took care of my +property! Many instances I could produce, but I am too much +agitated by the recollection. I must speak a word +concerning who and what my curators were.</p> +<p>The Court Counsellor, Kempf, was my administrator, and +Counsellor Huttner my referendary. The substitute of Kempf +was Frauenberger, who, being obliged to act as a clerk at Prague +during the war, appointed one Krebs as a sub-substitute; whether +M. Krebs had also a sub-substitute is more than I am able to +say.</p> +<p>Dr. Bertracker was <i>fidei commiss-curator</i>, though there +was no <i>fidei commissum</i> existing. Dr. Berger, as +Fidei Commiss-Advocate, was superintendent, and to them all +salaries were to be paid.</p> +<p>Let us see what was the business this company had to +transact. I had seventy-six thousand florins in the +Hungarian Chamber, the interest of which was to be yearly +received, and added to the capital: this was their employment, +and was certainly so trifling that any man would have performed +it gratis. The war made money scarce, and the discounting +of bills with my ducats was a profitable trade to my +curators. Had it been honestly employed, I should have +found my capital increased, after my imprisonment, full sixty +thousand florins. Instead of these I received three +thousand florins at Prague, and found my capital diminished seven +thousand florins.</p> +<p>Frauenberger and Berger died rich; and I must be confined as a +madman, lest this deputy should have been proved a rogue. +This is the clue to the acquittal I was obliged to +sign:—Madam K--- was a lady of the bedchamber at court; she +could approach the throne: her chamber employments, indeed, +procured her the keys of doors that to me were eternally +locked.</p> +<p>Not satisfied with this, Kempf applied to the Empress, +informed her they were acquitted, not recompensed, and that +Frauenberger required four thousand florins for +remuneration. The Empress laid an interdict on the half of +my income and pension. Thus was I obliged to live in +poverty; banished the Austrian dominions, where my seventy-six +thousand florins were reduced to sixty-three, the interest of +which I could only receive; and that burthened by the above +interdict, the <i>fidei commissum</i>, and administratorship.</p> +<p>The Empress during my sickness ordered that my captain’s +pay, during my ten years’ imprisonment, should be given me, +amounting to eight thousand florins; which pay she also settled +on me as a pension. By this pension I never profited; for, +during twenty-three years, that and more was swallowed by +journeys to Vienna, chicanery of courtiers and agents, and costs +of suits. Of the eight thousand florins three were stolen; +the court physician must be paid thrice as much as another, and +what remained after my recovery was sunk in the preparations I +had made to seek my fortune elsewhere.</p> +<p>How far my captain’s pay was matter of right or favour, +let the world judge, being told I went in the service of Vienna +to the city of Dantzic. Neither did this restitution of pay +equal the sum I had sent the Imperial Minister to obtain my +freedom. I remained nine months in my dungeon after the +articles were signed, unthought of; and, when mentioned by the +Austrians, the King had twice rejected the proposal of my being +set free. The affair happened as follows, as I received it +from Prince Henry, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and the +Minister, Count Hertzberg:—General Reidt had received my +ten thousand florins full six months, and seemed to remember me +no more. One gala day, on the 21st of December, the King +happened to be in good humour; and Her Majesty the Queen, the +Princess Amelia, and the present monarch, said to the Imperial +Minister, “This is a fit opportunity for you to speak in +behalf of Trenck.” He accordingly waited his time, +did speak, and the King replied, “Yes.”</p> +<p>The joy of the whole company appeared so great that Frederic +<i>the Great</i> was offended!</p> +<p>Other circumstances which contributed to promote this affair, +the reader will collect from my history. That there were +persons in Vienna who desired to detain me in prison is +indubitable, from their proceedings after my return. My +friends in Berlin and my money were my deliverers.</p> +<p>Walking round Vienna, having recovered from my sickness, the +broad expanse of heaven inspired a consciousness of freedom and +pleasure indescribable. I heard the song of the lark. +My heart palpitated, my pulse quickened, for I recollected I was +not in chains. “Happen,” said I, “what +may, my will and heart are free.”</p> +<p>An incident happened which furthered my project of getting +away from Austria. Marshal Laudohn was going to +Aix-la-Chapelle to take the waters. He went to take his +leave of the Countess Parr; I was present the Empress entered the +chamber, and the conversation turning upon Laudohn’s +journey, she said to me, “The baths are necessary to the +re-establishment of your health, Trenck.” I was +ready, and followed him in two days, where we remained about +three months.</p> +<p>The mode of life at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa pleased me, where +men of all nations meet, and where princes mingle with persons of +all ranks. One day here procured me more pleasure than a +whole life in Vienna.</p> +<p>I had scarcely remained a month before the Countess Parr wrote +to me that the Empress had provided for me, and would make my +fortune as soon as I returned to Vienna. I tried to +discover in what it consisted, but in vain. The death of +the Emperor Francis at Innsbruck occasioned the return of General +Laudohn, and I followed him, on foot, to Vienna.</p> +<p>By means of the Countess Parr I obtained an audience. +The Empress said to me, “I will prove to you, Trenck, that +I keep my word. I have insured your fortune; I will give +you a rich and prudent wife.” I replied, “Most +gracious Sovereign, I cannot determine to marry, and, if I could, +my choice is already made at +Aix-la-Chapelle.”—“How! are you married, +then?”—“Not yet, please your +Majesty.”—“Are you promised?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”—“Well, well, no matter for +that; I will take care of that affair; I am determined on +marrying you to the rich widow of M---, and she approves my +choice. She is a good, kind woman, and has fifty thousand +florins a year. You are in want of such a wife.”</p> +<p>I was thunderstruck. This bride was a canting hypocrite +of sixty-three, covetous, and a termagant. I answered, +“I must speak the truth to your Majesty; I could not +consent did she possess the treasures of the whole earth. I +have made my choice, which, as an honest man, I must not +break.” The Empress said, “Your unhappiness is +your own work. Act as you think proper; I have +done.” Here my audience ended. I was not +actually affianced at that time to my present wife, but love had +determined my choice.</p> +<p>Marshal Laudohn promoted the match. He was acquainted +with my heart and the warmth of my passion, and perceived that I +could not conquer the desire of vengeance on men by whom I had +been so cruelly treated. He and Professor Gellert advised +me to take this mode of calming passions that often inspired +projects too vast, and that I should fly the company of the +great. This counsel was seconded by my own wishes. I +returned to Aix-la-Chapelle in December, 1766, and married the +youngest daughter of the former Burgomaster De Broe. He was +dead; he had lived on his own estate in Brussels, where my wife +was born and educated. My wife’s mother was sister to +the Vice-Chancellor of Dusseldorf, Baron Robert, Lord of +Roland. My wife was with me in most parts of Europe. +She was then young, handsome, worthy, and virtuous, has borne me +eleven children, all of whom she has nursed herself; eight of +them are still living and have been properly educated. +Twenty-two years she has borne a part of all my sufferings, and +well deserves reward.</p> +<p>During my abode in Vienna I made one effort more. I +sought an audience with the present Emperor Joseph, related all +that had happened to me, and remarked such defects as I had +observed in the regulations of the country. He heard me, +and commanded me to commit my thoughts to writing. My +memorial was graciously received. I also gave a full +account of what had happened to me in various countries, which +prudence has occasioned me to express more cautiously in these +pages. My memorial produced no effect, and I hastened back +to Aix-la-Chapelle.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p>For some years I lived in peace; my house was the rendezvous +of the first people, who came to take the waters. I began +to be more known among the very first and best people. I +visited Professor Gellert at Leipzig, and asked his advice +concerning what branch of literature he thought it was probable I +might succeed in. He most approved my fables and tales, and +blamed the excessive freedom with which I spoke in political +writings. I neglected his advice, and many of the ensuing +calamities were the consequence.</p> +<p>I received orders to correspond with His Majesty’s +private secretary, Baron Roder; suffice it to say, my attempts to +serve my country were frustrated; I saw defects too clearly, +spoke my thoughts too frankly, and wanted sufficient humility +ever to obtain favour.</p> +<p>In the year 1767 I wrote “The Macedonian Hero,” +which became famous throughout all Germany. The poem did me +honour, but entailed new persecutions; yet I never could repent: +I have had the honour of presenting it to five reigning princes, +by none of whom it has been burnt. The Empress alone was +highly enraged. I had spoken as Nathan did to David, and +the Jesuits now openly became my enemies.</p> +<p>The following trick was played me in 1768. A friend in +Brussels was commissioned to receive my pay, from whom I learnt +an interdict had been laid upon it by the court called +Hofkriegsrath, in Vienna, in which I was condemned to pay seven +hundred florins to one Bussy, with fourteen years’ +interest.</p> +<p>Bussy was a known swindler. I therefore journeyed, +post-haste, to Vienna. No hearing; no satisfactory account +was to be obtained. The answer was, “Sentence is +passed, therefore all attempts are too late.”</p> +<p>I applied to the Emperor Joseph, pledged my head to prove the +falsification of this note; and entreated a revision of the +cause. My request was granted and my attorney, Weyhrauch, +was an upright man. When he requested a day of revision to +be appointed, he was threatened to be committed by the +referendary. Zetto, should he interfere and defend the +affairs of Trenck. He answered firmly, “His defence +is my business: I know my cause to be good.”</p> +<p>Four months did I continue in Vienna before the day was +appointed to revise this cause. It now appeared there were +erasures and holes through the paper in three places; all in +court were convinced the claim ought to be annulled, and the +claimant punished. Zetto ordered the parties to withdraw, +and then so managed that the judges resolved that the case must +be laid before the court with formal and written proofs.</p> +<p>This gave time for new knavery; I was obliged to return to +Aix-la-Chapelle, and four years elapsed before this affair was +decided. Two priests, in the interim, took false oaths that +they had seen me receive money. At length, however, I +proved that the note was dated a year after I had been imprisoned +at Magdeburg. Further, my attorney proved the writs of the +court had been falsified. Zetto, referendary, and Bussy, +were the forgers; but I happened to be too active, and my +attorney too honest, to lose this case. I was obliged to +make three very expensive journeys from Aix-la-Chapelle to +Vienna, lest judgement should go by default. Sentence at +last was pronounced. I gained my cause, and the note was +declared a forgery, but the costs, amounting to three thousand +five hundred florins, I was obliged to pay, for Bussy could not: +nor was he punished, though driven from Vienna for his villainous +acts. Zetto, however, still continued for eleven years my +persecutor, till he was deprived of his office, and condemned to +the House of Correction.</p> +<p>My knowledge of the world increased at Aix-la-Chapelle, where +men of all characters met. In the morning I conversed with +a lord in opposition, in the afternoon with an orator of the +King’s party, and in the evening with an honest man of no +party. I sent Hungarian wine into England, France, Holland, +and the Empire. This occasioned me to undertake long +journeys, and as my increased acquaintance gave me opportunities +of receiving foreigners with politeness an my own house, I was +also well received wherever I went.</p> +<p>The income I should have had from Vienna was engulfed by +law-suits, attorneys, and the journeys I undertook; having been +thrice cited to appear, in person, before the +Hofkriegsrath. No hope remained. I was described as a +dangerous malcontent, who had deserted his native land. I +nevertheless remained an honest man; one who could provide for +his necessities without the favour of courts; one whose +acquaintance was esteemed. In Vienna alone was I unsought, +unemployed, and obscure.</p> +<p>One day an accident happened which made me renowned as a +magician, as one who had power over fogs and clouds.</p> +<p>I had a quarrel with the Palatine President, Baron Blankart, +concerning a hunting district. I wrote to him that he +should repair to the spot in dispute, whither I would attend with +sword and pistol, hoping he would there give me satisfaction for +the affront I had received. Thither I went, with two +huntsmen and two friends, but instead of the baron I found two +hundred armed peasants assembled.</p> +<p>I sent one of my huntsmen to the army of the enemy, informing +them that, if they did not retreat, I should fire. The day +was fine, but a thick and impenetrable fog arose. My +huntsman returned, with intelligence that, having delivered his +message just as the fog came on, these heroes had all run away +with fright.</p> +<p>I advanced, fired my piece, as did my followers, and marched +to the mansion of my adversary, where my hunting-horn was blown +in triumph in his courtyard. The runaway peasants fired, +but the fog prevented their taking aim.</p> +<p>I returned home, where many false reports had preceded +me. My wife expected I should be brought home dead; +however, not the least mischief had happened.</p> +<p>It soon was propagated through the country that I had raised a +fog to render myself invisible, and that the truth of this could +be justified by two hundred witnesses. All the monks of +Aix-la-Chapelle, Juliers, and Cologne, preached concerning me, +reviled me, and warned the people to beware of the arch-magician +and Lutheran, Trenck.</p> +<p>On a future occasion, this belief I turned to merriment. +I went to hunt the wolf in the forests of Montjoie, and invited +the townsmen to the chase. Towards evening I, and some +forty of my followers, retired to rest in the charcoal huts, +provided with wine and brandy. “My lads,” said +I, “it is necessary you should discharge your pieces, and +load them anew; that to-morrow no wolf may escape, and that none +of you excuse yourselves on your pieces missing +fire.” The guns were reloaded, and placed in a +separate chamber. While they were merry-making, my huntsman +drew the balls, and charged the pieces with powder, several of +which he loaded with double charges. Some of their notched +balls I put into my pocket.</p> +<p>In the morning away went I and my fellows to the chase. +Their conversation turned on my necromancy, and the manner in +which I could envelope myself in a cloud, or make myself +bullet-proof. “What is that you are talking +about?” said I.—“Some of these unbelieving +folks,” answered my huntsman, “affirm your honour is +unable to ward off balls.”—“Well, then,” +said I, “fire away, and try.” My huntsman +fired. I pretended to parry with my hand, and called, +“Let any man that is so inclined fire, but only one at a +time.” Accordingly they began, and, pretending to +twist and turn about, I suffered them all to discharge their +pieces. My people had carefully noticed that no man had +reloaded his gun. Some of them received such blows from the +guns that were doubly charged that they fell, terrified at the +powers of magic. I advanced, holding in my hand some of the +marked balls. “Let every one choose his own,” +called I. All stood motionless, and many of them slunk home +with their guns on their shoulders; some remained, and our sport +was excellent.</p> +<p>On Sunday the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle again began to +preach. My black art became the theme of the whole country, +and to this day many of the people make oath that they fired upon +me, and that, after catching them, I returned the balls.</p> +<p>My invulnerable qualities were published throughout Juliers, +Aix-la-Chapelle, Maestricht, and Cologne, and perhaps this belief +saved my life; the priests having propagated it from their +pulpits, in a country which swarms with highway robbers, and +where, for a single ducat, any man may hire an assassin.</p> +<p>It is no small surprise that I should have preserved my life, +in a town where there are twenty-three monasteries and churches, +and where the monks are adored as deities. The Catholic +clergy had been enraged against me by my poem of “The +Macedonian Hero;” and in 1772 I published a newspaper at +Aix-la-Chapelle, and another work entitled, “The Friend of +Men,” in which I unmasked hypocrisy. A major of the +apostolic Maria Theresa, writing thus in a town swarming with +friars, and in a tone so undaunted, was unexampled.</p> +<p>At present, now that freedom of opinion is encouraged by the +Emperor, many essayists encounter bigotry and deceit with +ridicule; or, wanting invention themselves, publish extracts from +writings of the age of Luther. But I have the honour of +having attacked the pillars of the Romish hierarchy in days more +dangerous. I may boast of being the first German who raised +a fermentation on the Upper Rhine and in Austria, so advantageous +to truth, the progress of the understanding, and the happiness of +futurity.</p> +<p>My writings contain nothing inimical to the morality taught by +Christ. I attacked the sale of indulgences, the avarice of +Rome, the laziness, deceit, gluttony, robbery, and blood-sucking +of the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle. The arch-priest, and nine +of his coadjutors, declared every Sunday that I was a +freethinker, a wizard, one whom every man, wishing well to God +and the Church, ought to assassinate. Father Zunder +declared me an outlaw, and a day was appointed on which my +writings were to be burnt before my house, and its inhabitants +massacred. My wife received letters warning her to fly for +safety, which warning she obeyed. I and two of my huntsmen +remained, provided with eighty-four loaded muskets. These I +displayed before the window, that all might be convinced that I +would make a defence. The appointed day came, and Father +Zunder, with my writings in his hand, appeared ready for the +attack; the other monks had incited the townspeople to a +storm. Thus passed the day and night in suspense.</p> +<p>In the morning a fire broke out in the town. I hastened, +with my two huntsmen, well armed, to give assistance; we dashed +the water from our buckets, and all obeyed my directions. +Father Zunder and his students were there likewise. I +struck his anointed ear with my leathern bucket, which no man +thought proper to notice. I passed undaunted through the +crowd; the people smiled, pulled off their hats, and wished me a +good-morning. The people of Aix-la-Chapelle were bigots, +but too cowardly to murder a man who was prepared for his own +defence.</p> +<p>As I was riding to Maestricht, a ball whistled by my ears, +which, no doubt, was a messenger sent after me by these +persecuting priests.</p> +<p>When hunting near the convent of Schwartzenbruck, three +Dominicans lay in ambush behind a hedge. One of their +colleagues pointed out the place. I was on my guard with my +gun, drew near, and called out, “Shoot, scoundrels! but do +not kill me, for the devil stands ready for you at your +elbow.” One fired, and all ran: The ball hit my +hat. I fired and wounded one desperately, whom the others +carried off.</p> +<p>In 1774, journeying from Spa to Limbourg, I was attacked by +eight banditti. The weather was rainy, and my musket was in +its case; my sabre was entangled in my belt, so that I was +obliged to defend myself as with a club. I sprang from the +carriage, and fought in defence of my life, striking down all +before me, while my faithful huntsman protected me behind. +I dispersed my assailants, hastened to my carriage, and drove +away. One of these fellows was soon after hanged, and owned +that the confessor of the banditti had promised absolution could +they but despatch me, but that no man could shoot me, because +Lucifer had rendered me invulnerable. My agility, fighting, +too, for life, was superior to theirs, and they buried two of +their gang, whom with my heavy sabre I had killed.</p> +<p>To such excess of cruelty may the violence of priests be +carried! I attacked only gross abuses—the deceit of +the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, and Liége, where +they are worse than cannibals. I wished to inculcate true +Christian duties among my fellow-citizens, and the attempt was +sufficient to irritate the selfish Church of Rome.</p> +<p>From my Empress I had nothing to hope. Her confessor had +painted me as a persecutor of the blessed Mother Church. +Nor was this all. Opinions were propagated throughout +Vienna that I was a dangerous man to the community.</p> +<p>Hence I was always wronged in courts of judicature, where +there are ever to be found wicked men. They thought they +were serving the cause of God by injuring me. Yet they were +unable to prevent my writings from producing me much money, or +from being circulated through all Germany. The +<i>Aix-la-Chapelle Journal</i> became so famous, that in the +second year I had four thousand subscribers, by each of whom I +gained a ducat.</p> +<p>The postmasters, who gained considerably by circulating +newspapers, were envious, because the <i>Aix-la-Chapelle +Journal</i> destroyed several of the others, and they therefore +formed a combination.</p> +<p>Prince Charles of Sweden placed confidence in me during his +residence at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and I accompanied him into +Holland. When I took my leave of him at Maestricht, he said +to me, “When my father dies, either my brother shall be +King, or we will lose our heads.” The King died, and +Prince Charles soon after said, in the postscript of one of his +letters, “What we spoke of at Maestricht will soon be fully +accomplished, and you may then come to Stockholm.”</p> +<p>On this, I inserted an article in my journal declaring a +revolution had taken place in Sweden, that the king had made +himself absolute. The other papers expressed their doubts, +and I offered to wager a thousand ducats on the truth of the +article published in my journal under the title of +“Aix-la-Chapelle.” The news of the revolution +in Sweden was confirmed.</p> +<p>My journal foretold the Polish partition six weeks sooner than +any other; but how I obtained this news must not be +mentioned. I was active in the defence of Queen Matilda of +Denmark.</p> +<p>The French Ministry were offended at the following +pasquinade:—“The three eagles have rent the Polish +bear, without losing a feather with which any man in the Cabinet +of Versailles can write. Since the death of Mazarin, they +write only with goose-quills.”</p> +<p>By desire of the King of Poland, I wrote a narrative of the +attempt made to assassinate him, and named the nuncio who had +given absolution to the conspirators in the chapel of the Holy +Virgin.</p> +<p>The house was now in flames. Rome insisted I should +recall my words. Her nuncio, at Cologne, vented poison, +daggers, and excommunication; the Empress-Queen herself thought +proper to interfere. I obtained, for my justification, from +Warsaw a copy of the examination of the conspirators. This +I threatened to publish, and stood unmoved in the defence of +truth.</p> +<p>The Empress wrote to the Postmaster-General of the Empire, and +commanded him to lay an interdict on the <i>Aix-la-Chapelle +Journal</i>. Informed of this, I ended its publication with +the year, but wrote an essay on the partition of Poland, which +also did but increase my enemies.</p> +<p>The magistracy of Aix-la-Chapelle is elected from the people, +and the Burghers’ court consists of an ignorant +rabble. I know no exceptions but Baron Lamberte and De +Witte; and this people assume titles of dignity, for which they +are amenable to the court at Vienna. Knowing I should find +little protection at Vienna, they imagined they might drive me +from their town. I was a spy on their evil deeds, of whom +they would have rid themselves. I knew that the two +sheriffs, Kloss and Furth, and the recorder, Geyer, had robbed +the town-chamber of forty thousand dollars, and divided the +spoil. To these I was a dangerous man. For such +reasons they sought a quarrel with me, pretending I had committed +a trespass by breaking down a hedge, and cited me to appear at +the town-house.</p> +<p>The postmaster, Heinsberg, of Aix-la-Chapelle, although he had +two thousand three hundred rix-dollars of mine in his possession, +instituted false suits against me, obtained verdicts against me, +seized on a cargo of wine at Cologne, and I incurred losses to +the amount of eighteen thousand florins, which devoured the +fortune of my wife, and by which she, with myself and my +children, were reduced to poverty.</p> +<p>The Gravenitz himself, in 1778, acknowledged how much he had +injured me, affirmed he had been deceived, and promised he would +try to obtain restitution. I forgave him, and he attempted +to keep his promise; but his power declined; the bribes he had +received became too public. He was dispossessed of his +post, but, alas! too late for me. Two other of my judges +are at this time obliged to sweep the streets of Vienna, where +they are condemned to the House of Correction. Had this +been their employment instead of being seated on the seat of +judgment twenty years ago, I might have been more +fortunate. It is a remarkable circumstance that I should so +continually have been despoiled by unjust judges. Who would +have had the temerity to affirm that their evil deeds should +bring them to attend on the city scavenger? I indeed knew +them but too well, and fearlessly spoke what I knew. It was +my misfortune that I was acquainted with their malpractices +sooner than gracious Sovereign.</p> +<p>Let the scene close on my litigations at Aix-la-Chapelle and +Vienna. May God preserve every honest man from the +like! They have swallowed up my property, and that of my +wife. Enough!</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p>From the year 1774 to 1777, I journeyed through England and +France. I was intimate with Dr. Franklin, the American +Minister, and with the Counts St. Germain and de Vergennes, who +made me proposals to go to America; but I was prevented by my +affection for my wife and children.</p> +<p>My friend the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who had been Governor +of Magdeburg during my imprisonment, offered me a commission +among the troops going to America, but I +answered—“Gracious prince, my heart beats in the +cause of freedom only; I will never assist in enslaving +men. Were I at the head of your brave grenadiers. I +should revolt to the Americans.”</p> +<p>During 1775 I continued at Aix-la-Chapelle my essays, +entitled, “The Friend of Men.” My writings had +made some impression; the people began to read; the monks were +ridiculed, but my partisans increased, and their leader got +himself cudgelled.</p> +<p>They did not now mention my name publicly, but catechised +their penitents at confession. During this year people came +to me from Cologne, Bonn, and Dusseldorf, to speak with me +privately. When I inquired their business, they told me +their clergy had informed them I was propagating a new religion, +in which every man must sign himself to the devil, who then would +supply them with money. They were willing to become +converts to my faith, would Beelzebub but give them money, and +revenge them on their priests. “My good +friends,” answered I, “your teachers have deceived +you; I know of no devils but themselves. Were it true that +I was founding a new religion, the converts to whom the devil +would supply money, your priests, would be the first of my +apostles, and the most catholic. I am an honest, moral man, +as a Christian ought to be. Go home, in God’s name, +and do your duty.”</p> +<p>I forgot to mention that the recorder of the sheriff’s +court at Aix-la-Chapelle, who is called Baron Geyer, had +associated himself in 1778 with a Jew convert, and that this +noble company swindled a Dutch merchant out of eighty thousand +florins, by assuming the arms of Elector Palatine, and producing +forged receipts and contracts. Geyer was taken in +Amsterdam, and would have been hanged, but, by the aid of a +servant, he escaped. He returned to Aix-la-Chapelle, where +he enjoys his office. Three years ago he robbed the +town-chamber. His wife was, at that time, <i>generis +communis</i>, and procured him friends at court. The +assertions of this gentleman found greater credit at Vienna than +those of the injured Trenck! Oh, shame! Oh, world! +world!</p> +<p>My wine trade was so successful that I had correspondents and +stores in London, Paris, Brussels, Hamburg, and the Hague, and +had gained forty thousand florins. One unfortunate day +destroyed all my hopes in the success of this traffic.</p> +<p>In London I was defrauded of eighteen hundred guineas by a +swindler. The fault was my brother-in-law’s, who +parted with the wine before he had received the money. When +I had been wronged, and asked my friends’ assistance, I was +only laughed at, as if they were happy that an Englishman had the +wit to cheat a German.</p> +<p>Finding myself defrauded, I hastened to Sir John +Fielding. He told me he knew I had been swindled, and that +his friendship would make him active in my behalf; that he also +knew the houses where my wine was deposited, and that a party of +his runners should go with me, sufficiently strong for its +recovery. I was little aware that he had, at that time, two +hundred bottles of my best Tokay in his cellar. His +pretended kindness was a snare; he was in partnership with +robbers, only the stupid among whom he hanged, and preserved the +most adroit for the promotion of trade.</p> +<p>He sent a constable and six of his runners with me, commanding +them to act under my orders. By good fortune I had a +violent headache, and sent my brother-in-law, who spoke better +English than I. Him they brought to the house of a Jew, and +told him, “Your wine, sir, is here concealed.” +Though it was broad day, the door was locked, that he might be +induced to act illegally. The constable desired him to +break the door open, which he did; the Jews came running, and +asked—“What do you want, +gentlemen?”—“I want my wine,” answered my +brother.—“Take what is your own,” replied a +Jew; “but beware of touching my property. I have +bought the wine.”</p> +<p>My brother attended the constable and runners into a cellar, +and found a great part of my wine. He wrote to Sir John +Fielding that he had found the wine, and desired to know how to +act. Fielding answered: “It must be taken by the +owner.” My brother accordingly sent me the wine.</p> +<p>Next day came a constable with a warrant, saying, “He +wanted to speak with my brother, and that he was to go to Sir +John Fielding.” When he was in the street, he told +him—“Sir, you are my prisoner.”</p> +<p>I went to Sir John Fielding, and asked him what it +meant. This justice answered that my brother had been +accused of felony. The Jews and swindlers had sworn the +wine was a legal purchase. If I had not been paid, or was +ignorant of the English laws, that was my fault. Six +swindlers had sworn the wine was paid for, which circumstance he +had not known, or he should not have granted me a warrant. +My brother had also broken open the doors, and forcibly taken +away wine which was not his own. They made oath of this, +and he was charged with burglary and robbery.</p> +<p>He desired me to give bail in a thousand guineas for my +brother for his appearance in the Court of King’s Bench; +otherwise his trial would immediately come on, and in a few days +he would be hanged.</p> +<p>I hastened to a lawyer, who confirmed what had been told me, +advised me to give bail, and he would then defend my cause. +I applied to Lord Mansfield, and received the same answer. +I told my story to all my friends, who laughed at me for +attempting to trade in London without understanding the +laws. My friend Lord Grosvenor said, “Send more wine +to London, and we will pay you so well that you will soon recover +your loss.”</p> +<p>I went to my wine-merchants, who had a stock of mine worth +upwards of a thousand guineas. They gave bail for my +brother, and he was released.</p> +<p>Fielding, in the interim, sent his runners to my house, took +back the wine, and restored it to the Jews. They threatened +to prosecute me as a receiver of stolen goods. I fled from +London to Paris, where I sold off my stock at half-price, +honoured my bills, and so ended my merchandise.</p> +<p>My brother returned to London in November, to defend his cause +in the Court of King’s Bench; but the swindlers had +disappeared, and the lawyer required a hundred pounds to +proceed. The conclusion was that my brother returned with +seventy pounds less in his pocket, spent as travelling expenses, +and the stock in the hands of my wine-merchants was detained on +pretence of paying the bail. They brought me an +apothecary’s bill, and all was lost.</p> +<p>The Swedish General Sprengporten came to Aix-la-Chapelle in +1776. He had planned and carried into execution the +revolution so favourable to the King, but had left Sweden in +discontent, and came to take the waters with a rooted +hypochondria.</p> +<p>He was the most dangerous man in Sweden, and had told the King +himself, after the revolution, in the presence of his guards, +“While Sprengporten can hold a sword, the King has nothing +to command.”</p> +<p>It was feared he would go to Russia, and Prince Charles wrote +to me in the name of the monarch, desiring I would exert myself +to persuade him to return to Sweden. He was a man of pride, +which rendered him either a fool or a madman. He despised +everything that was not Swedish.</p> +<p>The Prussian Minister, Count Hertzberg, the same year came to +Aix-la-Chapelle. I enjoyed his society for three months, +and accompanied this great man. To his liberality am I +indebted that I can return to my country with honour.</p> +<p>The time I had to spare was not spent in idleness; I attacked, +in my weekly writings, those sharpers who attend at +Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa to plunder both inhabitants and +visitants, under the connivance of the magistracy; nor are there +wanting foreign noblemen who become the associates of these pests +of society. The publication of such truths endangered my +life from the desperadoes, who, when detected, had nothing more +to lose. How powerful is an innocent life, nothing can more +fully prove than that I still exist, in despite of all the +attempts of wicked monks and despicable sharpers.</p> +<p>Though my life was much disturbed, yet I do not repent of my +manner of acting; many a youth, many a brave man, have I detained +from the gaming-table, and pointed out to them the most notorious +sharpers.</p> +<p>This was so injurious to Spa, that the Bishop of Liége +himself, who enjoys a tax on all their winnings, and therefore +protects such villains, offered me an annual pension of five +hundred guineas if I would not come to Spa; or three per cent. on +the winnings, would I but associate myself with Colonel N---t, +and raise recruits for the gaming-table. My answer may +easily be imagined; yet for this was I threatened to be +excommunicated by the Holy Catholic Church!</p> +<p>I and my family passed sixteen summers in Spa. My house +became the rendezvous of the most respectable part of the +company, and I was known to some of the most respectable +characters in Europe.</p> +<p>A contest arose between the town of Aix-la-Chapelle and Baron +Blankart, the master of the hounds to the Elector Palatine: it +originated in a dispute concerning precedence between the +before-mentioned wife of the Recorder Geyer and the sister of the +Burgomaster of Aix-la-Chapelle, Kahr, who governed that town with +despotism.</p> +<p>This quarrel was detrimental to the town and to the Elector +Palatine, but profitable to Kahr, whose office it was to protect +the rights of the town, and those persons who defended the claims +of the Elector; the latter kept a faro bank, the plunder of which +had enriched the town; and the former Kahr, under pretence of +defending their cause, embezzled the money of the people; so that +both parties endeavoured with all their power to prolong the +litigation.</p> +<p>It vexed me to see their proceedings. Those who suffered +on each side were deceived; and I conceived the project of +exposing the truth. For this purpose I journeyed to the +court at Mannheim, related the facts to the Elector, produced a +plan of accommodation, which he approved, and obtained power to +act as arbitrator. The Minister of the Elector, Bekkers, +pretended to approve my zeal, conducted me to an <i>auberge</i>, +made me dine at his house, and said a commission was made out for +my son, and forwarded to Aix-la-Chapelle—which was false; +the moment he quitted me he sent to Aix-la-Chapelle to frustrate +the attempt he pretended to applaud. He was himself in +league with the parties. In fine, this silly interference +brought me only trouble, expense, and chagrin. I made five +journeys to Mannheim, till I became so dissatisfied that I +determined to quit Aix-la-Chapelle, and purchase an estate in +Austria.</p> +<p>The Bavarian contest was at this time in agitation; my own +affairs brought me to Paris, and here I learned intelligence of +great consequence; this I communicated to the Grand Duke of +Florence, on my return to Vienna. The Duke departed to join +the army in Bohemia, and I again wrote to him, and thought it my +duty to send a courier. The Duke showed my letter to the +Emperor; but I remained unnoticed.</p> +<p>I did not think myself safe in foreign countries during this +time of war, and purchased the lordship of Zwerbach, with +appurtenances, which, with the expenses, cost me sixty thousand +florins.</p> +<p>To conclude this purchase, I was obliged to solicit the +referendary, Zetto, and his friend whom he had appointed as my +curator, for my new estate was likewise made a <i>fidei +commissum</i>, as my referendaries and curators would not let me +escape contribution. The six thousand florins of which they +emptied my purse would have done my family much service.</p> +<p>In May, 1780, I went to Aix-la-Chapelle, where my wife’s +mother died in July; and in September my wife, myself, and +family, all came to Vienna.</p> +<p>My wife solicited the mistress of the ceremonies to obtain an +audience. Her request was granted, and she gained the +favour of the Empress. Her kindness was beyond expression: +she introduced my wife to the Archduchess, and commanded her +mistress of the ceremonies to present her everywhere. +“You were unwilling,” said she, “to accompany +your husband into my country, but I hope to convince you that you +may live happier in Austria than at Aix-la-Chapelle.”</p> +<p>She next day sent me her decree, assuring me of a pension of +four hundred florins.</p> +<p>My wife petitioned the Empress to grant me an audience: her +request was complied with: and the Empress said to me: +“This is the third time in which I would have made your +fortune, had you been so disposed.” She desired to +see my children, and spoke of my writings. “How much +good might you do,” said she, “would you but write in +the cause of religion!”</p> +<p>We departed for Zwerbach, where we lived contentedly, but when +we were preparing to return to Vienna, and solicited the +restitution of part of my lost fortune, during this favour of the +court, Theresa died, and all my hopes were overcast.</p> +<p>I forgot to relate that the Archduchess, Maria Anna, desired +me to translate a religious work, written in French by the +Abbé Baudrand, into German. I replied I would obey +Her Majesty’s commands. I began my work, took +passages from Baudrand, but inserted more of my own. The +first volume was finished in six weeks; the Empress thought it +admirable. The second soon followed, and I presented this +myself.</p> +<p>She asked me if it equalled the first; I answered, I hoped it +would be found more excellent. “No,” said she; +“I never in my life read a better book:” and added, +“she wondered how I could write so well and so +quickly.” I promised another volume within a +month. Before the third was ready, Theresa died. She +gave orders on her death-bed to have the writings of Baron Trenck +read to her; and though her confessor well knew the injustice +that had been done me, yet in her last moments he kept silence, +though he had given me his sacred promise to speak in my +behalf.</p> +<p>After her death the censor commanded that I should print what +I have stated in the preface to that third volume, and this was +my only satisfaction.</p> +<p>For one-and-thirty years had I been soliciting my rights, +which I never could obtain, because the Empress was deceived by +wicked men, and believed me a heretic. In the +thirty-second, my wife had the good fortune to convince her this +was false; she had determined to make me restitution; just at +this moment she died.</p> +<p>The pension granted my wife by the Empress in consequence of +my misfortunes and our numerous family, we only enjoyed nine +months.</p> +<p>Of this she was deprived by the new monarch. He perhaps +knew nothing of the affair, as I never solicited. Yet much +has it grieved me. Perhaps I may find relief when the sighs +wrung from me shall reach the heart of the father of his people +in this my last writing. At present, nothing for me remains +but to live unknown in Zwerbach.</p> +<p>The Emperor thought proper to collect the moneys bestowed on +hospitals into one fund. The system was a wise one. +My cousin Trenck had bequeathed thirty-six thousand florins to a +hospital for the poor of Bavaria. This act he had no right +to do, having deducted the sum from the family estate. I +petitioned the Emperor that these thirty-six thousand florins +might be restored to me and my children, who were the people whom +Trenck had indeed made poor, nothing of the property of his +acquiring having been left to pay this legacy, but, on the +contrary, the money having been exacted from mine.</p> +<p>In a few days it was determined I should be answered in the +same tone in which, for six-and-thirty years past, all my +petitions had been answered:—</p> +<p>“<span class="smcap">The request of the petitioner +cannot be granted</span>.”</p> +<p>Fortune persecuted me in my retreat. Within six years +two hailstorms swept away my crops; one year was a misgrowth; +there were seven floods; a rot among my sheep: all possible +calamities befell me and my manor.</p> +<p>The estate had been ruined, the ponds were to drain, three +farms were to be put into proper condition, and the whole newly +stocked. This rendered me poor, especially as my +wife’s fortune had been sunk in lawsuits at Aix-la-Chapelle +and Cologne.</p> +<p>The miserable peasants had nothing, therefore could not pay: I +was obliged to advance them money. My sons assisted me, and +we laboured with our own hands: my wife took care of eight +children, without so much as the help of a maid. We lived +in poverty, obliged to earn our daily bread.</p> +<p>The greatest of my misfortunes was my treatment in the +military court, when Zetto and Krugel were my +referendaries. Zetto had clogged me with a curator and when +the cow had no more milk to give, they began to torture me with +deputations, sequestrations, administrations, and +executions. Nineteen times was I obliged to attend in +Vienna within two years, at my own expense. Every six years +must I pay an attorney to dispute and quarrel with the +curator. I, in conclusion, was obliged to pay. If any +affair was to be expedited, I, by a third hand, was obliged to +send the referendary some ducats. Did he give judgment, +still that judgment lay fourteen months inefficient, and, when it +then appeared, the copy was false, and so was sent to the upper +courts, the high referendary of which said I “must be +dislodged from Zwerbach.”</p> +<p>They obliged me at last to purchase my naturalisation. I +sent to Prussia for my pedigree; the attestation of this was sent +me by Count Hertzberg. Although the family of Trenck had a +hundred years been landholders in Hungary, yet was my attorney +obliged to solicit the instrument called ritter-diploma, for +which, under pain of execution, I must pay two thousand +florins.</p> +<p>By decree a Prussian nobleman is not noble in Austria, where +every lackey can purchase a diploma, making him a knight of the +Empire, for twelve hundred wretched florins!—where such men +as P--- and Grassalkowitz have purchased the dignity of a +prince!</p> +<p>Tortured by the courts, terrified by hailstorms, I determined +to publish my works, in eight volumes, and this history of my +life.</p> +<p>Fourteen months accomplished this purpose. My labours +found a favourable reception through all Germany, procured me +money, esteem, and honour. By my writings only will I seek +the means of existence, and by trying to obtain the approbation +and the love of men.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<p>On the 22nd of August, 1786, the news arrived that Frederic +the Great had left this world!</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>The present monarch, the witness of my sufferings in my native +country, sent me a royal passport to Berlin. The +confiscation of my estates was annulled, and my deceased brother, +in Prussia, had left my children his heirs.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p>I journey, within the Imperial permission, back to my country, +from which I have been two-and-forty years expelled! I +journey—not as a pardoned malefactor, but as a man whose +innocence has been established by his actions, has been proved in +his writings, and who is journeying to receive his reward.</p> +<p>Here I shall once more encounter my old friends my relations, +and those who have known me in the days of my affliction. +Here shall I appear, not as my country’s Traitor, but as my +country’s Martyr!</p> +<p>Possible, though little probable, are still future +storms. For these also I am prepared. Long had I +reason daily to curse the rising sun, and, setting, to behold it +with horror. Death to me appears a great benefit: a certain +passage from agitation to peace, from motion to rest. As +for my children, they, jocund in youth, delight in present +existence. When I have fulfilled the duties of a father, to +live or die will then be as I shall please.</p> +<p>Thou, O God! my righteous Judge, didst ordain that I should be +an example of suffering to the world; Thou madest me what I am, +gavest me these strong passions, these quick nerves, this +thrilling of the blood, when I behold injustice. Strong was +my mind, that deeply it might meditate on deep subjects; strong +my memory, that these meditations I might retain; strong my body, +that proudly it might support all it has pleased Thee to +inflict.</p> +<p>Should I continue to exist, should identity go with me, and +should I know what I was then, when I was called Trenck; when +that combination of particles which Nature commanded should +compose this body shall be decomposed, scattered, or in other +bodies united; when I have no muscles to act, no brain to think, +no retina on which pictures can mechanically be painted, my eyes +wasted, and no tongue remaining to pronounce the Creator’s +name, should I still behold a Creator—then, oh then, will +my spirit mount, and indubitably associate with spirits of the +just who expectant wait for their golden harps and glorious +crowns from the Most High God. For human weaknesses, human +failings, arising from our nature, springing from our +temperament, which the Creator has ordained, shall be even thus, +and not otherwise; for these have I suffered enough on earth.</p> +<p>Such is my confession of faith; in this have I lived, in this +will I die. The duties of a man and of a Christian I have +fulfilled; nay, often have exceeded, often have been too +benevolent, too generous; perhaps also too proud, too vain. +I could not bend, although liable to be broken.</p> +<p>That I have not served the world, in acts and employments +where best I might, is perhaps my own fault: the fault of my +manner, which is now too radical to be corrected in this, my +sixtieth year. Yes, I acknowledge my failing, acknowledge +it unblushingly; nay, glory in the pride of a noble nature.</p> +<p>For myself, I ask nothing of those who have read my history; +to them do I commit my wife and children. My eldest son is +a lieutenant in the Tuscan regiment of cavalry, under General +Lasey, and does honour to his father’s principles. +The second serves his present Prussian Majesty, as ensign in the +Posadowsky dragoons, with equal promise. The third is still +a child. My daughters will make worthy men happy, for they +have imbibed virtue and gentleness with their mother’s +milk. Monarchs may hereafter remember what I have suffered, +what I have lost, and what is due to my ashes.</p> +<p>Here do I declare—I will seek no other revenge against +my enemies than that of despising their evil deeds. It is +my wish, and shall be my endeavour, to forget the past; and +having committed no offence, neither will I solicit monarchs for +posts of honour; as I have ever lived a free man, a free man will +I die.</p> +<p>I conclude this part of my history on the evening preceding my +journey to Berlin. God grant I may encounter no new +afflictions, to be inserted in the remainder of this history.</p> +<p>This journey I prepared to undertake, but my ever-envious fate +threw me on the bed of sickness, insomuch that small hope +remained that I ever should again behold the country of my +forefathers. I seemed following the Great Frederic to the +mansions of the dead; then should I never have concluded the +history of my life, or obtained the victory by which I am now +crowned.</p> +<p>A variety of obstacles being overcome, I found it necessary to +make a journey into Hungary, which was one of the most pleasant +of my whole life.</p> +<p>I have no words to express my ardent wishes for the welfare of +a nation where I met with so many proofs of friendship. +Wherever I appeared I was welcomed with that love and enthusiasm +which only await the fathers of their country. The valour +of my cousin Trenck, who died ingloriously in the Spielberg, the +loss of my great Hungarian estates, the fame of my writings, and +the cruelty of my sufferings, had gone before me. The +officers of the army, the nobles of the land, alike testified the +warmth of their esteem.</p> +<p>Such is the reward of the upright; such too are the proofs +that this nation knows the just value of fortitude and +virtue. Have I not reason to publish my gratitude, and to +recommend my children to those who, when I am no more, shall dare +uprightly to determine concerning the rights which have unjustly +been snatched from me in Hungary?</p> +<p>Not a man in Hungary but will proclaim I have been unjustly +dealt by; yet I have good reason to suspect I never shall find +redress. Sentence had been already given; judges, more +honest, cannot, without difficulty, reverse old decrees; and the +present possessors of my estates are too powerful, too intimate +with the governors of the earth, for me to hope I shall hereafter +be more happy. God knows my heart; I wish the present +possessors may render services to the state equal to those +rendered by the family of the Trencks.</p> +<p>There is little probability I shall ever behold my noble +friends in Hungary more. Here I bid them adieu, promising +them to pass the remainder of any life so as still to merit the +approbation of a people with whose ashes I would most willingly +have mingled my own. May the God of heaven preserve every +Hungarian from a fate similar to mine!</p> +<p>The Croats have ever been reckoned uncultivated; yet, among +this uncultivated people I found more subscribers to my writings +than among all the learned men of Vienna; and in Hungary, more +than in all the Austrian dominions.</p> +<p>The Hungarians, the unlettered Croats, seek information. +The people of Vienna ask their confessors’ permission to +read instructive books. Various subscribers, having read +the first volume of my work, brought it back, and re-demanded +their money, because some monk had told them it was a book +dangerous to be read. The judges of their courts have +re-sold them to the booksellers for a few pence or given them to +those who had the care of their consciences to burn.</p> +<p>In Vienna alone was my life described as a romance; in Hungary +I found the compassion of men, their friendship, and effectual +aid. Had my book been the production of an Englishman, good +wishes would not have been his only reward.</p> +<p>We German writers have interested critics to encounter if we +would unmask injustice; and if a book finds a rapid sale, +dishonest printers issue spurious editions, defrauding the author +of his labours.</p> +<p>The encouragement of the learned produces able teachers, and +from their seminaries men of genius occasionally come +forth. The world is inundated with books and pamphlets; the +undiscerning reader knows not which to select; the more +intelligent are disgusted, or do not read at all, and thus a work +of merit becomes as little profitable to the author as to the +state.</p> +<p>I left Vienna on the 5th of January, and came to Prague. +Here I found nearly the same reception as in Hungary; my writings +were read. Citizens, noblemen, and ladies treated me with +like favour. May the monarch know how to value men of +generous feelings and enlarged understandings!</p> +<p>I bade adieu to Prague, and continued my journey to +Berlin. In Bohemia, I took leave of my son, who saw his +father and his two brothers, destined for the Prussian service, +depart. He felt the weight of this separation; I reminded +him of his duty to the state he served; I spoke of the fearful +fate of his uncle and father in Austria, and of the possessors of +our vast estates in Hungary. He shrank back—a look +from his father pierced him to the soul—tears stood in his +eyes—his youthful blood flowed quick, and the following +expression burst suddenly from his lips:—“I call God +to witness that I will prove myself worthy of my father’s +name; and that, while I live, his enemies shall be +mine!”</p> +<p>At Peterswald, on the road to Dresden, my carriage broke down: +my life was endangered; and my son received a contusion in the +arm. The erysipelas broke out on him at Berlin, and I could +not present him to the King for a month after.</p> +<p>I had been but a short time at Berlin before the well-known +minister, Count Hertzberg, received me with kindness. Every +man to whom his private worth is known will congratulate the +state that has the wisdom to bestow on him so high an +office. His scholastic and practical learning, his +knowledge of languages, his acquaintance with sciences, are +indeed wonderful. His zeal for his country is ardent, his +love of his king unprejudiced, his industry admirable, his +firmness that of a man. He is the most experienced man in +the Prussian states. The enemies of his country may rely on +his word. The artful he can encounter with art; those who +menace, with fortitude; and with wise foresight can avert the +rising storm. He seeks not splendour in sumptuous and +ostentatious retinue; but if he can only enrich the state, and +behold the poor happy, he is himself willing to remain +poor. His estate, Briess, near Berlin, is no Chanteloup, +but a model to those patriots who would study economy. Here +he, every Wednesday, enjoys recreation. The services he +renders the kingdom cost it only five thousand rix-dollars +yearly; he, therefore, lives without ostentation, yet becoming +his state, and with splendour when splendour is necessary. +He does not plunder the public treasury that he may preserve his +own private property.</p> +<p>This man will live in the annals of Prussia: who was employed +under the Great Frederic; had so much influence in the cabinets +of Europe; and was a witness of the last actions, the last +sensations, of his dying king; yet who never asked, nor ever +received, the least gratuity. This is the minister whose +conversation I had the happiness to partake at Aix-la-Chapelle +and Spa, whose welfare is the wish of my heart, and whose memory +I shall ever revere.</p> +<p>I was received with distinction at his table, and became +acquainted with those whose science had benefited the Prussian +states; nor was anything more flattering to my self-love than +that men like these should think me worthy their friendship.</p> +<p>Not many days after I was presented to the court by the +Prussian chamberlain, Prince Sacken, as it is not customary at +Berlin for a foreign subject to be presented by the minister of +his own court. Though a Prussian subject, I wore the +Imperial uniform.</p> +<p>The King received me with condescension; all eyes were +directed towards me, each welcomed me to my country. This +moved me the more as it was remarked by the foreign ministers, +who asked who that Austrian officer could be who was received +with so much affection and such evident joy in Berlin. The +gracious monarch himself gave tokens of pleasure at beholding me +thus surrounded. Among the rest came the worthy General +Prittwitz, who said aloud—</p> +<p>“This is the gentleman who might have ruined me to +effect his own deliverance.”</p> +<p>Confused at so public a declaration, I desired him to expound +this riddle; and he added—</p> +<p>“I was obliged to be one of your guards on your +unfortunate journey from Dantzic to Magdeburg, in 1754, when I +was a lieutenant. On the road I continued alone with you in +an open carriage. This gave you an opportunity to escape, +but you forbore. I afterwards saw the danger to which I had +exposed myself. Had you been less noble-minded, had such a +prisoner escaped through my negligence, I had certainly been +ruined. The King believed you alike dangerous and deserving +of punishment. I here acknowledge you as my saviour, and am +in gratitude your friend.” I knew not that the +generous man, who wished me so well, was the present General +Prittwitz. That he should himself remind me of this +incident does him the greater honour.</p> +<p>Having been introduced at court, I thought it necessary to +observe ceremonies, and was presented by the Imperial ambassador, +Prince Reuss, to all foreign ministers, and such families as are +in the habit of admitting such visits. I was received by +the Prince Royal, the reigning Queen, the Queen-Dowager, and the +royal family in their various places, with favour never to be +forgotten. His Royal Highness Prince Henry invited me to a +private audience, continued long in conversation with me, +promised me his future protection, admitted me to his private +concerts, and sometimes made me sup at court.</p> +<p>A like reception I experienced in the palace of Prince +Ferdinand of Brunswick, where I frequently dined and +supped. His princess took delight in hearing my narratives, +and loaded me with favour.</p> +<p>Prince Ferdinand’s mode of educating children is +exemplary. The sons are instructed in the soldier’s +duties, their bodies are inured to the inclemencies of weather; +they are taught to ride, to swim, and are steeled to all the +fatigue of war. Their hearts are formed for friendship, +which they cannot fail to attain. Happy the nation in +defence of which they are to act!</p> +<p>How ridiculous these their <i>Royal Highnesses</i> appear who, +though born to rule, are not deserving to be the lackeys to the +least of those whom they treat with contempt; and yet who swell, +strut, stride, and contemplate themselves as creatures +essentially different by nature, and of a superior rank in the +scale of beings, though, in reality, their minds are of the +lowest, the meanest class.</p> +<p>Happy the state whose prince is impressed with a sense that +the people are not his property, but he the property of the +people! A prince beloved by his people will ever render a +nation more happy those he whose only wish is to inspire +fear.</p> +<p>The pleasure I received at Berlin was great indeed. When +I went to court, the citizens crowded to see me, and when anyone +among them said, “That is Trenck,” the rest would +cry, “Welcome once more to your country,” while many +would reach me their hands, with the tears standing in their +eyes. Frequent were the scenes I experienced of this +kind. No malefactor would have been so received. It +was the reward of innocence; this reward was bestowed throughout +the Prussian territories.</p> +<p>Oh world, ill-judging world, deceived by show! Dost thou +not blindly follow the opinion of the prince, be he severe, +arbitrary, or just? Thy censure and thy praise equally +originate in common report. In Magdeburg I lay, chained to +the wall, ten years, sighing in wretchedness, every calamity of +hunger, cold, nakedness, and contempt. And wherefore? +Because the King, deceived by slanderers, pronounced me worthy of +punishment. Because a wise King mistook me, and treated me +with barbarity. Because a prudent King knew he had done +wrong, yet would not have it so supposed. So was his heart +turned to stone; nay, opposed by manly fortitude, was enraged to +cruelty. Most men were convinced I was an innocent +sufferer; “Yet did they all cry out the more, saying, let +him be crucified!” My relations were ashamed to hear +my name. My sister was barbarously treated because she +assisted me in my misfortunes. No man durst avow himself my +friend, durst own I merited compassion; or, much less, that the +infallible King had erred. I was the most despised, forlorn +man on earth; and when thus put on the rack, had I there expired, +my epitaph would have been, “Here lies the traitor, +Trenck.”</p> +<p>Frederic is dead, and the scene is changed; another monarch +has ascended the throne, and the grub has changed to a beautiful +butterfly! The witnesses to all I have asserted are still +living, loudly now proclaim the truth, and embrace me with +heart-felt affection.</p> +<p>Does the worth of a man depend upon his actions? his reward or +punishment upon his virtue? In arbitrary states, certainly +not. They depend on the breath of a king! Frederic +was the most penetrating prince of his age, but the most +obstinate also. A vice dreadful to those whom he selected +as victims, who must be sacrificed to the promoting of his +arbitrary views.</p> +<p>How many perished, the sin offerings of Frederic’s +obstinate self-will, whose orphan children now cry to God for +vengeance! The dead, alas! cannot plead. Trial began +and ended with execution. The few words—<span +class="smcap">It is the king’s command</span>—were +words of horror to the poor condemned wretch denied to plead his +innocence! Yet what is the Ukase (Imperial order) in +Russia, <i>Tel est notre bon plaisir</i> (Such is our pleasure) +in France, or the Allergnadigste Hofresolution (The all-gracious +sentence of the court), pronounced with the sweet tone of a +Vienna matron? In what do these differ from the arbitrary +order of a military despot?</p> +<p>Every prayer of man should be consecrated to man’s +general good; for him to obtain freedom and universal +justice! Together should we cry with one voice, and, if +unable to shackle arbitrary power, still should we endeavour to +show how dangerous it is! The priests of liberty should +offer up their thanks to the monarch who declares “the word +of power” a nullity, and “the sentence” of +justice omnipotent.</p> +<p>Who can name the court in Europe where Louis, Peter, or +Frederic, each and all surnamed The Great, have not been, and are +not, imitated as models of perfection? Lettres-de-cachet, +the knout, and cabinet-orders, superseding all right, are become +law!</p> +<p>No reasoning, says the corporal to the poor grenadier, whom he +canes!—No reasoning! exclaim judges; the court has +decided.—No reasoning, rash and pertinacious Trenck, will +the prudent reader echo. Throw thy pen in the fire, and +expose not thyself to become the martyr of a state +inquisition.</p> +<p>My fate is, and must remain, critical and undecided. I +have six-and-thirty years been in the service of Austria, +unrewarded, and beholding the repeated and generous efforts I +made effectually to serve that state, unnoticed. The +Emperor Joseph supposes me old, that the fruit is wasted, and +that the husk only remains. It is also supposed I should +not be satisfied with a little. To continue to oppress him +who has once been oppressed, and who possess qualities that may +make injustice manifest, is the policy of states. My +journey to Berlin has given the slanderer further opportunity of +painting me as a suspicious character: I smile at the ineffectual +attempt.</p> +<p>I appeared in the Imperial uniform and belied such +insinuations. To this purpose it was written to court, in +November, when I went into Hungary, “The motions of Trenck +ought to be observed in Hungary.” Ye poor malicious +blood-suckers of the virtuous! Ye shall not be able to hurt +a hair of my head. Ye cannot injure the man who has sixty +years lived in honour. I will not, in my old age, bring +upon myself the reproach of inconstancy, treachery, or desire of +revenge. I will betray no political secrets: I wish not to +injure those by whom I have been injured.—Such acts I will +never commit. I never yet descended to the office of spy, +nor will I die a rewarded villain.</p> +<p>Yes, I appeared in Berlin among the upright and the +just. Instead of being its supposed enemy, I was declared +an honour to my country. I appeared in the Imperial uniform +and fulfilled the duties of my station: and now must the Prussian +Trenck return to Austria, there to perform a father’s +duty.</p> +<p>Yet more of what happened in Berlin.</p> +<p>Some days after I had been presented to the King, I entreated +a private audience, and on the 12th of February received the +following letter:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“In answer to your letter of the 8th of this +month, I inform you that, if you will come to me to-morrow, at +five o’clock in the afternoon, I shall have the pleasure to +speak with you; meantime, I pray God to take you into his holy +keeping.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">“<span class="smcap">Frederic +William</span>.</p> +<p>“Berlin, Feb. 12, 1787.”</p> +<p>“P.S.—After signing the above, I find it more +convenient to appoint to-morrow, at nine in the morning, about +which time you will come into the apartment named the Marmor +Kammer (marble chamber).”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The anxiety with which I expected this wished-for interview +may well be conceived. I found the Prussian Titus alone, +and he continued in conversation with me more than an hour.</p> +<p>How kind was the monarch! How great! How nobly did +he console me for the past! How entirely did his assurance +of favour overpower my whole soul! He had read the history +of my life. When prince of Prussia, he had been an +eyewitness, in Magdeburg, of my martyrdom, and my attempts to +escape. His Majesty parted from me with tokens of esteem +and condescension.—My eyes bade adieu, but my heart +remained in the marble chamber, in company with a prince capable +of sensations so dignified; and my wishes for his welfare are +eternal.</p> +<p>I have since travelled through the greater part of the +Prussian states. Where is the country in which the people +are all satisfied? Many complained of hard times, or +industry unrewarded. My answer was:—</p> +<p>“Friends, kneel with the rising sun, and thank the God +of heaven that you are Prussians. I have seen and known +much of this world, and I assure you, you are among the happiest +people of Europe. Causes of complaint everywhere exist; but +you have a king, neither obstinate, ambitious, covetous, nor +cruel: his will is that his people should have cause of content, +and should he err by chance, his heart is not to blame if the +subject suffers.”</p> +<p>Prussia is neither wanting in able nor learned men. The +warmth of patriots glows in their veins. Everything remains +with equal stability, as under the reign of Frederic; and should +the thunder burst, the ready conductors will render the shock +ineffectual.</p> +<p>Hertzberg still labours in the cabinet, still thinks, writes, +and acts as he has done for years. The king is desirous +that justice shall be done to his subjects, and will punish, +perhaps, with more severity, whenever he finds himself deceived, +than from the goodness of his disposition, might be +supposed. The treasury is full, the army continues the +same, and there is little reason to doubt but that industry, +population, and wealth will increase. None but the vile and +the wicked would leave the kingdom; while the oppressed and best +subjects of other states would fly from their native country, +certain of finding encouragement and security in Prussia.</p> +<p>The personal qualities of Fredric William merit +description. He is tall and handsome, his mien is majestic, +and his accomplishments of mind and body would procure him the +love of men, were he not a king. He is affable without +deceit, friendly and kind in conversation, and stately when +stateliness is necessary. He is bountiful, but not profuse; +he knows that without economy the Prussian must sink. He is +not tormented by the spirit of conquest, he wishes harm to no +nation, yet he will certainly not suffer other nations to make +encroachments, nor will he be terrified by menaces.</p> +<p>The wise Frederic, when living, though himself learned, and a +lover of the sciences, never encouraged them in his +kingdom. Germany, under his reign, might have forgotten her +language: he preferred the literature of France. +Königsberg, once the seminary of the North, contains, at +present, few professors, or students; the former are fallen into +disrepute, and are ill paid; the latter repair to Leipsic and +Gottingen. We have every reason to suppose the present +monarch, though no studious man himself, will encourage the +academies of the literati, that men learned in jurisprudence and +the sciences may not be wanting: which want is the more to be +apprehended as the nobility must, without exception, serve in the +army, so that learning has but few adherents, and these are +deprived of the means of improvement.</p> +<p>Frederic William is also too much the friend of men to suffer +them to pine in prisons. He abhors the barbarity with which +the soldiers are beaten: his officers will not be fettered hand +and foot; slavish subordination will be banished, and the noble +in heart will be the noble of the land. May he, in his +people, find perfect content! May his people be ever worthy +of such a prince! Long may he reign, and may his ministers +be ever enlightened and honourable men!</p> +<p>He sent for me a second time, conversed much with me, and +confirmed those ideas which my first interview had inspired.</p> +<p>On the 11th of March I presented my son at another audience, +whom I intended for the Prussian service. The King bestowed +a commission on him in the Posadowsky dragoons, at my +request.</p> +<p>I saw him at the review at Velau, and his superior officers +formed great expectations from his zeal. Time will discover +whether he who is in the Austrian, or this in the Prussian +service, will first obtain the rewards due to their father. +Should they both remain unnoticed, I will bestow him on the Grand +Turk, rather than on European courts, whence equity to me and +mine is banished.</p> +<p>To Austria I owe no thanks; all that could be taken from me +was taken. I was a captain before I entered those +territories, and, after six-and-thirty years’ service, I +find myself in the rank of invalid major. The proof of all +I have asserted, and of how little I am indebted to this state is +most incontestable, since the history of my life is allowed by +the royal censor to be publicly sold in Vienna.</p> +<p>It is remarkable that one only of all the eight officers, with +whom I served, in the body guard, in 1745, is dead. +Lieutenant-colonel Count Blumenthal lives in Berlin; Pannewitz is +commander of the Knights of Malta: both gave me a friendly +reception. Wagnitz is lieutenant-general in the service of +Hesse-Cassel; he was my tent comrade, and was acquainted with all +that happened. Kalkreuter and Grethusen live on their +estates, and Jaschinsky is now alive at Königsberg, but +superannuated, and tortured by sickness, and remorse. He, +instead of punishment, has forty years enjoyed a pension of a +thousand rix-dollars. I have seen my lands confiscated, of +the income of which I have been forty-two years deprived, and +never yet received retribution.</p> +<p>Time must decide; the king is generous, and I have too much +pride to become a beggar. The name of Trenck shall be found +in the history of the acts of Frederic. A tyrant himself, +he was the slave of his passions; and even did not think an +inquiry into my innocence worth the trouble. To be ashamed +of doing right, because he has done wrong, or to persist in +error, that fools, and fools only, can think him infallible, is a +dreadful principle in a ruler.</p> +<p>Since I have been at Berlin, and was received there with so +many testimonies of friendship, the newspapers of Germany have +published various articles concerning me, intending to contribute +to my honour or ease. They said my eldest daughter is +appointed the governess of the young Princess. This has +been the joke of some witty correspondent; for my eldest daughter +is but fifteen, and stands in need of a governess herself. +Perhaps they may suppose me mean enough to circulate +falsehood.</p> +<p>I daily receive letters from all parts of Germany, wherein the +sensations of the feeling heart are evident. Among these +letters was one which I received from Bahrdt, Professor at Halle, +dated April 10, 1787 wherein he says, “Receive, noble +German, the thanks of one who, like you, has encountered +difficulties; yet, far inferior to those you have +encountered. You, with gigantic strength, have met a host +of foes, and conquered. The pests of men attacked me +also. From town to town, from land to land, I was pursued +by priestcraft and persecution; yet I acquired fame. I fled +for refuge and repose to the states of Frederic, but found them +not. I have eight years laboured under affliction with +perseverance, but have found no reward. By industry have I +made myself what I am; by ministerial favour, never. Worn +out and weak, the history of your life, worthy sir, fell into my +hands, and poured balsam into my wounds. There I saw +sufferings immeasurably greater; there, indeed, beheld fortitude +most worthy of admiration. Compared to you, of what could I +complain? Receive, noble German, my warmest thanks; while I +live they shall flow. And should you find a fortunate +moment, in the presence of your King, speak of me as one +consigned to poverty; as one whose talents are buried in +oblivion. Say to him—‘Mighty King! stretch +forth thy hand, and dry up his tears.’ I know the +nobleness of your mind, and doubt not your good +wishes.”</p> +<p>To the Professor’s letter I returned the following +answer:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“I was affected, sir, by your letter. +I never yet was unmoved, when the pen was obedient to the +dictates of the heart. I feel for your situation; and if my +example can teach wisdom even to the wise, I have cause to +triumph. This is the sweetest of rewards. At Berlin I +have received much honour, but little more. Men are deaf to +him who confides only in his right. What have I +gained? Shadowy fame for myself, and the vapour of hope for +my heirs!</p> +<p>“Truth and Trenck, my good friend, flourish not in +courts. You complain of priestcraft. He who would +disturb their covetousness, he who speaks against the false +opinions they scatter, considers not priests, and their aim, +which is to dazzle the stupid and stupefy the wise. +Deprecate their wrath! avoid their poisoned shafts, or they will +infect tiny peace: will blast thy honour. And wherefore +should we incur this danger. To cure ignorance of error is +impossible. Let us then silently steal to our graves, and +thus small we escape the breath of envy. He who should +enjoy all even thought could grasp, should yet have but +little. Having acquired this knowledge, the passions of the +soul are lulled to apathy. I behold error, and I laugh; do +thou, my friend, laugh also. If that can comfort us, men +will do our memory justice—when we are dead! Fame +plants her laurels over the grave, and there they flourish +best.</p> +<p style="text-align: right">“<span class="smcap">Baron +Trenck</span></p> +<p>“<i>Schangulach</i>, <i>near Königsberg</i>,<br /> +<i>April</i> 30<i>th</i>, 1787.”</p> +<p>“P.S—I have spoken, worthy Professor, the feelings +of my heart, in answer to your kind panegyric. You will but +do me justice, when you believe I think and act as I write with +respect to my influence at court, it is as insignificant at +Berlin as at Vienna or at Constantinople”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Among the various letters I have received, as it may answer a +good purpose, I hope the reader will not think the insertion of +the following improper.</p> +<p>In a letter from an unknown correspondent, who desired me to +speak for this person at Berlin, eight others were +enclosed. They came from the above person in distress, to +this correspondent: and I was requested to let them appear in the +Berlin Journal. I selected two of them, and here present +them to the world, as it can do me injury, while they describe an +unhappy victim of an extraordinary kind: and may perhaps obtain +him some relief.</p> +<p>Should this hope be verified, I am acquainted with him who +wishes to remain concealed, can introduce him to the knowledge of +such as might wish to interfere in his behalf. Should they +not, the reader will still find them well-written and affecting +letters; such as may inspire compassion. The following is +the first of those I selected.</p> +<h3>LETTER I</h3> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: right">“<i>Neuland</i>, +<i>Feb</i> 12<i>th</i>, 1787.</p> +<p>“I thought I had so satisfactorily answered you by my +last, that you would have left me in peaceful possession of my +sorrows! but your remarks, entreaties, and remonstrances, succeed +each other with such rapidity, that I am induced to renew the +contest. Cowardice, I believe, you are convinced, is not a +native in my heart, and should I now yield, you might suppose +that age and the miseries I have suffered, had weakened my powers +of mind as well as body; and that I ought to have been classed +among the unhappy multitudes whose sufferings have sunk them to +despondency.</p> +<p>“Baron Trenck, that man of many woes, once so despised, +but who now is held in admiration, where he was before so much +the object of hatred; who now speaks so loudly in his own +defence, where, formerly, the man who had but whispered his name +would have lived suspected; Baron Trenck you propose as an +example of salvation for me. You are wrong. Have you +considered how dissimilar our past lives have been; how +different, too, are our circumstances? Or, omitting these, +have you considered to whom you would have me appeal?</p> +<p>“In 1767, I became acquainted, in Vienna, with this +sufferer of fortitude, this agreeable companion. We are +taught that a noble aspect bespeaks a corresponding mind; this I +believe him to possess. But what expectations can I form +from Baron Trenck?</p> +<p>“I will briefly answer the questions you have put. +Baron Trenck was a man born to inherit great estates; this and +the fire of his youth, fanned by flattering hopes from his famous +kinsman, rendered him too haughty to his King; and this alone was +the origin of all his future sufferings. I, on the +contrary, though the son of a Silesian nobleman of property, did +not inherit so much as the pay of a common soldier; the family +having been robbed by the hand of power, after being accused by +wickedness under the mask of virtue. You know my +father’s fate, the esteem in which he was held by the +Empress Theresa; and that a pretended miracle was the occasion of +his fall. Suddenly was he plunged from the height to which +industry, talents, and virtue had raised him, to the depth of +poverty. At length, at the beginning of the seven +years’ war, one of the King of Prussia’s subjects +represented him to the Austrian court as a dangerous +correspondent of Marshal Schwerin’s. Then at sixty +years of age, my father was seized at Jagerndorf, and imprisoned +in the fortress of Gratz, in Styria. He had an allowance +just sufficient to keep him alive in his dungeon; but, for the +space of seven years, never beheld the sun rise or set. I +was a boy when this happened, however, I was not heard. I +only received some pecuniary relief from the Empress, with +permission to shed my blood in her defence. In this +situation we first vowed eternal friendship; but from this I soon +was snatched by my father’s enemies. What the Empress +had bestowed, her ministers tore from me. I was seized at +midnight, and was brought, in company with two other officers, to +the fortress of Gratz. Here I remained immured six +years. My true name was concealed, and another given +me.</p> +<p>“Peace being restored, Trenck, I, and my father were +released; but the mode of our release was very different. +The first obtained his freedom at the intercession of Theresa, +she, too, afforded him a provision. We, on the contrary, +according to the amnesty, stipulated in the treaty of peace, were +led from our dungeons as state prisoners, without inquiry +concerning the verity or falsehood of our crimes. Extreme +poverty, wretchedness, and misery, were our reward for the +sufferings we had endured.</p> +<p>“Not only was my health destroyed, but my jawbone was +lost, eaten away by the scurvy. I laid before Frederic the +Great the proofs of the calamities I had undergone, and the +dismal state to which I was reduced, by his foe, and for his +sake; entreated bread to preserve me and my father from starving, +but his ear was deaf to my prayer, his heart insensible to my +sighs.</p> +<p>“Providence, however, raised me up a +saviour,—Count Gellhorn was the man. After the taking +of Breslau, he had been also sent a state prisoner to +Gratz. During his imprisonment, he had heard the report of +my sufferings and my innocence. No sooner did he learn I +was released, than he became my benefactor, my friend, and +restored me to the converse of men, to which I had so long been +dead.</p> +<p>“I defer the continuance of my narrative to the next +post. The remembrance of past woes inflict new ones. +I am eternally.”</p> +</blockquote> +<h3>LETTER II.</h3> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: right">“<i>February</i> +24, 1787.</p> +<p>“Dear Friend,—After an interval of silence, +remembering my promise, I again continue my story.</p> +<p>“My personal sufferings have not been less than those of +Trenck. His, I am acquainted with only from the inaccurate +relations I have heard: my own I have felt. A colonel in +the Prussian service, whose name was Hallasch, was four years my +companion; he was insane, and believed himself the Christ that +was to appear at the millennium: he persecuted me with his +reveries, which I was obliged to listen to, and approve, or +suffer violence from one stronger than myself.</p> +<p>“The society of men or books, everything that could +console or amuse, were forbidden me; and I considered it as +wonderful that I did not myself grow mad, in the company of this +madman. Four hard winters I existed without feeling the +feeble emanation of a winter sun, much less the warmth of +fire. The madman felt more pity than my keeper, and lent me +his cloak to cover my body, though the other denied me a truss of +straw, notwithstanding I had lost the use of my hands and +feet. The place where we were confined was called a +chamber; it rather resembled the temple of Cloacina. The +noxious damps and vapours so poisoned my blood that an unskilful +surgeon, who tortured me during nine months, with insult as a +Prussian traitor, and state criminal, I lost the greatest part of +my jaw.</p> +<p>“Schottendorf was our governor and tyrant; a man who +repaid the friendship he found in the mansion of my +fathers—with cruelty. He was ripe for the sickle, and +Time cut him off. Tormentini and Galer were his successors +in office, by them we were carefully watched, but we were treated +with commiseration. Their precautions rendered imprisonment +less wretched. Ever shall I hold their memory sacred. +Yet, benevolent as they were, their goodness was exceeded by that +of Rottensteiner, the head gaoler. He considered his +prisoners as his children; and he was their benefactor. Of +this I had experience, during two years after the release of +Hallasch.</p> +<p>“Here I but cursorily describe misery, at which the +monarch shall shudder, if the blood of a tyrant flow not in his +veins. Theresa could not wish these things. But she +was fallible, and not omniscient.</p> +<p>“From the above narrative, you will perceive how +opposite the effects must be which the histories of Baron Trenck +and of myself must produce.</p> +<p>“Trenck left his dungeon shielded from contempt; the day +of freedom was the day of triumph. I, on the contrary, was +exposed to every calamity. The spirit of Trenck again +raised itself. I have laboured many a night that I might +neither beg nor perish the following day: working for judges who +neither knew law nor had powers of mind to behold the beauty of +justice: settling accounts that, item after item, did not prove +that the lord they were intended for, was an imbecile dupe.</p> +<p>“Trenck remembers his calamities, but the remembrance is +advantageous to himself and his family; while with me, the past +did but increase, did but agonise, the present and the +future. He was not like me, obliged to crouch in presence +of those vulgar, those incapable minds, that do but consider the +bent back as the footstool of pride. Every man is too busy +to act in behalf of others; pity me therefore, but advise me not +to hope assistance, by petitioning princes at second hand. +I know your good wishes, and, for these, I have nothing to return +but barren thanks.—I am, &c.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>The reasons why I published the foregoing letters are already +stated, and will appear satisfactory to the reader. Once +more to affairs that concern myself.</p> +<p>I met at Berlin many old friends of both sexes; among others, +an aged invalid came to see me, who was at Glatz, in 1746, when I +cut my way through the guard. He was one of the sentinels +before my door, whom I had thrown down the stairs.</p> +<p>The hour of quitting Berlin, and continuing my journey into +Prussia, towards Königsberg, approached. On the eve of +my departure, I had the happiness of conversing with her Royal +Highness the Princess Amelia, sister of Frederic the Great. +She protected me in my hour of adversity; heaped benefits upon +me, and contributed to gain my deliverance. She received me +as a friend, as an aged patriot; and laid her commands upon me to +write to my wife, and request that she would come to Berlin, in +the month of June, with her two eldest daughters. I +received her promise that the happiness of the latter should be +her care; nay, that she would remember my wife in her will.</p> +<p>At this moment, when about to depart, she asked me if I had +money sufficient for my journey: “Yes, madam,” was my +reply; “I want nothing, ask nothing; but may you remember +my children!”</p> +<p>The deep feeling with which I pronounced these words moved the +princess; she showed me how she comprehended my meaning, and +said, “Return, my friend, quickly: I shall be most happy to +see you.”</p> +<p>I left the room: a kind of indecision came over me. I +was inclined to remain longer at Berlin. Had I done so, my +presence would have been of great advantage to my children. +Alas! under the guidance of my evil genius, I began my +journey. The purpose for which I came to Berlin was +frustrated: for after my departure, the Princess Amelia died!</p> +<p>Peace be to thy ashes, noble princess! Thy will was +good, and be that sufficient. I shall not want materials to +write a commentary on the history of Frederic, when, in company +with thee, I shall wander on the banks of Styx; there the events +that happened on this earth may be written without danger.</p> +<p>So proceed we with our story.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<p>On the 22nd of March I pursued my journey to Königsberg, +but remained two days at the court of the Margrave of +Brandenburg, where I was received with kindness. The +Margrave had bestowed favours on me, during my imprisonment at +Magdeburg.</p> +<p>I departed thence through Soldin to Schildberg, here to visit +my relation Sidau, who had married the daughter of my sister, +which daughter my sister had by her first husband, Waldow, of +whom I have before spoken. I found my kinsman a worthy man, +and one who made the daughter of an unfortunate sister +happy. I was received at his house within open arms; and, +for the first time after an interval of two-and-forty years, +beheld one of my own relations.</p> +<p>On my journey thither, I had the pleasure to meet with +Lieutenant-General Kowalsky: This gentleman was a lieutenant in +the garrison of Glatz, in 1745, and was a witness of my leap from +the wall of the rampart. He had read my history, some of +the principal facts of which he was acquainted with. Should +anyone therefore doubt concerning those incidents, I may refer to +him, whose testimony cannot be suspected.</p> +<p>From Schildberg I proceeded to Landsberg, on the Warta. +Here I found my brother-in-law, Colonel Pape, commander of the +Gotz dragoons, and the second husband of my deceased sister: and +here I passed a joyous day. Everybody congratulated me on +my return into my country.</p> +<p>I found relations in almost every garrison. Never did +man receive more marks of esteem throughout a kingdom. The +knowledge of my calamities procured me sweet consolation; and I +were insensible indeed, and ungrateful, did my heart remain +unmoved on occasions like these.</p> +<p>In Austria I never can expect a like reception; I am there +mistaken, and I feel little inclination to labour at removing +mistakes so rooted. Yet, even there am I by the general +voice, approved. Yes, I am admired, but not known; pitied +but not supported; honoured, but not rewarded.</p> +<p>When at Berlin, I discovered an error I had committed in the +commencement of my life. At the time I wrote I believed +that the postmaster-general of Berlin, Mr Derschau, was my +mother’s brother, and the same person who, in 1742, was +grand counsellor at Glogau, and afterwards, president in East +Friesland. I was deceived; the Derschau who is my +mother’s brother is still living, and president at Aurich +in East Friesland. The postmaster was the son of the old +Derschau who died a general, and who was only distantly related +to my mother. Neither is the younger Derschau, who is the +colonel of a regiment at Burg, the brother of my mother, but only +her first cousin; one of their sisters married Lieut.-Colonel +Ostau, whose son, the President Ostau, now lives on his own +estate, at Lablack in Prussia.</p> +<p>I was likewise deceived in having suspected a lieutenant, +named Mollinie, in the narrative I gave of my flight from Glatz, +of having acted as a spy upon me at Braunau, and of having sent +information to General Fouquet. I am sorry. This +honest man is still alive, a captain in Brandenburg. He was +affected at my suspicion, fully justified himself, and here I +publicly apologise. He then was, and again is become my +friend.</p> +<p>I have received a letter from one Lieutenant Brodowsky. +This gentleman is offended at finding his mother’s name in +my narrative, and demands I should retract my words.</p> +<p>My readers will certainly allow the virtue of Madame +Brodowsky, at Elbing, is not impeached. Although I have +said I had the fortune to be beloved by her, I have nowhere +intimated that I asked, or that she granted, improper +favours.</p> +<p>By the desire of a person of distinction, I shall insert an +incident which I omitted in a former part. This person was +an eye-witness of the incident I am about to relate, at +Magdeburg, and reminded me of the affair. It was my last +attempt but one at flight.</p> +<p>The circumstances were these:—</p> +<p>As I found myself unable to get rid of more sand, after having +again cut through the planking, and mined the foundation, I made +a hole towards the ditch, in which three sentinels were +stationed. This I executed one night, it being easy, from +the lightness of the sand, to perform the work in two hours.</p> +<p>No sooner had I broken through, than I threw one of my +slippers beside the palisades, that it might be supposed I had +lost it when climbing over them. These palisades, twelve +feet in length, were situated in the front of the principal +fosse, and my sentinels stood within. There was no +sentry-box at the place where I had broken through.</p> +<p>This done, I returned into my prison, made another hole under +the planking, where I could hide myself, and stopped up the +passage behind me, so that it was not probable I could be seen or +found.</p> +<p>When daylight came, the sentinel saw the hole and gave the +alarm, the slipper was found, and it was concluded that Trenck +had escaped over the palisades, and was no longer in prison.</p> +<p>Immediately the sub-governor came from Magdeburg, the guns +were fired, the horse scoured the country, and the subterranean +passages were all visited: no tidings came; no discovery was +made, and the conclusion was I had escaped. That I should +fly without the knowledge of the sentinels, was deemed +impossible; the officer, and all the guard, were put under +arrest, and everybody was surprised.</p> +<p>I, in the meantime, sat quiet in my hole, where I heard their +searches, and suppositions that I was gone.</p> +<p>My heart bounded with joy, and I held escape to be +indubitable. They would not place sentinels over the prison +the following night, and I should then really have left my place +of concealment, and, most probably have safely arrived in +Saxony. My destiny, however, robbed me of all hope at the +very moment when I supposed the greatest of my difficulties were +conquered.</p> +<p>Everything seemed to happen as I could wish. The whole +garrison came, and visited the casemates, and all stood +astonished at the miracle they beheld. In this state things +remained till four o’clock in the afternoon. At +length, an ensign of the militia came, a boy of about fifteen or +sixteen years of age, who had more wit than any or all of +them. He approached the hole, examined the aperture next +the fosse, thought it appeared small, tried to enter it himself, +found he could not, therefore concluded it was impossible a man +of my size could have passed through, and accordingly called for +a light.</p> +<p>This was an accident I had not foreseen. Half stifled in +my hole, I had opened the canal under the planking. No +sooner had the youth procured a light, than he perceived my +shirt, examined nearer, felt about, and laid hold of me by the +arm. The fox was caught, and the laugh was universal. +My confusion may easily be imagined. They all came round +me, paid me their compliments, and finding nothing better was to +be done, I laughed in company with them, and, thus laughing was +led back with an aching heart to be sorrowfully enchained in my +dungeon.</p> +<p>I continued my journey, and arrived, on the fourth of April, +at Königsberg, where my brother expected my arrival. +We embraced as brothers must, after the absence of two-and-forty +years. Of all the brothers and sisters I had left in this +city, he only remained. He lived a retired and peaceable +life on his own estates. He had no children living. I +continued a fortnight within him and his wife.</p> +<p>Here, for the first time, I learned what had happened to my +relations, during their absence. The wrath of the Great +Frederic extended itself to all my family. My second +brother was an ensign in the regiment of cuirassiers at Kiow, in +1746, when I first incurred disgrace from the King. Six +years he served, fought at three battles, but, because his name +was Trenck, never was promoted. Weary of expectation he +quitted the army, married, and lived on his estates at Meicken, +where he died about three years ago, and left two sons, who are +an honour to the family of the Trencks.</p> +<p>Fame spoke him a person capable of rendering the state +essential service, as a military man; but he was my brother, and +the King would never suffer his name to be mentioned.</p> +<p>My youngest brother applied himself to the sciences; it was +proposed that he should receive some civil employment, as he was +an intelligent and well-informed man; but the King answered in +the margin of the petition,</p> +<blockquote><p>“No Trenck is good for anything.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Thus have all my family suffered, because of my unjust +condemnation. My last-mentioned brother chose the life of a +private man, and lived at his ease, in independence, among the +first people of the kingdom. The hatred of the monarch +extended itself to my sister, who had married the son of General +Waldow, and lived in widowhood, from the year 1749, to her second +marriage. The misfortunes of this woman, in consequence of +the treachery of Weingarten, and the aid she sent to me in my +prison at Magdeburg, I have before related. She was +possessed of the fine estate of Hammer, near Landsberg on the +Warta. The Russian army changed the whole face of the +country, and laid it desert. She fled to Custrin, where +everything was destroyed during the siege. The Prussian +army also demolished the fine forests.</p> +<p>After the war, the King assisted all the ruined families of +Brandenburg; she alone obtained nothing, because she was my +sister. She petitioned the King, who repined she must seek +for redress from her dear brother. She died, in the flower +of her age, a short time after she had married her second +husband, the present Colonel Pape: her son, also, died last +year. He was captain in the regiment of the Gotz +dragoons. Thus were all my brothers and sisters punished +because they were mine. Could it be believed that the great +Frederic would revenge himself on the children and the +children’s children? Was it not sufficient that he +should wreak his wrath on my head alone? Why has the name +of Trenck been hateful to him, to the very hour of his death?</p> +<p>One Derschau, captain of horse, and brother of my mother, +addressed himself to the King, in 1753, alleging he was my +nearest relation and feudal heir, and petitioned that he would +bestow on him my confiscated estates of Great Sharlack. The +King demanded that the necessary proofs should be sent from the +chamber at Königsberg. He was uninformed that I had +two brothers living, that Great Sharlack was an ancient family +inheritance, and that it appertained to my brothers, and not to +Derschau. My brothers then announced themselves as the +successors to this fief, and the King bestowed on them the estate +of Great Sharlack conformable to the feudal laws. That it +might be properly divided, it was put up to auction, and bought +by the youngest of my brothers, who paid surplus to the other, +and to my sister. He likewise paid debts charged upon it, +according to the express orders of the court. The persons +who called themselves my creditors were impostors, for I had no +creditors; I was but nineteen when my estates were confiscated, +consequently was not of age. By what right therefore, could +such debts be demanded or paid? Let them explain this who +can.</p> +<p>The same thing happened when an account was given in to the +Fiscus of the guardianship, although I acknowledge my guardians +were men of probity. One of them was eight years in +possession, and when he gave it up to my brothers he did not +account with them for a single shilling. At present, +therefore, the affair stands thus:—Frederic William has +taken off the sentence of confiscation, and ordered me to be put +in possession of my estates, by a gracious rescript: empowered by +this I come and demand restitution; my brother answers, “I +have bought and paid for the estate, am the legal possessor, have +improved it so much that Great Sharlack, at present, is worth +three or four times the sum it was at the time of +confiscation. Let the Fiscus pay me its actual value, and +then let them bestow it on whom they please. If the +reigning king gives what his predecessor sold to me, I ought not +thereby to be a loser.”</p> +<p>This is a problem which the people of Berlin must +resolve. My brother has no children, and, without going to +law, will bequeath Great Sharlack to mine, when he shall happen +to die. If he is forced in effect to restore it without +being reimbursed, the King instead of granting a favour, has not +done justice. I do not request any restitution like this, +since such restitution would be made without asking it as a +favour of the King. If his Majesty takes off the +confiscation because he is convinced it was originally violent +and unjust, then have I a right to demand the rents of +two-and-forty years. This I am to require from the Fiscus, +not from my brother. And should the Fiscus only restore me +the price for which it then sold, it would commit a manifest +injustice, since all estates in the province of Prussia have, +since 1746, tripled and quadrupled their value. If the +estates descend only to my children after my death, I receive +neither right nor favour; for, in this case, I obtain nothing for +myself, and shall remain deprived of the rents, which, as the +estate is at present farmed by my brother amount to four thousand +rix-dollars per annum. This estate cannot be taken from him +legally, since he enjoys it by right of purchase.</p> +<p>Such is the present state of the business. How the +monarch shall think proper to decide, will be seen +hereafter. I have demanded of the Fiscus that it shall make +a fair valuation of Great Sharlack, reimburse my brother, and +restore it to me. My brother has other estates. These +he will dispose of by testament, according to his good +pleasure. Be these things as they may, the purpose of my +journey is accomplished.</p> +<p>Thou, great God, has preserved me amidst my trouble. The +purest gratitude penetrates my heart. Oh, that thou wouldst +shield man from arbitrary power, and banish despotism from the +earth!</p> +<p>May this my narration be a lesson to the afflicted, afford +hope to the despairing, fortitude to the wavering, and humanise +the hearts of kings. Joyfully do I journey to the shores of +death. My conscience is void of reproach, posterity shall +bless my memory, and only the unfeeling, the wicked, the +confessor of princes and the pious impostor, shall vent their +rage against my writings. My mind is desirous of repose, +and should this be denied me, still I will not murmur. I +now wish to steal gently towards that last asylum, whither if I +had gone in my youth, it must have been with colours +flying. Grant, Almighty God, that the prayer I this day +make may be heard, and that such may be the conclusion of my +eventful life!</p> +<h2>HISTORY OF<br /> +FRANCIS BARON TRENCK.<br /> +WRITTEN BY<br /> +FREDERICK BARON TRENCK,<br /> +AS A NECESSARY SUPPLEMENT TO HIS OWN HISTORY.</h2> +<p>Francis Baron Trenck was born in 1714, in Calabria, a province +of Sicily. His father was then a governor and +lieutenant-colonel there, and died in 1743, at Leitschau, in +Hungary, lord of the rich manors of Prestowacz, Pleternitz, and +Pakratz, in Sclavonia, and other estates in Hungary. His +christian name was John; he was my father’s brother, and +born in Königsberg in Prussia.</p> +<p>The name of his mother was Kettler; she was born in +Courland. Trenck was a gentleman of ancient family; and his +grandfather, who was mine also, was of Prussia. His father, +who had served Austria to the age of sixty-eight, a colonel, and +bore those wounds to his grave which attested his valour.</p> +<p>Francis Baron Trenck was his only son; he had attained the +rank of colonel during his father’s life, and served with +distinction in the army of Maria Theresa. The history of +his life, which he published in 1747, when he was under +confinement at Vienna, is so full of minute circumstances, and so +poorly written, that I shall make but little use of it. +Here I shall relate only what I have heard from his enemies +themselves, and what I have myself seen. His father, a bold +and daring soldier, idolised his only son, and wholly neglected +his education, so that the passions of this son were most +unbridled. Endowed with extraordinary talents, this ardent +youth was early allowed to indulge the impetuous fire of his +constitution. Moderation was utterly unknown to him, and +good fortune most remarkably favoured all his enterprises. +These were numerous, undertaken from no principle of virtue, nor +actuated by any motives of morality. The love of money, and +the desire of fame, were the passions of his soul. To his +warlike inclination was added the insensibility of a heart +natively wicked: and he found himself an actor, on the great +scene of life, at a time when the earth was drenched with human +gore, and when the sword decided the fate of nations: hence this +chief of pandours, this scourge of the unprotected, became an +iron-hearted enemy, a ferocious foe of the human race, a +formidable enemy in private life, and a perfidious friend.</p> +<p>Constitutionally sanguinary, addicted to pleasures, sensual, +and brave; he was unappeased when affronted, prompt to act, in +the moment of danger circumspect, and, when under the dominion of +anger, cruel even to fury; irreconcilable, artful, fertile in +invention, and ever intent on great projects. When youth +and beauty inspired love, he then became supple, insinuating, +amiable, gentle, respectful; yet, ever excited by pride, each +conquest gave but new desires of adding another slave over whom +he might domineer; and, whenever he encountered resistance, he +then even ceased to be avaricious. A prudent and +intelligent woman, turning this part of his character to +advantage, might have formed this man to virtue, probity, and the +love of the human race: but, from his infancy, his will had never +suffered restraint, and he thought nothing impossible. As a +soldier, he was bold even to temerity; capable of the most +hazardous enterprise, and laughing at the danger he +provoked. His projects were the more elevated because the +acquirement of renown was the intent of all his actions. In +council he was dangerous; everything must be conceded to his +views. To him the means by which his end was to be obtained +were indifferent.</p> +<p>The Croats at this time were undisciplined, prone to rapine, +thirsting for human blood, and only taught obedience by violence; +these had been the companions of his infancy: these he undertook +to subject, by servitude and fear, to military subordination, and +from banditti to make them soldiers.</p> +<p>With respect to his exterior, Nature had been prodigal of her +favours. His height was six feet three inches, and the +symmetry of his limbs was exact; his form was upright, his +countenance agreeable, yet masculine, and his strength almost +incredible. He could sever the head from the body of the +largest ox with one stroke of his sabre, and was so adroit at +this Turkish practice, that he at length could behead men in the +manner boys do nettles. In the latter years of his life, +his aspect had become terrible; for, during the Bavarian war, he +had been scorched by the explosion of a powder-barrel, and ever +after his face remained scarred and impregnated with black +spots. In company he rendered himself exceedingly +agreeable, spoke seven languages fluently, was jocular, possessed +wit, and in serious conversation, understanding; had learned +music, sung with taste, and had a good voice, so that he might +have been well paid as an actor, had that been his fate. He +could even, when so disposed, become gentle and complaisant.</p> +<p>His look told the man of observation that he was cunning and +choleric; and his wrath was terrible. He was ever +suspicious, because he judged others by himself. +Self-interest and avarice constituted his ruling passion, and, +whenever he had an opportunity of increasing his wealth, he +disregarded the duties of religion, the ties of honour, and human +pity. In the thirty-first year of his age, when he was +possessed of nearly two millions, he did not expend a florin per +day.</p> +<p>As he and his pandours always led the van, and as he thence +had an opportunity to ravage the enemy’s country, at the +head of troops addicted to rapine, we must not wonder that +Bavaria, Silesia, and Alsatia were so plundered. He alone +purchased the booty from his troops at a low price, and this he +sent by water to his own estates. If any one of his +officers had made a rich capture, Trenck instantly became his +enemy. He was sent on every dangerous expedition till he +fell, and the colonel became his universal heir, for Trenck +appropriated all he could to himself. He was reputed to be +a man most expert in military science, an excellent engineer, and +to possess an exact eye in estimating heights and +distances. In all enterprises he was first; inured to +fatigue, his iron body could support it without +inconvenience. Nothing escaped his vigilance, all was +turned to account, and what valour could not accomplish, cunning +supplied. His pride suffered him not to incur an +obligation, and thus he was unthankful; his actions all centred +in self, and as he was remarkably fortunate in whatever he +undertook, he ascribed even that, which accident gave, to +foresight and genius.</p> +<p>Yet was he ever, as an officer, a most useful and inestimable +man to the state. His respect for his sovereign, and his +zeal in her service, were unbounded; whenever her glory was at +stake, he devoted himself her victim. This I assert to be +truth: I knew him well. Of little consequence is it to me, +whether the historians of Maria Theresa have, or have not, +misrepresented his talents and the fame he deserved.</p> +<p>The life of Trenck I write for the following reasons. He +had the honour first to form, and command, regular troops, raised +in Sclavonia. The soldiers acquired glory under their +leader, and sustained the tottering power of Austria: they made +libations of their blood in its defence, as did Trenck, in +various battles. He served like a brave warrior, with zeal, +loyalty, and effect. The vile persecutions of his enemies +at Vienna, with whom he refused to share the plunder he had made, +lost him honour, liberty, and not only the personal property he +had acquired, but likewise the family patrimony in Hungary. +He died like a malefactor, illegally sentenced to imprisonment; +and knaves have affirmed, and fools have believed, and believe +still, he took the King of Prussia prisoner, and that he granted +him freedom in consequence of a bribe. So have the loyal +Hungarians been led to suppose that an Hungarian had really been +a traitor.</p> +<p>By my writings, I wish to prove to this noble nation on the +contrary, that Trenck, for his loyalty deserved compassion, +esteem, and honour in his country. This I have already done +in the former part of my history. The dead Trenck can speak +no more; but it is the duty of the living ever to speak in +defence of right.</p> +<p>Trenck wrote his own history while he was confined in the +arsenal at Vienna; and, in the last two sheets he openly related +the manner in which he had been treated by the council of war, of +which Count Loewenwalde, his greatest enemy, was president. +The count, however, found supporters too powerful, and these +sheets were torn from the book and publicly burnt at +Vienna. Defence after this became impossible: he groaned +under the grip of his adversaries.</p> +<p>I have given a literal copy of these sheets in the first part +of this history; and I again repeat I am able to prove the truth +of what is there asserted, by the acts, proceedings, and judicial +registers which are in my possession. He was confined in +the Spielberg, because much was to be dreaded from an injured +man, whom they knew capable of the most desperate +enterprises. He died defenceless, the sacrifice of iniquity +and unjust judges. He died, and his honour remained +unprotected. I am by duty his defender: although he expired +my personal enemy, the author of nearly all the ills I have +suffered. I came to the knowledge of his persecutors too +late for the unfortunate Trenck. And who are those who have +divided his spoils—who slew him that they might fatten +themselves? Your titles have been paid for from the coffers +of Trenck! Yet neither can your cabals, your wealthy +protectors, your own riches, nor your credit at court, deprive me +of the right of vindicating his fame.</p> +<p>I have boldly written, have openly shown, that Trenck was +pillaged by you; that he served the house of Austria as a worthy +man, with zeal; not in court-martials and committees of inquiry, +but fighting for his country, sharing the soldier’s glory, +falling the victim of envy and power; falling by the hands of +those who are unworthy of judging merit. He take the King +of Prussia! They might as well say he took the Emperor of +Morocco.</p> +<p>Yes, he is dead. But should any man dare affirm that the +Hungarian or the Prussian Trenck were capable of treason, that +either of them merited punishment for having betrayed their +country, he will not have long to seek before he will be informed +that he has done us both injustice. After this preface, I +shall continue my narrative on the plan I proposed. Trenck, +the father, was a miser, yet a well-meaning man. Trenck the +son, was a youthful soldier, who stood in need of money to +indulge his pleasures. Many curious pranks he played, when +an ensign in I know not what regiment of foot. He went to +one of the collectors of his father’s rents, and demanded +money; the collector refused to give him any, and Trenck clove +his skull with his sabre. A prosecution was entered against +him, but, war breaking out in 1756, between the Russians and the +Turks, he raised a squadron of hussars, and went with it into the +Russian service, contrary to the will of his father.</p> +<p>In this war he distinguished himself highly, and acquired the +protection of Field-marshal Munich. He was so successful as +a leader against the Tartars, that he became very famous in the +army, and at the end of the campaign, was appointed major.</p> +<p>It happened that flying parties of Turks approached his +regiment when on march, and Trenck seeing a favourable moment for +attacking them, went to Colonel Rumin, desiring the regiment +might be led to the charge, and that they might profit by so fair +an opportunity. The colonel answered, “I have no such +orders.” Trenck then demanded permission to charge +the Turks only with his own squadron; but this was refused. +He became furious, for he had never been acquainted with +contradiction or subordination, and cried aloud to the soldiers, +“If there be one brave man among you, let him follow +me.” About two hundred stepped from the ranks; he put +himself at their head, routed the enemy, made a horrible carnage, +and returned intoxicated with joy, accompanied by prisoners, and +loaded with dissevered heads. Once more arrived in presence +of the regiment, he attacked the colonel, treated him like the +rankest coward, called him opprobrious names, without the other +daring to make the least resistance. The adventure, +however, became known; Trenck was arrested, and ordered to be +tried. His judges condemned him to be shot, and the day was +appointed, but the evening before execution, Field-marshal Munich +passed near the tent in which he was confined, Trenck saw him, +came forward, and said, “Certainly your excellency will not +suffer a foreign cavalier to die an ignominious death because he +has chastised a cowardly Russian! If I must die, at least +give me permission to saddle my horse, and with my sabre in my +hand, let me fall surrounded by the enemy.”</p> +<p>The Tartars happened to be at this time harassing the advanced +posts; the Field-marshal shrugged his shoulders, and was +silent. Trenck, not discouraged, added, “I will +undertake to bring your excellency three heads or lose my +own. Will you, if I do, be pleased to grant me my +pardon?” The Field-marshal replied, +“Yes.” The horse of Trenck was brought: he +galloped to the enemy, and returned within four heads knotted to +the horse’s mane, himself only slightly wounded in the +shoulder. Munich immediately appointed him major in another +regiment. Various and almost incredible were his feats: +among others, a Tartar ran him through the belly with his lance: +Trenck grasped the projecting end with his hands, exerted his +prodigious strength, broke the lance, set spurs to his horse, and +happily escaped. Of this wound, dreadful as it was, he was +soon cured. I myself have seen the two scars, and can +affirm the fact; I also learned this, and many others in 1746, +from officers who had served in the same army.</p> +<p>During this campaign he behaved with great honour, was wounded +by an arrow in the leg, and gained the affection of Field-marshal +Munich, but excited the envy of all the Russians. Towards +the conclusion of the war he had a new misfortune; his regiment +was incommoded on all sides by the enemy: he entreated his +colonel, for leave to attack them. The colonel was once +more a Russian, and he was refused. Trenck gave him a blow, +and called aloud to the soldiers to follow him. They +however being Russians, remained motionless, and he was put under +arrest. The court-martial sentenced him to death, and all +hope of reprieve seemed over. The general would have +granted his pardon, but as he was himself a foreigner, he was +fearful of offending the Russians. The day of execution +came, and he was led to the place of death, Munich so contrived +it that Field-marshal Löwenthal should pass by, at this +moment, in company within his lady. Trenck profited by the +opportunity, spoke boldly, and prevailed. A reprieve was +requested, and the sentence was changed into banishment and +labour in Siberia.</p> +<p>Trenck protested against this sentence. The +Field-marshal wrote to Petersburg, and an order came that he +should be broken, and conducted out of the Russian +territories. This order was executed, and he returned into +Hungary to his father. At this period he espoused the +daughter of Field-marshal Baron Tillier, one of the first +families in Switzerland. The two brothers of his wife each +became lieutenant-general, one of whom died honourably during the +seven years’ war. The other was made +commander-general in Croatia, where he is still living, and is at +the head of a regiment of infantry that bears his name. +Trenck did not live long with his lady. She was pregnant, +and he took her to hunt with him in a marsh: she returned ill, +and died without leaving him an heir.</p> +<p>Having no opportunity to indulge his warlike inclination, +because of the general peace, he conceived the project of +extirpating the Sclavonian banditti.</p> +<p>Trenck, to execute this enterprise, employed his own +pandours. The contest now commenced and activity and +courage were necessary to ensure success in such a war. +Trenck seemed born for this murderous trade. Day and night +he chased them like wild beasts, killing now one, then another, +and without distinction, treating them with the utmost +barbarity.</p> +<p>Two incidents will sufficiently paint the character of this +unaccountable man. He had impaled alive the father of a +Harum-Bashaw. One evening he was going on patrol, along the +banks of a brook, which separated two provinces. On the +opposite shore was the son of this impaled father, with his +Croats. It was moonlight, and the latter called +aloud—“I heard thy voice, Trenck! Thou hast +impaled my father! If thou hast a heart in thy body, come +hither over the bridge, I will send away my followers; leave thy +firearms, come only with thy sabre, and we will then see who +shall remain the victor.” The agreement was +made—and the Harum-Bashaw sent away his Croats, and laid +down his musket. Trenck passed the wooden bridge, both drew +their sabres; but Trenck treacherously killed his adversary with +a pistol, that he had concealed, after which he severed his head +from his body, took it with him, and stuck it upon a pole.</p> +<p>One day, when hunting, he heard music in a lone house which +belonged to one of his vassals. He was thirsty, entered, +and found the guests seated at table. He sat down and ate +within them, not knowing this was a rendezvous for the +banditti. As he was seated opposite the door, he saw two +Harum-Bashaws enter. His musket stood in a corner; he was +struck with terror, but one of them addressed him +thus:—“Neither thee, nor thy vassals, Trenck, have we +ever injured, yet thou dost pursue us with cruelty. Eat thy +fill. When thou hast satisfied thy hunger, we will then, +sabre in thy hand, see who has most justice on his side, and +whether thou art as courageous as men speak thee.”</p> +<p>Hereupon they sat down and began to eat and drink and make +merry. The situation of Trenck could not be very +pleasant. He recollected that besides these, there might be +more of their companions, without, ready to fall upon him; he, +therefore, privately drew his pistols, held them under the table +while he cocked them, presented each hand to the body of a +Harum-Bashaw, fired them both at the same instant, overset the +table on the guests, and escaped from the house. As he went +he had time to seize on one of their muskets, which was standing +at the door. One of the Croats was left weltering in his +blood; the other disengaged himself from the table, and ran after +Trenck, who suffered him to approach, killed him within his own +gun, struck off his head and brought it home in triumph. By +this action the banditti were deprived of their two most valorous +chiefs.</p> +<p>War broke out about this time, in 1740, when all the +Hungarians took up arms in defence of their beloved queen. +Trenck offered to raise a free corps of pandours, and requested +an amnesty for the banditti who should join his troops. His +request was granted, he published the amnesty, and began to raise +recruits; he therefore enrolled his own vassals, formed a corps +of 500 men, went in search of the robbers, drove them into a +strait between the Save and Sarsaws, where they capitulated, and +300 of them enrolled themselves with his pandours. Most of +these men were six feet in height, determined, and experienced +soldiers. To indulge them on certain occasions in their +thirst of pillage were means which he successfully employed to +lead them where he pleased, and to render them victorious. +By means like these Trenck became at once the terror of the +enemies of Austria, and rendered signal services to his +Empress.</p> +<p>In 1741, while he was exercising his regiment, a company fired +upon Trenck, and killed his horse, and his servant that stood by +his side. He ran to the company, counted one, two, three, +and beheaded the fourth. He was continuing this, when a +Harum-Bashaw left the ranks, drew his sword, and called aloud, +“It is I who fired upon thee, defend thyself.” +The soldiers stood motionless spectators. Trenck attacked +him and hewed him down. He was proceeding to continue the +execution of the fourth man, but the whole regiment presented +their arms. The revolt became general, and Trenck, still +holding his drawn sabre, ran amidst them, hacking about him on +all sides. The excess of his rage was terrific; the +soldiers all called “Hold!” each fell on their knees, +and promised obedience. After this he addressed them in +language suitable to their character, and from that time they +became invincible soldiers whenever they were headed by +himself. Let the situation of Trenck be considered; he was +the chief of a band of robbers who supposed they were authorised +to take whatever they pleased in an enemy’s country, a +banditti that had so often defied the gallows, and had never +known military subordination. Let such men be led to the +field and opposed to regular troops. That they are never +actuated by honour is evident: their leader is obliged to excite +their avidity by the hope of plunder to engage them in action; +for if they perceive no personal advantage, the interest of the +sovereign is insufficient to make them act.</p> +<p>Trenck had need of a particular species of officers. +They must be daring, yet cautious. They are partisans, and +must be capable of supporting fatigue, desirous of daily seeking +the enemy, and hazarding their lives. As he was himself +never absent at the time of action, he soon became acquainted +with those whom he called old women, and sent them from his +regiment. These officers then repaired to Vienna, vented +their complaints, and were heard. His avarice prevented him +from making any division of his booty with those gentlemen who +constituted the military courts, thus neglecting what was +customary at Vienna: and in this originated the prosecution to +which he fell a victim. Scarcely had he entered Austria +with his troops before he found an opportunity of reaping +laurels. The French army was defeated at Lintz. +Trenck pursued them, treated his prisoners with barbarity; and, +never granting quarter in battle, the very appearance of his +pandours inspired terror.</p> +<p>Trenck was a great warrior, and knew how to profit by the +slightest advantage. From this time he became renowned, +gained the confidence of Prince Charles, and the esteem of the +Field-marshal Count Kevenhuller, who discovered the worth of the +man. No partisan had ever before obtained so much power as +Trenck; he everywhere pursued the enemy as far as Bavaria, +carrying fire and sword wherever he went. As it was known +Trenck gave no quarter, the Bavarians and the French flew at the +sight of a red mantle. Pillage and murder attended the +pandours wherever they went, and their colonel bought up all the +booty they acquired. Chamb, in particular, was a scene of a +dreadful massacre. The city was set on fire and the people +perished in the flames; women and children who endeavoured to +fly, were obliged to pass over a bridge, where they were first +stripped, and afterwards thrown into the water. This action +was one of the accusations brought against Trenck when he was +prosecuted, but he alleged his justification.</p> +<p>The banks of the Iser to this day reverberate groans for the +barbarities of Trenck. Deckendorf and Filtzhofen felt all +his fury. In the first of these towns 600 French prisoners +capitulated, although his forces were four miles distant; but he +formed a kind of straw men, on which he put pandour caps and +cloaks, and set them up as sentinels; and the garrison, deceived +by this stratagem, signed the capitulation. The services he +rendered the army during the Bavarian war are well known in the +history of Maria Theresa. The good he has done has been +passed over in silence, because he died under misfortunes, and +did not leave his historian a legacy. He was informed that +either at Deckendorf or Filtzhofen there was a barrel containing +20,000 florins, concealed at the house of an apothecary. +Impelled by the desire of booty, Trenck hastened to the place, +with a candle in his hand, searching everywhere, and, in his +hurry, dropped a spark into a quantity of gunpowder, by the +explosion of which he was dreadfully scorched. They carried +him off, but the scars and the gunpowder with which his skin was +blackened rendered his countenance terrific.</p> +<p>The present Field-marshal Laudohn was at that time a +lieutenant in his regiment, and happened to be at the door when +his colonel was burnt. Scarcely was Trenck cured before his +spies informed him that Laudohn had plenty of money. +Immediately he suspected that Laudohn had found the barrel of +florins, and from that moment he persecuted him by all imaginable +arts. Wherever there was danger he sent him, at the head of +30 men, against 300, hoping to have him cut off, and to make +himself his heir. This was so often repeated that Laudohn +returned to Vienna, where, joining the crowd of the enemies of +Trenck, he became instrumental in his destruction. Yet it +is certain that, in the beginning, Trenck had shown a friendship +for Laudohn, had given him a commission, and that this great man +learned, under the command of Trenck, his military +principles. General Tillier was likewise formed in this +nursery of soldiers, where officers were taught activity, +stratagem, and enterprise. And who are more capable of +commanding a Hungarian army than Tillier and Laudohn? I, +one day said to Trenck, when he was in Vienna, embarrassed by his +prosecution, and when he had published a defamatory writing +against all his accusers, excepting no man,—“You have +always told me that Laudohn was one of the most capable of your +officers, and that he is a worthy man. Wherefore then do +you class him among such wretches?” He replied, +“What! would you have me praise a man who labours, at the +head of my enemies, to rob me of honour, property, and +life!” I have related this incident to prove by the +testimony of so honourable a man, that Trenck was a great +soldier, and a zealous patriot, and that he never took the King +of Prussia prisoner, as has been falsely affirmed, and as is +still believed by the multitude. Had such a thing happened, +Laudohn must have been present, and would have supported this +charge.</p> +<p>Bavaria was plundered by Trenck; barges were loaded with gold, +silver, and effects, which he sent to his estates in Sclavonia; +Prince Charles and Count Kevenhuller countenanced his +proceedings; but when Field-marshal Neuperg was at the head of +the army, he had other principles. He was connected with +Baron Tiebes, a counsellor of the Hofkriegsrath who was the enemy +of Trenck. Persecution was at that time instituted against +him, and Trenck was imprisoned; but he defended himself so +powerfully that in a month he was set at liberty. Mentzel, +meanwhile, had the command of the pandours; and this man +appropriated to himself the fame that Trenck had acquired by the +warriors he himself had formed. Mentzel never was the equal +of Trenck. Trenck now increased the number of his Croats to +4,000, from whom, in 1743, a regiment of Hungarian regulars was +formed, but who still retained the name of pandours. It was +a regiment of infantry. Trenck also had 600 hussars and 150 +chasseurs, whom he equipped at his own expense. Yet, when +this corps was reduced, all was sold for the profit of the +imperial treasury, without bringing a shilling to account.</p> +<p>With a corps so numerous, he undertook great +enterprises. The enemy fled wherever he appeared. He +led the van, raised contributions which amounted to several +millions, delivered unto the Empress, in five years, 7,000 +prisoners, French and Bavarian, and more than 3,000 +Prussians. He never was defeated. He gained +confidence among his troops, and will remain in history the first +man who rendered the savage Croats efficient soldiers. This +it was impossible to perform among a bloodthirsty people without +being guilty himself of cruel acts. The necessity of the +excesses he committed, when the army was in want of forage, was +so evident that he received permission of Prince Charles, though +for this he was afterwards prosecuted; while the plunders of +Brenklau, Mentzel, and the whole army, were never once +questioned. That Trenck advanced more than 100,000 florins +to his regiment, I clearly proved, in 1750. This proof came +too late. He was dead. The evidence I brought +occasioned a quartermaster, Frederici, to be imprisoned. He +confessed the embezzlement of this money, yet found so many +friends among the enemies of Trenck that he refunded nothing, but +was released in the year 1754, when I was thrown into the dungeon +of Magdeburg.</p> +<p>My cousin, who had lived like a miser, did not, at his death, +leave half of the property he had inherited from his father, and +which legally descended to me; it was torn from me by +violence.</p> +<p>In 1744 he obliged the French to retire beyond the Rhine, +seized on a fort near Phillipsburg, swam across the river with 70 +pandours, attacked the fortifications, slew the Marquis de +Crevecoeur, with his own hand manned the post, traversed the +other arm of the Rhine, surprised two Bavarian regiments of +cavalry, and by this daring manoeuvre, secured the passage of the +Rhine to the whole army, which, but for him, would not have been +effected. Wherever he came, he laid the country under +contribution, and, at this moment of triumph for the Austrian +arms, opened himself a passage to enter the territories of +France. In September, 1744, war having broken out between +Austria and Prussia, the imperial army was obliged to return, +abandon Alsatia, and hasten to the succour of the Austrian +states. Trenck succeeded in covering its retreat. The +history of Maria Theresa declares the damages he did the enemy, +during this campaign. He gave proof of his capacity at +Tabor and Budweis. With 300 men he attacked one of these +towns, which was defended by the two Prussian regiments of +Walrabe and Kreutz. He found the water in the moats was +deeper than his spies had declared, and the scaling ladders too +short: most of those led to the attack were killed, or drowned in +the water, and the small number that crossed the moats were made +prisoners. The garrison of Tabor, of Budweis, and of the +castle of Frauenburg, were, nevertheless, induced to capitulate, +and yield themselves prisoners, although the main body under +Trenck was more than five miles distant. His corps did not +come up till the morrow, and it was ridiculous enough to see the +pandours dressed in the caps of the Prussian fusiliers and +pioneers, which they wore instead of their own, and which they +afterwards continued to wear.</p> +<p>The campaign to him was glorious, and the enemy’s want +of light troops gave free scope to his enterprises, highly to +their prejudice. He never returned without prisoners. +He passed the Elbe near Pardubitz, took the magazines, and was +the cause of the great dearth and desertion among the Prussians, +and of that hasty retreat to which they were forced. The +King was at Cohn with his headquarters, where I was with him, +when Trenck attacked the town, which he must have carried, had he +not been wounded by a cannon-ball, which shattered his +foot. He was taken away, the attack did not succeed, and +his men, without him, remained but so many ciphers.</p> +<p>In 1745, he went to Vienna, where his entrance resembled a +triumph. The Empress received him with distinction. +He appeared on crutches; she, by her condescending speech, +inflamed his zeal to extravagance. Who would have supposed +that the favourite of the people would that year be abandoned to +the power of his enemies; who had not rendered, during their +whole lives, so much essential service to the state as Trenck had +done in a single day? He returned to his estate, raised +eight hundred recruits that he might aid in the next campaign, +and gather new laurels. He rejoined the army. At the +battle of Sorau he fell upon the Prussian camp, and seized upon +the tent of the King, but he came too late to attack the rear, as +had been preconcerted. Frederic gave up his camp to be +plundered, for the Croats could not be drawn off to attack the +army, and the King was prepared to receive them, even if they +should. In the meantime, the imperial army was +defeated.</p> +<p>Here was a field for the enemies of Trenck to incite the +people against him. They accused him of having made the +King of Prussia a prisoner in his tent; that he also pillaged the +camp instead of attacking the rear of the army. After +having ended the campaign, he returned to Vienna to defend +himself. Here he found twenty-three officers, whom he +expelled his regiment, most of them for cowardice or mean +actions. They were ready to bear false testimony. +Counsellor Weber and Gen. Loewenwalde, had sworn his downfall, +which they effected. Trenck despised their attacks. +While things remained thus, they instructed one of the +Empress’s attendants to profit by every opportunity to +deprive him of her confidence. It was affirmed, Trenck is +an atheist! who never prayed to the holy Virgin! The +officers, whom he had broken, whispered it in coffee-houses, that +Trenck had taken and set free the King of Prussia! This +raised the cry among the fanatical mob of Vienna. Teased by +their complaints, and at the requisition of Trenck himself, the +Empress commanded that examination should be undertaken of these +accusations. Field-marshal Cordova was chosen to preside +over this inquiry. He spoke the truth, and drew up a +statement of the case; it was presented to the Court, and which I +shall here insert.</p> +<p>“The complaints brought against him did not require a +court-martial. Trenck had broken some officers by his own +authority; their demands ought to be satisfied by the payment of +12,000 florins. The remaining accusations were all the +attempts of revenge and calumny, and were insufficient to detain +at Vienna, entangled in law-suits, a man so necessary to the +army. Moreover, it would be prudent not to inquire into +trifles, in consideration of his important services.”</p> +<p>Trenck, dissatisfied by this sentence, and animated by avarice +and pride, refused to pay a single florin, and returned to +Sclavonia. His presence was necessary at Vienna, to obtain +other advantages against his enemies. They gave the Empress +to understand, that being a man excessively dangerous, whenever +he supposed himself injured, Trenck had spread pernicious views +in Sclavonia, where all men were dependent on him. He +raised six hundred more men, with whom he made a campaign in the +Netherlands, and in October, 1746, returned to Vienna. +After the peace of Dresden, his regiment was incorporated among +the regulars, and served against France.</p> +<p>Scarcely had he arrived at Vienna, before an order came from +the Empress that he must remain under arrest in his +chamber. Here he rendered himself guilty by the most +imprudent action of his whole life. He ordered his carriage +and horses, despising the imperial mandate, went to the theatre, +when the Empress was present. In one of the boxes he saw +Count Gossau, in company with a comrade of his own, whom he had +cashiered: these persons were among the foremost of his +accusers. Inflamed with the desire of revenge, he entered +the box, seized Count Gossau, and would have thrown him into the +pit in the presence of the Sovereign herself. Gossau drew +his sword, and tried to run him through, but the latter seizing +it, wounded himself in the hand. Everybody ran to save +Gossau, who was unable to defend himself. After this +exploit, the colonel of the pandours returned foaming home.</p> +<p>Such an action rendered it impossible for Maria Theresa to +declare herself the protectress of a man so rash. Sentinels +were placed over him, and his enemies profiting by his imprudence +and passion, he was ordered to be tried by a court-martial. +General Loewenwalde intrigued so successfully, that he procured +himself to be named, by the Hofkriegsrath, president of the +court-martial, and to be charged with the sequestration of the +property of Trenck. In vain did the latter protest against +his judge. The very man, whom the year before he had kicked +out of the ante-chamber of Prince Charles, received full power to +denounce him guilty. Then was it that public notice was +given that all those who would prefer complaints against Colonel +Baron Trenck should receive a ducat per day while the council +continued to sit. They soon amounted to fifty-four, who, in +a space of four months, received 15,000 florins from the property +of Trenck. The judge himself purchased the depositions of +false witnesses; and Count Loewenwalde offered me one thousand +ducats, if I would betray the secrets of my cousin, and promised +me I should be put in possession of my confiscated estates in +Prussia, and have a company in a regiment.</p> +<p>That the indictment and the examinations of the witnesses were +falsified, has already been proved in the revision of the cause; +but as the indictment did not contain one article that could +affect his life, they invented the following stratagem. A +courtesan, a mistress of Baron Rippenda, who was a member of the +court-martial, was bribed, and made oath she was the daughter of +Count Schwerin, Field-marshal in the Prussian service, and that +she was in bed with the King of Prussia, when Trenck surprised +the camp at Sorau, made her and the King prisoners, and restored +them their freedom. She even ventured to name Baron +Hilaire, aide-de-camp to Frederic, whom she affirmed was then +present. Hilaire, who afterwards married the Baroness +Tillier, and who consequently was brother-in-law to Trenck, +fortunately happened to be in Vienna. He was confronted +with this woman, and through her falsehoods, the gentleman was +obliged to remain in prison, where they offered him bribes, which +be refused to accept; and, to prevent his speaking, he continued +in prison some weeks, and was not released till this shameful +proceeding was made public.</p> +<p>Count Loewenwalde invented another artifice; he drew up a +false indictment; and, that he might be prevented all means of +justification, he chose a day to put it in practice, when the +Emperor and Prince Charles were hunting at Holitzsch. +Loewenwalde’s court-martial had already signed a sentence +of death, and every preparation for the erection of a scaffold +was made. His intention was then to go to the Empress and +induce her to sign the sentence, under a pretence that there was +some imminent peril at hand, if a man so dangerous to the state +was not immediately put out of the way, and that it would be +necessary to execute the sentence of death before the Emperor +could return. He well knew the Emperor was better +acquainted with Trenck, and had ever been his protector.</p> +<p>Had this succeeded, Trenck would have died like a traitor; +Miss Schwerin would have espoused the aide-de-camp of +Loewenwalde, with fifty thousand florins, taken from the funds of +Trenck, and his property would have been divided between his +judges and his accusers. As it happened, however, the +valet-de-chambre of Count Loewenwalde, who was an honest man, and +who had an intimacy with a former mistress of Trenck, confided +the whole secret to her. She immediately flew to Colonel +Baron Lopresti, who was the sincere friend of my kinsman, and, +being then powerful at Court, was his deliverer. The +Emperor and Prince Charles were informed of what was in +agitation, but they thought proper to keep it secret. The +hunting at Holitzsch took place on the appointed day. Count +Loewenwalde made his appearance before the Empress, and solicited +her to sign the sentence. She, however, had been +pre-informed, the Emperor having returned on the same day, and +their abominable project proved abortive. Miss Schwerin was +imprisoned; Loewenwalde was deprived of his power, as well as of +the sequestration of the effects of Trenck; a total revision of +the proceedings of the court-martial, and of the prosecution of +my cousin, was ordered, which was an event, that, till then, was +unexampled at Vienna.</p> +<p>Trenck was freed from his fetters, removed to the arsenal, an +officer guarded him, and he had every convenience he could +wish. He was also permitted the use of a counsellor to +defend his cause. I obtained by the influence of the +Emperor leave to visit him and to aid him in all things. It +was at this epoch that I arrived at Vienna, and, at this very +instant, when the revision of the prosecution was commanded and +determined on. Count Loewenwalde, supposing me a needy, +thoughtless youth, endeavoured to bribe me, and prevail on me to +betray my kinsman. Prince Charles of Lorraine then desired +me seriously to represent to Trenck that his avarice had been the +cause of all these troubles, for he hind refused to pay the +paltry sum of 12,000 florins, by which he might have silenced all +his accusers; but that, as at present, affairs had become so +serious, he ought himself to secure his judges for the revision +of the suit; to spare no money, and then he might be certain of +every protection the prince could afford.</p> +<p>The respectable Field-marshal Konigseck, governor of Vienna, +was appointed president; but, being an old man, he was unable to +preside at any one sitting of the court. Count S--- was the +vice-president, a subtle, insatiable judge, who never thought he +had money enough. I took 3,000 ducats, which Baron Lopresti +gave me, to this most worthy counsellor. The two +counsellors, Komerkansquy and Zetto, each received 4,000 +rix-dollars, with a promise of double the sum if Trenck were +acquitted; there was a formal contract drawn up, which a certain +noble lord secretly signed. Trenck was defended by the +advocate Gerhauer and by Berger. They began with the +self-created daughter of Marshal Schwerin; and, to conceal the +iniquitous proceedings of the late court-martial, it was thought +proper that she should appear insane, and return incoherent +answers to the questions put by the examiners. Trenck +insisted that a more severe inquiry should be instituted; but +they affirmed that she had been conducted out of the Austrian +territories.</p> +<p>Trenck was accused of having ordered a certain pandour, named +Paul Diack, to suffer the bastinado of 1,000 blows, and that he +had died under the punishment. This was sworn to by two +officers, now great men in the army, who said they were +eye-witnesses of the fact. When the revision of the suit +began, Trenck sent me into Sclavonia, where I found the dead Paul +Diack alive, and brought him to Vienna. He was examined by +the court, where it appeared that the two officers, who had sworn +they were present when he expired, and had seen him buried, were +at that time 160 miles from the regiment, and recruiting in +Sclavonia. Paul Diack had engaged in plots, and had +mutinied three times. Trenck had pardoned him, but +afterwards mutinying once more, with forty others, he was +condemned to death. At the place of execution he called to +his colonel: “Father, if I receive a thousand blows, will +you pardon me?” Trenck replied in the +affirmative. He received the punishment, was taken to the +hospital, and cured.</p> +<p>I brought fourteen more witnesses from Sclavonia, who attested +the falsity of other articles of accusation which were not worthy +of attention. The cause wore a new aspect; and the +wickedness of those who were so desirous to have seen Trenck +executed became apparent.</p> +<p>One of the chief articles in the prosecution, which for ever +deprived him of favour from his virtuous and apostolic mistress, +and for which alone he was condemned to the Spielberg, was, that +he had ravished the daughter of a miller in Silesia. This +was made oath of, and he was not entirely cleared of the charge +in the revision, because his accusers had excluded all means of +justification. Two years after his death, I discovered the +truth of this affair. Mainstein accused him of this crime +that he might prevent his return to the regiment; his motive was, +because he, in conjunction with Frederici, had appropriated to +their own purposes 8,000 florins of regimental money.</p> +<p>This miller’s daughter was the mistress of Mainstein, +before she had been seen by Trenck. Maria Theresa, however, +would never forgive him; and, to satisfy the honour of this +damsel, he was condemned to pay 8,000 florins to her, and 15,000 +to the chest of the invalids, and to suffer perpetual +imprisonment. Sixty-three civil suits had I to defend, and +all the appeals of his accusers to terminate after his +death. I gained them all and his accusers were condemned in +costs, also to refund the so much per day which had been paid +them by General Loewenwalde; but they were all poor, and I might +seek the money where I could. In justice, Loewenwalde ought +to have reimbursed me. The total of the sum they received +was 15,000 florins.</p> +<p>Most of the other articles of accusation consisted in +Trenck’s having beheaded some mutinous pandours, and broken +his officers without a court-martial; that he had bought of his +soldiers, and melted down the holy vessels of the church, +chalices, and rosaries; had bastinadoed some priests, had not +heard mass every Sunday, and had dragged malefactors from +convents, in which they had taken refuge. When the officers +were no longer protected by Loewenwalde, or Weber, they decamped, +but did not cease to labour to gain their purpose, which they +attained by the aid of the Court-confessor. This monk found +means to render Maria Theresa insensible of pity towards a man +who had been so prodigal of his blood in her defence. +Loewenwalde knew how to profit by the opportunity. Gerhauer +discovered the secret proceedings; and Loewenwalde, now deeply +interested in the ruin of Trenck, went to the Empress, related +the manner in which the judges had been bribed, and threatened +that should he, through the protection of the Emperor and Prince +Charles, be declared innocent, he would publicly vindicate the +honour of the court-martial.</p> +<p>Had my cousin followed my advice and plan of flight he would +not have died in prison nor should I have lain in the dungeon of +Magdeburg. With respect to individuals whom he robbed, +innocent men whom he massacred, and many other worthy people whom +he made miserable; with respect to his father, aged eighty-four, +and his virtuous wife, whom he treated with barbarity; with +respect to myself, to the duties of consanguinity and of man, he +merited punishment, the pursuit of the avenging arm of justice, +and to be extirpated from all human society.</p> +<h2>EPILOGUE.</h2> +<p>Thomas Carlyle’s opinion of the author of this History +is expressed in the following passages from his <i>History of +Friedrich II. of Prussia</i>: “‘Frederick Baron +Trenck,’ loud sounding phantasm, once famous in the world, +now gone to the nurseries as mythical, was of this carnival +(1742-3.) . . . A tall actuality in that time, swaggering about +in sumptuous Life Guard uniform in his mess-rooms and +assembly-rooms; much in love with himself, the fool! And I +rather think, in spite of his dog insinuations, neither Princess +had heard of him till twenty years hence, in a very different +phasis of his life! The empty, noisy, quasi-tragic fellow; +sounds throughout quasi-tragical, like an empty barrel; +well-built, longing to be filled.”—Book xiv., ch. +3.</p> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BARON +TRENCK***</p> +<pre> + + +***** This file should be named 2669-h.htm or 2669-h.zip****** + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/6/2669 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck + Vol. 2 (of 2) + + +Author: Baron Trenck + +Editor: Henry Morley + +Release Date: October 16, 2007 [eBook #2669] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BARON +TRENCK*** + + + + +Transcribed from the 1886 Cassell & Co. edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org, proofed by Kenyon, Uzma G., Marie Gilham, L. F. Smith +and David. + + + + + +THE +LIFE AND ADVENTURES +OF +BARON TRENCK + + +TRANSLATED BY +THOMAS HOLCROFT. + +VOL. II. + +CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED: +_LONDON_, _PARIS, NEW YORK & MELBOURNE_. +1886. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Thomas Holcroft, the translator of these Memoirs of Baron Trenck, was the +author of about thirty plays, among which one, _The Road to Ruin_, +produced in 1792, has kept its place upon the stage. He was born in +December, 1745, the son of a shoemaker who did also a little business in +horse-dealing. After early struggles, during which he contrived to learn +French, German, and Italian, Holcroft contributed to a newspaper, turned +actor, and wrote plays, which appeared between the years 1791 and 1806. +He produced also four novels, the first in 1780, the last in 1807. He +was three times married, and lost his first wife in 1790. In 1794, his +sympathy with ideals of the French revolutionists caused him to be +involved with Hardy, Horne Tooke, and Thelwall, in a charge of high +treason; but when these were acquitted, Holcroft and eight others were +discharged without trial. + +Holcroft earned also by translation. He translated, besides these +Memoirs of Baron Trenck, Mirabeau's _Secret History of the Court of +Berlin_, _Les Veillees du Chateau_ of Madame de Genlis, and the +posthumous works of Frederick II., King of Prussia, in thirteen volumes. + +The Memoirs of Baron Trenck were first published at Berlin as his +_Merkwurdige Lebensbeschreibung_, in three volumes octavo, in 1786 and +1787. They were first translated into French by Baron Bock (Metz, 1787); +more fully by Letourneur (Paris, 1788); and again by himself (Strasbourg, +1788), with considerable additions. Holcroft translated from the French +versions. + +H.M. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +Blessed shade of a beloved sister! The sacrifice of my adverse and +dreadful fate! Thee could I never avenge! Thee could the blood of +Weingarten never appease! No asylum, however sacred, should have secured +him, had he not sought that last of asylums for human wickedness and +human woes--the grave! To thee do I dedicate these few pages, a tribute +of thankfulness; and, if future rewards there are, may the brightest of +these rewards be thine. For us, and not for ours, may rewards be +expected from monarchs who, in apathy, have beheld our mortal sufferings. +Rest, noble soul, murdered though thou wert by the enemies of thy +brother. Again my blood boils, again my tears roll down my cheeks, when +I remember thee, thy sufferings in my cause, and thy untimely end! I +knew it not; I sought to thank thee; I found thee in the grave; I would +have made retribution to thy children, but unjust, iron-hearted princes +had deprived me of the power. Can the virtuous heart conceive affliction +more cruel? My own ills I would have endured with magnanimity; but thine +are wrongs I have neither the power to forget nor heal. + +Enough of this.-- + +The worthy Emperor, Francis I., shed tears when I afterwards had the +honour of relating to him in person my past miseries; I beheld them flow, +and gratitude threw me at his feet. His emotion was so great that he +tore himself away. I left the palace with all the enthusiasm of soul +which such a scene must inspire. + +He probably would have done more than pitied me, but his death soon +followed. I relate this incident to convince posterity that Francis I. +possessed a heart worthy an emperor, worthy a man. In the knowledge I +have had of monarchs he stands alone. Frederic and Theresa both died +without doing me justice; I am now too old, too proud, have too much +apathy, to expect it from their successors. Petition I will not, knowing +my rights; and justice from courts of law, however evident my claims, +were in these courts vain indeed to expect. Lawyers and advocates I know +but too well, and an army to support my rights I have not. + +What heart that can feel but will pardon me these digressions! At the +exact and simple recital of facts like these, the whole man must be +roused, and the philosopher himself shudder. + +Once more:--I heard nothing of what had happened for some days; at +length, however, it was the honest Gelfhardt's turn to mount guard; but +the ports being doubled, and two additional grenadiers placed before my +door, explanation was exceedingly difficult. He, however, in spite of +precaution, found means to inform me of what had happened to his two +unfortunate comrades. + +The King came to a review at Magdeburg, when he visited Star-Fort, and +commanded a new cell to be immediately made, prescribing himself the kind +of irons by which I was to be secured. The honest Gelfhardt heard the +officer say this cell was meant for me, and gave me notice of it, but +assured me it could not be ready in less than a month. I therefore +determined, as soon as possible, to complete my breach in the wall, and +escape without the aid of any one. The thing was possible; for I had +twisted the hair of my mattress into a rope, which I meant to tie to a +cannon, and descend the rampart, after which I might endeavour to swim +across the Elbe, gain the Saxon frontiers, and thus safely escape. + +On the 26th of May I had determined to break into the next casemate; but +when I came to work at the bricks, I found them so hard and strongly +cemented that I was obliged to defer the labour till the following day. I +left off, weary and spent, at daybreak, and should any one enter my +dungeon, they must infallibly discover the breach. How dreadful is the +destiny by which, through life, I have been persecuted, and which has +continually plunged me headlong into calamity, when I imagined happiness +was at hand! + +The 27th of May was a cruel day in the history of my life. My cell in +the Star-Fort had been finished sooner than Gelfhardt had supposed; and +at night, when I was preparing to fly, I heard a carriage stop before my +prison. O God! what was my terror, what were the horrors of this moment +of despair! The locks and bolts resounded, the doors flew open, and the +last of my poor remaining resources was to conceal my knife. The town- +major, the major of the day, and a captain entered; I saw them by the +light of their two lanterns. The only words they spoke were, "Dress +yourself," which was immediately done. I still wore the uniform of the +regiment of Cordova. Irons were given me, which I was obliged myself to +fasten on my wrists and ankles; the town-major tied a bandage over my +eyes, and, taking me under the arm, they thus conducted me to the +carriage. It was necessary to pass through the city to arrive at the +Star-Fort; all was silent, except the noise of the escort; but when we +entered Magdeburg I heard the people running, who were crowding together +to obtain a sight of me. Their curiosity was raised by the report that I +was going to be beheaded. That I was executed on this occasion in the +Star-Fort, after having been conducted blindfold through the city, has +since been both affirmed and written; and the officers had then orders to +propagate this error that the world might remain in utter ignorance +concerning me. I, indeed, knew otherwise, though I affected not to have +this knowledge; and, as I was not gagged, I behaved as if I expected +death, reproached my conductors in language that even made them shudder, +and painted their King in his true colours, as one who, unheard, had +condemned an innocent subject by a despotic exertion of power. + +My fortitude was admired, at the moment when it was supposed I thought +myself leading to execution. No one replied, but their sighs intimated +their compassion; certain it is, few Prussians willingly execute such +commands. The carriage at length stopped, and I was brought into my new +cell. The bandage was taken from my eyes. The dungeon was lighted by a +few torches. God of heaven! what were my feelings when I beheld the +whole floor covered with chains, a fire-pan, and two grim men standing +with their smiths' hammers! + +* * * * * + +To work went these engines of despotism! Enormous chains were fixed to +my ankle at one end, and at the other to a ring which was incorporated in +the wall. This ring was three feet from the ground, and only allowed me +to move about two or three feet to the right and left. They next riveted +another huge iron ring, of a hand's breadth, round my naked body, to +which hung a chain, fixed into an iron bar as thick as a man's arm. This +bar was two feet in length, and at each end of it was a handcuff. The +iron collar round my neck was not added till the year 1756. + +* * * * * + +No soul bade me good night. All retired in dreadful silence; and I heard +the horrible grating of four doors, that were successively locked and +bolted upon me! + +Thus does man act by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, having +received the commands of another man so to act. + +O God! Thou alone knowest how my heart, void as it was of guilt, beat at +this moment. There sat I, destitute, alone, in thick darkness, upon the +bare earth, with a weight of fetters insupportable to nature, thanking +Thee that these cruel men had not discovered my knife, by which my +miseries might yet find an end. Death is a last certain refuge that can +indeed bid defiance to the rage of tyranny. What shall I say? How shall +I make the reader feel as I then felt? How describe my despondency, and +yet account for that latent impulse that withheld my hand on this fatal, +this miserable night? + +This misery I foresaw was not of short duration; I had heard of the wars +that were lately broken out between Austria and Prussia. Patiently to +wait their termination, amid sufferings and wretchedness such as mine, +appeared impossible, and freedom even then was doubtful. Sad experience +had I had of Vienna, and well I knew that those who had despoiled me of +my property most anxiously would endeavour to prevent my return. Such +were my meditations! such my night thoughts! Day at length returned; but +where was its splendour? Fled! I beheld it not; yet was its glimmering +obscurity sufficient to show me what was my dungeon. + +In breadth it was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near me once more +stood a night-table; in a corner was a seat, four bricks broad, on which +I might sit, and recline against the wall. Opposite the ring to which I +was fastened, the light was admitted through a semi-circular aperture, +one foot high, and two in diameter. This aperture ascended to the centre +of the wall, which was six feet thick, and at this central part was a +close iron grating, from which, outward, the aperture descended, and its +two extremities were again secured by strong iron bars. My dungeon was +built in the ditch of the fortification, and the aperture by which the +light entered was so covered by the wall of the rampart that, instead of +finding immediate passage, the light only gained admission by reflection. +This, considering the smallness of the aperture, and the impediments of +grating and iron bars, must needs make the obscurity great; yet my eyes, +in time, became so accustomed to this glimmering that I could see a mouse +run. In winter, however, when the sun did not shine into the ditch, it +was eternal night with me. Between the bars and the grating was a glass +window, most curiously formed, with a small central casement, which might +be opened to admit the air. My night-table was daily removed, and beside +me stood a jug of water. The name of TRENCK was built in the wall, in +red brick, and under my feet was a tombstone with the name of TRENCK also +cut on it, and carved with a death's head. The doors to my dungeon were +double, of oak, two inches thick; without these was an open space or +front cell, in which was a window, and this space was likewise shut in by +double doors. The ditch, in which this dreadful den was built, was +enclosed on both sides by palisades, twelve feet high, the key of the +door of which was entrusted to the officer of the guard, it being the +King's intention to prevent all possibility of speech or communication +with the sentinels. The only motion I had the power to make was that of +jumping upward, or swinging my arms to procure myself warmth. When more +accustomed to these fetters, I became capable of moving from side to +side, about four feet; but this pained my shin-bones. + +The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven days, and +everybody supposed it would be impossible I should exist in these damps +above a fortnight. I remained six months, continually immersed in very +cold water, that trickled upon me from the thick arches under which I +was; and I can safely affirm that, for the first three months, I was +never dry; yet did I continue in health. I was visited daily, at noon, +after relieving guard, and the doors were then obliged to be left open +for some minutes, otherwise the dampness of the air put out their +candles. + +This was my situation, and here I sat, destitute of friends, helplessly +wretched, preyed on by all the torture of thought that continually +suggested the most gloomy, the most horrid, the most dreadful of images. +My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone; my fortitude was sunken to +despondency; my dungeon was the very cave of despair; yet was my arm +restrained, and this excess of misery endured. + +How then may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of man? My +fortitude, after some time, began to revive; I glowed with the desire of +convincing the world I was capable of suffering what man had never +suffered before; perhaps of at last emerging from this load of +wretchedness triumphant over my enemies. So long and ardently did my +fancy dwell on this picture, that my mind at length acquired a heroism +which Socrates himself certainly never possessed. Age had benumbed his +sense of pleasure, and he drank the poisonous draught with cool +indifference; but I was young, inured to high hopes, yet now beholding +deliverance impossible, or at an immense, a dreadful distance. Such, +too, were the other sufferings of soul and body, I could not hope they +might be supported and live. + +About noon my den was opened. Sorrow and compassion were painted on the +countenances of my keepers. No one spoke; no one bade me good morrow. +Dreadful indeed was their arrival; for, unaccustomed to the monstrous +bolts and bars, they were kept resounding for a full half-hour before +such soul-chilling, such hope-murdering impediments were removed. It was +the voice of tyranny that thundered. + +My night-table was taken out, a camp-bed, mattress, and blankets were +brought me; a jug of water set down, and beside it an ammunition loaf of +six pounds' weight. "That you may no more complain of hunger," said the +town-major, "you shall have as much bread as you can eat." The door was +shut, and I again left to my thoughts. + +What a strange thing is that called happiness! How shall I express my +extreme joy when, after eleven months of intolerable hunger, I was again +indulged with a full feast of coarse ammunition bread? The fond lover +never rushed more eagerly to the arias of his expecting bride, the +famished tiger more ravenously on his prey, than I upon this loaf. I +ate, rested; surveyed the precious morsel; ate again; and absolutely shed +tears of pleasure. Breaking bit after bit, I had by evening devoured all +my loaf. + +Oh, Nature! what delight hast thou combined with the gratification of thy +wants! Remember this, ye who gorge, ye who rack invention to excite +appetite, and yet which you cannot procure! Remember how simple are the +means that will give a crust of mouldy bread a flavour more exquisite +than all the spices of the East, or all the profusion of land or sea! +Remember this, grow hungry, and indulge your sensuality. + +Alas! my enjoyment was of short duration. I soon found that excess is +followed by pain and repentance. My fasting had weakened digestion, and +rendered it inactive. My body swelled, my water-jug was emptied; cramps, +colics, and at length inordinate thirst racked me all the night. I began +to pour curses on those who seemed to refine on torture, and, after +starving me so long, to invite me to gluttony. Could I not have reclined +on my bed, I should indeed have been driven, this night, to desperation; +yet even this was but a partial relief; for, not yet accustomed to my +enormous fetters, I could not extend myself in the same manner I was +afterwards taught to do by habit. I dragged them, however, so together +as to enable me to sit down on the bare mattress. This, of all my nights +of suffering, stands foremost. When they opened my dungeon next day they +found me in a truly pitiable situation, wondered at my appetite, brought +me another loaf; I refused to accept it, believing I nevermore should +have occasion for bread; they, however, left me one, gave me water, +shrugged up their shoulders, wished me farewell, as, according to all +appearance, they never expected to find me alive, and shut all the doors, +without asking whether I wished or needed further assistance. + +Three days had passed before I could again eat a morsel of bread; and my +mind, brave in health, now in a sick body became pusillanimous, so that I +determined on death. The irons, everywhere round my body, and their +weight, were insupportable; nor could I imagine it was possible I should +habituate myself to them, or endure them long enough to expect +deliverance. Peace was a very distant prospect. The King had commanded +that such a prison should be built as should exclude all necessity of a +sentinel, in order that I might not converse with and seduce them from +what is called their duty: and, in the first days of despair, deliverance +appeared impossible; and the fetters, the war, the pain I felt, the +place, the length of time, each circumstance seemed equally impossible to +support. A thousand reasons convinced me it was necessary to end my +sufferings. I shall not enter into theological disputes: let those who +blame me imagine themselves in my situation; or rather let them first +actually endure my miseries, and then let them reason. I had often +braved death in prosperity, and at this moment it seemed a blessing. + +Full of these meditations, every minute's patience appeared absurdity, +and resolution meanness of soul; yet I wished my mind should be satisfied +that reason, and not rashness, had induced the act. I therefore +determined, that I might examine the question coolly, to wait a week +longer, and die on the fourth of July. In the meantime I revolved in my +mind what possible means there were of escape, not fearing, naked and +chained, to rush and expire on the bayonets of my enemies. + +The next day I observed, as the four doors were opened, that they were +only of wood, therefore questioned whether I might not even cut off the +locks with the knife that I had so fortunately concealed: and should this +and every other means fail, then would be the time to die. I likewise +determined to make an attempt to free myself of my chains. I happily +forced my right hand through the handcuff, though the blood trickled from +my nails. My attempts on the left were long ineffectual; but by rubbing +with a brick, which I got from my seat, on the rivet that had been +negligently closed, I effected this also. + +The chain was fastened to the run round my body by a hook, one end of +which was not inserted in the rim; therefore, by setting my foot against +the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend this hook back, and open +it, as to force out the link of the chain. The remaining difficulty was +the chain that attached my foot to the wall: the links of this I took, +doubled, twisted, and wrenched, till at length, nature having bestowed on +me great strength, I made a desperate effort, sprang forcibly up, and two +links at once flew off. + +Fortunate, indeed, did I think myself: I hastened to the door, groped in +the dark to find the clinkings of the nails by which the lock was +fastened, and discovered no very large piece of wood need be cut. +Immediately I went to work with my knife, and cut through the oak door to +find its thickness, which proved to be only one inch, therefore it was +possible to open all the four doors in four-and-twenty hours. + +Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent detection I hastened to put +on my chains; but, O God! what difficulties had I to surmount! After +much groping about, I at length found the link that had flown off; this I +hid: it being my good fortune hitherto to escape examination, as the +possibility of ridding myself of such chains was in nowise suspected. The +separated iron links I tied together with my hair ribbon; but when I +again endeavoured to force my hand into the ring, it was so swelled that +every effort was fruitless. The whole might was employed upon the rivet, +but all labour was in vain. + +Noon was the hour of visitation, and necessity and danger again obliged +me to attempt forcing my hand in, which at length, after excruciating +torture, I effected. My visitors came, and everything had the appearance +of order. I found it, however, impossible to force out my right hand +while it continued swelled. + +I therefore remained quiet till the day fixed, and on the determined +fourth of July, immediately as my visitors had closed the doors upon me, +I disencumbered myself of my irons, took my knife, and began my Herculean +labour on the door. The first of the double doors that opened inwards +was conquered in less than an hour; the other was a very different task. +The lock was soon cut round, but it opened outwards; there was therefore +no other means left but to cut the whole door away above the bar. + +Incessant and incredible labour made this possible, though it was the +more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling, I being totally +in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed, from my body; my +fingers were clotted in my own blood, and my lacerated hands were one +continued wound. + +Daylight appeared: I clambered over the door that was half cut away, and +got up to the window in the space or cell that was between the double +doors, as before described. Here I saw my dungeon was in the ditch of +the first rampart: before me I beheld the road from the rampart, the +guard but fifty paces distant, and the high palisades that were in the +ditch, and must be scaled before I could reach the rampart. Hope grew +stronger; my efforts were redoubled. The first of the next double doors +was attacked, which likewise opened inward, and was soon conquered. The +sun set before I had ended this, and the fourth was to be cut away as the +second had been. My strength failed; both my hands were raw; I rested +awhile, began again, and had made a cut of a foot long, when my knife +snapped, and the broken blade dropped to the ground! + +God of Omnipotence! what was I at this moment? Was there, God of +Mercies! was there ever creature of Thine more justified than I in +despair? The moon shone very clear; I cast a wild and distracted look up +to heaven, fell on my knees, and in the agony of my soul sought comfort: +but no comfort could be found; nor religion nor philosophy had any to +give. I cursed not Providence, I feared not annihilation, I dared not +Almighty vengeance; God the Creator was the disposer of my fate; and if +He heaped afflictions upon me He had not given me strength to support, +His justice would not therefore punish me. To Him, the Judge of the +quick and dead, I committed my soul, seized the broken knife, gashed +through the veins of my left arm and foot, sat myself tranquilly down, +and saw the blood flow. Nature, overpowered fainted, and I know not how +long I remained, slumbering, in this state. Suddenly I heard my own +name, awoke, and again heard the words, "Baron Trenck!" My answer was, +"Who calls?" And who indeed was it--who but my honest grenadier +Gelfhardt--my former faithful friend in the citadel! The good, the kind +fellow had got upon the rampart, that he might comfort me. + +"How do you do?" said Gelfhardt. "Weltering in my blood," answered I; +"to-morrow you will find me dead."--"Why should you die?" replied he. "It +is much easier for you to escape here than from the citadel! Here is no +sentinel, and I shall soon find means to provide you with tools; if you +can only break out, leave the rest to me. As often as I am on guard, I +will seek opportunity to speak to you. In the whole Star-Fort, there are +but two sentinels: the one at the entrance, and the other at the guard- +house. Do not despair; God will succour you; trust to me." The good +man's kindness and discourse revived my hopes: I saw the possibility of +an escape. A secret joy diffused itself through my soul. I immediately +tore my shirt, bound up my wounds, and waited the approach of day; and +the sun soon after shone through the window, to me, with unaccustomed +brightness. + +Let the reader judge how far it was chance, or the effect of Divine +providence, that in this dreadful hour my heart again received hope. Who +was it sent the honest Gelfhardt, at such a moment, to my prison? For, +had it not been for him, I had certainly, when I awoke from my slumbers, +cut more effectually through my arteries. + +Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done: yet what +could be done, what expected, but that I should now be much more cruelly +treated, and even more insupportably ironed than before--finding, as they +must, the doors cut through and my fetters shaken off? + +After mature consideration, I therefore made the following resolution, +which succeeded happily, and even beyond my hopes. Before I proceed, +however, I will speak a few words concerning my situation at this moment. +It is impossible to describe how much I was exhausted. The prison swam +with blood; and certainly but little was left in my body. With painful +wounds, swelled and torn hands, I there stood shirtless, felt an +inclination to sleep almost irresistible, and scarcely had strength to +keep my legs, yet was I obliged to rouse myself, that I might execute my +plan. + +With the bar that separated my hands, I loosened the bricks of my seat, +which, being newly laid, was easily done, and heaped them up in the +middle of my prison. The inner door was quite open, and with my chains I +so barricaded the upper half of the second as to prevent any one climbing +over it. When noon came and the first of the doors was unlocked, all +were astonished to find the second open. There I stood, besmeared with +blood, the picture of horror, with a brick in one hand, and in the other +my broken knife, crying, as they approached, "Keep off, Mr. Major, keep +off! Tell the governor I will live no longer in chains, and that here I +stand, if so he pleases, to be shot; for so only will I be conquered. +Here no man shall enter--I will destroy all that approach; here are my +weapons; lucre will I die in despite of tyranny." The major was +terrified, wanted resolution, and made his report to the governor. I +meantime sat down on my bricks, to wait what might happen: my secret +intent, however, was not so desperate as it appeared. I sought only to +obtain a favourable capitulation. + +The governor, General Borck, presently came, attended by the town-major +and some officers, and entered the outward cell, but sprang back the +moment he beheld a figure like me, standing with a brick and uplifted +arm. I repeated what I had told the major, and he immediately ordered +six grenadiers to force the door. The front cell was scarcely six feet +broad, so that no more than two at a time could attack my intrenchment, +and when they saw my threatening bricks ready to descend, they leaped +terrified back. A short pause ensued, and the old town-major, with the +chaplain, advanced towards the door to soothe me: the conversation +continued some time: whose reasons were most satisfactory, and whose +cause was the most just, I leave to the reader. The governor grew angry, +and ordered a fresh attack. The first grenadier was knocked down, and +the rest ran back to avoid my missiles. + +The town-major again began a parley. "For God's sake, my dear Trenck," +said he, "in what have I injured you, that you endeavour to effect my +ruin? I must answer for your having, through my negligence, concealed a +knife. Be persuaded, I entreat you. Be appeased. You are not without +hope, nor without friends." My answer was--"But will you not load me +with heavier irons than before?" + +He went out, spoke with the governor, and gave me his word of honour that +the affair should be no further noticed, and that everything should be +exactly reinstated as formerly. + +Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was taken. The +condition I was in was viewed with pity; my wounds were examined, a +surgeon sent to dress them, another shirt was given me, and the bricks, +clotted with blood, removed. I, meantime, lay half dead on my mattress; +my thirst was excessive. The surgeon ordered me some wine. Two +sentinels were stationed in the front cell, and I was thus left four days +in peace, unironed. Broth also was given me daily, and how delicious +this was to taste, how much it revived and strengthened me, is wholly +impossible to describe. Two days I lay in a slumbering kind of trance, +forced by unquenchable thirst to drink whenever I awoke. My feet and +hands were swelled; the pains in my back and limbs were excessive. + +On the fifth day the doors were ready; the inner was entirely plated with +iron, and I was fettered as before: perhaps they found further cruelty +unnecessary. The principal chain, however, which fastened me to the +wall, like that I had before broken, was thicker than the first. Except +this, the capitulation was strictly kept. They deeply regretted that, +without the King's express commands, they could not lighten my +afflictions, wished me fortitude and patience, and barred up my doors. + +It is necessary I should here describe my dress. My hands being fixed +and kept asunder by an iron bar, and my feet chained to the wall, I could +neither put on shirt nor stockings in the usual mode; the shirt was +therefore tied, and changed once a fortnight; the coarse ammunition +stockings were buttoned on the sides; a blue garment, of soldier's cloth, +was likewise tied round me, and I had a pair of slippers for my feet. The +shirt was of the army linen; and when I contemplated myself in this dress +of a malefactor, chained thus to the wall in such a dungeon, vainly +imploring mercy or justice, my conscience void of reproach, my heart of +guilt--when I reflected on my former splendour in Berlin and Moscow, and +compared it with this sad, this dreadful reverse of destiny, I was sunk +in grief, or roused to indignation, that might have hurried the greatest +hero or philosopher to madness or despair. I felt what can only be +imagined by him who has suffered like me, after having like me +flourished, if such can be found. + +Pride, the justness of my cause, the unbounded confidence I had in my own +resolution, and the labours of an inventive head and iron body--these +only could have preserved my life. These bodily labours, these continued +inventions, and projected plans to obtain my freedom, preserved my +health. Who would suppose that a man fettered as I was could find means +of exercising himself? By swinging my arms, acting with the upper part +of my body, and leaping upwards, I frequently put myself in a strong +perspiration. After thus wearying myself I slept soundly, and often +thought how many generals, obliged to support the inclemencies of +weather, and all the dangers of the field--how many of those who had +plunged me into this den of misery, would have been most glad could they, +like me, have slept with a quiet conscience. Often did I reflect how +much happier I was than those tortured on the bed of sickness by gout, +stone, and other terrible diseases. How much happier was I in innocence +than the malefactor doomed to suffer the pangs of death, the ignominy of +men, and the horrors of internal guilt! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +In the following part of my history it will appear I often had much money +concealed under the ground and in the walls of my den, yet would I have +given a hundred ducats for a morsel of bread, it could not have been +procured. Money was to me useless. In this I resembled the miser, who +hoards, yet hives in wretchedness, having no joy in gentle acts of +benevolence. As proudly might I delight myself with my hidden treasure +as such misers; nay, more, for I was secure from robbers. + +Had fastidious pomp been my pleasure, I might have imagined myself some +old field-marshal bedridden, who hears two grenadier sentinels at his +door call, "Who goes there?" My honour, indeed, was still greater; for, +during my last year's imprisonment, my door was guarded by no less than +four. My vanity also might have been flattered: I might hence conclude +how high was the value set upon my head, since all this trouble was taken +to hold me in security. Certain it is that in my chains I thought more +rationally, more nobly, reasoned more philosophically on man, his nature, +his zeal, his imaginary wants, the effects of his ambition, his passions, +and saw more distinctly his dream of earthly good, than those who had +imprisoned, or those who guarded me. I was void of the fears that haunt +the parasite who servilely wears the fetters of a court, and daily +trembles for the loss of what vice and cunning have acquired. Those who +had usurped the Sclavonian estates, and feasted sumptuously from the +service of plate I had been robbed of, never ate their dainties with so +sweet an appetite as I my ammunition bread, nor did their high-flavoured +wines flow so limpid as my cold water. + +Thus, the man who thinks, being pure of heart, will find consolation when +under the most dreadful calamities, convinced, as he must be, that those +apparently most are frequently least happy, insensible as they are of the +pleasures they might enjoy. Evil is never so great as it appears. + + "Sweet are the uses of adversity, + Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, + Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." + + _As you Like it_. + +Happy he who, like me, having suffered, can become an example to his +suffering brethren! + +YOUTH, prosperous, and imagining eternal prosperity, read my history +attentively, though I should be in my grave! Read feelingly, and bless +my sleeping dust, if it has taught thee wisdom or fortitude! + +FATHER, reading this, say to thy children, I felt thus like them, in +blooming youth, little prophesied of misfortune, which after fell so +heavy on me, and by which I am even still persecuted! Say that I had +virtue, ambition, was educated in noble principles; that I laboured with +all the zeal of enthusiastic youth to become wiser, better, greater than +other men; that I was guilty of no crimes, was the friend of men, was no +deceiver of man or woman; that I first served my own country faithfully, +and after, every other in which I found bread; that I was never, during +life, once intoxicated; was no gamester, no night rambler, no +contemptible idler; that yet, through envy and arbitrary power, I have +fallen to misery such as none but the worst of criminals ought to feel. + +BROTHER, fly those countries where the lawgiver himself knows no law, +where truth and virtue are punished as crimes; and, if fly you cannot, be +it your endeavour to remain unknown, unnoticed; in such countries, seek +not favour or honourable employ, else will you become, when your merits +are known, as I have been, the victim of slander and treachery: the +behests of power will persecute you, and innocence will not shield you +from the shafts of wicked men who are envious, or who wish to obtain the +favour of princes, though by the worst of means. + +SIRE, imagine not that thou readest a romance. My head is grey, like +thine. Read, yet despise not the world, though it has treated me thus +unthankfully. Good men have I also found, who have befriended me in +misfortunes, and there, where I had least claim, have I found them most. +May my book assist thee in noble thoughts; mayest thou die as tranquilly +as I shall render up my soul to appear before the Judge of me and my +persecutors. Be death but thought a transition from motion to rest. Few +are the delights of this world for him who, like me, has learned to know +it. Murmur not, despair not of Providence. Me, through storms, it has +brought to haven; through many griefs to self-knowledge; and through +prisons to philosophy. He only can tranquilly descend to annihilation +who finds reason not to repent he has once existed. My rudder broke not +amid the rocks and quicksands, but my bark was cast upon the strand of +knowledge. Yet, even on these clear shores are impenetrable clouds. I +have seen more distinctly than it is supposed men ought to see. Age will +decay the faculties, and mental, like bodily sight, must then decrease. I +even grew weary of science, and envied the blind-born, or those who, till +death, have been wilfully hoodwinked. How often have I been asked, "What +didst thou see?" And when I answered with sincerity and truth, how often +have I been derided as a liar, and been persecuted by those who +determined not to see themselves, as an innovator singular and rash! + +Sire, I further say to thee, teach thy descendants to seek the golden +mean, and say with Gellert--"The boy Fritz needs nothing;--his stupidity +will insure his success, Examine our wealthy and titled lords, what are +their abilities and honours, then inquire how they were attained, and, if +thou canst, discover in what true happiness consists." + +Once more to my prison. The failure of my escape, and the recovery of +life from this state of despair, led me to moralise deeper than I had +ever done before; and in this depth of thought I found unexpected +consolation and fortitude, and a firm persuasion I yet should accomplish +my deliverance. + +Gelfhardt, my honest grenadier, had infused fresh hope, and my mind now +busily began to meditate new plans. A sentinel was placed before my +door, that I might be more narrowly watched, and the married men of the +Prussian states were appointed to this duty, who, as I will hereafter +show, were more easy to persuade in aiding my flight than foreign +fugitives. The Pomeranian will listen, and is by nature kind, therefore +may easily be moved, and induced to succour distress. + +I began to be more accustomed to my irons, which I had before found so +insupportable; I could comb out my long hair, and could tie it at last +with one hand. My beard, which had so long remained unshaven, gave me a +grim appearance, and I began to pluck it up by the roots. The pain at +first was considerable, especially about the lips; but this also custom +conquered, and I performed this operation in the following years, once in +six weeks, or two months, as the hair thus plucked up required that +length of time before the nails could again get hold. Vermin did not +molest me; the dampness of my den was inimical to them. My limbs never +swelled, because of the exercise I gave myself, as before described. The +greatest pain I found was in the continued unvivifying dimness in which I +lived. + +I had read much, had lived in, and seen much of the world. Vacuity of +thought, therefore, I was little troubled with; the former transactions +of my life, and the remembrance of the persons I had known, I revolved so +often in my mind, that they became as familiar and connected as if the +events had each been written in the order it occurred. Habit made this +mental exercise so perfect to me, that I could compose speeches, fables, +odes, satires, all of which I repeated aloud, and had so stored my memory +with them that I was enabled, after I had obtained my freedom, to commit +to writing two volumes of my prison labours. Accustomed to this +exercise, days that would otherwise have been days of misery appeared but +as a moment. The following narrative will show how munch esteem, how +many friends, these compositions procured me, even in my dungeon; +insomuch that I obtained light, paper, and finally freedom itself. For +these I have to thank the industrious acquirements of my youth; therefore +do I counsel all my readers so to employ their time. Riches, honours, +the favours of fortune, may be showered by monarchs upon the most +worthless; but monarchs can give and take, say and unsay, raise and pull +down. Monarchs, however, can neither give wisdom nor virtue. Arbitrary +power itself, in the presence of these, is foiled. + +How wisely has Providence ordained that the endowments of industry, +learning, and science, given by ourselves, cannot be taken from us; +while, on the contrary, what others bestow is a fantastical dream, from +which any accident may awaken us! The wrath of Frederic could destroy +legions, and defeat armies; but it could not take from me the sense of +honour, of innocence, and their sweet concomitant, peace of mind--could +not deprive me of fortitude and magnanimity. I defied his power, rested +on the justice of my cause, found in myself expedients wherewith to +oppose him, was at length crowned with conquest, and came forth to the +world the martyr of suffering virtue. + +Some of my oppressors now rot in dishonourable graves. Others, alas! in +Vienna, remain immured in houses of correction, as Krugel and Zeto, or +beg their bread, like Gravenitz and Doo. Nor are the wealthy possessors +of my estates more fortunate, but look down with shame wherever I and my +children appear. We stand erect, esteemed, and honoured, while their +injustice is manifest to the whole world. + +Young man, be industrious: for without industry can none of the treasures +I have described be purchased. Thy labour will reward itself; then, when +assaulted by misfortune, or even misery, learn of me and smile; or, +shouldst thou escape such trials, still labour to acquire wisdom, that in +old age thou mayest find content and happiness. + +The years in my dungeon passed away as days, those moments excepted when, +thinking on the great world, and the deeds of great men, my ambition was +roused: except when, contemplating the vileness of my chains, and the +wretchedness of my situation, I laboured for liberty, and found my +labours endless and ineffectual; except while I remembered the triumph of +my enemies, and the splendour in which those lived by whom I had been +plundered. Then, indeed, did I experience intervals that approached +madness, despair, and horror: beholding myself destitute of friend or +protector, the Empress herself, for whose sake I suffered, deserting me; +reflecting on past times and past prosperity; remembering how the good +and virtuous, from the cruel nature of my punishment, must be obliged to +conclude me a wretch and a villain, and that all means of justification +were cut off: O God! How did my heart beat! with what violence! What +would I not have undertaken, in these suffering moments, to have put my +enemies to shame! Vengeance and rage then rose rebellious against +patience; long-suffering philosophy vanished, and the poisoned cup of +Socrates would have been the nectar of the gods. + +Man deprived of hope is man destroyed. I found but little probability in +all my plans and projects; yet did I trust that some of them should +succeed, yet did I confide in them and my honest Gelfhardt, and that I +should still free myself from my chains. + +The greatest of all my incitements to patient endurance was love. I had +left behind me, in Vienna, a lady for whom the world still was dear to +me; her would I neither desert nor afflict. To her and my sister was my +existence still necessary. For their sakes, who had lost and suffered so +much for mine, would I preserve my life; for them no difficulty, no +suffering was too great; yet, alas! when long-desired liberty was +restored, I found them both in their graves. The joy, for which I had +borne so much, was no more to be tasted. + +About three weeks after my attempt to escape, the good Gelfhardt first +came to stand sentinel over me; and the sentinel they had so carefully +set was indeed the only hope I could have of escape; for help must be had +from without, or this was impossible. + +The effort I had made had excited too munch surprise and alarm for me to +pass without strict examination; since, on the ninth day after I was +confined, I had, in eighteen hours, so far broken through a prison built +purposely for myself, by a combination of so many projectors, and with +such extreme precaution, that it had been universally declared +impenetrable. + +Gelfhardt scarcely had taken his post before we had free opportunity of +conversing together; for, when I stood with one foot on my bedstead, I +could reach the aperture through which light was admitted. + +Gelfhardt described the situation of my dungeon, and our first plan was +to break under the foundation which he had seen laid, and which he +affirmed to be only two feet deep. + +Money was the first thing necessary. Gelfhardt was relieved during his +guard, and returned bringing within him a sheet of paper rolled on a +wire, which he passed through my grating; as he also did a piece of small +wax candle, some burning amadone (a kind of tinder), a match, and a pen. +I now had light, and I pricked my finger, and wrote with my blood to my +faithful friend, Captain Ruckhardt, at Vienna, described my situation in +a few words, sent him an acquittance for three thousand florins on my +revenues, and requested he would dispose of a thousand florins to defray +the expenses of his journey to Gummern, only two miles from Magdeburg. +Here he was positively to be on the 15th of August. About noon, on this +same day, he was to walk with a letter in his hand; and a man was there +to meet him, carrying a roll of smoking tobacco, to whom he must remit +the two thousand florins, and return to Vienna. + +I returned the written paper to Gelfhardt by the same means it had been +received, gave him my instructions, and he sent his wife with it to +Gummern, by whom it was safely put in the post. + +My hopes daily rose, and as often as Gelfhardt mounted guard, so often +did we continue our projects. The 15th of August came, but it was some +days before Gelfhardt was again on guard; and oh! how did my heart +palpitate when he came and exclaimed, "All is right! we have succeeded." +He returned in the evening, and we began to consider by what means he +could convey the money to me. I could not, with my hands chained to an +iron bar, reach the aperture of the window that admitted air--besides +that it was too small. It was therefore agreed that Gelfhardt should, on +the next guard, perform the office of cleaning my dungeon, and that he +then should convey the money to me in the water-jug. + +This luckily was done. How great was my astonishment when, instead of +one, I found two thousand florins! For I had permitted him to reserve +half to himself, as a reward for his fidelity; he, however, had kept but +five pistoles, which he persisted was enough. + +Worthy Gelfhardt! This was the act of a Pomeranian grenadier! How rare +are such examples! Be thy name and mine ever united! Live thou while +the memory of me shall live! Never did my acquaintance with the great +bring to my knowledge a soul so noble, so disinterested! + +It is true, I afterwards prevailed on him to accept the whole thousand; +but we shall soon see he never had them, and that his foolish wife, three +years after, suffered by their means; however, she suffered alone, for he +soon marched to the field, and therefore was unpunished. + +Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put my plan of burrowing +under the foundation into execution. The first thing necessary was to +free myself from my fetters. To accomplish this, Gelfhardt supplied me +with two small files, and by the aid of these, this labour, though great, +was effected. + +The cap, or staple, of the foot ring was made so wide that I could draw +it forward a quarter of an inch. I filed the iron which passed through +it on the inside; the more I filed this away, the farther I could draw +the cap down, till at last the whole inside iron, through which the +chains passed, was cut quite through! by this means I could slip off the +ring, while the cap on the outside continued whole, and it was impossible +to discover any cut, as only the outside could be examined. My hands, by +continued efforts, I so compressed as to be able to draw them out of the +handcuffs. I then filed the hinge, and made a screw-driver of one of the +foot-long flooring nails, by which I could take out the screw at +pleasure, so that at the time of examination no proofs could appear. The +rim round my body was but a small impediment, except the chain, which +passed from my hand-bar: and this I removed, by filing an aperture in one +of the links, which, at the necessary hour, I closed with bread, rubbed +over with rusty-iron, first drying it by the heat of my body; and would +wager any sum that, without striking the chain link by link, with a +hammer, no one not in the secret would have discovered the fracture. + +The window was never strictly examined; I therefore drew the two staples +by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, and which I daily +replaced, carefully plastering them over. I procured wire from +Gelfhardt, and tried how well I could imitate the inner grating: finding +I succeeded tolerably, I cut the real grating totally away, and +substituted an artificial one of my own fabricating, by which I obtained +a free communication with the outside, additional fresh air, together +with all necessary implements, tinder, and candles. + +That the light might not be seen, I hung the coverlid of my bed before +the window, so that I could work fearless and undetected. + +Every thing prepared, I went to work. The floor of my dungeon was not of +stone, but oak plank, three inches thick; three beds of which were laid +crossways, and were fastened to each other by nails half an inch in +diameter, and a foot long. Raving worked round the head of a nail, I +made use of the hole at the end of the bar, which separated my hands, to +draw it out, and this nail, sharpened upon my tombstone, made an +excellent chisel. + +I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that I might work +downwards, and having drawn away a piece of board which was inserted two +inches under the wall, I cut this so as exactly to fit; the small crevice +it occasioned I stopped up with bread and strewed over with dust, so as +to prevent all suspicious appearance. My labour under this was continued +with less precaution, and I had soon worked through my nine-inch planks. +Under them I came to a fine white sand, on which the Star Fort was built. +My chips I carefully distributed beneath the boards. If I had not help +from without, I could proceed no farther; for to dig were useless, unless +I could rid myself of my rubbish. Gelfhardt supplied me with some ells +of cloth, of which I made long narrow bags, stuffed them with earth, and +passed them between the iron bars, to Gelfhardt, who, as he was on guard, +scattered or conveyed away their contents. + +Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I obtained more +instruments, together with a pair of pistols, powder, ball, and a +bayonet. + +I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, instead of two, was +sunken four feet deep. Time, labour, and patience were all necessary to +break out unheard and undiscovered; but few things are impossible, where +resolution is not wanting. + +The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, corresponding with the +foundation, and wide enough to kneel and stoop in: the lying down on the +floor to work, the continual stooping to throw out the earth, the narrow +space in which all must be performed, these made the labour incredible: +and, after this daily labour, all things were to be replaced, and my +chains again resumed, which alone required some hours to effect. My +greatest aid was in the wax candles, and light I had procured; but as +Gelfhardt stood sentinel only once a fortnight, my work was much delayed; +the sentinels were forbidden to speak to me under pain of death: and I +was too fearful of being betrayed to dare to seek new assistance. + +Being without a stove, I suffered much this winter from cold; yet my +heart was cheerful as I saw the probability of freedom; and all were +astonished to find me in such good spirits. + +Gelfhardt also brought me supplies of provisions, chiefly consisting of +sausages and salt meats, ready dressed, which increased my strength, and +when I was not digging, I wrote satires and verses: thus time was +employed, and I contented even in prison. + +Lulled into security, an accident happened that will appear almost +incredible, and by which every hope was nearly frustrated. + +Gelfhardt had been working with me, and was relieved in the morning. As +I was replacing the window, which I was obliged to remove on these +occasions, it fell out of my hand, and three of the glass panes were +broken. Gelfhardt was not to return till guard was again relieved: I had +therefore no opportunity of speaking with him, or concerting any mode of +repair. I remained nearly an hour conjecturing and hesitating; for +certainly had the broken window been seen, as it was impossible I should +reach it when fettered, I should immediately have been more rigidly +examined, and the false grating must have been discovered. + +I therefore came to a resolution, and spoke to the sentinel (who was +amusing himself with whistling), thus: "My good fellow, have pity, not +upon me, but upon your comrades, who, should you refuse, will certainly +be executed: I will throw you thirty pistoles through the window, if you +will do me a small favour." He remained some moments silent, and at last +answered in a low voice, "What, have you money, then?"--I immediately +counted thirty pistoles, and threw them through the window. He asked +what he was to do: I told him my difficulty, and gave him the size of the +panes in paper. The man fortunately was bold and prudent. The door of +the pallisadoes, through the negligence of the officer, had not been shut +that day: he prevailed on one of his comrades to stand sentinel for him, +during half an hour, while he meantime ran into the town, and procured +the glass, on the receipt of which I instantly threw him out ten more +pistoles. Before the hour of noon and visitation came, everything was +once more reinstated, my glaziery performed to a miracle, and the life of +my worthy Gelfhardt preserved!--Such is the power of money in this world! +This is a very remarkable incident, for I never spoke after to the man +who did me this signal service. + +Gelfhardt's alarm may easily be imagined; he some days after returned to +his post, and was the more astonished as he knew the sentinel who had +done me this good office; that he had five children, and a man most to be +depended on by his officers, of any one in the whole grenadier company. + +I now continued my labour, and found it very possible to break out under +the foundation; but Gelfhardt had been so terrified by the late accident, +that he started a thousand difficulties, in proportion as my end was more +nearly accomplished; and at the moment when I wished to concert with him +the means of flight, he persisted it was necessary to find additional +help, to escape in safety, and not bring both him and myself to +destruction. At length we came to the following determination, which, +however, after eight months' incessant labour, rendered my whole project +abortive. + +I wrote once more to Ruckhardt, at Vienna; sent him a new assignment for +money, and desired he would again repair to Gummern, where he should wait +six several nights, with two spare horses, on the glacis of +Klosterbergen, at the time appointed, everything being prepared for +flight. Within these six days Gelfhardt would have found means, either +in rotation, or by exchanging the guard, to have been with me. Alas! the +sweet hope of again beholding the face of the sun, of once more obtaining +my freedom, endured but three days: Providence thought proper otherwise +to ordain. Gelfhardt sent his wife to Gummern with the letter, and this +silly woman told the post-master her husband had a lawsuit at Vienna, +that therefore she begged he would take particular care of the letter, +for which purpose she slipped ten rix-dollars into his hand. + +This unexpected liberality raised the suspicions of the Saxon +post-master, who therefore opened the letter, read the contents, and +instead of sending it to Vienna, or at least to the general post-master +at Dresden, he preferred the traitorous act of taking it himself to the +governor of Magdeburg, who then, as at present, was Prince Ferdinand of +Brunswick. + +What were my terrors, what my despair, when I beheld the Prince himself, +about three o'clock in the afternoon, enter my prison with his +attendants, present my letter, and ask, in an authoritative voice, who +had carried it to Gummern. My answer was, "I know not." Strict search +was immediately made by smiths, carpenters, and masons, and after half an +hour's examination, they discovered neither my hole nor the manner in +which I disencumbered myself of my chains; they only saw that the middle +grating, in the aperture where the light was admitted, had been removed. +This was boarded up the next day, only a small air-hole left, of about +six inches diameter. + +The Prince began to threaten; I persisted I had never seen the sentinel +who had rendered me this service, nor asked his name. Seeing his +attempts all ineffectual, the governor, in a milder tone, said, "You have +ever complained, Baron Trenck, of not having been legally sentenced, or +heard in your own defence; I give you my word of honour, this you shall +be, and also that you shall be released from your fetters, if you will +only tell me who took your letter." To this I replied, with all the +fortitude of innocence, "Everybody knows, my lord, I have never deserved +the treatment I have met with in my country. My heart is irreproachable. +I seek to recover my liberty by every means in my power: but were I +capable of betraying the man whose compassion has induced him to succour +my distress; were I the coward that could purchase happiness at his +expense, I then should, indeed, deserve to wear those chains with which I +am loaded. For myself, do with me what you please: yet remember I am not +wholly destitute: I am still a captain in the Imperial service, and a +descendant of the house of Trenck." + +Prince Ferdinand stood for a moment unable to answer; then renewed his +threats, and left my dungeon. I have since been told that, when he was +out of hearing, he said to those around him, "I pity his hard fate, and +cannot but admire his strength of mind!" + +I must here remark that, when we remember the usual circumspection of +this great man, we are obliged to wonder at his imprudence in holding a +conversation of such a kind with me, which lasted a considerable time, in +the presence of the guard. The soldiers of the whole garrison had +afterwards the utmost confidence, as they were convinced I would not +meanly devote others to destruction, that I might benefit myself. This +was the way to gain me esteem and intercourse among the men, especially +as the Duke had said he knew I must have money concealed, for that I had +distributed some to the sentinels. + +He had scarcely been gone an hour, before I heard a noise near my prison. +I listened--what could it be? I heard talking, and learned a grenadier +had hanged himself to the pallisadoes of my prison. + +The officer of the town-guard, and the town-major again entered my +dungeon to fetch a lanthorn they had forgotten, and the officer at going +out, told me in a whisper, "One of your associates has just hanged +himself." + +It was impossible to imagine my terror or sensations; I believed it could +be only my kind, my honest Gelfhardt. After many gloomy thoughts, and +lamenting the unhappy end of so worthy a fellow, I began to recollect +what the Prince had promised me, if I would discover the accomplice. I +knocked at the door, and desired to speak to the officer; he came to the +window and asked me what I wanted; I requested he would inform the +governor that if he would send me light, pen, ink, and paper, I would +discover my whole secret. + +These were accordingly sent, an hour's time was granted; the door was +shut, and I was left alone. I sat myself down, began to write on my +night-table, and was about to insert the name of Gelfhardt, but my blood +thrilled, and shrank back to my heart. I shuddered, rose, went to the +aperture of the window and called, "Is there no man who in compassion +will tell me the name of him who has hanged himself, that I may deliver +many others from destruction?" The window was not nailed up till the +next day; I therefore wrapped five pistoles in a paper, threw them out, +called to the sentinel, and said, "Friend, take these, and save thy +comrades; or go and betray me, and bring down innocent blood upon thy +head!" + +The paper was taken up; a pause of silence ensued: I heard sighs, and +presently after a low voice said, "his name is Schutz; he belonged to the +company of Ripps." I had never heard the name before, or known the man, +but I however immediately wrote SCHUTZ, instead of Gelfhardt. Having +finished the letter I called the lieutenant, who took that and the light +away, and again barred up the door of my dungeon. The Duke, however, +suspected there must be some evasion, and everything remained in the same +state: I obtained neither hearing nor court-martial. I learned, in the +sequel, the following circumstances, which will display the truth of this +apparently incredible story. + +While I was imprisoned in the citadel, a sentinel came to the post under +my window, cursed and blasphemed, exclaiming aloud against the Prussian +service, and saying, if Trenck only knew my mind, he would not long +continue in his hole! I entered into discourse with him, and he told me, +if I could give him money to purchase a boat, in which he might cross the +Elbe, he would soon make my doors fly open, and set me free. + +Money at that time I had none; but I gave him a diamond shirt-buckle, +worth five hundred ferns, which I had concealed. I never heard more from +this man; he spoke to me no more. He often stood sentinel over me, which +I knew by his Westphalian dialect, and I as often addressed myself to +him, but ineffectually; he would make no answer. + +This Schutz must have sold my buckle, and let his riches be seen; for, +when the Duke left me, the lieutenant on guard said to him--"You must +certainly be the rascal who carried Trenck's letter; you have, for some +time past, spent much money, and we have seen you with louis-d'ors. How +came you by them?" Schutz was terrified, his conscience accused him, he +imagined I should betray him, knowing he had deceived me. He, therefore, +in the first agonies of despair, came to the pallisadoes, and hung +himself before the door of my dungeon. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +How wonderful is the hand of Providence! The wicked man fell a sacrifice +to his crime, after having escaped a whole year, and the faithful, the +benevolent-hearted Gelfhardt was thereby saved. + +The sentinels were now doubled, that any intercourse with them might be +rendered more difficult. Gelfhardt again stood guard, but he had +scarcely opportunity, without danger, to speak a few words: he thanked me +for having preserved him, wished me better fortune, and told me the +garrison, in a few days, would take the field. + +This was dreadful news: my whole plan was destroyed at a breath. I, +however, soon recovered fresh hopes. The hole I had sunken was not +discovered: I had five hundred florins, candles, and implements. + +The seven years' war broke out about a week after, and the regiment took +the field. Major Weyner came, for the last time, and committed me to the +care of the new major of the militia, Bruckhausen, who was one of the +most surly and stupid of men. I shall often have occasion to mention +this man. + +All the majors and lieutenants of the guard, who had treated me with +compassion and esteem, now departed, and I became an old prisoner in a +new world. I acquired greater confidence, however, by remembering that +both officers and men in the militia were much easier to gain over than +in the regulars; the truth of which opinion was soon confirmed. + +Four lieutenants were appointed, with their men, to mount guard at the +Star Fort in turn, and before a year had passed, three of them were in my +interest. + +The regiments had scarcely taken the field ere the new governor, General +Borck, entered my prison, like what he was, an imperious, cruel tyrant. +The King, in giving him the command, had informed him he must answer for +my person with his head: he therefore had full power to treat me with +whatever severity he pleased. + +Borck was a stupid man, of an unfeeling heart, the slave of despotic +orders; and as often as he thought it possible I might rid myself of my +fetters and escape, his heart palpitated with fear. In addition to this, +he considered me as the vilest of men and traitors, seeing his King had +condemned me to imprisonment so cruel, and his barbarity towards me was +thus the effect of character and meanness of soul. He entered my dungeon +not as an officer, to visit a brother officer in misery, but as an +executioner to a felon. Smiths then made their appearance, and a +monstrous iron collar, of a hand's breadth, was put round my neck, and +connected with the chains of the feet by additional heavy links. My +window was walled up, except a small air-hole. He even at length took +away my bed, gave me no straw, and quitted me with a thousand revilings +on the Empress-Queen, her whole army, and myself. In words, however, I +was little in his debt, and he was enraged even to madness. + +What my situation was under this additional load of tyranny, and the +command of a man so void of human pity, the reader may imagine. My +greatest good fortune consisted in the ability I still had to disencumber +myself of all the irons that were connected with the ankle-rims, and the +provision I had of light, paper, and implements; and though it was +apparently impossible I should break out undiscovered by both sentinels, +yet had I the remaining hope of gaining some officer, by money, who, as +in Glatz, should assist my escape. + +Had the commands of the King been literally obeyed escape would have been +wholly impossible; for, by this, all communication would have been +totally cut off with the sentinels. To this effect the four keys of the +four doors were each to be kept by different persons; one with the +governor, another with the town-major, the third with the major of the +day, and the fourth with the lieutenant of the guard. I never could have +found opportunity to have spoken with any one of them singly. These +commands at first were rigidly observed, with this exception, that the +governor made his appearance only every week. Magdeburg became so full +of prisoners that the town-major was obliged to deliver up his key to the +major of the day, and the governor's visitations wholly subsided, the +citadel being an English mile and a half distant from the Star Fort. + +General Walrabe, who had been a prisoner ever since the year 1746, was +also at the Star Fort, but he had apartments, and three thousand +rix-dollars a year. The major of the day and officer of the guard dined +with him daily, and generally stayed till evening. Either from +compassion, or a concurrence of fortunate circumstances, these gentlemen +entrusted the keys to the lieutenant on guard, by which means I could +speak with each of them alone when they made their visits, and they +themselves at length sought these opportunities. My consequent +undertakings I shall relate, with all the arts and inventions of a +wretched prisoner endeavouring to escape. + +Borck had selected three majors and four lieutenants for this service as +those he could best trust. My situation was truly deplorable. The +enormous iron round my neck pained me, and prevented motion; and I durst +not attempt to disengage myself from the pendant chains till I had, for +some months, carefully observed the mode of their examination, and which +parts they supposed were perfectly secure. The cruelty of depriving me +of my bed was still greater: I was obliged to sit upon the bare ground, +and lean with my head against the damp wall. The chains that descended +from the neck collar were obliged to be supported first with one band, +and then with the other; for, if thrown behind, they would have strangled +me, and if hanging forward occasioned most excessive headaches. The bar +between my hands held one down, while leaning on my elbow; I supported +with the other my chains; and this so benumbed the muscles and prevented +circulation, that I could perceive my arms sensibly waste away. The +little sleep I could have in such a situation may easily be supposed, +and, at length, body and mind sank under this accumulation of miserable +suffering, and I fell ill of a burning fever. + +The tyrant Borck was inexorable; he wished to expedite my death, and rid +himself of his troubles and his terrors. Here did I experience what was +the lamentable condition of a sick prisoner, without bed, refreshment, or +aid from human being. Reason, fortitude, heroism, all the noble +qualities of the mind, decay when the corporal faculties are diseased; +and the remembrance of my sufferings, at this dreadful moment, still +agitates, still inflames my blood, so as almost to prevent an attempt to +describe what they were. + +Yet hope had not totally forsaken me. Deliverance seemed possible, +especially should peace ensue; and I sustained, perhaps, what mortal man +never bore, except myself, being, as I was, provided with pistols, or any +such immediate mode of despatch. + +I continued ill about two months, and was so reduced at last that I had +scarcely strength to lift the water-jug to my mouth. What must the +sufferings of that man be who sits two months on the bare ground in a +dungeon so damp, so dark, so horrible, without bed or straw, his limbs +loaded as mine were, with no refreshment but dry ammunition bread, +without so much as a drop of broth, without physic, without consoling +friend, and who, under all these afflictions, must trust, for his +recovery, to the efforts of nature alone! + +Sickness itself is sufficient to humble the mightiest mind; what, then, +is sickness, with such an addition of torment? The burning fever, the +violent headaches, my neck swelled and inflamed with the irons, enraged +me almost to madness. The fever and the fetters together flayed my body +so that it appeared like one continued wound--Enough! Enough! The +malefactor extended living on the wheel, to whom the cruel executioner +refuses the last stroke--the blow of death--must yet, in some short +period, expire: he suffers nothing I did not then suffer; and these, my +excruciating pangs, continued two dreadful months--Yet, can it be +supposed? There came a day! A day of horror, when these mortal pangs +were beyond imagination increased. I sat scorched with this intolerable +fever, in which nature and death were contending; and when attempting to +quench my burning entrails with cold water, the jug dropped from my +feeble hands, and broke! I had four-and-twenty hours to remain without +water. So intolerable, so devouring was my thirst, I could have drank +human blood! Ay, in my madness, had it been the blood of my father! + +* * * * * * + +Willingly would I have seized my pistols, but strength had forsaken me, I +could not open the place I was obliged to render so secure. + +My visitors next day supposed me gone at last. I lay motionless, with my +tongue out of my mouth. They poured water down my throat, and I revived. + +Oh, God! Oh, God! How pure, how delicious, how exquisite was this +water! My insatiable thirst soon emptied the jug; they filled it anew, +bade me farewell, hoped death would soon relieve my mortal sufferings, +and departed. + +The lamentable state in which I lay at length became the subject of +general conversation, that all the ladies of the town united with the +officers, and prevailed on the tyrant, Borck, to restore me my bed. + +Oh, Nature, what are thy operations? From the day I drank water in such +excess I gathered strength, and to the astonishment of every one, soon +recovered. I had moved the heart of the officer who inspected my prison; +and after six months, six cruel months of intense misery, the day of hope +again began to dawn. + +One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieutenant Sonntag, who +came alone, spoke in confidence, and related his own situation, +complained of his debts, his poverty, his necessities; and I made him a +present of twenty-five louis-d'ors, for which he was so grateful that our +friendship became unshaken. + +The three lieutenants all commiserated me, and would sit hours with me, +when a certain major had the inspection; and he himself, after a time, +would even pass half the day with me. He, too, was poor: and I gave him +a draft for three thousand florins; hence new projects took birth. + +Money became necessary; I had disbursed all I possessed, a hundred +florins excepted, among the officers. The eldest son of Captain K---, +who officiated as major, had been cashiered: his father complained to me +of his distress, and I sent him to my sister, not far from Berlin, from +whom he received a hundred ducats. He returned and related her joy at +hearing from me. He found her exceedingly ill; and she informed me, in a +few lines, that my misfortunes, and the treachery of Weingarten, had +entailed poverty upon her, and an illness which had endured more than two +years. She wished me a happy deliverance from my chains, and, in +expectation of death, committed her children to my protection. She, +however, grew better, and married a second time, Colonel Pape; but died +in the year 1758. I shall forbear to relate her history: it indeed does +no honour to the ashes of Frederic, and would but less dispose my own +heart to forgiveness, by reviving the memory of her oppressions and +griefs. + +K---n returned happy with the money: all things were concerted with the +father. I wrote to the Countess Bestuchef, also to the Grand Duke, +afterwards Peter III., recommended the young soldier, and entreated every +possible succour for myself. + +K---n departed through Hamburg, for Petersburg, where, in consequence of +my recommendation, he became a captain, and in a short time major. He +took his measures so well that I, by the intervention of his father, and +a Hamburg merchant, received two thousand rubles from the Countess, while +the service he rendered me made his own fortune in Russia. + +To old K---, who was as poor as he was honest, I gave three hundred +ducats; and he, till death, continued my grateful friend. I distributed +nearly as much to the other officers; and matters proceeded so far that +Lieutenant Glotin gave back the keys to the major without locking my +prison, himself passing half the night with me. Money was given to the +guard to drink; and thus everything succeeded to my wish, and the tyrant +Borck was deceived. I had a supply of light; had books, newspapers, and +my days passed swiftly away. I read, I wrote, I busied myself so +thoroughly that I almost forgot I was a prisoner. When, indeed, the +surly, dull blockhead, Major Bruckhausen, had the inspection, everything +had to be carefully reinstated. Major Z---, the second of the three, was +also wholly mine. He was particularly attached to me; for I had promised +to marry his daughter, and, should I die in prison, to bequeath him a +legacy of ten thousand florins. + +Lieutenant Sonntag got false handcuffs made for me, that were so wide I +could easily draw my hands out; the lieutenants only examined my irons, +the new handcuffs were made perfectly similar to the old, and Bruckhausen +had too much stupidity to remark any difference. + +The remainder of my chains I could disencumber myself of at pleasure. +When I exercised myself, I held them in my hands, that the sentinel might +be deceived by their clanking. The neck-iron was the only one I durst +not remove; it was likewise too strongly riveted. I filed through the +upper link of the pendant chain, however, by which means I could take it +off, and this I concealed with bread in the manner before mentioned. + +So I could disencumber myself of most of my fetters, and sleep in ease. I +again obtained sausages and cold meat, and thus my situation, bad as it +still was, became less miserable. Liberty, however, was most desirable: +but, alas! not one of the three lieutenants had the courage of a Schell: +Saxony, too, was in the hands of the Prussians, and flight, therefore, +more dangerous. Persuasion was in vain with men determined to risk +nothing, but, if they went, to go in safety. Will, indeed, was not +wanting in Glotin and Sonntag; but the first was a poltroon, and the +latter a man of scruples, who thought this step might likewise be the +ruin of his brother at Berlin. + +The sentinels were doubled, therefore my escape through my hole, which +had been two years dug, could not, unperceived by them, be effected: +still less could I, in the face of the guard, clamber the twelve feet +high pallisadoes. The following labour, therefore, though Herculean, was +undertaken. + +Lieutenant Sonntag, measuring the interval between the hole I had dug and +the entrance in the gallery in the principal rampart, found it to be +thirty-seven feet. Into this it was possible I might, by mining, +penetrate. The difficulty of the enterprise was lessened by the nature +of the ground, a fine white sand. Could I reach the gallery my freedom +was certain. I had been informed how many steps to the right or left +must be taken, to find the door that led to the second rampart: and, on +the day when I should be ready for flight, the officer was secretly to +leave this door open. I had light, and mining tools, and was further to +rely on money and my own discretion. + +I began and continued this labour about six months. I have already +noticed the difficulty of scraping out the earth with my hands, as the +noise of instruments would have been heard by the sentinels. I had +scarcely mined beyond my dungeon wall before I discovered the foundation +of the rampart was not more than a foot deep; a capital error certainly +in so important a fortress. My labour became the lighter, as I could +remove the foundation stones of my dungeon, and was not obliged to mine +so deep. + +My work at first proceeded so rapidly, that, while I had room to throw +back my sand, I was able in one night to gain three feet; but ere I had +proceeded ten feet I discovered all my difficulties. Before I could +continue my work I was obliged to make room for myself, by emptying the +sand out of my hole upon the floor of the prison, and this itself was an +employment of some hours. The sand was obliged to be thrown out by the +hand, and after it thus lay heaped in my prison, must again be returned +into the hole; and I have calculated that after I had proceeded twenty +feet, I was obliged to creep under ground, in my hole, from fifteen +hundred to two thousand fathoms, within twenty-four hours, in the removal +and replacing of the sand. This labour ended, care was to be taken that +in none of the crevices of the floor there might be any appearance of +this fine white sand. The flooring was the next to be exactly replaced, +and my chains to be resumed. So severe was the fatigue of one day, in +this mode, that I was always obliged to rest the three following. + +To reduce my labour as much as possible, I was constrained to make the +passage so small that my body only had space to pass, and I had not room +to draw my arm back to my head. The work, too, must all be done naked, +otherwise the dirtiness of my shirt must have been remarked; the sand was +wet, water being found at the depth of four feet, where the stratum of +the gravel began. At length the expedient of sand-bags occurred to me, +by which it might be removed out and in more expeditiously. I obtained +linen from the officers, but not in sufficient quantities; suspicions +would have been excited at observing so much linen brought into the +prison. At last I took my sheets and the ticking that enclosed my straw, +and cut them up for sand-bags, taking care to lie down on my bed, as if +ill, when Bruckhausen paid his visit. + +The labour, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable as to incite +despondency. I frequently sat contemplating the heaps of sand, during a +momentary respite from work; and thinking it impossible I could have +strength or time again to replace all things as they were, resolved +patiently to wait the consequence, and leave everything in its present +disorder. Yes! I can assure the reader that, to effect concealment, I +have scarcely had time in twenty-four hours to sit down and eat a morsel +of bread. Recollecting, however, the efforts, and all the progress I had +made, hope would again revive, and exhausted strength return: again would +I begin my labours, that I might preserve my secret and my expectations: +yet has it frequently happened that my visitors have entered a few +minutes after I had reinstated everything in its place. + +When my work was within six or seven feet of being accomplished, a new +misfortune happened that at once frustrated all further attempts. I +worked, as I have said, under the foundation of the rampart near where +the sentinels stood. I could disencumber myself of my fetters, except my +neck collar and its pendent chain. This, as I worked, though it was +fastened, got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the sentinels +about fifteen feet from my dungeon. The officer was called, they laid +their ears to the ground, and heard me as I went backward and forward to +bring my earth bags. This was reported the next day; and the major, who +was my best friend, with the town-major, and a smith and mason, entered +my prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant by a sign gave me to +understand I was discovered. An examination was begun, but the officers +would not see, and the smith and mason found all, as they thought, safe. +Had they examined my bed, they would have seen the ticking and sheets +were gone. + +The town-major, who was a dull man, was persuaded the thing was +impossible, and said to the sentinel, "Blockhead! you have heard some +mole underground, and not Trenck. How, indeed, could it be, that lee +should work underground, at such a distance from his dungeon?" Here the +scrutiny ended. + +There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their hour of coming, +they must have found me at work: but this, during ten years, never +happened: for the governor and town-major were stupid men, and the +others, poor fellows, wishing me all success, were willingly blind. In a +few days I could have broken out, but, when ready, I was desirous to wait +for the visitation of the man who had treated me so tyranically, +Bruckhausen, that his own negligence might be evident. But this man, +though he wanted understanding, did not want good fortune. He was ill +for some time, and his duty devolved on K---. + +He recovered; and the visitation being over, the doors were no sooner +barred than I began my supposed last labour. I had only three feet +farther to proceed, and it was no longer necessary I should bring out the +sand, I having room to throw it behind me. What my anxiety was, what my +exertions were, may well be imagined. My evil genius, however, had +decreed that the same sentinel, who had heard me before, should be that +day on guard. He was piqued by vanity, to prove he was not the blockhead +he had been called; he therefore again laid his ear to the ground, and +again heard me burrowing. Ho called his comrades first, next thee major; +lee came, and heard me likewise; they then went without the pallisadoes, +and heard me working near the door, at which place I was to break into +the gallery. This door they immediately opened, entered the gallery with +lanthorns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed. + +Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light, and saw the +heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a thunder-stroke! +I crept back, made my way through the sand I had cast behind me, and +awaited my fate with shuddering! I had the presence of mind to conceal +my pistols, candles, paper, and some money, under the floor which I could +remove. The money was disposed of in various holes, well concealed also +between the panels of the doors; and under different cracks in the floor +I hid my small files and knives. Scarcely were these disposed of before +the doors resounded: the floor was covered with sand and sand-bags: my +handcuffs, however, and the separating bar, I had hastily resumed that +they might suppose I had worked with them on, which they were silly +enough to credit, highly to my future advantage. + +No man was more busy on this occasion than the brutal and stupid +Bruckhausen, who put many interrogatories, to which I made no reply, +except assuring him that I should have completed my work some days +sooner, had it not been his good fortune to fall sick, and that this only +had been the cause of my failure. + +The man was absolutely terrified with apprehension; he began to fear me, +grew more polite, and even supposed nothing was impossible to me. + +It was too late to remove the sand; therefore the lieutenant and guard +continued with me, so that this night at least I did not want company. +When the morning came, the hole was first filled up; the planking was +renewed. The tyrant Borck was ill, and could not come, otherwise my +treatment would have been still more lamentable. The smiths had ended +before the evening, and the irons were heavier than ever. The foot +chains, instead of being fastened as before, were screwed and riveted; +all else remained as formerly. They were employed in the flooring till +the next day, so that I could not sleep, and at last I sank down with +weariness. + +The greatest of my misfortunes was they again deprived me of my bed, +because I had cut it up for sand-bags. Before the doors were barred +Bruckhausen and another major examined my body very narrowly. They often +had asked me where I concealed all my implements? My answer was, +"Gentlemen, Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he brings me +everything I want, supplies me with light: we play whole nights at +piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally deliver me out of +your power." + +Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they were barring +the last door, I called, "Come back, gentlemen! you have forgotten +something of great importance." In the interim I had taken up one of my +hidden files. When they returned, "Look ye, gentlemen," said I, "here is +a proof of the friendship Beelzebub has for me, he has brought me this in +a twinkling." Again they examined, and again they shut their doors. +While they were so doing, I took out a knife, and ten louis-d'ors, +called, and they re turned, grumbling curses; I then shewed the knife and +the louis-d'ors. Their consternation was excessive; and I diverted my +misfortunes by jesting at such blundering, short-sighted keepers. It was +soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple and vulgar, +that I was a magician to whom the devil brought all I asked. + +One Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this report. A +foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be +permitted to see me through the door, being very desirous to see a +wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we jointly determined to sport with his +credulity. The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, which I put +on when the doors were opening, and threw myself in an heroic attitude. +The affrighted burger drew back; but Holtzkammer stopped him, and said, +"Have patience for some quarter of an hour, and you shall see he will +assume quite a different countenance." The burger waited, my mask was +thrown by, and my face appeared whitened with chalk, and made ghastly. +The burger again shrank back; Holtzkammer kept him in conversation, and I +assumed a third farcical form. I tied my hair under my nose, and a +pewter dish to my breast, and when the door a third time opened, I +thundered, "Begone, rascals, or I'll set your necks--awry!" They both +ran: and the silly burger, eased of his fifty dollars, scampered first. + +The major, in vain, laid his injunctions on the burger never to reveal +what he had beheld, it being a breach of duty in him to admit any persons +whatever to the sight of me. In a few days, the necromancer Trenck was +the theme of every alehouse in Magdeburg, and the person was named who +had seen me change my form thrice in the space of one hour. Many false +and ridiculous circumstances were added, and at last the story reached +the governor's ears. The citizen was cited, and offered to take his oath +of what himself and the major had seen. Holtzkammer accordingly suffered +a severe reprimand, and was some days under arrest. We frequently +laughed, however, at this adventure, which had rendered me so much the +subject of conversation. Miraculous reports were the more easily +credited, because no one could comprehend how, in despite of the load of +irons I carried, and all the vigilance of my guards, I should be +continually able to make new attempts, while those appointed to examine +my dungeon seemed, as it were, blinded and bewildered. A proof this, how +easy it is to deceive the credulous, and whence have originated +witchcraft, prophecies, and miracles. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +My last undertaking had employed me more than twelve months, and so +weakened me that I appeared little better than a skeleton. +Notwithstanding the greatness of my spirit, I should have sunk into +despondency, at seeing an end like this to all my labours, had I not +still cherished a secret hope of escaping, founded on the friends I had +gained among the officers. + +I soon felt the effects of the loss of my bed, and was a second time +attacked by a violent fever, which would this time certainly have +consumed me had not the officers, unknown to the governor, treated me +with all possible compassion. Bruckhausen alone continued my enemy, and +the slave of his orders; on his day of examination rules and commands in +all their rigour were observed, nor durst I free myself from my irons, +till I had for some weeks remarked those parts on which he invariably +fixed his attention. I then cut through the link, and closed up the +vacancy with bread. My hands I could always draw out, especially after +illness had consumed the flesh off my bones. Half a year had elapsed +before I had recovered sufficient strength to undertake, anew, labours +like the past. + +Necessity at length taught me the means of driving Bruckhausen from my +dungeon, and of inducing him to commit his office to another. I learnt +his olfactory nerves were somewhat delicate, and whenever I heard the +doors unbar, I took care to make a stir in my night-table. This made him +give back, and at length he would come no farther than the door. Such +are the hard expedients of a poor unhappy prisoner! + +One day he came, bloated with pride, just after a courier had brought the +news of victory, and spoke of the Austrians, and the august person of the +Empress-Queen with so much virulence, that, at last, enraged almost to +madness, I snatched the sword of an officer from its sheath, and should +certainly have ended him, had he not made a hasty retreat. From that day +forward he durst no more come without guards to examine the dungeon. Two +men always preceded him, with their bayonets fixed, and their pieces +presented, behind whom he stood at the door. This was another fortunate +incident, as I dreaded only his examination. + +The following anecdote will afford a specimen of this man's +understanding. While digging in the earth I found a cannon-ball, and +laid it in the middle of my prison. When he came to examine--"What in +the name of God is that?" said he. "It is a part of the ammunition," +answered I, "that my Familiar brings me. The cannon will be here anon, +and you will then see fine sport!" He was astonished, told this to +others, nor could conceive such a ball might by any natural means enter +my prison. + +I wrote a satire on him, when the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel was +governor of Magdeburg; and I had permission to write as will hereafter +appear: the Landgrave gave it to him to read himself; and so gross was +his conception, that though his own phraseology was introduced, part of +his history and his character painted, yet he did not perceive the jest, +but laughed heartily with the hearers. The Landgrave was highly +diverted, and after I obtained my freedom, restored me the manuscript +written in my own blood. + +About the time that my last attempt at escaping failed, General +Krusemarck came to my prison, whom I had formerly lived with in habits of +intimacy, when cornet of the body guard. Without testifying friendship, +esteem, or compassion, he asked, among other things, in an authoritative +tone, how I could employ my time to prevent tediousness? I answered in +as haughty a mood as he interrogated: for never could misfortune bend my +mind. I told him, "I always could find sources of entertainment in my +own thoughts; and that, as for my dreams, I imagined they would at least +be as peaceful and pleasant as those of my oppressors." "Had you in +time," replied he, "curbed this fervour of yours, had you asked pardon of +the King, perhaps you would have been in very different circumstances; +but he who has committed an offence in which he obstinately persists, +endeavouring only to obtain freedom by seducing men from their duty, +deserves no better fate." + +Justly was my anger roused! "Sir," answered I, "you are a general of the +King of Prussia, I am an Austrian captain. My royal mistress will +protect, perhaps deliver me, or, at least, revenge my death; I have a +conscience void of reproach. You, yourself, well know I have not +deserved these chains. I place my hope in time, and the justness of my +cause, calumniated and condemned, as I have been, without legal sentence +or hearing. In such a situation, the philosopher will always be able to +brave and despise the tyrant." + +He departed with threats, and his last words were, "The bird shall soon +be taught to sing another tune." The effects of this courteous visit +were soon felt. An order came that I should be prevented sleeping, and +that the sentinels should call, and wake me every quarter of an hour; +which dreadful order was immediately executed. + +This was indeed a punishment intolerable to nature! Yet did custom at +length teach me to answer in my sleep. Four years did this unheard of +cruelty continue! The noble Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel at length put an +end to it a year before I was released from my dungeon, and once again, +in mercy, suffered me to sleep in peace. + +Under this new affliction, I wrote an Elegy which may be found in the +second volume of my works, a few lines of which I shall cite. + + Wake me, ye guards, for hark, the quarter strikes! + Sport with my woes, laugh loud at my miseries + Hearken if you hear my chains clank! Knock! Beat! + Of an inexorable tyrant be ye + Th' inexorable instruments! Wake me, ye slaves; + Ye do but as you're bade. Soon shall he lie + Sleepless, or dreaming, the spectres of conscience + Behold and shriek, who me deprives of rest. + + Wake me: Again the quarter strikes! Call loud + Rip up all my bleeding wounds, and shrink not! + Yet think 'tis I that answer, God that hears! + To every wretch in chains sleep is permitted: + I, I alone, am robb'd of this last refuge + Of sinking nature! Hark! Again they thunder! + Again they iterate yells of Trenck and death. + + Peace to thy anger, peace, thou suffering heart! + Nor indignant beat, adding tenfold pangs to pain. + + Ye burthened limbs, arise from momentary + Slumbers! Shake your chains! Murmur not, but rise! + And ye! Watch-dogs of Power! let loose your rage: + Fear not, for I am helpless, unprotected. + And yet, not so--The noble mind, within + Itself, resources finds innumerable. + + Thou, Oh God, thought'st good me t' imprison thus: + Thou, Oh God, in Thy good time, wilt me deliver. + + Wake me then, nor fear! My soul slumbers not. + And who can say but those who fetter me, + May, ere to-morrow, groan themselves in fetters! + Wake me! For lo! their sleep's less sweet than mine. + + Call! Call! From night to morn, from twilight to dawn, + Incessant! Yea, in God's name, Call! Call! Call! + Amen! Amen! Thy will, Oh God, be done! + Yet surely Thou at length shalt hear my sighs! + Shalt burst my prison doors! Shalt shew me fair + Creation! Yea, the very heav'n of heav'ns! + +With whom these orders originated, unexampled in the history even of +tyranny, I shall not venture to say. The major, who was my friend, +advised me to persist in not answering. I followed his advice; and it +produced this good effect that we mutually forced each other to a +capitulation: they restored me my bed, and I was obliged to reply. + +Immediately after this regulation, the sub-governor, General Borck, my +bitter enemy, became insane, was dispossessed of his post, and Lieutenant- +General Reichmann, the benevolent friend of humanity, was made +sub-governor. + +About the same time the Court fled from Berlin, and the Queen, the Prince +of Prussia, the Princess Amelia, and the Margrave Henry, chose Magdeburg +for their residence. Bruckhausen grew more polite, probably perceiving I +was not wholly deserted, and that it was yet possible I might obtain my +freedom. The cruel are usually cowards, and there is reason to suppose +Bruckhausen was actuated by his fears to treat me with greater respect. + +The worthy new governor had not indeed the power to lighten my chains, or +alter the general regulations; what he could, he did. If he did not +command, he connived at the doors being occasionally at first, and at +length, daily, kept open some hours, to admit daylight and fresh air. +After a time, they were open the whole day, and only closed by the +officers when they returned from their visit to Walrabe. + +Having light, I began to carve, with a nail, on the pewter cup in which I +drank, satirical verses and various figures, and attained so much +perfection that my cups, at last, were considered as master-pieces, both +of engraving and invention, and were sold dear, as rare curiosities. My +first attempts were rude, as may well be imagined. My cup was carried to +town, and shown to visitors by the governor, who sent me another. I +improved, and each of the inspecting officers wished to possess one. I +grew more expert, and spent a whole year in this employment, which thus +passed swiftly away. The perfection I had now acquired obtained me the +permission of candle-light, and this continued till I was restored to +freedom. + +The King gave orders these cups should all be inspected by government, +because I wished, by my verses and devices, to inform the world of my +fate. But this command was not obeyed; the officers made merchandise of +my cups, and sold them at last for twelve ducats each. Their value +increased so much, when I was released from prison, that they are now to +be found in various museums throughout Europe. Twelve years ago the late +Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel presented one of them to my wife; and another +came, in a very unaccountable manner, from the Queen-Dowager of Prussia +to Paris. I have given prints of both these, with the verses they +contained, in my works; whence it may be seen how artificially they were +engraved. + +A third fell into the hands of Prince Augustus Lobkowitz, then a prisoner +of war at Magdeburg, who, on his return to Vienna, presented it to the +Emperor, who placed it in his museum. Among other devices on this cup, +was a landscape, representing a vineyard and husbandmen, and under it the +following words:--_By my labours my vineyard flourished_, _and I hoped to +have gathered the fruit_; _but Ahab came_. _Alas_! _for Naboth_. + +The allusion was so pointed, both to the wrongs done me in Vienna, and my +sufferings in Prussia, that it made a very strong impression on the +Empress-Queen, who immediately commanded her minister to make every +exertion for my deliverance. She would probably at last have even +restored me to my estates, had not the possessors of them been so +powerful, or had she herself lived one year longer. To these my engraved +cups was I indebted for being once more remembered at Vienna. On the +same cup, also, was another engraving of a bird in a cage, held by a +Turk, with the following inscription:--_The bird sings even in the +storm_; _open his cage_, _break his fetters_, _ye friends of virtue_, +_and his songs shall be the delight of your abodes_! + +There is another remarkable circumstance attending these cups. All were +forbidden under pain of death to hold conversation with me, or to supply +me with pen and ink; yet by this open permission of writing what I +pleased on pewter, was I enabled to inform the world of all I wished, and +to prove a man of merit was oppressed. The difficulties of this +engraving will be conceived, when it is remembered that I worked by +candle-light on shining pewter, attained the art of giving light and +shade, and by practice could divide a cup into two-and-thirty +compartments as regularly with a stroke of the hand as with a pair of +compasses. The writing was so minute that it could only be read with +glasses. I could use but one hand, both, being separated by the bar, and +therefore held the cup between my knees. My sole instrument was a +sharpened nail, yet did I write two lines on the rim only. + +My labour became so excessive, that I was in danger of distraction or +blindness. Everybody wished for cups, and I wished to oblige everybody, +so that I worked eighteen hours a day. The reflection of the light from +the pewter was injurious to my eyes, and the labour of invention for +apposite subjects and verses was most fatiguing. I had learnt only +architectural drawing. + +Enough of these cups, which procured me so much honour, so many +advantages, and helped to shorten so many mournful hours. My greatest +encumbrance was the huge iron collar, with its enormous appendages, +which, when suffered to press the arteries in the back of my neck, +occasioned intolerable headaches. I sat too much, and a third time fell +sick. A Brunswick sausage, secretly given me by a friend, occasioned an +indigestion, which endangered my life; a putrid fever followed, and my +body was reduced to a skeleton. Medicines, however, were conveyed to me +by the officers, and, now and then, warm food. + +After my recovery, I again thought it necessary to endeavour to regain my +liberty. I had but forty louis-d'ors remaining, and these I could not +get till I had first broken up the flooring. + +Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive, and obtained his discharge. I +supplied bins with money to defray the expenses of his journey, and with +an order that four hundred florins should be annually paid him from my +effects till his death or my release. I commissioned him to seek an +audience from the Empress, endeavour to excite her compassion in my +behalf, and to remit me four thousand florins, for which I gave a proper +acquittance, by the way of Hamburgh. The money-draft was addressed to my +administrators, Counsellors Kempf and Huttner. + +But no one, alas! in Vienna, wished my return; they had already begun to +share my property, of which they never rendered me an account. Poor +Sonntag was arrested as a spy, imprisoned, ill treated for some weeks, +and, at last, when naked and destitute, received a hundred florins, and +was escorted beyond the Austrian confines. The worthy man fell a +shameful sacrifice to his honesty, could never obtain an audience of the +Empress, and returned poor and miserable on foot to Berlin, where he was +twelve months secretly maintained by his brother, and with whom he died. +He wrote an account of all this to the good Knoblauch, my Hamburgh agent, +and I, from my small store, sent him a hundred ducats. + +How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on earth, hearing +accounts like these from Vienna. + +A friend, whom I will never name, by the aid of one of the lieutenants, +secretly visited me, and supplied me with six hundred ducats. The same +friend, in the year 1763, paid four thousand florins to the imperial +envoy, Baron Reidt, at Berlin, for the furthering of my freedom, as I +shall presently more fully show. Thus I had once more money. + +About this time the French army advanced to within five miles of +Magdeburg. This important fortress was, at that time, the key of the +whole Prussian power. It required a garrison of sixteen thousand men, +and contained not more than fifteen hundred. The French might have +marched in unopposed, and at once have put an end to the war. The +officers brought me all the news, and my hopes rose as they approached. +What was my astonishment when the major informed me that three waggons +had entered the town in the night, had been sent back loaded with money, +and that the French were retreating. This, I can assure my readers, on +my honour, is literally truth, to the eternal disgrace of the French +general. The major, who informed me, was himself an eye-witness of the +fact. It was pretended the money was for the army of the King, but +everybody could guess whither it was going; it left the town without a +convoy, and the French were then in the neighbourhood. Such were the +allies of Maria Theresa; the receivers of this money are known in Paris. +Not only were my hopes this way frustrated, but in Russia likewise, where +the Countess of Bestuchef and the Chancellor had fallen into disgrace. + +I now imagined another, and, indeed, a fearful and dangerous project. The +garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted but of nine hundred +militia, who were discontented men. Two majors and two lieutenants were +in my interest. The guard of the Star Fort amounted but to a hundred and +fifteen men. Fronting the gate of this fort was the town gate, guarded +only by twelve men and an inferior officer; beside these lay the +casemates, in which were seven thousand Croat prisoners. Baron K---y, a +captain, and prisoner of war, also was in our interest, and would hold +his comrades ready at a certain place and time to support my undertaking. +Another friend was, under some pretence, to hold his company ready, with +their muskets loaded, and the plan was such that I should have had four +hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution. + +The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected and feared, +as sentinels over me; he was to command them to take away my bed, and +when encumbered, I was to spring out, and shut them in the prison. +Clothing and arms were to have been procured, and brought me into my +prison; the town-gate was to have been surprised; I was to have run to +the casemate, and called to the Croats, "Trenck to arms!" My friends, at +the same instant, were to break forth, and the plan was so well concerted +that it could not have failed. Magdeburg, the magazine of the army, the +royal treasury, arsenal, all would have been mine; and sixteen thousand +men, who were then prisoners of war, would have enabled me to keep +possession. + +The most essential secret, by which all this was to have been effected, I +dare not reveal; suffice it to say, everything was provided for, +everything made secure; I shall only add that the garrison, in the +harvest months, was exceedingly weakened, because the farmers paid the +captains a florin per man each day, and the men for their labour +likewise, to obtain hands. The sub-governor connived at the practice. + +One Lieutenant G--- procured a furlough to visit his friends; but, +supplied by me with money, he went to Vienna. I furnished him with a +letter, addressed to Counsellors Kempf and Huttner, including a draft for +two thousand ducats; wherein I said that, by these means, I should not +only soon be at liberty, but in possession of the fortress of Magdeburg; +and that the bearer was entrusted with the rest. + +The lieutenant came safe to Vienna, underwent a thousand interrogatories, +and his name was repeatedly asked. This, fortunately, he concealed. They +advised him not to be concerned in so dangerous an undertaking; told him +I had not so much money due to me, and gave him, instead of two thousand +ducats, one thousand florins. With these he left Vienna, but with very +prudent suspicions which prevented him ever returning to Magdeburg. A +month had scarcely passed before the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, then +chief governor, entered my prison, showed me my letter, and demanded to +know who had carried the letter, and who were to free me and betray +Magdeburg. Whether the letter was sent immediately to the King or the +governor I know not; it is sufficient that I was once more betrayed at +Vienna. The truth was, the administrators of my effects had acted as if +I were deceased, and did not choose to refund two thousand ducats. They +wished not I should obtain my freedom, in a manner that would have +obliged the government to have rewarded me, and restore the effects they +had embezzled and the estates they had seized. What happened afterwards +at Vienna, which will be related in its place, will incontestably prove +this surmise to be well founded. + +These bad men did not, it is true, die in the manner they ought, but they +are all dead, and I am still living, an honest, though poor man: they did +not die so. Be this read and remembered by their luxurious heirs, who +refuse to restore my children to their rights. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +My consternation on the appearance of the Landgrave, with my letter in +his hand, may well be supposed; I had the presence of mind, however, to +deny my handwriting, and affect astonishment at so crafty a trick. The +Landgrave endeavoured to convict me, told me what Lieutenant Kemnitz had +repeated at Vienna concerning my possessing myself of Magdeburg, and +thereby showed me how fully I had been betrayed. But as no such person +existed as Lieutenant Kemnitz, and as my friend had fortunately concealed +his name, the mystery remained impenetrable, especially as no one could +conceive how a prisoner, in my situation, could seduce or subdue the +whole garrison. The worthy prince left my prison, apparently satisfied +with my defence; his heart felt no satisfaction in the misfortunes of +others. + +The next day a formal examination was taken, at which the sub-governor +Reichmann presided. I was accused as a traitor to my country; but I +obstinately denied my handwriting. Proofs or witnesses there were none, +and in answer to the principal charge, I said, "I was no criminal, but a +man calumniated, illegally imprisoned, and loaded with irons; that the +King, in the year 1746, had cashiered me, and confiscated my parental +inheritance; that therefore the laws of nature enforced me to seek honour +and bread in a foreign service; and that, finding these in Austria, I +became an officer and a faithful subject of the Empress-Queen; that I had +been a second time unoffendingly imprisoned; that here I was treated as +the worst of malefactors, and my only resource was to seek my liberty by +such means as I could; were I therefore in this attempt to destroy +Magdeburg, and occasion the loss of a thousand lives, I should still be +guiltless. Had I been heard and legally sentenced, previous to my +imprisonment at Glatz, I should have been, and still continued, a +criminal; but not having been guilty of any small, much less of any great +crime, equal to my punishment, if such crime could be, I was therefore +not accountable for consequences; I owed neither fidelity nor duty to the +King of Prussia; for by the word of his power he had deprived me of +bread, honour, country, and freedom." + +Here the examination ended, without further discovery; the officers, +however, falling under suspicion, were all removed, and thus I lost my +best friends; yet it was not long before I had gained two others, which +was no difficult matter, as I knew the national character, and that none +but poor men were made militia officers. Thus was the governor's +precaution fruitless, and almost everybody secretly wished I might obtain +my freedom. + +I shall never forget the noble manner in which I was treated on this +occasion by the Landgrave. This I personally acknowledged, some years +afterwards, in the city of Cassel, when I heard many things which +confirmed all my surmises concerning Vienna. The Landgrave received me +with all grace, favour, and distinction. I revere his memory, and seek +to honour his name. He was the friend of misfortune. When I not long +afterwards fell ill, he sent me his own physician, and meat from his +table, nor would he suffer me, during two months, to be wakened by the +sentinels. He likewise removed the dreadful collar from my neck; for +which he was severely reprimanded by the King, as he himself has since +assured me. + +I might fill a volume with incidents attending two other efforts to +escape, but I will not weary the reader's patience with too much +repetition. I shall merely give an abstract of both. + +When I had once more gained the officers, I made a new attempt at mining +my way out. Not wanting for implements, my chains and the flooring were +soon cut through, and all was so carefully replaced that I was under no +fear of examination. I here found my concealed money, pistols, and other +necessaries, but till I had rid myself of some hundredweight of sand, it +was impossible to proceed. For this purpose I made two different +openings in the floor: out of the real hole I threw a great quantity of +sand into my prison; after which I closed it with all possible care. I +then worked at the second with so much noise, that I was certain they +must hear me without. About midnight the doors began to thunder, and in +they came, detecting me, as I intended they should. None of them could +conceive why I should wish to break out under the door, where there was a +triple guard to pass. The sentinels remained, and in the morning +prisoners were sent to wheel away the sand. The hole was walled up and +boarded, and my fetters were renewed. They laughed at the ridiculousness +of my undertaking, but punished me by depriving me of my light and bed, +which, however, in a fortnight were both restored. Of the other hole, +out of which most of the earth had been thrown, no one was aware. The +major and lieutenant were too much my friends to remark that they had +removed thrice the quantity of sand the false opening could contain. They +supposed this strange attempt having failed, it would be my last, and +Bruckhausen grew negligent. + +The governor and sub-governor both visited me after some weeks, but far +from imitating the brutality of Borck, the Landgrave spoke to me with +mildness, promised me his interest to regain my freedom, when peace +should be concluded; told me I had more friends than I supposed, and +assured me I had not been forgotten by the Court at Vienna. + +He promised me every alleviation, and I gave him my word I would no more +attempt to escape while he remained governor. My manner enforced +conviction and he ordered my neck-collar to be taken off, my window to be +unclosed, my doors to be left open two hours every day, a stove to be put +in my dungeon, finer linen for my shirts, and paper to amuse myself by +writing my thoughts. The sheets were to be numbered when given, and then +returned, by the town-major, that I might not abuse this liberty. + +Ink was not allowed me, I therefore pricked my fingers, suffered the +blood to trickle into a pot; by these means I procured a substitute for +ink, both to write and draw. + +I now engraved my cups, and versified. I had opportunity to display my +abilities to awaken compassion. My emulation was increased by knowing +that my works were seen at Courts, that the Princess Amelia and the Queen +herself testified their satisfaction. I had subjects to engrave from +sent me; and the wretch whom the King intended to bury alive, whose name +no man was to mention, never was more famous than while he vented his +groans in his dungeon. My writings produced their effect, and really +regained my freedom. To my cultivation of the sciences and presence of +mind I am indebted for all; these all the power of Frederic could not +deprive me of. Yes! This liberty I procured, though he answered all +petitions in my behalf--"He is a dangerous man: and so long as I live he +shall never see the light!" Yet have I seen it during his life: after +his death I have seen it without revenging myself, otherwise than by +proving my virtue to a monarch who oppressed because he knew me not, +because he would not recall the hasty sentence of anger, or own he might +be mistaken. He died convinced of my integrity, yet without affording me +retribution! Man is formed by misfortune; virtue is active in adversity. +It is indifferent to me that the companions of my youth have their ears +gratified, delighted with the titles of General! Field-Marshal I have +learned to live without such additions; I am known in my works. + +I returned to my dungeon. Here, after my last conference with the +Landgrave, I waited my fate with a mind more at ease than that of a +prince in a palace. The newspapers they brought me bespoke approaching +peace, on which my dependence was placed, and I passed eighteen months +calmly, and without further attempt to escape. + +The father of the Landgrave died; and Magdeburg now lost its governor. +The worthy Reichmann, however, testified for me all compassion and +esteem; I had books, and my time was employed. Imprisonment and chains +to me were become habitual, and freedom in hope approached. + +About this time I wrote the poems, "The Macedonian Hero," "The Dream +Realised," and some fables. The best of my poems are now lost to me. The +mind's sensibility when the body is imprisoned is strongly roused, nor +can all the aids of the library equal this advantage. Perhaps I may +recover some in Berlin; if so, the world may learn what my thoughts then +were. When I was at liberty, I had none but such as I remembered, and +these I committed to writing. On my first visit to the Landgrave of +Hesse-Cassel I received a volume of them written in my own blood; but +there were eight of these which I shall never regain. + +The death of Elizabeth, the deposing of Peter III., and the accession of +Catherine II. produced peace. On the receipt of this intelligence I +tried to provide for all contingencies. The worthy Captain K--- had +opened me a correspondence with Vienna: I was assured of support; but was +assured the administrators and those who possessed my estates would throw +every impediment in the way of freedom. I tried to persuade another +officer to aid my escape, but in vain. + +I therefore opened my old hole, and my friends assisted me to +disembarrass myself of sand. My money melted away, but they provided me +with tools, gunpowder, and a good sword. I had remained so long quiet +that my flooring was not examined. + +My intent was to wait the peace; and should I continue in chains, then +would I have my subterranean passage to the rampart ready for escape. For +my further security, an old lieutenant had purchased a house in the +suburbs, where I might lie concealed. Gummern, in Saxony, is two miles +from Magdeburg; here a friend, with two good horses, was to wait a year, +to ride on the glacis of Klosterbergen on the first and fifteenth of each +month, and at a given signal to hasten to my assistance. + +My passage had to be ready in case of emergency; I removed the upper +planking, broke up the two beds, cut the boards into chips, and burnt +them in my stove. By this I obtained so much additional room as to +proceed half way with my mine. Linen again was brought me, sand-bags +made, and thus I successfully proceeded to all but the last operation. +Everything was so well concealed that I had nothing to fear from +inspection, especially as the new come garrison could not know what was +the original length of the planks. + +I must here relate a dreadful accident, which I cannot remember without +shuddering, and the terror of which has often haunted my very dreams. + +While mining under the rampart, as I was carrying out the sand-bag, I +struck my foot against a stone which fell down and closed up the passage. + +What was my horror to find myself buried alive! After a short +reflection, I began to work the sand away from the side, that I might +turn round. There were some feet of empty space, into which I threw the +sand as I worked it away; but the small quantity of air soon made it so +foul that I a thousand times wished myself dead, and made several +attempts to strangle myself. Thirst almost deprived me of my senses, but +as often as I put my mouth to the sand I inhaled fresh air. My +sufferings were incredible, and I imagine I passed eight hours in this +situation. My spirits fainted; again I recovered and began to labour, +but the earth was as high as my chin, and I had no more space where I +might throw the sand. I made a more desperate effort, drew my body into +a ball, and turned round; I now faced the stone; there being an opening +at the top, I respired fresher air. I rooted away the sand under the +stone, and let it sink so that I might creep over; at length I once more +arrived in my dungeon! + +The morning was advanced; I sat down so exhausted that I supposed it was +impossible I had strength to conceal my hole. After half an hour's rest, +my fortitude returned: again I went to work, and scarcely had I ended +before my visitors approached. + +They found me pale: I complained of headache, and continued some days +affected by the fatigue I had sustained. After a time strength returned; +but perhaps of all my nights of horror this was the most horrible. I +repeatedly dreamt I was buried in the centre of the earth; and now, +though three and twenty years are elapsed, my sleep is still haunted by +this vision. + +After this accident, when I worked in my cavity, I hung a knife round my +neck, that if I should be enclosed I might shorten my miseries. Over the +stone that had fallen several others hung tottering, under which I was +obliged to creep. Nothing, however, could deter me from trying to obtain +my liberty. + +When my passage was ready, I wrote letters to my friends at Vienna, and +also a memorial to my Sovereign. When the militia left Magdeburg and the +regulars returned, I took leave of my friends who had behaved so +benevolently. Several weeks elapsed before they departed and I learnt +that General Reidt was appointed ambassador from Vienna to Berlin. + +I had seen the world; I knew this General was not averse to a bribe: I +wrote him a letter, conjuring him to act with ardour in my behalf. I +enclosed a draft for six thousand florins on my effects at Vienna, and he +received four thousand from one of my relations. I have to thank these +ten thousand florins for my freedom, which I obtained nine months after. +My vouchers show the six thousand florins were paid in April, 1763, to +the order of General Reidt. The other four thousand I repaid, when at +liberty, to my friend. + +I received intelligence before the garrison departed that no stipulation +had been made on my behalf at the peace of Hubertsberg. The Vienna +plenipotentiaries, after the articles were signed, mentioned my name to +Hertzberg, with but few assurances of every effort being made to move +Frederic, a promise on which I could much better rely than on my +protectors at Vienna, who had left me in misfortune. I determined to +wait three months longer, and should I still find myself neglected, to +owe my escape to myself. + +On the change of the garrison, the officers were more difficult to gain +than the former. The majors obeyed their orders; their help was +unnecessary; but still I sighed for my old friends. I had only +ammunition-bread again for food. + +My time hung very heavy; everything was examined on the change of the +garrison. A stricter scrutiny might occur, and my projects be +discovered. This had nearly been effected, as I shall here relate. I +had so tamed a mouse that it would eat from my mouth; in this small +animal I discovered proofs of intelligence. + +This mouse had nearly been my ruin. I had diverted myself with it one +night; it had been nibbling at my door and capering on a trencher. The +sentinels hearing our amusement, called the officers: they heard also, +and thought all was not right. At daybreak the town-major, a smith, and +mason entered; strict search was begun; flooring, walls, chains, and my +own person were all scrutinised, but in vain. They asked what was the +noise they had heard; I mentioned the mouse, whistled, and it came and +jumped upon my shoulder. Orders were given I should be deprived of its +society; I entreated they would spare its life. The officer on guard +gave me his word he would present it to a lady, who would treat it with +tenderness. + +He took it away and turned it loose in the guardroom, but it was tame to +me alone, and sought a hiding place. It had fled to my prison door, and, +at the hour of visitation, ran into my dungeon, testifying its joy by +leaping between my legs. It is worthy of remark that it had been taken +away blindfold, that is to say, wrapped in a handkerchief. The guard- +room was a hundred paces from the dungeon. + +All were desirous of obtaining this mouse, but the major carried it off +for his lady; she put it into a cage, where it pined, and in a few days +died. + +The loss of this companion made me quite melancholy, yet, on the last +examination, I perceived it had so eaten the bread by which I had +concealed the crevices I had made in cutting the floor, that the +examiners must be blind not to discover them. I was convinced my +faithful little friend had fallen a necessary victim to its master's +safety. This accident determined me not to wait the three months. + +I have related that horses were to be kept ready, on the first and +fifteenth, and I only suffered the first of August to pass, because I +would not injure Major Pfuhl, who had treated me with more compassion +than his comrades, and whose day of visitation it was. On the fifteenth +I determined to fly. This resolution formed, I waited in expectation of +the day, when a new and remarkable succession of accidents happened. + +An alarm of fire had obliged the major to repair to the town; he +committed the keys to the lieutenant. The latter, coming to visit me, +asked--"Dear Trenck, have you never, during seven years that you have +been under the guard of the militia, found a man like Schell?" "Alas! +sir," answered I, "such friends are rare; the will of many has been good; +each knew I could make his fortune, but none had courage enough for so +desperate an attempt! Money I have distributed freely, but have received +little help." + +"How do you obtain money in this dungeon?" "From a correspondent at +Vienna, by whom I am still supplied." "If I can serve you, command me: I +will do it without asking any return." So saying, I took fifty ducats +from between the panels, and gave them to the lieutenant. At first he +refused, but at length accepted them with fear. He left me, promised to +return, pretended to shut the door, and kept his word. He now said debt +obliged him to desert; that this had long been his determination, and +that, desirous to assist me at the same time if he could find the means, +I had only to show how this might be effected. + +We continued two hours in conference: a plan was formed, approved, and a +certainty of success demonstrated; especially when I told him I had two +horses waiting. We vowed eternal friendship; I gave him fifty ducats, +and his debts, not amounting to more than two hundred rix-dollars, which +he never could have discharged out of his pay. + +He was to prepare four keys to resemble those of my dungeon; the latter +were to be exchanged on the day of flight, being kept in the guard-room +while the major was with General Walrabe. He was to give the grenadiers +on guard leave of absence, or send them into the town on various +pretences. The sentinels he was to call from their duty, and those +placed over me were to be sent into my dungeon to take away my bed; while +encumbered with this, I was to spring out and lock them in, after which +we were to mount our horses, which were kept ready, and ride to Gummern. +Every thing was to be prepared within a week, when he was to mount guard. +We had scarcely formed our project before the sentinels called the major +was coming; he accordingly barred the door, and the major passed to +General Walrabe. + +No man was happier than myself; my hopes of escape were triple; the +mediation at Berlin, the mine I had made, and my friend the lieutenant. + +When most my mind ought to have been clear, I seemed to have lost my +understanding. I came to a resolution which will appear extravagant and +pitiable. I was stupid enough, mad enough, to form the design of casting +myself on the magnanimity of the Great Frederic! Should this fail, I +still thought my lieutenant a saviour. + +Having heated my imagination with this scheme, I waited the visitation +with anxiety. The major entered, I bespoke him thus: + +"I know, sir, the great Prince Ferdinand is again in Magdeburg. Inform +him that he may examine my prison, double the sentinels, and give me his +commands, stating what hour will please him I should make my appearance +on the glacis of Klosterbergen. If I prove myself capable of this, I +then hope for the protection of Prince Ferdinand: and that he will relate +my proceeding to the King, who may he convinced of my innocence." + +The major was astonished; the proposal he held to be ridiculous, and the +performance impossible. I persisted; he returned with the sub-governor, +Reichmann, the town-major, Riding, and the major of inspection. The +answer they delivered was, that the Prince promised me his protection, +the King's favour, and a release from my chains, should I prove my +assertion. I required they would appoint a time; they ridiculed the +thing as impossible, and said that it would be sufficient could I prove +the practicability of such a scheme; but should I refuse, they would +break up the flooring, and place sentinels in my dungeon, adding, the +governor would not admit of any breaking out. + +After promises of good faith, I disencumbered myself of my chains, raised +my flooring, gave them my implements, and two keys, my friends had +procured me, to the doors of the subterranean gallery. This gallery I +desired them to sound with their sword hilts, at the place through which +I was to break, which might be done in a few minutes. I described the +road I was to take through the gallery, informed them that two of the +doors had not been shut for six months, and to the others they had the +keys; adding, I had horses waiting at the glacis, that would be now +ready; the stables for which were unknown to them. They went, examined, +returned, put questions, which I answered with precision. They left me +with seeming friendship, came back, told me the Prince was astonished at +what he had heard, that he wished me all happiness, and then took me +unfettered, to the guard-house. The major came in the evening, treated +us with a supper, assured me everything would happen to my wishes, and +that Prince Ferdinand had written to Berlin. + +The guard was reinforced next day. The whole guard loaded with ball +before my eyes, the drawbridges were raised in open day, and precautions +were taken as if I intended to make attempts as desperate as those I had +made at Glatz. + +I now saw workmen employed on my dungeon, and carts bringing +quarry-stones. The officers on guard behaved with kindness, kept a good +table, at which I ate; but two sentinels, and an under-officer, never +quitted the guard-room. Conversation was cautious, and this continued +five or six days; at length, it was the lieutenant's turn to mount guard; +he appeared to be as friendly as formerly, but conference was difficult; +he found an opportunity to express his astonishment at my ill-timed +discovery, told me the Prince knew nothing of the affair, and that the +report through the garrison was, I had been surprised in making a new +attempt. + +My dungeon was completed in a week. The town-major re-conducted me to +it. My foot was chained to the wall with links twice as strong as +formerly; the remainder of my irons were never after added. + +The dungeon was paved with flag-stones. That part of my money only was +saved which I had concealed in the panels of the door, and the chimney of +my stove; some thirty louis-d'ors, hidden about my clothes, were taken +from me. + +While the smith was riveting my chains, I addressed the sub-governor. "Is +this the fulfilment of the pledge of the Prince? Think not you deceive +me, I am acquainted with the false reports that have been spread; the +truth will soon come to light, and the unworthy be put to shame. Nay, I +forewarn you that Trenck shall not be much longer in your power; for were +you to build your dungeon of steel, it would be insufficient to contain +me." + +They smiled at me. Reichmann told me I might soon obtain my freedom in a +proper manner. My firm reliance on my friend, the lieutenant, gave me a +degree of confidence that amazed them all. + +It is necessary to explain this affair. When I obtained my liberty, I +visited Prince Ferdinand. He informed me the majors had not made a true +report. Their story was, they had caught me at work, and, had it not +been for their diligence, I should have made my escape. Prince Ferdinand +heard the truth, and informed the King, who only waited an opportunity to +restore me to liberty. + +Once more I was immured. I waited in hope for the day when my deliverer +was to mount guard. What again was my despair when I saw another +lieutenant! I buoyed myself up with the hope that accident was the +occasion of this; but I remained three weeks, and saw him no more. I +heard at length that he had left the corps of grenadiers, and was no +longer to mount guard at the Star Fort. He has my forgiveness, and I +applaud myself for never having said anything by which he might be +injured. He might have repented his promise, he might have trusted +another friend with the enterprise, and have been himself betrayed; but, +be it as it may, his absence cut off all hope. + +I now repented my folly and vanity; I had brought my misfortunes on +myself. I had myself rendered my dungeon impenetrable. Death would have +followed but for the dependence I placed in the court of Vienna. + +The officers remarked the loss of my fortitude and thoughtfulness; the +verses I wrote were desponding. The only comfort they could give +was--"Patience, dear Trenck; your condition cannot be worse; the King may +not live for ever." Were I sick, they told me I might hope my sufferings +would soon have an end. If I recovered they pitied me, and lamented +their continuance. What man of my rank and expectations ever endured +what I did, ever was treated as I have been treated! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Peace had been concluded nine months. I was forgotten. At last, when I +supposed all hope lost, the 25th of December, and the day of freedom, +came. At the hour of parade, Count Schlieben, lieutenant of the guards, +brought orders for my release! + +The sub-governor supposed me weaker in intellect than I was, and would +not too suddenly tell me these tidings. He knew not the presence of +mind, the fortitude, which the dangers I had seen had made habitual. + +My doors for the LAST TIME resounded! Several people entered; their +countenances were cheerful, and the sub-governor at their head at length +said, "This time, my dear Trenck, I am the messenger of good news. Prince +Ferdinand has prevailed on the King to let your irons be taken off." +Accordingly, to work went the smith. "You shall also," continued he, +"have a better apartment." "I am free, then," said I. "Speak! fear not! +I can moderate my transports." + +"Then you are free!" was the reply. + +The sub-governor first embraced me, and afterwards his attendants. + +He asked me what clothes I would wish. I answered, the uniform of my +regiment. The tailor took my measure. Reichmann told him it must be +made by the morning. The man excused himself because it was Christmas +Eve. "So, then, this gentleman must remain in his dungeon because it is +holiday with you." The tailor promised to be ready. + +I was taken to the guard-room, congratulations were universal, and the +town-major administered the oath customary to all state prisoners. + +1st. That I should avenge myself on no man. + +2nd. That I should neither enter the Prussian nor Saxon states. + +3rd. That I should never relate by speech or in writing what had +happened to me. + +4th. And that, so long as the King lived, I should neither serve in a +civil nor military capacity. + +Count Schlieben delivered me a letter from the imperial minister, General +Reidt, to the following purport:--That he rejoiced at having found an +opportunity of obtaining my liberty from the King, and that I must obey +the requisitions of Count Schlieben, whose orders were to accompany me to +Prague. + +"Yes, dear Trenck," said Schlieben, "I am to conduct you through Dresden +to Prague, with orders not to suffer you to speak to any one on the road. +I have received three hundred ducats, to defray the expenses of +travelling. As all things cannot be prepared today, the, sub-governor +has determined we shall depart to-morrow night." + +I acquiesced, and Count Schlieben remained with me; the others returned +to town, and I dined with the major and officers on guard, with General +Walrabe in his prison. + +Once at liberty, I walked about the fortifications, to collect the money +I had concealed in my dungeon. To every man on guard I gave a ducat, to +the sentinels, each three, and ten ducats to be divided among the relief- +guard. I sent the officer on guard a present from Prague, and the +remainder of my money I bestowed on the widow of the worthy Gelfhardt. He +was no more, and she had entrusted the thousand florins to a young +soldier, who, spending them too freely, was suspected, betrayed her, and +she passed two years in prison. Gelfhardt never received any punishment; +he was in the field. Had he left any children, I should have provided +for them. To the widow of the man who hung himself before my prison +door, in the year 1756, I gave thirty ducats, lent me by Schlieben. + +The night was riotous, the guard made merry, and I passed most of it in +their company. I was visited by all the generals of the garrison on +Christmas morning, for I was not allowed to enter the town. I dressed, +viewed myself in the glass, and found pleasure; but the tumult of my +passions, the congratulations I received, and the vivacity round me, +prevented my remembering incidents minutely. + +Yet how wonderful an alteration in the countenances of those by whom I +had been guarded! I was treated with friendship, attention, and +flattery. And why? Because these fetters had dropped off which I had +never justly borne. + +Evening came, and with it Count Schlieben, a waggon, and four +post-horses. After an affecting farewell, we departed. I shed tears at +leaving Magdeburg. It seems strange that I lived here ten years, yet +never saw the town. + +The duration of my imprisonment at Magdeburg was nearly ten years, and +with the term of my imprisonment at Glatz, the time is eleven years. Thus +was I robbed of time, my body weakened, my health impaired, so that in my +decline of life, a second time, I suffer the gloom and chains of the +dungeon at Magdeburg. + +The reader would now hope that my calamities were at an end; yet, upon my +honour, I would prefer the suffering of the Star Fort to those I have +since endured in Austria, especially while Krugel and Zetto were my +referendaries and curators. + +At this moment I am obliged to be guarded in my expressions. I have put +my enemies to shame; but the hope of justice or reward is vain. No +rewards are bestowed on him who, with the consciousness of integrity, +demands, and does not deplore. The facts I shall relate will seem +incredible, yet I have, in my own hands, the vouchers of their veracity. + +"If my right hand is guilty of writing untruths in this book, may the +executioner sever it from my body, and, in the memory of posterity, may I +live a villain!" + +I will proceed with my history. + +On the 2nd of January I arrived, with Count Schlieben, at Prague; the +same day he delivered me to the governor, the Duke of Deuxponts. He +received me with kindness; we dined with him two days, and all Prague +were anxious to see a man who had surmounted ten years of suffering so +unheard of as mine. Here I received three thousand florins, and paid +General Reidt his three hundred ducats, which he had advanced Count +Schlieben, for my journey, the repayment of which he demanded in his +letter, although he had received ten thousand florins. The expense of +returning I also paid to Schlieben, made him a present, and provided +myself with some necessaries. After remaining a few days at Prague, a +courier arrived from Vienna, to whom I was obliged to pay forty florins, +with an order from government to bring me from Prague to Vienna. My +sword was demanded; Captain Count Wela, and two inferior officers, +entered the carriage, which I was obliged to purchase, in company with +me, and brought me to Vienna. I took up a thousand florins more, in +Prague, to defray these expenses, and was obliged, in Vienna, to pay the +captain fifty ducats for travelling charges back. + +I was brought back like a criminal, was sent as a prisoner to the +barracks, there kept in the chamber of Lieutenant Blonket, with orders +that I should be suffered to write to no one, speak to no one, without a +ticket from the counsellors Kempt or Huttner. + +Thus I remained six weeks; at length, the colonel of the regiment of +Poniatowsky, the present field-marshal, Count Alton, spoke to me. I +related what I supposed were the reasons of my being kept a prisoner in +Vienna; and to the exertions of this man am I indebted that the +intentions of my enemies were frustrated, which were to have me +imprisoned as insane in the fortress of Glatz. Had they once removed me +from Vienna, I should certainly have pined away my life in a madhouse. +Yet I could never obtain justice against these men. The Empress was +persuaded that my brain was affected, and that I uttered threats against +the King of Prussia. The election of a king of the Romans was then in +agitation, and the court was apprehensive lest I should offend the +Prussian envoy. General Reidt had been obliged to promise Frederic that +I should not appear in Vienna, and that they should hold a wary eye over +me. The Empress-Queen felt compassion for my supposed disease, and asked +if no assistance could be afforded me; to which they answered, I had +several times let blood, but that I still was a dangerous man. They +added, that I had squandered four thousand florins in six days at Prague; +that it would be proper to appoint guardians to impede such +extravagancies. + +Count Alton spoke of me and my hard destiny to the Countess Parr, +mistress of the ceremonies to the Empress-Queen. The late Emperor +entered the chamber, and asked whether I ever had any lucid intervals. +"May it please your Majesty," answered Alton, "he has been seven weeks in +my barracks, and I never met a more reasonable man. There is mystery in +this affair, or he could not be treated as a madman. That he is not so +in anywise I pledge my honour." + +The next day the Emperor sent Count Thurn, grand-master of the Archduke +Leopold, to speak to me. In him I found an enlightened philosopher, and +a lover of his country. To him I related how I had twice been betrayed, +twice sold at Vienna, during my imprisonment; to him showed that my +administrators had acted in this vile manner that I might be imprisoned +for life, and they remain in possession of my effects. We conversed for +two hours, during which many things were said that prudence will not +permit me to repeat. I gained his confidence, and he continued my friend +till death. He promised me protection, and procured me an audience of +the Emperor. + +I spoke with freedom; the audience lasted an hour. At length the Emperor +retired into the next apartment. I saw the tears drop from his eyes. I +fell at his feet, and wished for the presence of a Rubens or Apelles, to +preserve a scene so honourable to the memory of the monarch, and paint +the sensations of an innocent man, imploring the protection of a +compassionate prince. The Emperor tore himself from me, and I departed +with sensations such as only those can know who, themselves being +virtuous, have met with wicked men. I returned to the barracks with joy, +and an order the next day came for my release. I went with Count Alton +to the Countess Parr, and by her mediation I obtained an audience with +the Empress. + +I cannot describe how much she pitied my sufferings and admired my +fortitude. She told me she was informed of the artifices practised +against me in Vienna; she required me to forgive my enemies, and pass all +the accounts of my administrators. "Do not complain of anything," said +she, "but act as I desire--I know all--you shall be recompensed by me; +you deserve reward and repose, and these you shall enjoy." + +I must either sign whatever was given to sign, or be sent to a madhouse. +I received orders to accompany M. Pistrich to Counsellor Ziegler; thither +I went, and the next day was obliged to sign, in their presence, the +following conditions:-- + +First--That I acknowledged the will of Trenck to be valid. + +Secondly--That I renounced all claim to the Sclavonian estates, relying +alone on her Majesty's favour. + +Thirdly--That I solemnly acquitted my accountants and curators. And, + +Lastly--That I would not continue in Vienna. + +This I must sign, or languish in prison. + +How did my blood boil while I signed! This confidence I had in myself +assured me I could obtain employment in any country of Europe, by the +labours of my mind, and the recital of all my woes. At that time I had +no children; I little regretted what I had lost, or the poor portion that +remained. + +I determined to avoid Austria eternally. My pride would never suffer me, +by insidious arts, to approach the throne. I knew no such mode of +soliciting for justice, hence I was not a match for my enemies; hence my +misfortunes. Appeals to justice were represented as the splenetic +effusions of a man never to be satisfied. My too sensitive heart was +corroded by the treatment I met at Vienna. I, who with so much fortitude +had suffered so much in the cause of Vienna, I, on whom the eyes of +Germany were fixed, to behold what should be the reward of these +sufferings, I was again, in this country, kept a prisoner, and delivered +to those by whom I had been plundered as a man insane! + +Before my intended departure to seek my fortune, I fell ill, and sickness +almost brought me to the grave. The Empress, in her great clemency, sent +one of her physicians and a friar to my assistance, both of whom I was +obliged to pay. + +At this time I refused a major's commission, for which I was obliged to +pay the fees. Being excluded from actual service, to me the title was of +little value; my rank in the army had been equal ten years before in +other service. The following words, inserted in my commission, are not +unworthy of remark:--"Her Majesty, in consequence of my fidelity for her +service, demonstrated during a long imprisonment, my endowments and +virtues, had been graciously pleased to grant me, in the Imperial +service, the rank of major."--The rank of major!--From this preamble who +would not have expected either the rank of general, or the restoration of +my great Sclavonian estates? I had been fifteen years a captain of +cavalry, and then was I made an invalid major three-and-twenty years ago, +and an invalid major I still remain! Let all that has been related be +called to mind, the manner in which I had been pillaged and betrayed; let +Vienna, Dantzic, and Magdeburg he remembered; and be this my promotion +remembered also! Let it be known that the commission of major might be +bought for a few thousand florins! Thirty thousand florins only of the +money I had been robbed of would have purchased a colonel's commission. I +should then have been a companion for generals. + +During the thirty-six years that I have been in the service of Austria, I +never had any man of rank, any great general, my enemy, except Count +Grassalkowitz, and he was only my enemy because he had conceived a +friendship for my estates. + +My character was never calumniated, nor did any worthy man ever speak of +me but with respect. Who were, who are, my enemies?--Jesuits, monks, +unprincipled advocates, wishing to become my curators, referendaries, who +died despicable, or now live in houses of correction. Such as live, live +in dread of a similar end, for the Emperor Joseph is able to discover the +truth. Alas! the truth is discovered so late; age has now nearly +rendered me an invalid. Men with hearts so base ought, indeed, to become +the scavengers of society, that, terrified by their example, succeeding +judges may not rack the heart of an honest man, seize on the possessions +of the orphan and the widow, and expel virtue out of Austria. + +I attended the levee of Prince Kaunitz. Not personally known to him, he +viewed in me a crawling insect. I thought somewhat more proudly; my +actions were upright, and so should my body be. I quitted the apartment, +and was congratulated by the mercenary Swiss porter on my good fortune of +having obtained an audience! + +I applied to the field-marshal, from whom I received this answer--"If you +cannot purchase, my dear Trenck, it will be impossible to admit you into +service; besides, you are too old to learn our manoeuvres." I was then +thirty-seven. I briefly replied, "Your excellency mistakes my character. +I did not come to Vienna to serve as an invalid major. My curators have +taken good care I should have no money to purchase; but had I millions, I +would never obtain rank in the army by that mode." I quitted the room +with a shrug. The next day I addressed a memorial to the Empress. I did +not re-demand my Sclavonian estates, I only petitioned. + +First--That those who had carried off quintals of silver and gold from +the premises, and had rendered no account to me or the treasury, should +refund at least a part. + +Secondly--That they should be obliged to return the thirty-six thousand +florins taken from my inheritance, and applied to a hospital. + +Thirdly--That the thirty-six thousand florins might be repaid, which +Count Grassalkowitz had deducted from the allodial estates, for three +thousand six hundred pandours who had fallen in the service of the +Empress; I not being bound to pay for the lives of men who had died in +defence of the Empress. + +Fourthly--I required that fifteen thousand florins, which had been +deducted from my capital, and applied to the Bohemian fortifications, +should likewise be restored, together with the fifteen thousand which had +been unduly paid to the regiment of Trenck. + +Fifthly--I reclaimed the twelve thousand florins which I had been robbed +of at Dantzic by the treachery of the Imperial Resident, Abramson; and +public satisfaction from the magistracy of Dantzic, who had delivered me +up, so contrary to the laws of nations, to the Prussian power. + +I likewise claimed the interest of six per cent, for seventy-six thousand +florins, detained by the Hungarian Chamber, which amounted to twenty +thousand florins; I having been allowed five per cent., and at last four. + +I insisted on the restoration of my Sclavonian estates, and a proper +allowance for improvements, which the very sentence of the court had +granted, and which amounted to eighty thousand florins. + +I petitioned for an arbitrator; I solicited justice concerning rights, +but received no answer to this and a hundred other petitions! + +I must here speak of transactions during my imprisonment. I had bought a +house in Vienna in the year 1750; the price was sixteen thousand florins, +thirteen thousand of which I had paid by instalments. The receipts were +among my writings; these writings, with my other effects, were taken from +me at Dantzic, in the year 1754; nor have I, to this hour, been able to +learn more than that my writings were sent to the administrators of my +affairs at Vienna. With respect to my houses and property in Dantzic, in +what manner these were disposed of no one could or would say. + +After being released at Magdeburg, I inquired concerning my house, but no +longer found it mine. Those who had got possession of my writings must +have restored the acquittances to the seller, consequently he could re- +demand the whole sum. My house was in other hands, and I was brought in +debtor six thousand florins for interest and costs of suit. Thus were +house and money gone. Whom can I accuse? + +Again, I had maintained, at my own expense Lieutenant Schroeder, who had +deserted from Glatz, and for whom I obtained a captain's commission in +the guard of Prince Esterhazy, at Eisenstadt. His misconduct caused him +to be cashiered. In my administrator's accounts I found the following + +"To Captain Schroeder, for capital, interest, and costs of suit, sixteen +hundred florins." + +It was certain I was not a penny indebted to this person; I had no +redress, having been obliged to pass and sign all their accounts. + +I, four years afterwards, obtained information concerning this affair: I +met Schroeder, knew him, and inquired whether he had received these +sixteen hundred florins. He answered in the affirmative. "No one +believed you would ever more see the light. I knew you would serve me, +and that you would relieve my necessities. I went and spoke to Dr. +Berger; he agreed we should halve the sum, and his contrivance was, I +should make oath I had lent you a thousand florins, without having +received your note. The money was paid me by M. Frauenberger, to whom I +agreed to send a present of Tokay, for Madam Huttner." + +This was the manner in which my curators took care of my property! Many +instances I could produce, but I am too much agitated by the +recollection. I must speak a word concerning who and what my curators +were. + +The Court Counsellor, Kempf, was my administrator, and Counsellor Huttner +my referendary. The substitute of Kempf was Frauenberger, who, being +obliged to act as a clerk at Prague during the war, appointed one Krebs +as a sub-substitute; whether M. Krebs had also a sub-substitute is more +than I am able to say. + +Dr. Bertracker was _fidei commiss-curator_, though there was no _fidei +commissum_ existing. Dr. Berger, as Fidei Commiss-Advocate, was +superintendent, and to them all salaries were to be paid. + +Let us see what was the business this company had to transact. I had +seventy-six thousand florins in the Hungarian Chamber, the interest of +which was to be yearly received, and added to the capital: this was their +employment, and was certainly so trifling that any man would have +performed it gratis. The war made money scarce, and the discounting of +bills with my ducats was a profitable trade to my curators. Had it been +honestly employed, I should have found my capital increased, after my +imprisonment, full sixty thousand florins. Instead of these I received +three thousand florins at Prague, and found my capital diminished seven +thousand florins. + +Frauenberger and Berger died rich; and I must be confined as a madman, +lest this deputy should have been proved a rogue. This is the clue to +the acquittal I was obliged to sign:--Madam K--- was a lady of the +bedchamber at court; she could approach the throne: her chamber +employments, indeed, procured her the keys of doors that to me were +eternally locked. + +Not satisfied with this, Kempf applied to the Empress, informed her they +were acquitted, not recompensed, and that Frauenberger required four +thousand florins for remuneration. The Empress laid an interdict on the +half of my income and pension. Thus was I obliged to live in poverty; +banished the Austrian dominions, where my seventy-six thousand florins +were reduced to sixty-three, the interest of which I could only receive; +and that burthened by the above interdict, the _fidei commissum_, and +administratorship. + +The Empress during my sickness ordered that my captain's pay, during my +ten years' imprisonment, should be given me, amounting to eight thousand +florins; which pay she also settled on me as a pension. By this pension +I never profited; for, during twenty-three years, that and more was +swallowed by journeys to Vienna, chicanery of courtiers and agents, and +costs of suits. Of the eight thousand florins three were stolen; the +court physician must be paid thrice as much as another, and what remained +after my recovery was sunk in the preparations I had made to seek my +fortune elsewhere. + +How far my captain's pay was matter of right or favour, let the world +judge, being told I went in the service of Vienna to the city of Dantzic. +Neither did this restitution of pay equal the sum I had sent the Imperial +Minister to obtain my freedom. I remained nine months in my dungeon +after the articles were signed, unthought of; and, when mentioned by the +Austrians, the King had twice rejected the proposal of my being set free. +The affair happened as follows, as I received it from Prince Henry, +Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and the Minister, Count Hertzberg:--General +Reidt had received my ten thousand florins full six months, and seemed to +remember me no more. One gala day, on the 21st of December, the King +happened to be in good humour; and Her Majesty the Queen, the Princess +Amelia, and the present monarch, said to the Imperial Minister, "This is +a fit opportunity for you to speak in behalf of Trenck." He accordingly +waited his time, did speak, and the King replied, "Yes." + +The joy of the whole company appeared so great that Frederic _the Great_ +was offended! + +Other circumstances which contributed to promote this affair, the reader +will collect from my history. That there were persons in Vienna who +desired to detain me in prison is indubitable, from their proceedings +after my return. My friends in Berlin and my money were my deliverers. + +Walking round Vienna, having recovered from my sickness, the broad +expanse of heaven inspired a consciousness of freedom and pleasure +indescribable. I heard the song of the lark. My heart palpitated, my +pulse quickened, for I recollected I was not in chains. "Happen," said +I, "what may, my will and heart are free." + +An incident happened which furthered my project of getting away from +Austria. Marshal Laudohn was going to Aix-la-Chapelle to take the +waters. He went to take his leave of the Countess Parr; I was present +the Empress entered the chamber, and the conversation turning upon +Laudohn's journey, she said to me, "The baths are necessary to the re- +establishment of your health, Trenck." I was ready, and followed him in +two days, where we remained about three months. + +The mode of life at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa pleased me, where men of all +nations meet, and where princes mingle with persons of all ranks. One +day here procured me more pleasure than a whole life in Vienna. + +I had scarcely remained a month before the Countess Parr wrote to me that +the Empress had provided for me, and would make my fortune as soon as I +returned to Vienna. I tried to discover in what it consisted, but in +vain. The death of the Emperor Francis at Innsbruck occasioned the +return of General Laudohn, and I followed him, on foot, to Vienna. + +By means of the Countess Parr I obtained an audience. The Empress said +to me, "I will prove to you, Trenck, that I keep my word. I have insured +your fortune; I will give you a rich and prudent wife." I replied, "Most +gracious Sovereign, I cannot determine to marry, and, if I could, my +choice is already made at Aix-la-Chapelle."--"How! are you married, +then?"--"Not yet, please your Majesty."--"Are you promised?" + +"Yes."--"Well, well, no matter for that; I will take care of that affair; +I am determined on marrying you to the rich widow of M---, and she +approves my choice. She is a good, kind woman, and has fifty thousand +florins a year. You are in want of such a wife." + +I was thunderstruck. This bride was a canting hypocrite of sixty-three, +covetous, and a termagant. I answered, "I must speak the truth to your +Majesty; I could not consent did she possess the treasures of the whole +earth. I have made my choice, which, as an honest man, I must not +break." The Empress said, "Your unhappiness is your own work. Act as +you think proper; I have done." Here my audience ended. I was not +actually affianced at that time to my present wife, but love had +determined my choice. + +Marshal Laudohn promoted the match. He was acquainted with my heart and +the warmth of my passion, and perceived that I could not conquer the +desire of vengeance on men by whom I had been so cruelly treated. He and +Professor Gellert advised me to take this mode of calming passions that +often inspired projects too vast, and that I should fly the company of +the great. This counsel was seconded by my own wishes. I returned to +Aix-la-Chapelle in December, 1766, and married the youngest daughter of +the former Burgomaster De Broe. He was dead; he had lived on his own +estate in Brussels, where my wife was born and educated. My wife's +mother was sister to the Vice-Chancellor of Dusseldorf, Baron Robert, +Lord of Roland. My wife was with me in most parts of Europe. She was +then young, handsome, worthy, and virtuous, has borne me eleven children, +all of whom she has nursed herself; eight of them are still living and +have been properly educated. Twenty-two years she has borne a part of +all my sufferings, and well deserves reward. + +During my abode in Vienna I made one effort more. I sought an audience +with the present Emperor Joseph, related all that had happened to me, and +remarked such defects as I had observed in the regulations of the +country. He heard me, and commanded me to commit my thoughts to writing. +My memorial was graciously received. I also gave a full account of what +had happened to me in various countries, which prudence has occasioned me +to express more cautiously in these pages. My memorial produced no +effect, and I hastened back to Aix-la-Chapelle. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +For some years I lived in peace; my house was the rendezvous of the first +people, who came to take the waters. I began to be more known among the +very first and best people. I visited Professor Gellert at Leipzig, and +asked his advice concerning what branch of literature he thought it was +probable I might succeed in. He most approved my fables and tales, and +blamed the excessive freedom with which I spoke in political writings. I +neglected his advice, and many of the ensuing calamities were the +consequence. + +I received orders to correspond with His Majesty's private secretary, +Baron Roder; suffice it to say, my attempts to serve my country were +frustrated; I saw defects too clearly, spoke my thoughts too frankly, and +wanted sufficient humility ever to obtain favour. + +In the year 1767 I wrote "The Macedonian Hero," which became famous +throughout all Germany. The poem did me honour, but entailed new +persecutions; yet I never could repent: I have had the honour of +presenting it to five reigning princes, by none of whom it has been +burnt. The Empress alone was highly enraged. I had spoken as Nathan did +to David, and the Jesuits now openly became my enemies. + +The following trick was played me in 1768. A friend in Brussels was +commissioned to receive my pay, from whom I learnt an interdict had been +laid upon it by the court called Hofkriegsrath, in Vienna, in which I was +condemned to pay seven hundred florins to one Bussy, with fourteen years' +interest. + +Bussy was a known swindler. I therefore journeyed, post-haste, to +Vienna. No hearing; no satisfactory account was to be obtained. The +answer was, "Sentence is passed, therefore all attempts are too late." + +I applied to the Emperor Joseph, pledged my head to prove the +falsification of this note; and entreated a revision of the cause. My +request was granted and my attorney, Weyhrauch, was an upright man. When +he requested a day of revision to be appointed, he was threatened to be +committed by the referendary. Zetto, should he interfere and defend the +affairs of Trenck. He answered firmly, "His defence is my business: I +know my cause to be good." + +Four months did I continue in Vienna before the day was appointed to +revise this cause. It now appeared there were erasures and holes through +the paper in three places; all in court were convinced the claim ought to +be annulled, and the claimant punished. Zetto ordered the parties to +withdraw, and then so managed that the judges resolved that the case must +be laid before the court with formal and written proofs. + +This gave time for new knavery; I was obliged to return to +Aix-la-Chapelle, and four years elapsed before this affair was decided. +Two priests, in the interim, took false oaths that they had seen me +receive money. At length, however, I proved that the note was dated a +year after I had been imprisoned at Magdeburg. Further, my attorney +proved the writs of the court had been falsified. Zetto, referendary, +and Bussy, were the forgers; but I happened to be too active, and my +attorney too honest, to lose this case. I was obliged to make three very +expensive journeys from Aix-la-Chapelle to Vienna, lest judgement should +go by default. Sentence at last was pronounced. I gained my cause, and +the note was declared a forgery, but the costs, amounting to three +thousand five hundred florins, I was obliged to pay, for Bussy could not: +nor was he punished, though driven from Vienna for his villainous acts. +Zetto, however, still continued for eleven years my persecutor, till he +was deprived of his office, and condemned to the House of Correction. + +My knowledge of the world increased at Aix-la-Chapelle, where men of all +characters met. In the morning I conversed with a lord in opposition, in +the afternoon with an orator of the King's party, and in the evening with +an honest man of no party. I sent Hungarian wine into England, France, +Holland, and the Empire. This occasioned me to undertake long journeys, +and as my increased acquaintance gave me opportunities of receiving +foreigners with politeness an my own house, I was also well received +wherever I went. + +The income I should have had from Vienna was engulfed by law-suits, +attorneys, and the journeys I undertook; having been thrice cited to +appear, in person, before the Hofkriegsrath. No hope remained. I was +described as a dangerous malcontent, who had deserted his native land. I +nevertheless remained an honest man; one who could provide for his +necessities without the favour of courts; one whose acquaintance was +esteemed. In Vienna alone was I unsought, unemployed, and obscure. + +One day an accident happened which made me renowned as a magician, as one +who had power over fogs and clouds. + +I had a quarrel with the Palatine President, Baron Blankart, concerning a +hunting district. I wrote to him that he should repair to the spot in +dispute, whither I would attend with sword and pistol, hoping he would +there give me satisfaction for the affront I had received. Thither I +went, with two huntsmen and two friends, but instead of the baron I found +two hundred armed peasants assembled. + +I sent one of my huntsmen to the army of the enemy, informing them that, +if they did not retreat, I should fire. The day was fine, but a thick +and impenetrable fog arose. My huntsman returned, with intelligence +that, having delivered his message just as the fog came on, these heroes +had all run away with fright. + +I advanced, fired my piece, as did my followers, and marched to the +mansion of my adversary, where my hunting-horn was blown in triumph in +his courtyard. The runaway peasants fired, but the fog prevented their +taking aim. + +I returned home, where many false reports had preceded me. My wife +expected I should be brought home dead; however, not the least mischief +had happened. + +It soon was propagated through the country that I had raised a fog to +render myself invisible, and that the truth of this could be justified by +two hundred witnesses. All the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle, Juliers, and +Cologne, preached concerning me, reviled me, and warned the people to +beware of the arch-magician and Lutheran, Trenck. + +On a future occasion, this belief I turned to merriment. I went to hunt +the wolf in the forests of Montjoie, and invited the townsmen to the +chase. Towards evening I, and some forty of my followers, retired to +rest in the charcoal huts, provided with wine and brandy. "My lads," +said I, "it is necessary you should discharge your pieces, and load them +anew; that to-morrow no wolf may escape, and that none of you excuse +yourselves on your pieces missing fire." The guns were reloaded, and +placed in a separate chamber. While they were merry-making, my huntsman +drew the balls, and charged the pieces with powder, several of which he +loaded with double charges. Some of their notched balls I put into my +pocket. + +In the morning away went I and my fellows to the chase. Their +conversation turned on my necromancy, and the manner in which I could +envelope myself in a cloud, or make myself bullet-proof. "What is that +you are talking about?" said I.--"Some of these unbelieving folks," +answered my huntsman, "affirm your honour is unable to ward off +balls."--"Well, then," said I, "fire away, and try." My huntsman fired. +I pretended to parry with my hand, and called, "Let any man that is so +inclined fire, but only one at a time." Accordingly they began, and, +pretending to twist and turn about, I suffered them all to discharge +their pieces. My people had carefully noticed that no man had reloaded +his gun. Some of them received such blows from the guns that were doubly +charged that they fell, terrified at the powers of magic. I advanced, +holding in my hand some of the marked balls. "Let every one choose his +own," called I. All stood motionless, and many of them slunk home with +their guns on their shoulders; some remained, and our sport was +excellent. + +On Sunday the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle again began to preach. My black +art became the theme of the whole country, and to this day many of the +people make oath that they fired upon me, and that, after catching them, +I returned the balls. + +My invulnerable qualities were published throughout Juliers, +Aix-la-Chapelle, Maestricht, and Cologne, and perhaps this belief saved +my life; the priests having propagated it from their pulpits, in a +country which swarms with highway robbers, and where, for a single ducat, +any man may hire an assassin. + +It is no small surprise that I should have preserved my life, in a town +where there are twenty-three monasteries and churches, and where the +monks are adored as deities. The Catholic clergy had been enraged +against me by my poem of "The Macedonian Hero;" and in 1772 I published a +newspaper at Aix-la-Chapelle, and another work entitled, "The Friend of +Men," in which I unmasked hypocrisy. A major of the apostolic Maria +Theresa, writing thus in a town swarming with friars, and in a tone so +undaunted, was unexampled. + +At present, now that freedom of opinion is encouraged by the Emperor, +many essayists encounter bigotry and deceit with ridicule; or, wanting +invention themselves, publish extracts from writings of the age of +Luther. But I have the honour of having attacked the pillars of the +Romish hierarchy in days more dangerous. I may boast of being the first +German who raised a fermentation on the Upper Rhine and in Austria, so +advantageous to truth, the progress of the understanding, and the +happiness of futurity. + +My writings contain nothing inimical to the morality taught by Christ. I +attacked the sale of indulgences, the avarice of Rome, the laziness, +deceit, gluttony, robbery, and blood-sucking of the monks of +Aix-la-Chapelle. The arch-priest, and nine of his coadjutors, declared +every Sunday that I was a freethinker, a wizard, one whom every man, +wishing well to God and the Church, ought to assassinate. Father Zunder +declared me an outlaw, and a day was appointed on which my writings were +to be burnt before my house, and its inhabitants massacred. My wife +received letters warning her to fly for safety, which warning she obeyed. +I and two of my huntsmen remained, provided with eighty-four loaded +muskets. These I displayed before the window, that all might be +convinced that I would make a defence. The appointed day came, and +Father Zunder, with my writings in his hand, appeared ready for the +attack; the other monks had incited the townspeople to a storm. Thus +passed the day and night in suspense. + +In the morning a fire broke out in the town. I hastened, with my two +huntsmen, well armed, to give assistance; we dashed the water from our +buckets, and all obeyed my directions. Father Zunder and his students +were there likewise. I struck his anointed ear with my leathern bucket, +which no man thought proper to notice. I passed undaunted through the +crowd; the people smiled, pulled off their hats, and wished me a good- +morning. The people of Aix-la-Chapelle were bigots, but too cowardly to +murder a man who was prepared for his own defence. + +As I was riding to Maestricht, a ball whistled by my ears, which, no +doubt, was a messenger sent after me by these persecuting priests. + +When hunting near the convent of Schwartzenbruck, three Dominicans lay in +ambush behind a hedge. One of their colleagues pointed out the place. I +was on my guard with my gun, drew near, and called out, "Shoot, +scoundrels! but do not kill me, for the devil stands ready for you at +your elbow." One fired, and all ran: The ball hit my hat. I fired and +wounded one desperately, whom the others carried off. + +In 1774, journeying from Spa to Limbourg, I was attacked by eight +banditti. The weather was rainy, and my musket was in its case; my sabre +was entangled in my belt, so that I was obliged to defend myself as with +a club. I sprang from the carriage, and fought in defence of my life, +striking down all before me, while my faithful huntsman protected me +behind. I dispersed my assailants, hastened to my carriage, and drove +away. One of these fellows was soon after hanged, and owned that the +confessor of the banditti had promised absolution could they but despatch +me, but that no man could shoot me, because Lucifer had rendered me +invulnerable. My agility, fighting, too, for life, was superior to +theirs, and they buried two of their gang, whom with my heavy sabre I had +killed. + +To such excess of cruelty may the violence of priests be carried! I +attacked only gross abuses--the deceit of the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle, +Cologne, and Liege, where they are worse than cannibals. I wished to +inculcate true Christian duties among my fellow-citizens, and the attempt +was sufficient to irritate the selfish Church of Rome. + +From my Empress I had nothing to hope. Her confessor had painted me as a +persecutor of the blessed Mother Church. Nor was this all. Opinions +were propagated throughout Vienna that I was a dangerous man to the +community. + +Hence I was always wronged in courts of judicature, where there are ever +to be found wicked men. They thought they were serving the cause of God +by injuring me. Yet they were unable to prevent my writings from +producing me much money, or from being circulated through all Germany. +The _Aix-la-Chapelle Journal_ became so famous, that in the second year I +had four thousand subscribers, by each of whom I gained a ducat. + +The postmasters, who gained considerably by circulating newspapers, were +envious, because the _Aix-la-Chapelle Journal_ destroyed several of the +others, and they therefore formed a combination. + +Prince Charles of Sweden placed confidence in me during his residence at +Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and I accompanied him into Holland. When I took +my leave of him at Maestricht, he said to me, "When my father dies, +either my brother shall be King, or we will lose our heads." The King +died, and Prince Charles soon after said, in the postscript of one of his +letters, "What we spoke of at Maestricht will soon be fully accomplished, +and you may then come to Stockholm." + +On this, I inserted an article in my journal declaring a revolution had +taken place in Sweden, that the king had made himself absolute. The +other papers expressed their doubts, and I offered to wager a thousand +ducats on the truth of the article published in my journal under the +title of "Aix-la-Chapelle." The news of the revolution in Sweden was +confirmed. + +My journal foretold the Polish partition six weeks sooner than any other; +but how I obtained this news must not be mentioned. I was active in the +defence of Queen Matilda of Denmark. + +The French Ministry were offended at the following pasquinade:--"The +three eagles have rent the Polish bear, without losing a feather with +which any man in the Cabinet of Versailles can write. Since the death of +Mazarin, they write only with goose-quills." + +By desire of the King of Poland, I wrote a narrative of the attempt made +to assassinate him, and named the nuncio who had given absolution to the +conspirators in the chapel of the Holy Virgin. + +The house was now in flames. Rome insisted I should recall my words. Her +nuncio, at Cologne, vented poison, daggers, and excommunication; the +Empress-Queen herself thought proper to interfere. I obtained, for my +justification, from Warsaw a copy of the examination of the conspirators. +This I threatened to publish, and stood unmoved in the defence of truth. + +The Empress wrote to the Postmaster-General of the Empire, and commanded +him to lay an interdict on the _Aix-la-Chapelle Journal_. Informed of +this, I ended its publication with the year, but wrote an essay on the +partition of Poland, which also did but increase my enemies. + +The magistracy of Aix-la-Chapelle is elected from the people, and the +Burghers' court consists of an ignorant rabble. I know no exceptions but +Baron Lamberte and De Witte; and this people assume titles of dignity, +for which they are amenable to the court at Vienna. Knowing I should +find little protection at Vienna, they imagined they might drive me from +their town. I was a spy on their evil deeds, of whom they would have rid +themselves. I knew that the two sheriffs, Kloss and Furth, and the +recorder, Geyer, had robbed the town-chamber of forty thousand dollars, +and divided the spoil. To these I was a dangerous man. For such reasons +they sought a quarrel with me, pretending I had committed a trespass by +breaking down a hedge, and cited me to appear at the town-house. + +The postmaster, Heinsberg, of Aix-la-Chapelle, although he had two +thousand three hundred rix-dollars of mine in his possession, instituted +false suits against me, obtained verdicts against me, seized on a cargo +of wine at Cologne, and I incurred losses to the amount of eighteen +thousand florins, which devoured the fortune of my wife, and by which +she, with myself and my children, were reduced to poverty. + +The Gravenitz himself, in 1778, acknowledged how much he had injured me, +affirmed he had been deceived, and promised he would try to obtain +restitution. I forgave him, and he attempted to keep his promise; but +his power declined; the bribes he had received became too public. He was +dispossessed of his post, but, alas! too late for me. Two other of my +judges are at this time obliged to sweep the streets of Vienna, where +they are condemned to the House of Correction. Had this been their +employment instead of being seated on the seat of judgment twenty years +ago, I might have been more fortunate. It is a remarkable circumstance +that I should so continually have been despoiled by unjust judges. Who +would have had the temerity to affirm that their evil deeds should bring +them to attend on the city scavenger? I indeed knew them but too well, +and fearlessly spoke what I knew. It was my misfortune that I was +acquainted with their malpractices sooner than gracious Sovereign. + +Let the scene close on my litigations at Aix-la-Chapelle and Vienna. May +God preserve every honest man from the like! They have swallowed up my +property, and that of my wife. Enough! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +From the year 1774 to 1777, I journeyed through England and France. I +was intimate with Dr. Franklin, the American Minister, and with the +Counts St. Germain and de Vergennes, who made me proposals to go to +America; but I was prevented by my affection for my wife and children. + +My friend the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who had been Governor of +Magdeburg during my imprisonment, offered me a commission among the +troops going to America, but I answered--"Gracious prince, my heart beats +in the cause of freedom only; I will never assist in enslaving men. Were +I at the head of your brave grenadiers. I should revolt to the +Americans." + +During 1775 I continued at Aix-la-Chapelle my essays, entitled, "The +Friend of Men." My writings had made some impression; the people began +to read; the monks were ridiculed, but my partisans increased, and their +leader got himself cudgelled. + +They did not now mention my name publicly, but catechised their penitents +at confession. During this year people came to me from Cologne, Bonn, +and Dusseldorf, to speak with me privately. When I inquired their +business, they told me their clergy had informed them I was propagating a +new religion, in which every man must sign himself to the devil, who then +would supply them with money. They were willing to become converts to my +faith, would Beelzebub but give them money, and revenge them on their +priests. "My good friends," answered I, "your teachers have deceived +you; I know of no devils but themselves. Were it true that I was +founding a new religion, the converts to whom the devil would supply +money, your priests, would be the first of my apostles, and the most +catholic. I am an honest, moral man, as a Christian ought to be. Go +home, in God's name, and do your duty." + +I forgot to mention that the recorder of the sheriff's court at Aix-la- +Chapelle, who is called Baron Geyer, had associated himself in 1778 with +a Jew convert, and that this noble company swindled a Dutch merchant out +of eighty thousand florins, by assuming the arms of Elector Palatine, and +producing forged receipts and contracts. Geyer was taken in Amsterdam, +and would have been hanged, but, by the aid of a servant, he escaped. He +returned to Aix-la-Chapelle, where he enjoys his office. Three years ago +he robbed the town-chamber. His wife was, at that time, _generis +communis_, and procured him friends at court. The assertions of this +gentleman found greater credit at Vienna than those of the injured +Trenck! Oh, shame! Oh, world! world! + +My wine trade was so successful that I had correspondents and stores in +London, Paris, Brussels, Hamburg, and the Hague, and had gained forty +thousand florins. One unfortunate day destroyed all my hopes in the +success of this traffic. + +In London I was defrauded of eighteen hundred guineas by a swindler. The +fault was my brother-in-law's, who parted with the wine before he had +received the money. When I had been wronged, and asked my friends' +assistance, I was only laughed at, as if they were happy that an +Englishman had the wit to cheat a German. + +Finding myself defrauded, I hastened to Sir John Fielding. He told me he +knew I had been swindled, and that his friendship would make him active +in my behalf; that he also knew the houses where my wine was deposited, +and that a party of his runners should go with me, sufficiently strong +for its recovery. I was little aware that he had, at that time, two +hundred bottles of my best Tokay in his cellar. His pretended kindness +was a snare; he was in partnership with robbers, only the stupid among +whom he hanged, and preserved the most adroit for the promotion of trade. + +He sent a constable and six of his runners with me, commanding them to +act under my orders. By good fortune I had a violent headache, and sent +my brother-in-law, who spoke better English than I. Him they brought to +the house of a Jew, and told him, "Your wine, sir, is here concealed." +Though it was broad day, the door was locked, that he might be induced to +act illegally. The constable desired him to break the door open, which +he did; the Jews came running, and asked--"What do you want, +gentlemen?"--"I want my wine," answered my brother.--"Take what is your +own," replied a Jew; "but beware of touching my property. I have bought +the wine." + +My brother attended the constable and runners into a cellar, and found a +great part of my wine. He wrote to Sir John Fielding that he had found +the wine, and desired to know how to act. Fielding answered: "It must be +taken by the owner." My brother accordingly sent me the wine. + +Next day came a constable with a warrant, saying, "He wanted to speak +with my brother, and that he was to go to Sir John Fielding." When he +was in the street, he told him--"Sir, you are my prisoner." + +I went to Sir John Fielding, and asked him what it meant. This justice +answered that my brother had been accused of felony. The Jews and +swindlers had sworn the wine was a legal purchase. If I had not been +paid, or was ignorant of the English laws, that was my fault. Six +swindlers had sworn the wine was paid for, which circumstance he had not +known, or he should not have granted me a warrant. My brother had also +broken open the doors, and forcibly taken away wine which was not his +own. They made oath of this, and he was charged with burglary and +robbery. + +He desired me to give bail in a thousand guineas for my brother for his +appearance in the Court of King's Bench; otherwise his trial would +immediately come on, and in a few days he would be hanged. + +I hastened to a lawyer, who confirmed what had been told me, advised me +to give bail, and he would then defend my cause. I applied to Lord +Mansfield, and received the same answer. I told my story to all my +friends, who laughed at me for attempting to trade in London without +understanding the laws. My friend Lord Grosvenor said, "Send more wine +to London, and we will pay you so well that you will soon recover your +loss." + +I went to my wine-merchants, who had a stock of mine worth upwards of a +thousand guineas. They gave bail for my brother, and he was released. + +Fielding, in the interim, sent his runners to my house, took back the +wine, and restored it to the Jews. They threatened to prosecute me as a +receiver of stolen goods. I fled from London to Paris, where I sold off +my stock at half-price, honoured my bills, and so ended my merchandise. + +My brother returned to London in November, to defend his cause in the +Court of King's Bench; but the swindlers had disappeared, and the lawyer +required a hundred pounds to proceed. The conclusion was that my brother +returned with seventy pounds less in his pocket, spent as travelling +expenses, and the stock in the hands of my wine-merchants was detained on +pretence of paying the bail. They brought me an apothecary's bill, and +all was lost. + +The Swedish General Sprengporten came to Aix-la-Chapelle in 1776. He had +planned and carried into execution the revolution so favourable to the +King, but had left Sweden in discontent, and came to take the waters with +a rooted hypochondria. + +He was the most dangerous man in Sweden, and had told the King himself, +after the revolution, in the presence of his guards, "While Sprengporten +can hold a sword, the King has nothing to command." + +It was feared he would go to Russia, and Prince Charles wrote to me in +the name of the monarch, desiring I would exert myself to persuade him to +return to Sweden. He was a man of pride, which rendered him either a +fool or a madman. He despised everything that was not Swedish. + +The Prussian Minister, Count Hertzberg, the same year came to +Aix-la-Chapelle. I enjoyed his society for three months, and accompanied +this great man. To his liberality am I indebted that I can return to my +country with honour. + +The time I had to spare was not spent in idleness; I attacked, in my +weekly writings, those sharpers who attend at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa to +plunder both inhabitants and visitants, under the connivance of the +magistracy; nor are there wanting foreign noblemen who become the +associates of these pests of society. The publication of such truths +endangered my life from the desperadoes, who, when detected, had nothing +more to lose. How powerful is an innocent life, nothing can more fully +prove than that I still exist, in despite of all the attempts of wicked +monks and despicable sharpers. + +Though my life was much disturbed, yet I do not repent of my manner of +acting; many a youth, many a brave man, have I detained from the gaming- +table, and pointed out to them the most notorious sharpers. + +This was so injurious to Spa, that the Bishop of Liege himself, who +enjoys a tax on all their winnings, and therefore protects such villains, +offered me an annual pension of five hundred guineas if I would not come +to Spa; or three per cent. on the winnings, would I but associate myself +with Colonel N---t, and raise recruits for the gaming-table. My answer +may easily be imagined; yet for this was I threatened to be +excommunicated by the Holy Catholic Church! + +I and my family passed sixteen summers in Spa. My house became the +rendezvous of the most respectable part of the company, and I was known +to some of the most respectable characters in Europe. + +A contest arose between the town of Aix-la-Chapelle and Baron Blankart, +the master of the hounds to the Elector Palatine: it originated in a +dispute concerning precedence between the before-mentioned wife of the +Recorder Geyer and the sister of the Burgomaster of Aix-la-Chapelle, +Kahr, who governed that town with despotism. + +This quarrel was detrimental to the town and to the Elector Palatine, but +profitable to Kahr, whose office it was to protect the rights of the +town, and those persons who defended the claims of the Elector; the +latter kept a faro bank, the plunder of which had enriched the town; and +the former Kahr, under pretence of defending their cause, embezzled the +money of the people; so that both parties endeavoured with all their +power to prolong the litigation. + +It vexed me to see their proceedings. Those who suffered on each side +were deceived; and I conceived the project of exposing the truth. For +this purpose I journeyed to the court at Mannheim, related the facts to +the Elector, produced a plan of accommodation, which he approved, and +obtained power to act as arbitrator. The Minister of the Elector, +Bekkers, pretended to approve my zeal, conducted me to an _auberge_, made +me dine at his house, and said a commission was made out for my son, and +forwarded to Aix-la-Chapelle--which was false; the moment he quitted me +he sent to Aix-la-Chapelle to frustrate the attempt he pretended to +applaud. He was himself in league with the parties. In fine, this silly +interference brought me only trouble, expense, and chagrin. I made five +journeys to Mannheim, till I became so dissatisfied that I determined to +quit Aix-la-Chapelle, and purchase an estate in Austria. + +The Bavarian contest was at this time in agitation; my own affairs +brought me to Paris, and here I learned intelligence of great +consequence; this I communicated to the Grand Duke of Florence, on my +return to Vienna. The Duke departed to join the army in Bohemia, and I +again wrote to him, and thought it my duty to send a courier. The Duke +showed my letter to the Emperor; but I remained unnoticed. + +I did not think myself safe in foreign countries during this time of war, +and purchased the lordship of Zwerbach, with appurtenances, which, with +the expenses, cost me sixty thousand florins. + +To conclude this purchase, I was obliged to solicit the referendary, +Zetto, and his friend whom he had appointed as my curator, for my new +estate was likewise made a _fidei commissum_, as my referendaries and +curators would not let me escape contribution. The six thousand florins +of which they emptied my purse would have done my family much service. + +In May, 1780, I went to Aix-la-Chapelle, where my wife's mother died in +July; and in September my wife, myself, and family, all came to Vienna. + +My wife solicited the mistress of the ceremonies to obtain an audience. +Her request was granted, and she gained the favour of the Empress. Her +kindness was beyond expression: she introduced my wife to the +Archduchess, and commanded her mistress of the ceremonies to present her +everywhere. "You were unwilling," said she, "to accompany your husband +into my country, but I hope to convince you that you may live happier in +Austria than at Aix-la-Chapelle." + +She next day sent me her decree, assuring me of a pension of four hundred +florins. + +My wife petitioned the Empress to grant me an audience: her request was +complied with: and the Empress said to me: "This is the third time in +which I would have made your fortune, had you been so disposed." She +desired to see my children, and spoke of my writings. "How much good +might you do," said she, "would you but write in the cause of religion!" + +We departed for Zwerbach, where we lived contentedly, but when we were +preparing to return to Vienna, and solicited the restitution of part of +my lost fortune, during this favour of the court, Theresa died, and all +my hopes were overcast. + +I forgot to relate that the Archduchess, Maria Anna, desired me to +translate a religious work, written in French by the Abbe Baudrand, into +German. I replied I would obey Her Majesty's commands. I began my work, +took passages from Baudrand, but inserted more of my own. The first +volume was finished in six weeks; the Empress thought it admirable. The +second soon followed, and I presented this myself. + +She asked me if it equalled the first; I answered, I hoped it would be +found more excellent. "No," said she; "I never in my life read a better +book:" and added, "she wondered how I could write so well and so +quickly." I promised another volume within a month. Before the third +was ready, Theresa died. She gave orders on her death-bed to have the +writings of Baron Trenck read to her; and though her confessor well knew +the injustice that had been done me, yet in her last moments he kept +silence, though he had given me his sacred promise to speak in my behalf. + +After her death the censor commanded that I should print what I have +stated in the preface to that third volume, and this was my only +satisfaction. + +For one-and-thirty years had I been soliciting my rights, which I never +could obtain, because the Empress was deceived by wicked men, and +believed me a heretic. In the thirty-second, my wife had the good +fortune to convince her this was false; she had determined to make me +restitution; just at this moment she died. + +The pension granted my wife by the Empress in consequence of my +misfortunes and our numerous family, we only enjoyed nine months. + +Of this she was deprived by the new monarch. He perhaps knew nothing of +the affair, as I never solicited. Yet much has it grieved me. Perhaps I +may find relief when the sighs wrung from me shall reach the heart of the +father of his people in this my last writing. At present, nothing for me +remains but to live unknown in Zwerbach. + +The Emperor thought proper to collect the moneys bestowed on hospitals +into one fund. The system was a wise one. My cousin Trenck had +bequeathed thirty-six thousand florins to a hospital for the poor of +Bavaria. This act he had no right to do, having deducted the sum from +the family estate. I petitioned the Emperor that these thirty-six +thousand florins might be restored to me and my children, who were the +people whom Trenck had indeed made poor, nothing of the property of his +acquiring having been left to pay this legacy, but, on the contrary, the +money having been exacted from mine. + +In a few days it was determined I should be answered in the same tone in +which, for six-and-thirty years past, all my petitions had been +answered:-- + +"THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER CANNOT BE GRANTED." + +Fortune persecuted me in my retreat. Within six years two hailstorms +swept away my crops; one year was a misgrowth; there were seven floods; a +rot among my sheep: all possible calamities befell me and my manor. + +The estate had been ruined, the ponds were to drain, three farms were to +be put into proper condition, and the whole newly stocked. This rendered +me poor, especially as my wife's fortune had been sunk in lawsuits at Aix- +la-Chapelle and Cologne. + +The miserable peasants had nothing, therefore could not pay: I was +obliged to advance them money. My sons assisted me, and we laboured with +our own hands: my wife took care of eight children, without so much as +the help of a maid. We lived in poverty, obliged to earn our daily +bread. + +The greatest of my misfortunes was my treatment in the military court, +when Zetto and Krugel were my referendaries. Zetto had clogged me with a +curator and when the cow had no more milk to give, they began to torture +me with deputations, sequestrations, administrations, and executions. +Nineteen times was I obliged to attend in Vienna within two years, at my +own expense. Every six years must I pay an attorney to dispute and +quarrel with the curator. I, in conclusion, was obliged to pay. If any +affair was to be expedited, I, by a third hand, was obliged to send the +referendary some ducats. Did he give judgment, still that judgment lay +fourteen months inefficient, and, when it then appeared, the copy was +false, and so was sent to the upper courts, the high referendary of which +said I "must be dislodged from Zwerbach." + +They obliged me at last to purchase my naturalisation. I sent to Prussia +for my pedigree; the attestation of this was sent me by Count Hertzberg. +Although the family of Trenck had a hundred years been landholders in +Hungary, yet was my attorney obliged to solicit the instrument called +ritter-diploma, for which, under pain of execution, I must pay two +thousand florins. + +By decree a Prussian nobleman is not noble in Austria, where every lackey +can purchase a diploma, making him a knight of the Empire, for twelve +hundred wretched florins!--where such men as P--- and Grassalkowitz have +purchased the dignity of a prince! + +Tortured by the courts, terrified by hailstorms, I determined to publish +my works, in eight volumes, and this history of my life. + +Fourteen months accomplished this purpose. My labours found a favourable +reception through all Germany, procured me money, esteem, and honour. By +my writings only will I seek the means of existence, and by trying to +obtain the approbation and the love of men. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +On the 22nd of August, 1786, the news arrived that Frederic the Great had +left this world! + +* * * * * + +The present monarch, the witness of my sufferings in my native country, +sent me a royal passport to Berlin. The confiscation of my estates was +annulled, and my deceased brother, in Prussia, had left my children his +heirs. + +* * * * * + +I journey, within the Imperial permission, back to my country, from which +I have been two-and-forty years expelled! I journey--not as a pardoned +malefactor, but as a man whose innocence has been established by his +actions, has been proved in his writings, and who is journeying to +receive his reward. + +Here I shall once more encounter my old friends my relations, and those +who have known me in the days of my affliction. Here shall I appear, not +as my country's Traitor, but as my country's Martyr! + +Possible, though little probable, are still future storms. For these +also I am prepared. Long had I reason daily to curse the rising sun, +and, setting, to behold it with horror. Death to me appears a great +benefit: a certain passage from agitation to peace, from motion to rest. +As for my children, they, jocund in youth, delight in present existence. +When I have fulfilled the duties of a father, to live or die will then be +as I shall please. + +Thou, O God! my righteous Judge, didst ordain that I should be an example +of suffering to the world; Thou madest me what I am, gavest me these +strong passions, these quick nerves, this thrilling of the blood, when I +behold injustice. Strong was my mind, that deeply it might meditate on +deep subjects; strong my memory, that these meditations I might retain; +strong my body, that proudly it might support all it has pleased Thee to +inflict. + +Should I continue to exist, should identity go with me, and should I know +what I was then, when I was called Trenck; when that combination of +particles which Nature commanded should compose this body shall be +decomposed, scattered, or in other bodies united; when I have no muscles +to act, no brain to think, no retina on which pictures can mechanically +be painted, my eyes wasted, and no tongue remaining to pronounce the +Creator's name, should I still behold a Creator--then, oh then, will my +spirit mount, and indubitably associate with spirits of the just who +expectant wait for their golden harps and glorious crowns from the Most +High God. For human weaknesses, human failings, arising from our nature, +springing from our temperament, which the Creator has ordained, shall be +even thus, and not otherwise; for these have I suffered enough on earth. + +Such is my confession of faith; in this have I lived, in this will I die. +The duties of a man and of a Christian I have fulfilled; nay, often have +exceeded, often have been too benevolent, too generous; perhaps also too +proud, too vain. I could not bend, although liable to be broken. + +That I have not served the world, in acts and employments where best I +might, is perhaps my own fault: the fault of my manner, which is now too +radical to be corrected in this, my sixtieth year. Yes, I acknowledge my +failing, acknowledge it unblushingly; nay, glory in the pride of a noble +nature. + +For myself, I ask nothing of those who have read my history; to them do I +commit my wife and children. My eldest son is a lieutenant in the Tuscan +regiment of cavalry, under General Lasey, and does honour to his father's +principles. The second serves his present Prussian Majesty, as ensign in +the Posadowsky dragoons, with equal promise. The third is still a child. +My daughters will make worthy men happy, for they have imbibed virtue and +gentleness with their mother's milk. Monarchs may hereafter remember +what I have suffered, what I have lost, and what is due to my ashes. + +Here do I declare--I will seek no other revenge against my enemies than +that of despising their evil deeds. It is my wish, and shall be my +endeavour, to forget the past; and having committed no offence, neither +will I solicit monarchs for posts of honour; as I have ever lived a free +man, a free man will I die. + +I conclude this part of my history on the evening preceding my journey to +Berlin. God grant I may encounter no new afflictions, to be inserted in +the remainder of this history. + +This journey I prepared to undertake, but my ever-envious fate threw me +on the bed of sickness, insomuch that small hope remained that I ever +should again behold the country of my forefathers. I seemed following +the Great Frederic to the mansions of the dead; then should I never have +concluded the history of my life, or obtained the victory by which I am +now crowned. + +A variety of obstacles being overcome, I found it necessary to make a +journey into Hungary, which was one of the most pleasant of my whole +life. + +I have no words to express my ardent wishes for the welfare of a nation +where I met with so many proofs of friendship. Wherever I appeared I was +welcomed with that love and enthusiasm which only await the fathers of +their country. The valour of my cousin Trenck, who died ingloriously in +the Spielberg, the loss of my great Hungarian estates, the fame of my +writings, and the cruelty of my sufferings, had gone before me. The +officers of the army, the nobles of the land, alike testified the warmth +of their esteem. + +Such is the reward of the upright; such too are the proofs that this +nation knows the just value of fortitude and virtue. Have I not reason +to publish my gratitude, and to recommend my children to those who, when +I am no more, shall dare uprightly to determine concerning the rights +which have unjustly been snatched from me in Hungary? + +Not a man in Hungary but will proclaim I have been unjustly dealt by; yet +I have good reason to suspect I never shall find redress. Sentence had +been already given; judges, more honest, cannot, without difficulty, +reverse old decrees; and the present possessors of my estates are too +powerful, too intimate with the governors of the earth, for me to hope I +shall hereafter be more happy. God knows my heart; I wish the present +possessors may render services to the state equal to those rendered by +the family of the Trencks. + +There is little probability I shall ever behold my noble friends in +Hungary more. Here I bid them adieu, promising them to pass the +remainder of any life so as still to merit the approbation of a people +with whose ashes I would most willingly have mingled my own. May the God +of heaven preserve every Hungarian from a fate similar to mine! + +The Croats have ever been reckoned uncultivated; yet, among this +uncultivated people I found more subscribers to my writings than among +all the learned men of Vienna; and in Hungary, more than in all the +Austrian dominions. + +The Hungarians, the unlettered Croats, seek information. The people of +Vienna ask their confessors' permission to read instructive books. +Various subscribers, having read the first volume of my work, brought it +back, and re-demanded their money, because some monk had told them it was +a book dangerous to be read. The judges of their courts have re-sold +them to the booksellers for a few pence or given them to those who had +the care of their consciences to burn. + +In Vienna alone was my life described as a romance; in Hungary I found +the compassion of men, their friendship, and effectual aid. Had my book +been the production of an Englishman, good wishes would not have been his +only reward. + +We German writers have interested critics to encounter if we would unmask +injustice; and if a book finds a rapid sale, dishonest printers issue +spurious editions, defrauding the author of his labours. + +The encouragement of the learned produces able teachers, and from their +seminaries men of genius occasionally come forth. The world is inundated +with books and pamphlets; the undiscerning reader knows not which to +select; the more intelligent are disgusted, or do not read at all, and +thus a work of merit becomes as little profitable to the author as to the +state. + +I left Vienna on the 5th of January, and came to Prague. Here I found +nearly the same reception as in Hungary; my writings were read. Citizens, +noblemen, and ladies treated me with like favour. May the monarch know +how to value men of generous feelings and enlarged understandings! + +I bade adieu to Prague, and continued my journey to Berlin. In Bohemia, +I took leave of my son, who saw his father and his two brothers, destined +for the Prussian service, depart. He felt the weight of this separation; +I reminded him of his duty to the state he served; I spoke of the fearful +fate of his uncle and father in Austria, and of the possessors of our +vast estates in Hungary. He shrank back--a look from his father pierced +him to the soul--tears stood in his eyes--his youthful blood flowed +quick, and the following expression burst suddenly from his lips:--"I +call God to witness that I will prove myself worthy of my father's name; +and that, while I live, his enemies shall be mine!" + +At Peterswald, on the road to Dresden, my carriage broke down: my life +was endangered; and my son received a contusion in the arm. The +erysipelas broke out on him at Berlin, and I could not present him to the +King for a month after. + +I had been but a short time at Berlin before the well-known minister, +Count Hertzberg, received me with kindness. Every man to whom his +private worth is known will congratulate the state that has the wisdom to +bestow on him so high an office. His scholastic and practical learning, +his knowledge of languages, his acquaintance with sciences, are indeed +wonderful. His zeal for his country is ardent, his love of his king +unprejudiced, his industry admirable, his firmness that of a man. He is +the most experienced man in the Prussian states. The enemies of his +country may rely on his word. The artful he can encounter with art; +those who menace, with fortitude; and with wise foresight can avert the +rising storm. He seeks not splendour in sumptuous and ostentatious +retinue; but if he can only enrich the state, and behold the poor happy, +he is himself willing to remain poor. His estate, Briess, near Berlin, +is no Chanteloup, but a model to those patriots who would study economy. +Here he, every Wednesday, enjoys recreation. The services he renders the +kingdom cost it only five thousand rix-dollars yearly; he, therefore, +lives without ostentation, yet becoming his state, and with splendour +when splendour is necessary. He does not plunder the public treasury +that he may preserve his own private property. + +This man will live in the annals of Prussia: who was employed under the +Great Frederic; had so much influence in the cabinets of Europe; and was +a witness of the last actions, the last sensations, of his dying king; +yet who never asked, nor ever received, the least gratuity. This is the +minister whose conversation I had the happiness to partake at +Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, whose welfare is the wish of my heart, and whose +memory I shall ever revere. + +I was received with distinction at his table, and became acquainted with +those whose science had benefited the Prussian states; nor was anything +more flattering to my self-love than that men like these should think me +worthy their friendship. + +Not many days after I was presented to the court by the Prussian +chamberlain, Prince Sacken, as it is not customary at Berlin for a +foreign subject to be presented by the minister of his own court. Though +a Prussian subject, I wore the Imperial uniform. + +The King received me with condescension; all eyes were directed towards +me, each welcomed me to my country. This moved me the more as it was +remarked by the foreign ministers, who asked who that Austrian officer +could be who was received with so much affection and such evident joy in +Berlin. The gracious monarch himself gave tokens of pleasure at +beholding me thus surrounded. Among the rest came the worthy General +Prittwitz, who said aloud-- + +"This is the gentleman who might have ruined me to effect his own +deliverance." + +Confused at so public a declaration, I desired him to expound this +riddle; and he added-- + +"I was obliged to be one of your guards on your unfortunate journey from +Dantzic to Magdeburg, in 1754, when I was a lieutenant. On the road I +continued alone with you in an open carriage. This gave you an +opportunity to escape, but you forbore. I afterwards saw the danger to +which I had exposed myself. Had you been less noble-minded, had such a +prisoner escaped through my negligence, I had certainly been ruined. The +King believed you alike dangerous and deserving of punishment. I here +acknowledge you as my saviour, and am in gratitude your friend." I knew +not that the generous man, who wished me so well, was the present General +Prittwitz. That he should himself remind me of this incident does him +the greater honour. + +Having been introduced at court, I thought it necessary to observe +ceremonies, and was presented by the Imperial ambassador, Prince Reuss, +to all foreign ministers, and such families as are in the habit of +admitting such visits. I was received by the Prince Royal, the reigning +Queen, the Queen-Dowager, and the royal family in their various places, +with favour never to be forgotten. His Royal Highness Prince Henry +invited me to a private audience, continued long in conversation with me, +promised me his future protection, admitted me to his private concerts, +and sometimes made me sup at court. + +A like reception I experienced in the palace of Prince Ferdinand of +Brunswick, where I frequently dined and supped. His princess took +delight in hearing my narratives, and loaded me with favour. + +Prince Ferdinand's mode of educating children is exemplary. The sons are +instructed in the soldier's duties, their bodies are inured to the +inclemencies of weather; they are taught to ride, to swim, and are +steeled to all the fatigue of war. Their hearts are formed for +friendship, which they cannot fail to attain. Happy the nation in +defence of which they are to act! + +How ridiculous these their _Royal Highnesses_ appear who, though born to +rule, are not deserving to be the lackeys to the least of those whom they +treat with contempt; and yet who swell, strut, stride, and contemplate +themselves as creatures essentially different by nature, and of a +superior rank in the scale of beings, though, in reality, their minds are +of the lowest, the meanest class. + +Happy the state whose prince is impressed with a sense that the people +are not his property, but he the property of the people! A prince +beloved by his people will ever render a nation more happy those he whose +only wish is to inspire fear. + +The pleasure I received at Berlin was great indeed. When I went to +court, the citizens crowded to see me, and when anyone among them said, +"That is Trenck," the rest would cry, "Welcome once more to your +country," while many would reach me their hands, with the tears standing +in their eyes. Frequent were the scenes I experienced of this kind. No +malefactor would have been so received. It was the reward of innocence; +this reward was bestowed throughout the Prussian territories. + +Oh world, ill-judging world, deceived by show! Dost thou not blindly +follow the opinion of the prince, be he severe, arbitrary, or just? Thy +censure and thy praise equally originate in common report. In Magdeburg +I lay, chained to the wall, ten years, sighing in wretchedness, every +calamity of hunger, cold, nakedness, and contempt. And wherefore? +Because the King, deceived by slanderers, pronounced me worthy of +punishment. Because a wise King mistook me, and treated me with +barbarity. Because a prudent King knew he had done wrong, yet would not +have it so supposed. So was his heart turned to stone; nay, opposed by +manly fortitude, was enraged to cruelty. Most men were convinced I was +an innocent sufferer; "Yet did they all cry out the more, saying, let him +be crucified!" My relations were ashamed to hear my name. My sister was +barbarously treated because she assisted me in my misfortunes. No man +durst avow himself my friend, durst own I merited compassion; or, much +less, that the infallible King had erred. I was the most despised, +forlorn man on earth; and when thus put on the rack, had I there expired, +my epitaph would have been, "Here lies the traitor, Trenck." + +Frederic is dead, and the scene is changed; another monarch has ascended +the throne, and the grub has changed to a beautiful butterfly! The +witnesses to all I have asserted are still living, loudly now proclaim +the truth, and embrace me with heart-felt affection. + +Does the worth of a man depend upon his actions? his reward or punishment +upon his virtue? In arbitrary states, certainly not. They depend on the +breath of a king! Frederic was the most penetrating prince of his age, +but the most obstinate also. A vice dreadful to those whom he selected +as victims, who must be sacrificed to the promoting of his arbitrary +views. + +How many perished, the sin offerings of Frederic's obstinate self-will, +whose orphan children now cry to God for vengeance! The dead, alas! +cannot plead. Trial began and ended with execution. The few words--IT +IS THE KING'S COMMAND--were words of horror to the poor condemned wretch +denied to plead his innocence! Yet what is the Ukase (Imperial order) in +Russia, _Tel est notre bon plaisir_ (Such is our pleasure) in France, or +the Allergnadigste Hofresolution (The all-gracious sentence of the +court), pronounced with the sweet tone of a Vienna matron? In what do +these differ from the arbitrary order of a military despot? + +Every prayer of man should be consecrated to man's general good; for him +to obtain freedom and universal justice! Together should we cry with one +voice, and, if unable to shackle arbitrary power, still should we +endeavour to show how dangerous it is! The priests of liberty should +offer up their thanks to the monarch who declares "the word of power" a +nullity, and "the sentence" of justice omnipotent. + +Who can name the court in Europe where Louis, Peter, or Frederic, each +and all surnamed The Great, have not been, and are not, imitated as +models of perfection? Lettres-de-cachet, the knout, and cabinet-orders, +superseding all right, are become law! + +No reasoning, says the corporal to the poor grenadier, whom he canes!--No +reasoning! exclaim judges; the court has decided.--No reasoning, rash and +pertinacious Trenck, will the prudent reader echo. Throw thy pen in the +fire, and expose not thyself to become the martyr of a state inquisition. + +My fate is, and must remain, critical and undecided. I have +six-and-thirty years been in the service of Austria, unrewarded, and +beholding the repeated and generous efforts I made effectually to serve +that state, unnoticed. The Emperor Joseph supposes me old, that the +fruit is wasted, and that the husk only remains. It is also supposed I +should not be satisfied with a little. To continue to oppress him who +has once been oppressed, and who possess qualities that may make +injustice manifest, is the policy of states. My journey to Berlin has +given the slanderer further opportunity of painting me as a suspicious +character: I smile at the ineffectual attempt. + +I appeared in the Imperial uniform and belied such insinuations. To this +purpose it was written to court, in November, when I went into Hungary, +"The motions of Trenck ought to be observed in Hungary." Ye poor +malicious blood-suckers of the virtuous! Ye shall not be able to hurt a +hair of my head. Ye cannot injure the man who has sixty years lived in +honour. I will not, in my old age, bring upon myself the reproach of +inconstancy, treachery, or desire of revenge. I will betray no political +secrets: I wish not to injure those by whom I have been injured.--Such +acts I will never commit. I never yet descended to the office of spy, +nor will I die a rewarded villain. + +Yes, I appeared in Berlin among the upright and the just. Instead of +being its supposed enemy, I was declared an honour to my country. I +appeared in the Imperial uniform and fulfilled the duties of my station: +and now must the Prussian Trenck return to Austria, there to perform a +father's duty. + +Yet more of what happened in Berlin. + +Some days after I had been presented to the King, I entreated a private +audience, and on the 12th of February received the following letter:-- + + "In answer to your letter of the 8th of this month, I inform you that, + if you will come to me to-morrow, at five o'clock in the afternoon, I + shall have the pleasure to speak with you; meantime, I pray God to + take you into his holy keeping. + + "FREDERIC WILLIAM. + + "Berlin, Feb. 12, 1787." + + "P.S.--After signing the above, I find it more convenient to appoint + to-morrow, at nine in the morning, about which time you will come into + the apartment named the Marmor Kammer (marble chamber)." + +The anxiety with which I expected this wished-for interview may well be +conceived. I found the Prussian Titus alone, and he continued in +conversation with me more than an hour. + +How kind was the monarch! How great! How nobly did he console me for +the past! How entirely did his assurance of favour overpower my whole +soul! He had read the history of my life. When prince of Prussia, he +had been an eyewitness, in Magdeburg, of my martyrdom, and my attempts to +escape. His Majesty parted from me with tokens of esteem and +condescension.--My eyes bade adieu, but my heart remained in the marble +chamber, in company with a prince capable of sensations so dignified; and +my wishes for his welfare are eternal. + +I have since travelled through the greater part of the Prussian states. +Where is the country in which the people are all satisfied? Many +complained of hard times, or industry unrewarded. My answer was:-- + +"Friends, kneel with the rising sun, and thank the God of heaven that you +are Prussians. I have seen and known much of this world, and I assure +you, you are among the happiest people of Europe. Causes of complaint +everywhere exist; but you have a king, neither obstinate, ambitious, +covetous, nor cruel: his will is that his people should have cause of +content, and should he err by chance, his heart is not to blame if the +subject suffers." + +Prussia is neither wanting in able nor learned men. The warmth of +patriots glows in their veins. Everything remains with equal stability, +as under the reign of Frederic; and should the thunder burst, the ready +conductors will render the shock ineffectual. + +Hertzberg still labours in the cabinet, still thinks, writes, and acts as +he has done for years. The king is desirous that justice shall be done +to his subjects, and will punish, perhaps, with more severity, whenever +he finds himself deceived, than from the goodness of his disposition, +might be supposed. The treasury is full, the army continues the same, +and there is little reason to doubt but that industry, population, and +wealth will increase. None but the vile and the wicked would leave the +kingdom; while the oppressed and best subjects of other states would fly +from their native country, certain of finding encouragement and security +in Prussia. + +The personal qualities of Fredric William merit description. He is tall +and handsome, his mien is majestic, and his accomplishments of mind and +body would procure him the love of men, were he not a king. He is +affable without deceit, friendly and kind in conversation, and stately +when stateliness is necessary. He is bountiful, but not profuse; he +knows that without economy the Prussian must sink. He is not tormented +by the spirit of conquest, he wishes harm to no nation, yet he will +certainly not suffer other nations to make encroachments, nor will he be +terrified by menaces. + +The wise Frederic, when living, though himself learned, and a lover of +the sciences, never encouraged them in his kingdom. Germany, under his +reign, might have forgotten her language: he preferred the literature of +France. Konigsberg, once the seminary of the North, contains, at +present, few professors, or students; the former are fallen into +disrepute, and are ill paid; the latter repair to Leipsic and Gottingen. +We have every reason to suppose the present monarch, though no studious +man himself, will encourage the academies of the literati, that men +learned in jurisprudence and the sciences may not be wanting: which want +is the more to be apprehended as the nobility must, without exception, +serve in the army, so that learning has but few adherents, and these are +deprived of the means of improvement. + +Frederic William is also too much the friend of men to suffer them to +pine in prisons. He abhors the barbarity with which the soldiers are +beaten: his officers will not be fettered hand and foot; slavish +subordination will be banished, and the noble in heart will be the noble +of the land. May he, in his people, find perfect content! May his +people be ever worthy of such a prince! Long may he reign, and may his +ministers be ever enlightened and honourable men! + +He sent for me a second time, conversed much with me, and confirmed those +ideas which my first interview had inspired. + +On the 11th of March I presented my son at another audience, whom I +intended for the Prussian service. The King bestowed a commission on him +in the Posadowsky dragoons, at my request. + +I saw him at the review at Velau, and his superior officers formed great +expectations from his zeal. Time will discover whether he who is in the +Austrian, or this in the Prussian service, will first obtain the rewards +due to their father. Should they both remain unnoticed, I will bestow +him on the Grand Turk, rather than on European courts, whence equity to +me and mine is banished. + +To Austria I owe no thanks; all that could be taken from me was taken. I +was a captain before I entered those territories, and, after +six-and-thirty years' service, I find myself in the rank of invalid +major. The proof of all I have asserted, and of how little I am indebted +to this state is most incontestable, since the history of my life is +allowed by the royal censor to be publicly sold in Vienna. + +It is remarkable that one only of all the eight officers, with whom I +served, in the body guard, in 1745, is dead. Lieutenant-colonel Count +Blumenthal lives in Berlin; Pannewitz is commander of the Knights of +Malta: both gave me a friendly reception. Wagnitz is lieutenant-general +in the service of Hesse-Cassel; he was my tent comrade, and was +acquainted with all that happened. Kalkreuter and Grethusen live on +their estates, and Jaschinsky is now alive at Konigsberg, but +superannuated, and tortured by sickness, and remorse. He, instead of +punishment, has forty years enjoyed a pension of a thousand rix-dollars. +I have seen my lands confiscated, of the income of which I have been +forty-two years deprived, and never yet received retribution. + +Time must decide; the king is generous, and I have too much pride to +become a beggar. The name of Trenck shall be found in the history of the +acts of Frederic. A tyrant himself, he was the slave of his passions; +and even did not think an inquiry into my innocence worth the trouble. To +be ashamed of doing right, because he has done wrong, or to persist in +error, that fools, and fools only, can think him infallible, is a +dreadful principle in a ruler. + +Since I have been at Berlin, and was received there with so many +testimonies of friendship, the newspapers of Germany have published +various articles concerning me, intending to contribute to my honour or +ease. They said my eldest daughter is appointed the governess of the +young Princess. This has been the joke of some witty correspondent; for +my eldest daughter is but fifteen, and stands in need of a governess +herself. Perhaps they may suppose me mean enough to circulate falsehood. + +I daily receive letters from all parts of Germany, wherein the sensations +of the feeling heart are evident. Among these letters was one which I +received from Bahrdt, Professor at Halle, dated April 10, 1787 wherein he +says, "Receive, noble German, the thanks of one who, like you, has +encountered difficulties; yet, far inferior to those you have +encountered. You, with gigantic strength, have met a host of foes, and +conquered. The pests of men attacked me also. From town to town, from +land to land, I was pursued by priestcraft and persecution; yet I +acquired fame. I fled for refuge and repose to the states of Frederic, +but found them not. I have eight years laboured under affliction with +perseverance, but have found no reward. By industry have I made myself +what I am; by ministerial favour, never. Worn out and weak, the history +of your life, worthy sir, fell into my hands, and poured balsam into my +wounds. There I saw sufferings immeasurably greater; there, indeed, +beheld fortitude most worthy of admiration. Compared to you, of what +could I complain? Receive, noble German, my warmest thanks; while I live +they shall flow. And should you find a fortunate moment, in the presence +of your King, speak of me as one consigned to poverty; as one whose +talents are buried in oblivion. Say to him--'Mighty King! stretch forth +thy hand, and dry up his tears.' I know the nobleness of your mind, and +doubt not your good wishes." + +To the Professor's letter I returned the following answer:-- + + "I was affected, sir, by your letter. I never yet was unmoved, when + the pen was obedient to the dictates of the heart. I feel for your + situation; and if my example can teach wisdom even to the wise, I have + cause to triumph. This is the sweetest of rewards. At Berlin I have + received much honour, but little more. Men are deaf to him who + confides only in his right. What have I gained? Shadowy fame for + myself, and the vapour of hope for my heirs! + + "Truth and Trenck, my good friend, flourish not in courts. You + complain of priestcraft. He who would disturb their covetousness, he + who speaks against the false opinions they scatter, considers not + priests, and their aim, which is to dazzle the stupid and stupefy the + wise. Deprecate their wrath! avoid their poisoned shafts, or they + will infect tiny peace: will blast thy honour. And wherefore should + we incur this danger. To cure ignorance of error is impossible. Let + us then silently steal to our graves, and thus small we escape the + breath of envy. He who should enjoy all even thought could grasp, + should yet have but little. Having acquired this knowledge, the + passions of the soul are lulled to apathy. I behold error, and I + laugh; do thou, my friend, laugh also. If that can comfort us, men + will do our memory justice--when we are dead! Fame plants her laurels + over the grave, and there they flourish best. + + "BARON TRENCK + + "_Schangulach_, _near Konigsberg_, + _April_ 30_th_, 1787." + + "P.S--I have spoken, worthy Professor, the feelings of my heart, in + answer to your kind panegyric. You will but do me justice, when you + believe I think and act as I write with respect to my influence at + court, it is as insignificant at Berlin as at Vienna or at + Constantinople" + +Among the various letters I have received, as it may answer a good +purpose, I hope the reader will not think the insertion of the following +improper. + +In a letter from an unknown correspondent, who desired me to speak for +this person at Berlin, eight others were enclosed. They came from the +above person in distress, to this correspondent: and I was requested to +let them appear in the Berlin Journal. I selected two of them, and here +present them to the world, as it can do me injury, while they describe an +unhappy victim of an extraordinary kind: and may perhaps obtain him some +relief. + +Should this hope be verified, I am acquainted with him who wishes to +remain concealed, can introduce him to the knowledge of such as might +wish to interfere in his behalf. Should they not, the reader will still +find them well-written and affecting letters; such as may inspire +compassion. The following is the first of those I selected. + + + +LETTER I + + + "_Neuland_, _Feb_ 12_th_, 1787. + + "I thought I had so satisfactorily answered you by my last, that you + would have left me in peaceful possession of my sorrows! but your + remarks, entreaties, and remonstrances, succeed each other with such + rapidity, that I am induced to renew the contest. Cowardice, I + believe, you are convinced, is not a native in my heart, and should I + now yield, you might suppose that age and the miseries I have + suffered, had weakened my powers of mind as well as body; and that I + ought to have been classed among the unhappy multitudes whose + sufferings have sunk them to despondency. + + "Baron Trenck, that man of many woes, once so despised, but who now is + held in admiration, where he was before so much the object of hatred; + who now speaks so loudly in his own defence, where, formerly, the man + who had but whispered his name would have lived suspected; Baron + Trenck you propose as an example of salvation for me. You are wrong. + Have you considered how dissimilar our past lives have been; how + different, too, are our circumstances? Or, omitting these, have you + considered to whom you would have me appeal? + + "In 1767, I became acquainted, in Vienna, with this sufferer of + fortitude, this agreeable companion. We are taught that a noble + aspect bespeaks a corresponding mind; this I believe him to possess. + But what expectations can I form from Baron Trenck? + + "I will briefly answer the questions you have put. Baron Trenck was a + man born to inherit great estates; this and the fire of his youth, + fanned by flattering hopes from his famous kinsman, rendered him too + haughty to his King; and this alone was the origin of all his future + sufferings. I, on the contrary, though the son of a Silesian nobleman + of property, did not inherit so much as the pay of a common soldier; + the family having been robbed by the hand of power, after being + accused by wickedness under the mask of virtue. You know my father's + fate, the esteem in which he was held by the Empress Theresa; and that + a pretended miracle was the occasion of his fall. Suddenly was he + plunged from the height to which industry, talents, and virtue had + raised him, to the depth of poverty. At length, at the beginning of + the seven years' war, one of the King of Prussia's subjects + represented him to the Austrian court as a dangerous correspondent of + Marshal Schwerin's. Then at sixty years of age, my father was seized + at Jagerndorf, and imprisoned in the fortress of Gratz, in Styria. He + had an allowance just sufficient to keep him alive in his dungeon; + but, for the space of seven years, never beheld the sun rise or set. I + was a boy when this happened, however, I was not heard. I only + received some pecuniary relief from the Empress, with permission to + shed my blood in her defence. In this situation we first vowed + eternal friendship; but from this I soon was snatched by my father's + enemies. What the Empress had bestowed, her ministers tore from me. I + was seized at midnight, and was brought, in company with two other + officers, to the fortress of Gratz. Here I remained immured six + years. My true name was concealed, and another given me. + + "Peace being restored, Trenck, I, and my father were released; but the + mode of our release was very different. The first obtained his + freedom at the intercession of Theresa, she, too, afforded him a + provision. We, on the contrary, according to the amnesty, stipulated + in the treaty of peace, were led from our dungeons as state prisoners, + without inquiry concerning the verity or falsehood of our crimes. + Extreme poverty, wretchedness, and misery, were our reward for the + sufferings we had endured. + + "Not only was my health destroyed, but my jawbone was lost, eaten away + by the scurvy. I laid before Frederic the Great the proofs of the + calamities I had undergone, and the dismal state to which I was + reduced, by his foe, and for his sake; entreated bread to preserve me + and my father from starving, but his ear was deaf to my prayer, his + heart insensible to my sighs. + + "Providence, however, raised me up a saviour,--Count Gellhorn was the + man. After the taking of Breslau, he had been also sent a state + prisoner to Gratz. During his imprisonment, he had heard the report + of my sufferings and my innocence. No sooner did he learn I was + released, than he became my benefactor, my friend, and restored me to + the converse of men, to which I had so long been dead. + + "I defer the continuance of my narrative to the next post. The + remembrance of past woes inflict new ones. I am eternally." + + + +LETTER II. + + + "_February_ 24, 1787. + + "Dear Friend,--After an interval of silence, remembering my promise, I + again continue my story. + + "My personal sufferings have not been less than those of Trenck. His, + I am acquainted with only from the inaccurate relations I have heard: + my own I have felt. A colonel in the Prussian service, whose name was + Hallasch, was four years my companion; he was insane, and believed + himself the Christ that was to appear at the millennium: he persecuted + me with his reveries, which I was obliged to listen to, and approve, + or suffer violence from one stronger than myself. + + "The society of men or books, everything that could console or amuse, + were forbidden me; and I considered it as wonderful that I did not + myself grow mad, in the company of this madman. Four hard winters I + existed without feeling the feeble emanation of a winter sun, much + less the warmth of fire. The madman felt more pity than my keeper, + and lent me his cloak to cover my body, though the other denied me a + truss of straw, notwithstanding I had lost the use of my hands and + feet. The place where we were confined was called a chamber; it + rather resembled the temple of Cloacina. The noxious damps and + vapours so poisoned my blood that an unskilful surgeon, who tortured + me during nine months, with insult as a Prussian traitor, and state + criminal, I lost the greatest part of my jaw. + + "Schottendorf was our governor and tyrant; a man who repaid the + friendship he found in the mansion of my fathers--with cruelty. He + was ripe for the sickle, and Time cut him off. Tormentini and Galer + were his successors in office, by them we were carefully watched, but + we were treated with commiseration. Their precautions rendered + imprisonment less wretched. Ever shall I hold their memory sacred. + Yet, benevolent as they were, their goodness was exceeded by that of + Rottensteiner, the head gaoler. He considered his prisoners as his + children; and he was their benefactor. Of this I had experience, + during two years after the release of Hallasch. + + "Here I but cursorily describe misery, at which the monarch shall + shudder, if the blood of a tyrant flow not in his veins. Theresa + could not wish these things. But she was fallible, and not + omniscient. + + "From the above narrative, you will perceive how opposite the effects + must be which the histories of Baron Trenck and of myself must + produce. + + "Trenck left his dungeon shielded from contempt; the day of freedom + was the day of triumph. I, on the contrary, was exposed to every + calamity. The spirit of Trenck again raised itself. I have laboured + many a night that I might neither beg nor perish the following day: + working for judges who neither knew law nor had powers of mind to + behold the beauty of justice: settling accounts that, item after item, + did not prove that the lord they were intended for, was an imbecile + dupe. + + "Trenck remembers his calamities, but the remembrance is advantageous + to himself and his family; while with me, the past did but increase, + did but agonise, the present and the future. He was not like me, + obliged to crouch in presence of those vulgar, those incapable minds, + that do but consider the bent back as the footstool of pride. Every + man is too busy to act in behalf of others; pity me therefore, but + advise me not to hope assistance, by petitioning princes at second + hand. I know your good wishes, and, for these, I have nothing to + return but barren thanks.--I am, &c." + +The reasons why I published the foregoing letters are already stated, and +will appear satisfactory to the reader. Once more to affairs that +concern myself. + +I met at Berlin many old friends of both sexes; among others, an aged +invalid came to see me, who was at Glatz, in 1746, when I cut my way +through the guard. He was one of the sentinels before my door, whom I +had thrown down the stairs. + +The hour of quitting Berlin, and continuing my journey into Prussia, +towards Konigsberg, approached. On the eve of my departure, I had the +happiness of conversing with her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia, +sister of Frederic the Great. She protected me in my hour of adversity; +heaped benefits upon me, and contributed to gain my deliverance. She +received me as a friend, as an aged patriot; and laid her commands upon +me to write to my wife, and request that she would come to Berlin, in the +month of June, with her two eldest daughters. I received her promise +that the happiness of the latter should be her care; nay, that she would +remember my wife in her will. + +At this moment, when about to depart, she asked me if I had money +sufficient for my journey: "Yes, madam," was my reply; "I want nothing, +ask nothing; but may you remember my children!" + +The deep feeling with which I pronounced these words moved the princess; +she showed me how she comprehended my meaning, and said, "Return, my +friend, quickly: I shall be most happy to see you." + +I left the room: a kind of indecision came over me. I was inclined to +remain longer at Berlin. Had I done so, my presence would have been of +great advantage to my children. Alas! under the guidance of my evil +genius, I began my journey. The purpose for which I came to Berlin was +frustrated: for after my departure, the Princess Amelia died! + +Peace be to thy ashes, noble princess! Thy will was good, and be that +sufficient. I shall not want materials to write a commentary on the +history of Frederic, when, in company with thee, I shall wander on the +banks of Styx; there the events that happened on this earth may be +written without danger. + +So proceed we with our story. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +On the 22nd of March I pursued my journey to Konigsberg, but remained two +days at the court of the Margrave of Brandenburg, where I was received +with kindness. The Margrave had bestowed favours on me, during my +imprisonment at Magdeburg. + +I departed thence through Soldin to Schildberg, here to visit my relation +Sidau, who had married the daughter of my sister, which daughter my +sister had by her first husband, Waldow, of whom I have before spoken. I +found my kinsman a worthy man, and one who made the daughter of an +unfortunate sister happy. I was received at his house within open arms; +and, for the first time after an interval of two-and-forty years, beheld +one of my own relations. + +On my journey thither, I had the pleasure to meet with Lieutenant-General +Kowalsky: This gentleman was a lieutenant in the garrison of Glatz, in +1745, and was a witness of my leap from the wall of the rampart. He had +read my history, some of the principal facts of which he was acquainted +with. Should anyone therefore doubt concerning those incidents, I may +refer to him, whose testimony cannot be suspected. + +From Schildberg I proceeded to Landsberg, on the Warta. Here I found my +brother-in-law, Colonel Pape, commander of the Gotz dragoons, and the +second husband of my deceased sister: and here I passed a joyous day. +Everybody congratulated me on my return into my country. + +I found relations in almost every garrison. Never did man receive more +marks of esteem throughout a kingdom. The knowledge of my calamities +procured me sweet consolation; and I were insensible indeed, and +ungrateful, did my heart remain unmoved on occasions like these. + +In Austria I never can expect a like reception; I am there mistaken, and +I feel little inclination to labour at removing mistakes so rooted. Yet, +even there am I by the general voice, approved. Yes, I am admired, but +not known; pitied but not supported; honoured, but not rewarded. + +When at Berlin, I discovered an error I had committed in the commencement +of my life. At the time I wrote I believed that the postmaster-general +of Berlin, Mr Derschau, was my mother's brother, and the same person who, +in 1742, was grand counsellor at Glogau, and afterwards, president in +East Friesland. I was deceived; the Derschau who is my mother's brother +is still living, and president at Aurich in East Friesland. The +postmaster was the son of the old Derschau who died a general, and who +was only distantly related to my mother. Neither is the younger +Derschau, who is the colonel of a regiment at Burg, the brother of my +mother, but only her first cousin; one of their sisters married Lieut.- +Colonel Ostau, whose son, the President Ostau, now lives on his own +estate, at Lablack in Prussia. + +I was likewise deceived in having suspected a lieutenant, named Mollinie, +in the narrative I gave of my flight from Glatz, of having acted as a spy +upon me at Braunau, and of having sent information to General Fouquet. I +am sorry. This honest man is still alive, a captain in Brandenburg. He +was affected at my suspicion, fully justified himself, and here I +publicly apologise. He then was, and again is become my friend. + +I have received a letter from one Lieutenant Brodowsky. This gentleman +is offended at finding his mother's name in my narrative, and demands I +should retract my words. + +My readers will certainly allow the virtue of Madame Brodowsky, at +Elbing, is not impeached. Although I have said I had the fortune to be +beloved by her, I have nowhere intimated that I asked, or that she +granted, improper favours. + +By the desire of a person of distinction, I shall insert an incident +which I omitted in a former part. This person was an eye-witness of the +incident I am about to relate, at Magdeburg, and reminded me of the +affair. It was my last attempt but one at flight. + +The circumstances were these:-- + +As I found myself unable to get rid of more sand, after having again cut +through the planking, and mined the foundation, I made a hole towards the +ditch, in which three sentinels were stationed. This I executed one +night, it being easy, from the lightness of the sand, to perform the work +in two hours. + +No sooner had I broken through, than I threw one of my slippers beside +the palisades, that it might be supposed I had lost it when climbing over +them. These palisades, twelve feet in length, were situated in the front +of the principal fosse, and my sentinels stood within. There was no +sentry-box at the place where I had broken through. + +This done, I returned into my prison, made another hole under the +planking, where I could hide myself, and stopped up the passage behind +me, so that it was not probable I could be seen or found. + +When daylight came, the sentinel saw the hole and gave the alarm, the +slipper was found, and it was concluded that Trenck had escaped over the +palisades, and was no longer in prison. + +Immediately the sub-governor came from Magdeburg, the guns were fired, +the horse scoured the country, and the subterranean passages were all +visited: no tidings came; no discovery was made, and the conclusion was I +had escaped. That I should fly without the knowledge of the sentinels, +was deemed impossible; the officer, and all the guard, were put under +arrest, and everybody was surprised. + +I, in the meantime, sat quiet in my hole, where I heard their searches, +and suppositions that I was gone. + +My heart bounded with joy, and I held escape to be indubitable. They +would not place sentinels over the prison the following night, and I +should then really have left my place of concealment, and, most probably +have safely arrived in Saxony. My destiny, however, robbed me of all +hope at the very moment when I supposed the greatest of my difficulties +were conquered. + +Everything seemed to happen as I could wish. The whole garrison came, +and visited the casemates, and all stood astonished at the miracle they +beheld. In this state things remained till four o'clock in the +afternoon. At length, an ensign of the militia came, a boy of about +fifteen or sixteen years of age, who had more wit than any or all of +them. He approached the hole, examined the aperture next the fosse, +thought it appeared small, tried to enter it himself, found he could not, +therefore concluded it was impossible a man of my size could have passed +through, and accordingly called for a light. + +This was an accident I had not foreseen. Half stifled in my hole, I had +opened the canal under the planking. No sooner had the youth procured a +light, than he perceived my shirt, examined nearer, felt about, and laid +hold of me by the arm. The fox was caught, and the laugh was universal. +My confusion may easily be imagined. They all came round me, paid me +their compliments, and finding nothing better was to be done, I laughed +in company with them, and, thus laughing was led back with an aching +heart to be sorrowfully enchained in my dungeon. + +I continued my journey, and arrived, on the fourth of April, at +Konigsberg, where my brother expected my arrival. We embraced as +brothers must, after the absence of two-and-forty years. Of all the +brothers and sisters I had left in this city, he only remained. He lived +a retired and peaceable life on his own estates. He had no children +living. I continued a fortnight within him and his wife. + +Here, for the first time, I learned what had happened to my relations, +during their absence. The wrath of the Great Frederic extended itself to +all my family. My second brother was an ensign in the regiment of +cuirassiers at Kiow, in 1746, when I first incurred disgrace from the +King. Six years he served, fought at three battles, but, because his +name was Trenck, never was promoted. Weary of expectation he quitted the +army, married, and lived on his estates at Meicken, where he died about +three years ago, and left two sons, who are an honour to the family of +the Trencks. + +Fame spoke him a person capable of rendering the state essential service, +as a military man; but he was my brother, and the King would never suffer +his name to be mentioned. + +My youngest brother applied himself to the sciences; it was proposed that +he should receive some civil employment, as he was an intelligent and +well-informed man; but the King answered in the margin of the petition, + + "No Trenck is good for anything." + +Thus have all my family suffered, because of my unjust condemnation. My +last-mentioned brother chose the life of a private man, and lived at his +ease, in independence, among the first people of the kingdom. The hatred +of the monarch extended itself to my sister, who had married the son of +General Waldow, and lived in widowhood, from the year 1749, to her second +marriage. The misfortunes of this woman, in consequence of the treachery +of Weingarten, and the aid she sent to me in my prison at Magdeburg, I +have before related. She was possessed of the fine estate of Hammer, +near Landsberg on the Warta. The Russian army changed the whole face of +the country, and laid it desert. She fled to Custrin, where everything +was destroyed during the siege. The Prussian army also demolished the +fine forests. + +After the war, the King assisted all the ruined families of Brandenburg; +she alone obtained nothing, because she was my sister. She petitioned +the King, who repined she must seek for redress from her dear brother. +She died, in the flower of her age, a short time after she had married +her second husband, the present Colonel Pape: her son, also, died last +year. He was captain in the regiment of the Gotz dragoons. Thus were +all my brothers and sisters punished because they were mine. Could it be +believed that the great Frederic would revenge himself on the children +and the children's children? Was it not sufficient that he should wreak +his wrath on my head alone? Why has the name of Trenck been hateful to +him, to the very hour of his death? + +One Derschau, captain of horse, and brother of my mother, addressed +himself to the King, in 1753, alleging he was my nearest relation and +feudal heir, and petitioned that he would bestow on him my confiscated +estates of Great Sharlack. The King demanded that the necessary proofs +should be sent from the chamber at Konigsberg. He was uninformed that I +had two brothers living, that Great Sharlack was an ancient family +inheritance, and that it appertained to my brothers, and not to Derschau. +My brothers then announced themselves as the successors to this fief, and +the King bestowed on them the estate of Great Sharlack conformable to the +feudal laws. That it might be properly divided, it was put up to +auction, and bought by the youngest of my brothers, who paid surplus to +the other, and to my sister. He likewise paid debts charged upon it, +according to the express orders of the court. The persons who called +themselves my creditors were impostors, for I had no creditors; I was but +nineteen when my estates were confiscated, consequently was not of age. +By what right therefore, could such debts be demanded or paid? Let them +explain this who can. + +The same thing happened when an account was given in to the Fiscus of the +guardianship, although I acknowledge my guardians were men of probity. +One of them was eight years in possession, and when he gave it up to my +brothers he did not account with them for a single shilling. At present, +therefore, the affair stands thus:--Frederic William has taken off the +sentence of confiscation, and ordered me to be put in possession of my +estates, by a gracious rescript: empowered by this I come and demand +restitution; my brother answers, "I have bought and paid for the estate, +am the legal possessor, have improved it so much that Great Sharlack, at +present, is worth three or four times the sum it was at the time of +confiscation. Let the Fiscus pay me its actual value, and then let them +bestow it on whom they please. If the reigning king gives what his +predecessor sold to me, I ought not thereby to be a loser." + +This is a problem which the people of Berlin must resolve. My brother +has no children, and, without going to law, will bequeath Great Sharlack +to mine, when he shall happen to die. If he is forced in effect to +restore it without being reimbursed, the King instead of granting a +favour, has not done justice. I do not request any restitution like +this, since such restitution would be made without asking it as a favour +of the King. If his Majesty takes off the confiscation because he is +convinced it was originally violent and unjust, then have I a right to +demand the rents of two-and-forty years. This I am to require from the +Fiscus, not from my brother. And should the Fiscus only restore me the +price for which it then sold, it would commit a manifest injustice, since +all estates in the province of Prussia have, since 1746, tripled and +quadrupled their value. If the estates descend only to my children after +my death, I receive neither right nor favour; for, in this case, I obtain +nothing for myself, and shall remain deprived of the rents, which, as the +estate is at present farmed by my brother amount to four thousand rix- +dollars per annum. This estate cannot be taken from him legally, since +he enjoys it by right of purchase. + +Such is the present state of the business. How the monarch shall think +proper to decide, will be seen hereafter. I have demanded of the Fiscus +that it shall make a fair valuation of Great Sharlack, reimburse my +brother, and restore it to me. My brother has other estates. These he +will dispose of by testament, according to his good pleasure. Be these +things as they may, the purpose of my journey is accomplished. + +Thou, great God, has preserved me amidst my trouble. The purest +gratitude penetrates my heart. Oh, that thou wouldst shield man from +arbitrary power, and banish despotism from the earth! + +May this my narration be a lesson to the afflicted, afford hope to the +despairing, fortitude to the wavering, and humanise the hearts of kings. +Joyfully do I journey to the shores of death. My conscience is void of +reproach, posterity shall bless my memory, and only the unfeeling, the +wicked, the confessor of princes and the pious impostor, shall vent their +rage against my writings. My mind is desirous of repose, and should this +be denied me, still I will not murmur. I now wish to steal gently +towards that last asylum, whither if I had gone in my youth, it must have +been with colours flying. Grant, Almighty God, that the prayer I this +day make may be heard, and that such may be the conclusion of my eventful +life! + + + + +HISTORY OF +FRANCIS BARON TRENCK. +WRITTEN BY +FREDERICK BARON TRENCK, +AS A NECESSARY SUPPLEMENT TO HIS OWN HISTORY. + + +Francis Baron Trenck was born in 1714, in Calabria, a province of Sicily. +His father was then a governor and lieutenant-colonel there, and died in +1743, at Leitschau, in Hungary, lord of the rich manors of Prestowacz, +Pleternitz, and Pakratz, in Sclavonia, and other estates in Hungary. His +christian name was John; he was my father's brother, and born in +Konigsberg in Prussia. + +The name of his mother was Kettler; she was born in Courland. Trenck was +a gentleman of ancient family; and his grandfather, who was mine also, +was of Prussia. His father, who had served Austria to the age of sixty- +eight, a colonel, and bore those wounds to his grave which attested his +valour. + +Francis Baron Trenck was his only son; he had attained the rank of +colonel during his father's life, and served with distinction in the army +of Maria Theresa. The history of his life, which he published in 1747, +when he was under confinement at Vienna, is so full of minute +circumstances, and so poorly written, that I shall make but little use of +it. Here I shall relate only what I have heard from his enemies +themselves, and what I have myself seen. His father, a bold and daring +soldier, idolised his only son, and wholly neglected his education, so +that the passions of this son were most unbridled. Endowed with +extraordinary talents, this ardent youth was early allowed to indulge the +impetuous fire of his constitution. Moderation was utterly unknown to +him, and good fortune most remarkably favoured all his enterprises. These +were numerous, undertaken from no principle of virtue, nor actuated by +any motives of morality. The love of money, and the desire of fame, were +the passions of his soul. To his warlike inclination was added the +insensibility of a heart natively wicked: and he found himself an actor, +on the great scene of life, at a time when the earth was drenched with +human gore, and when the sword decided the fate of nations: hence this +chief of pandours, this scourge of the unprotected, became an +iron-hearted enemy, a ferocious foe of the human race, a formidable enemy +in private life, and a perfidious friend. + +Constitutionally sanguinary, addicted to pleasures, sensual, and brave; +he was unappeased when affronted, prompt to act, in the moment of danger +circumspect, and, when under the dominion of anger, cruel even to fury; +irreconcilable, artful, fertile in invention, and ever intent on great +projects. When youth and beauty inspired love, he then became supple, +insinuating, amiable, gentle, respectful; yet, ever excited by pride, +each conquest gave but new desires of adding another slave over whom he +might domineer; and, whenever he encountered resistance, he then even +ceased to be avaricious. A prudent and intelligent woman, turning this +part of his character to advantage, might have formed this man to virtue, +probity, and the love of the human race: but, from his infancy, his will +had never suffered restraint, and he thought nothing impossible. As a +soldier, he was bold even to temerity; capable of the most hazardous +enterprise, and laughing at the danger he provoked. His projects were +the more elevated because the acquirement of renown was the intent of all +his actions. In council he was dangerous; everything must be conceded to +his views. To him the means by which his end was to be obtained were +indifferent. + +The Croats at this time were undisciplined, prone to rapine, thirsting +for human blood, and only taught obedience by violence; these had been +the companions of his infancy: these he undertook to subject, by +servitude and fear, to military subordination, and from banditti to make +them soldiers. + +With respect to his exterior, Nature had been prodigal of her favours. +His height was six feet three inches, and the symmetry of his limbs was +exact; his form was upright, his countenance agreeable, yet masculine, +and his strength almost incredible. He could sever the head from the +body of the largest ox with one stroke of his sabre, and was so adroit at +this Turkish practice, that he at length could behead men in the manner +boys do nettles. In the latter years of his life, his aspect had become +terrible; for, during the Bavarian war, he had been scorched by the +explosion of a powder-barrel, and ever after his face remained scarred +and impregnated with black spots. In company he rendered himself +exceedingly agreeable, spoke seven languages fluently, was jocular, +possessed wit, and in serious conversation, understanding; had learned +music, sung with taste, and had a good voice, so that he might have been +well paid as an actor, had that been his fate. He could even, when so +disposed, become gentle and complaisant. + +His look told the man of observation that he was cunning and choleric; +and his wrath was terrible. He was ever suspicious, because he judged +others by himself. Self-interest and avarice constituted his ruling +passion, and, whenever he had an opportunity of increasing his wealth, he +disregarded the duties of religion, the ties of honour, and human pity. +In the thirty-first year of his age, when he was possessed of nearly two +millions, he did not expend a florin per day. + +As he and his pandours always led the van, and as he thence had an +opportunity to ravage the enemy's country, at the head of troops addicted +to rapine, we must not wonder that Bavaria, Silesia, and Alsatia were so +plundered. He alone purchased the booty from his troops at a low price, +and this he sent by water to his own estates. If any one of his officers +had made a rich capture, Trenck instantly became his enemy. He was sent +on every dangerous expedition till he fell, and the colonel became his +universal heir, for Trenck appropriated all he could to himself. He was +reputed to be a man most expert in military science, an excellent +engineer, and to possess an exact eye in estimating heights and +distances. In all enterprises he was first; inured to fatigue, his iron +body could support it without inconvenience. Nothing escaped his +vigilance, all was turned to account, and what valour could not +accomplish, cunning supplied. His pride suffered him not to incur an +obligation, and thus he was unthankful; his actions all centred in self, +and as he was remarkably fortunate in whatever he undertook, he ascribed +even that, which accident gave, to foresight and genius. + +Yet was he ever, as an officer, a most useful and inestimable man to the +state. His respect for his sovereign, and his zeal in her service, were +unbounded; whenever her glory was at stake, he devoted himself her +victim. This I assert to be truth: I knew him well. Of little +consequence is it to me, whether the historians of Maria Theresa have, or +have not, misrepresented his talents and the fame he deserved. + +The life of Trenck I write for the following reasons. He had the honour +first to form, and command, regular troops, raised in Sclavonia. The +soldiers acquired glory under their leader, and sustained the tottering +power of Austria: they made libations of their blood in its defence, as +did Trenck, in various battles. He served like a brave warrior, with +zeal, loyalty, and effect. The vile persecutions of his enemies at +Vienna, with whom he refused to share the plunder he had made, lost him +honour, liberty, and not only the personal property he had acquired, but +likewise the family patrimony in Hungary. He died like a malefactor, +illegally sentenced to imprisonment; and knaves have affirmed, and fools +have believed, and believe still, he took the King of Prussia prisoner, +and that he granted him freedom in consequence of a bribe. So have the +loyal Hungarians been led to suppose that an Hungarian had really been a +traitor. + +By my writings, I wish to prove to this noble nation on the contrary, +that Trenck, for his loyalty deserved compassion, esteem, and honour in +his country. This I have already done in the former part of my history. +The dead Trenck can speak no more; but it is the duty of the living ever +to speak in defence of right. + +Trenck wrote his own history while he was confined in the arsenal at +Vienna; and, in the last two sheets he openly related the manner in which +he had been treated by the council of war, of which Count Loewenwalde, +his greatest enemy, was president. The count, however, found supporters +too powerful, and these sheets were torn from the book and publicly burnt +at Vienna. Defence after this became impossible: he groaned under the +grip of his adversaries. + +I have given a literal copy of these sheets in the first part of this +history; and I again repeat I am able to prove the truth of what is there +asserted, by the acts, proceedings, and judicial registers which are in +my possession. He was confined in the Spielberg, because much was to be +dreaded from an injured man, whom they knew capable of the most desperate +enterprises. He died defenceless, the sacrifice of iniquity and unjust +judges. He died, and his honour remained unprotected. I am by duty his +defender: although he expired my personal enemy, the author of nearly all +the ills I have suffered. I came to the knowledge of his persecutors too +late for the unfortunate Trenck. And who are those who have divided his +spoils--who slew him that they might fatten themselves? Your titles have +been paid for from the coffers of Trenck! Yet neither can your cabals, +your wealthy protectors, your own riches, nor your credit at court, +deprive me of the right of vindicating his fame. + +I have boldly written, have openly shown, that Trenck was pillaged by +you; that he served the house of Austria as a worthy man, with zeal; not +in court-martials and committees of inquiry, but fighting for his +country, sharing the soldier's glory, falling the victim of envy and +power; falling by the hands of those who are unworthy of judging merit. +He take the King of Prussia! They might as well say he took the Emperor +of Morocco. + +Yes, he is dead. But should any man dare affirm that the Hungarian or +the Prussian Trenck were capable of treason, that either of them merited +punishment for having betrayed their country, he will not have long to +seek before he will be informed that he has done us both injustice. After +this preface, I shall continue my narrative on the plan I proposed. +Trenck, the father, was a miser, yet a well-meaning man. Trenck the son, +was a youthful soldier, who stood in need of money to indulge his +pleasures. Many curious pranks he played, when an ensign in I know not +what regiment of foot. He went to one of the collectors of his father's +rents, and demanded money; the collector refused to give him any, and +Trenck clove his skull with his sabre. A prosecution was entered against +him, but, war breaking out in 1756, between the Russians and the Turks, +he raised a squadron of hussars, and went with it into the Russian +service, contrary to the will of his father. + +In this war he distinguished himself highly, and acquired the protection +of Field-marshal Munich. He was so successful as a leader against the +Tartars, that he became very famous in the army, and at the end of the +campaign, was appointed major. + +It happened that flying parties of Turks approached his regiment when on +march, and Trenck seeing a favourable moment for attacking them, went to +Colonel Rumin, desiring the regiment might be led to the charge, and that +they might profit by so fair an opportunity. The colonel answered, "I +have no such orders." Trenck then demanded permission to charge the +Turks only with his own squadron; but this was refused. He became +furious, for he had never been acquainted with contradiction or +subordination, and cried aloud to the soldiers, "If there be one brave +man among you, let him follow me." About two hundred stepped from the +ranks; he put himself at their head, routed the enemy, made a horrible +carnage, and returned intoxicated with joy, accompanied by prisoners, and +loaded with dissevered heads. Once more arrived in presence of the +regiment, he attacked the colonel, treated him like the rankest coward, +called him opprobrious names, without the other daring to make the least +resistance. The adventure, however, became known; Trenck was arrested, +and ordered to be tried. His judges condemned him to be shot, and the +day was appointed, but the evening before execution, Field-marshal Munich +passed near the tent in which he was confined, Trenck saw him, came +forward, and said, "Certainly your excellency will not suffer a foreign +cavalier to die an ignominious death because he has chastised a cowardly +Russian! If I must die, at least give me permission to saddle my horse, +and with my sabre in my hand, let me fall surrounded by the enemy." + +The Tartars happened to be at this time harassing the advanced posts; the +Field-marshal shrugged his shoulders, and was silent. Trenck, not +discouraged, added, "I will undertake to bring your excellency three +heads or lose my own. Will you, if I do, be pleased to grant me my +pardon?" The Field-marshal replied, "Yes." The horse of Trenck was +brought: he galloped to the enemy, and returned within four heads knotted +to the horse's mane, himself only slightly wounded in the shoulder. +Munich immediately appointed him major in another regiment. Various and +almost incredible were his feats: among others, a Tartar ran him through +the belly with his lance: Trenck grasped the projecting end with his +hands, exerted his prodigious strength, broke the lance, set spurs to his +horse, and happily escaped. Of this wound, dreadful as it was, he was +soon cured. I myself have seen the two scars, and can affirm the fact; I +also learned this, and many others in 1746, from officers who had served +in the same army. + +During this campaign he behaved with great honour, was wounded by an +arrow in the leg, and gained the affection of Field-marshal Munich, but +excited the envy of all the Russians. Towards the conclusion of the war +he had a new misfortune; his regiment was incommoded on all sides by the +enemy: he entreated his colonel, for leave to attack them. The colonel +was once more a Russian, and he was refused. Trenck gave him a blow, and +called aloud to the soldiers to follow him. They however being Russians, +remained motionless, and he was put under arrest. The court-martial +sentenced him to death, and all hope of reprieve seemed over. The +general would have granted his pardon, but as he was himself a foreigner, +he was fearful of offending the Russians. The day of execution came, and +he was led to the place of death, Munich so contrived it that +Field-marshal Lowenthal should pass by, at this moment, in company within +his lady. Trenck profited by the opportunity, spoke boldly, and +prevailed. A reprieve was requested, and the sentence was changed into +banishment and labour in Siberia. + +Trenck protested against this sentence. The Field-marshal wrote to +Petersburg, and an order came that he should be broken, and conducted out +of the Russian territories. This order was executed, and he returned +into Hungary to his father. At this period he espoused the daughter of +Field-marshal Baron Tillier, one of the first families in Switzerland. +The two brothers of his wife each became lieutenant-general, one of whom +died honourably during the seven years' war. The other was made +commander-general in Croatia, where he is still living, and is at the +head of a regiment of infantry that bears his name. Trenck did not live +long with his lady. She was pregnant, and he took her to hunt with him +in a marsh: she returned ill, and died without leaving him an heir. + +Having no opportunity to indulge his warlike inclination, because of the +general peace, he conceived the project of extirpating the Sclavonian +banditti. + +Trenck, to execute this enterprise, employed his own pandours. The +contest now commenced and activity and courage were necessary to ensure +success in such a war. Trenck seemed born for this murderous trade. Day +and night he chased them like wild beasts, killing now one, then another, +and without distinction, treating them with the utmost barbarity. + +Two incidents will sufficiently paint the character of this unaccountable +man. He had impaled alive the father of a Harum-Bashaw. One evening he +was going on patrol, along the banks of a brook, which separated two +provinces. On the opposite shore was the son of this impaled father, +with his Croats. It was moonlight, and the latter called aloud--"I heard +thy voice, Trenck! Thou hast impaled my father! If thou hast a heart in +thy body, come hither over the bridge, I will send away my followers; +leave thy firearms, come only with thy sabre, and we will then see who +shall remain the victor." The agreement was made--and the Harum-Bashaw +sent away his Croats, and laid down his musket. Trenck passed the wooden +bridge, both drew their sabres; but Trenck treacherously killed his +adversary with a pistol, that he had concealed, after which he severed +his head from his body, took it with him, and stuck it upon a pole. + +One day, when hunting, he heard music in a lone house which belonged to +one of his vassals. He was thirsty, entered, and found the guests seated +at table. He sat down and ate within them, not knowing this was a +rendezvous for the banditti. As he was seated opposite the door, he saw +two Harum-Bashaws enter. His musket stood in a corner; he was struck +with terror, but one of them addressed him thus:--"Neither thee, nor thy +vassals, Trenck, have we ever injured, yet thou dost pursue us with +cruelty. Eat thy fill. When thou hast satisfied thy hunger, we will +then, sabre in thy hand, see who has most justice on his side, and +whether thou art as courageous as men speak thee." + +Hereupon they sat down and began to eat and drink and make merry. The +situation of Trenck could not be very pleasant. He recollected that +besides these, there might be more of their companions, without, ready to +fall upon him; he, therefore, privately drew his pistols, held them under +the table while he cocked them, presented each hand to the body of a +Harum-Bashaw, fired them both at the same instant, overset the table on +the guests, and escaped from the house. As he went he had time to seize +on one of their muskets, which was standing at the door. One of the +Croats was left weltering in his blood; the other disengaged himself from +the table, and ran after Trenck, who suffered him to approach, killed him +within his own gun, struck off his head and brought it home in triumph. +By this action the banditti were deprived of their two most valorous +chiefs. + +War broke out about this time, in 1740, when all the Hungarians took up +arms in defence of their beloved queen. Trenck offered to raise a free +corps of pandours, and requested an amnesty for the banditti who should +join his troops. His request was granted, he published the amnesty, and +began to raise recruits; he therefore enrolled his own vassals, formed a +corps of 500 men, went in search of the robbers, drove them into a strait +between the Save and Sarsaws, where they capitulated, and 300 of them +enrolled themselves with his pandours. Most of these men were six feet +in height, determined, and experienced soldiers. To indulge them on +certain occasions in their thirst of pillage were means which he +successfully employed to lead them where he pleased, and to render them +victorious. By means like these Trenck became at once the terror of the +enemies of Austria, and rendered signal services to his Empress. + +In 1741, while he was exercising his regiment, a company fired upon +Trenck, and killed his horse, and his servant that stood by his side. He +ran to the company, counted one, two, three, and beheaded the fourth. He +was continuing this, when a Harum-Bashaw left the ranks, drew his sword, +and called aloud, "It is I who fired upon thee, defend thyself." The +soldiers stood motionless spectators. Trenck attacked him and hewed him +down. He was proceeding to continue the execution of the fourth man, but +the whole regiment presented their arms. The revolt became general, and +Trenck, still holding his drawn sabre, ran amidst them, hacking about him +on all sides. The excess of his rage was terrific; the soldiers all +called "Hold!" each fell on their knees, and promised obedience. After +this he addressed them in language suitable to their character, and from +that time they became invincible soldiers whenever they were headed by +himself. Let the situation of Trenck be considered; he was the chief of +a band of robbers who supposed they were authorised to take whatever they +pleased in an enemy's country, a banditti that had so often defied the +gallows, and had never known military subordination. Let such men be led +to the field and opposed to regular troops. That they are never actuated +by honour is evident: their leader is obliged to excite their avidity by +the hope of plunder to engage them in action; for if they perceive no +personal advantage, the interest of the sovereign is insufficient to make +them act. + +Trenck had need of a particular species of officers. They must be +daring, yet cautious. They are partisans, and must be capable of +supporting fatigue, desirous of daily seeking the enemy, and hazarding +their lives. As he was himself never absent at the time of action, he +soon became acquainted with those whom he called old women, and sent them +from his regiment. These officers then repaired to Vienna, vented their +complaints, and were heard. His avarice prevented him from making any +division of his booty with those gentlemen who constituted the military +courts, thus neglecting what was customary at Vienna: and in this +originated the prosecution to which he fell a victim. Scarcely had he +entered Austria with his troops before he found an opportunity of reaping +laurels. The French army was defeated at Lintz. Trenck pursued them, +treated his prisoners with barbarity; and, never granting quarter in +battle, the very appearance of his pandours inspired terror. + +Trenck was a great warrior, and knew how to profit by the slightest +advantage. From this time he became renowned, gained the confidence of +Prince Charles, and the esteem of the Field-marshal Count Kevenhuller, +who discovered the worth of the man. No partisan had ever before +obtained so much power as Trenck; he everywhere pursued the enemy as far +as Bavaria, carrying fire and sword wherever he went. As it was known +Trenck gave no quarter, the Bavarians and the French flew at the sight of +a red mantle. Pillage and murder attended the pandours wherever they +went, and their colonel bought up all the booty they acquired. Chamb, in +particular, was a scene of a dreadful massacre. The city was set on fire +and the people perished in the flames; women and children who endeavoured +to fly, were obliged to pass over a bridge, where they were first +stripped, and afterwards thrown into the water. This action was one of +the accusations brought against Trenck when he was prosecuted, but he +alleged his justification. + +The banks of the Iser to this day reverberate groans for the barbarities +of Trenck. Deckendorf and Filtzhofen felt all his fury. In the first of +these towns 600 French prisoners capitulated, although his forces were +four miles distant; but he formed a kind of straw men, on which he put +pandour caps and cloaks, and set them up as sentinels; and the garrison, +deceived by this stratagem, signed the capitulation. The services he +rendered the army during the Bavarian war are well known in the history +of Maria Theresa. The good he has done has been passed over in silence, +because he died under misfortunes, and did not leave his historian a +legacy. He was informed that either at Deckendorf or Filtzhofen there +was a barrel containing 20,000 florins, concealed at the house of an +apothecary. Impelled by the desire of booty, Trenck hastened to the +place, with a candle in his hand, searching everywhere, and, in his +hurry, dropped a spark into a quantity of gunpowder, by the explosion of +which he was dreadfully scorched. They carried him off, but the scars +and the gunpowder with which his skin was blackened rendered his +countenance terrific. + +The present Field-marshal Laudohn was at that time a lieutenant in his +regiment, and happened to be at the door when his colonel was burnt. +Scarcely was Trenck cured before his spies informed him that Laudohn had +plenty of money. Immediately he suspected that Laudohn had found the +barrel of florins, and from that moment he persecuted him by all +imaginable arts. Wherever there was danger he sent him, at the head of +30 men, against 300, hoping to have him cut off, and to make himself his +heir. This was so often repeated that Laudohn returned to Vienna, where, +joining the crowd of the enemies of Trenck, he became instrumental in his +destruction. Yet it is certain that, in the beginning, Trenck had shown +a friendship for Laudohn, had given him a commission, and that this great +man learned, under the command of Trenck, his military principles. +General Tillier was likewise formed in this nursery of soldiers, where +officers were taught activity, stratagem, and enterprise. And who are +more capable of commanding a Hungarian army than Tillier and Laudohn? I, +one day said to Trenck, when he was in Vienna, embarrassed by his +prosecution, and when he had published a defamatory writing against all +his accusers, excepting no man,--"You have always told me that Laudohn +was one of the most capable of your officers, and that he is a worthy +man. Wherefore then do you class him among such wretches?" He replied, +"What! would you have me praise a man who labours, at the head of my +enemies, to rob me of honour, property, and life!" I have related this +incident to prove by the testimony of so honourable a man, that Trenck +was a great soldier, and a zealous patriot, and that he never took the +King of Prussia prisoner, as has been falsely affirmed, and as is still +believed by the multitude. Had such a thing happened, Laudohn must have +been present, and would have supported this charge. + +Bavaria was plundered by Trenck; barges were loaded with gold, silver, +and effects, which he sent to his estates in Sclavonia; Prince Charles +and Count Kevenhuller countenanced his proceedings; but when +Field-marshal Neuperg was at the head of the army, he had other +principles. He was connected with Baron Tiebes, a counsellor of the +Hofkriegsrath who was the enemy of Trenck. Persecution was at that time +instituted against him, and Trenck was imprisoned; but he defended +himself so powerfully that in a month he was set at liberty. Mentzel, +meanwhile, had the command of the pandours; and this man appropriated to +himself the fame that Trenck had acquired by the warriors he himself had +formed. Mentzel never was the equal of Trenck. Trenck now increased the +number of his Croats to 4,000, from whom, in 1743, a regiment of +Hungarian regulars was formed, but who still retained the name of +pandours. It was a regiment of infantry. Trenck also had 600 hussars +and 150 chasseurs, whom he equipped at his own expense. Yet, when this +corps was reduced, all was sold for the profit of the imperial treasury, +without bringing a shilling to account. + +With a corps so numerous, he undertook great enterprises. The enemy fled +wherever he appeared. He led the van, raised contributions which +amounted to several millions, delivered unto the Empress, in five years, +7,000 prisoners, French and Bavarian, and more than 3,000 Prussians. He +never was defeated. He gained confidence among his troops, and will +remain in history the first man who rendered the savage Croats efficient +soldiers. This it was impossible to perform among a bloodthirsty people +without being guilty himself of cruel acts. The necessity of the +excesses he committed, when the army was in want of forage, was so +evident that he received permission of Prince Charles, though for this he +was afterwards prosecuted; while the plunders of Brenklau, Mentzel, and +the whole army, were never once questioned. That Trenck advanced more +than 100,000 florins to his regiment, I clearly proved, in 1750. This +proof came too late. He was dead. The evidence I brought occasioned a +quartermaster, Frederici, to be imprisoned. He confessed the +embezzlement of this money, yet found so many friends among the enemies +of Trenck that he refunded nothing, but was released in the year 1754, +when I was thrown into the dungeon of Magdeburg. + +My cousin, who had lived like a miser, did not, at his death, leave half +of the property he had inherited from his father, and which legally +descended to me; it was torn from me by violence. + +In 1744 he obliged the French to retire beyond the Rhine, seized on a +fort near Phillipsburg, swam across the river with 70 pandours, attacked +the fortifications, slew the Marquis de Crevecoeur, with his own hand +manned the post, traversed the other arm of the Rhine, surprised two +Bavarian regiments of cavalry, and by this daring manoeuvre, secured the +passage of the Rhine to the whole army, which, but for him, would not +have been effected. Wherever he came, he laid the country under +contribution, and, at this moment of triumph for the Austrian arms, +opened himself a passage to enter the territories of France. In +September, 1744, war having broken out between Austria and Prussia, the +imperial army was obliged to return, abandon Alsatia, and hasten to the +succour of the Austrian states. Trenck succeeded in covering its +retreat. The history of Maria Theresa declares the damages he did the +enemy, during this campaign. He gave proof of his capacity at Tabor and +Budweis. With 300 men he attacked one of these towns, which was defended +by the two Prussian regiments of Walrabe and Kreutz. He found the water +in the moats was deeper than his spies had declared, and the scaling +ladders too short: most of those led to the attack were killed, or +drowned in the water, and the small number that crossed the moats were +made prisoners. The garrison of Tabor, of Budweis, and of the castle of +Frauenburg, were, nevertheless, induced to capitulate, and yield +themselves prisoners, although the main body under Trenck was more than +five miles distant. His corps did not come up till the morrow, and it +was ridiculous enough to see the pandours dressed in the caps of the +Prussian fusiliers and pioneers, which they wore instead of their own, +and which they afterwards continued to wear. + +The campaign to him was glorious, and the enemy's want of light troops +gave free scope to his enterprises, highly to their prejudice. He never +returned without prisoners. He passed the Elbe near Pardubitz, took the +magazines, and was the cause of the great dearth and desertion among the +Prussians, and of that hasty retreat to which they were forced. The King +was at Cohn with his headquarters, where I was with him, when Trenck +attacked the town, which he must have carried, had he not been wounded by +a cannon-ball, which shattered his foot. He was taken away, the attack +did not succeed, and his men, without him, remained but so many ciphers. + +In 1745, he went to Vienna, where his entrance resembled a triumph. The +Empress received him with distinction. He appeared on crutches; she, by +her condescending speech, inflamed his zeal to extravagance. Who would +have supposed that the favourite of the people would that year be +abandoned to the power of his enemies; who had not rendered, during their +whole lives, so much essential service to the state as Trenck had done in +a single day? He returned to his estate, raised eight hundred recruits +that he might aid in the next campaign, and gather new laurels. He +rejoined the army. At the battle of Sorau he fell upon the Prussian +camp, and seized upon the tent of the King, but he came too late to +attack the rear, as had been preconcerted. Frederic gave up his camp to +be plundered, for the Croats could not be drawn off to attack the army, +and the King was prepared to receive them, even if they should. In the +meantime, the imperial army was defeated. + +Here was a field for the enemies of Trenck to incite the people against +him. They accused him of having made the King of Prussia a prisoner in +his tent; that he also pillaged the camp instead of attacking the rear of +the army. After having ended the campaign, he returned to Vienna to +defend himself. Here he found twenty-three officers, whom he expelled +his regiment, most of them for cowardice or mean actions. They were +ready to bear false testimony. Counsellor Weber and Gen. Loewenwalde, +had sworn his downfall, which they effected. Trenck despised their +attacks. While things remained thus, they instructed one of the +Empress's attendants to profit by every opportunity to deprive him of her +confidence. It was affirmed, Trenck is an atheist! who never prayed to +the holy Virgin! The officers, whom he had broken, whispered it in +coffee-houses, that Trenck had taken and set free the King of Prussia! +This raised the cry among the fanatical mob of Vienna. Teased by their +complaints, and at the requisition of Trenck himself, the Empress +commanded that examination should be undertaken of these accusations. +Field-marshal Cordova was chosen to preside over this inquiry. He spoke +the truth, and drew up a statement of the case; it was presented to the +Court, and which I shall here insert. + +"The complaints brought against him did not require a court-martial. +Trenck had broken some officers by his own authority; their demands ought +to be satisfied by the payment of 12,000 florins. The remaining +accusations were all the attempts of revenge and calumny, and were +insufficient to detain at Vienna, entangled in law-suits, a man so +necessary to the army. Moreover, it would be prudent not to inquire into +trifles, in consideration of his important services." + +Trenck, dissatisfied by this sentence, and animated by avarice and pride, +refused to pay a single florin, and returned to Sclavonia. His presence +was necessary at Vienna, to obtain other advantages against his enemies. +They gave the Empress to understand, that being a man excessively +dangerous, whenever he supposed himself injured, Trenck had spread +pernicious views in Sclavonia, where all men were dependent on him. He +raised six hundred more men, with whom he made a campaign in the +Netherlands, and in October, 1746, returned to Vienna. After the peace +of Dresden, his regiment was incorporated among the regulars, and served +against France. + +Scarcely had he arrived at Vienna, before an order came from the Empress +that he must remain under arrest in his chamber. Here he rendered +himself guilty by the most imprudent action of his whole life. He +ordered his carriage and horses, despising the imperial mandate, went to +the theatre, when the Empress was present. In one of the boxes he saw +Count Gossau, in company with a comrade of his own, whom he had +cashiered: these persons were among the foremost of his accusers. +Inflamed with the desire of revenge, he entered the box, seized Count +Gossau, and would have thrown him into the pit in the presence of the +Sovereign herself. Gossau drew his sword, and tried to run him through, +but the latter seizing it, wounded himself in the hand. Everybody ran to +save Gossau, who was unable to defend himself. After this exploit, the +colonel of the pandours returned foaming home. + +Such an action rendered it impossible for Maria Theresa to declare +herself the protectress of a man so rash. Sentinels were placed over +him, and his enemies profiting by his imprudence and passion, he was +ordered to be tried by a court-martial. General Loewenwalde intrigued so +successfully, that he procured himself to be named, by the Hofkriegsrath, +president of the court-martial, and to be charged with the sequestration +of the property of Trenck. In vain did the latter protest against his +judge. The very man, whom the year before he had kicked out of the ante- +chamber of Prince Charles, received full power to denounce him guilty. +Then was it that public notice was given that all those who would prefer +complaints against Colonel Baron Trenck should receive a ducat per day +while the council continued to sit. They soon amounted to fifty-four, +who, in a space of four months, received 15,000 florins from the property +of Trenck. The judge himself purchased the depositions of false +witnesses; and Count Loewenwalde offered me one thousand ducats, if I +would betray the secrets of my cousin, and promised me I should be put in +possession of my confiscated estates in Prussia, and have a company in a +regiment. + +That the indictment and the examinations of the witnesses were falsified, +has already been proved in the revision of the cause; but as the +indictment did not contain one article that could affect his life, they +invented the following stratagem. A courtesan, a mistress of Baron +Rippenda, who was a member of the court-martial, was bribed, and made +oath she was the daughter of Count Schwerin, Field-marshal in the +Prussian service, and that she was in bed with the King of Prussia, when +Trenck surprised the camp at Sorau, made her and the King prisoners, and +restored them their freedom. She even ventured to name Baron Hilaire, +aide-de-camp to Frederic, whom she affirmed was then present. Hilaire, +who afterwards married the Baroness Tillier, and who consequently was +brother-in-law to Trenck, fortunately happened to be in Vienna. He was +confronted with this woman, and through her falsehoods, the gentleman was +obliged to remain in prison, where they offered him bribes, which be +refused to accept; and, to prevent his speaking, he continued in prison +some weeks, and was not released till this shameful proceeding was made +public. + +Count Loewenwalde invented another artifice; he drew up a false +indictment; and, that he might be prevented all means of justification, +he chose a day to put it in practice, when the Emperor and Prince Charles +were hunting at Holitzsch. Loewenwalde's court-martial had already +signed a sentence of death, and every preparation for the erection of a +scaffold was made. His intention was then to go to the Empress and +induce her to sign the sentence, under a pretence that there was some +imminent peril at hand, if a man so dangerous to the state was not +immediately put out of the way, and that it would be necessary to execute +the sentence of death before the Emperor could return. He well knew the +Emperor was better acquainted with Trenck, and had ever been his +protector. + +Had this succeeded, Trenck would have died like a traitor; Miss Schwerin +would have espoused the aide-de-camp of Loewenwalde, with fifty thousand +florins, taken from the funds of Trenck, and his property would have been +divided between his judges and his accusers. As it happened, however, +the valet-de-chambre of Count Loewenwalde, who was an honest man, and who +had an intimacy with a former mistress of Trenck, confided the whole +secret to her. She immediately flew to Colonel Baron Lopresti, who was +the sincere friend of my kinsman, and, being then powerful at Court, was +his deliverer. The Emperor and Prince Charles were informed of what was +in agitation, but they thought proper to keep it secret. The hunting at +Holitzsch took place on the appointed day. Count Loewenwalde made his +appearance before the Empress, and solicited her to sign the sentence. +She, however, had been pre-informed, the Emperor having returned on the +same day, and their abominable project proved abortive. Miss Schwerin +was imprisoned; Loewenwalde was deprived of his power, as well as of the +sequestration of the effects of Trenck; a total revision of the +proceedings of the court-martial, and of the prosecution of my cousin, +was ordered, which was an event, that, till then, was unexampled at +Vienna. + +Trenck was freed from his fetters, removed to the arsenal, an officer +guarded him, and he had every convenience he could wish. He was also +permitted the use of a counsellor to defend his cause. I obtained by the +influence of the Emperor leave to visit him and to aid him in all things. +It was at this epoch that I arrived at Vienna, and, at this very instant, +when the revision of the prosecution was commanded and determined on. +Count Loewenwalde, supposing me a needy, thoughtless youth, endeavoured +to bribe me, and prevail on me to betray my kinsman. Prince Charles of +Lorraine then desired me seriously to represent to Trenck that his +avarice had been the cause of all these troubles, for he hind refused to +pay the paltry sum of 12,000 florins, by which he might have silenced all +his accusers; but that, as at present, affairs had become so serious, he +ought himself to secure his judges for the revision of the suit; to spare +no money, and then he might be certain of every protection the prince +could afford. + +The respectable Field-marshal Konigseck, governor of Vienna, was +appointed president; but, being an old man, he was unable to preside at +any one sitting of the court. Count S--- was the vice-president, a +subtle, insatiable judge, who never thought he had money enough. I took +3,000 ducats, which Baron Lopresti gave me, to this most worthy +counsellor. The two counsellors, Komerkansquy and Zetto, each received +4,000 rix-dollars, with a promise of double the sum if Trenck were +acquitted; there was a formal contract drawn up, which a certain noble +lord secretly signed. Trenck was defended by the advocate Gerhauer and +by Berger. They began with the self-created daughter of Marshal +Schwerin; and, to conceal the iniquitous proceedings of the late court- +martial, it was thought proper that she should appear insane, and return +incoherent answers to the questions put by the examiners. Trenck +insisted that a more severe inquiry should be instituted; but they +affirmed that she had been conducted out of the Austrian territories. + +Trenck was accused of having ordered a certain pandour, named Paul Diack, +to suffer the bastinado of 1,000 blows, and that he had died under the +punishment. This was sworn to by two officers, now great men in the +army, who said they were eye-witnesses of the fact. When the revision of +the suit began, Trenck sent me into Sclavonia, where I found the dead +Paul Diack alive, and brought him to Vienna. He was examined by the +court, where it appeared that the two officers, who had sworn they were +present when he expired, and had seen him buried, were at that time 160 +miles from the regiment, and recruiting in Sclavonia. Paul Diack had +engaged in plots, and had mutinied three times. Trenck had pardoned him, +but afterwards mutinying once more, with forty others, he was condemned +to death. At the place of execution he called to his colonel: "Father, +if I receive a thousand blows, will you pardon me?" Trenck replied in +the affirmative. He received the punishment, was taken to the hospital, +and cured. + +I brought fourteen more witnesses from Sclavonia, who attested the +falsity of other articles of accusation which were not worthy of +attention. The cause wore a new aspect; and the wickedness of those who +were so desirous to have seen Trenck executed became apparent. + +One of the chief articles in the prosecution, which for ever deprived him +of favour from his virtuous and apostolic mistress, and for which alone +he was condemned to the Spielberg, was, that he had ravished the daughter +of a miller in Silesia. This was made oath of, and he was not entirely +cleared of the charge in the revision, because his accusers had excluded +all means of justification. Two years after his death, I discovered the +truth of this affair. Mainstein accused him of this crime that he might +prevent his return to the regiment; his motive was, because he, in +conjunction with Frederici, had appropriated to their own purposes 8,000 +florins of regimental money. + +This miller's daughter was the mistress of Mainstein, before she had been +seen by Trenck. Maria Theresa, however, would never forgive him; and, to +satisfy the honour of this damsel, he was condemned to pay 8,000 florins +to her, and 15,000 to the chest of the invalids, and to suffer perpetual +imprisonment. Sixty-three civil suits had I to defend, and all the +appeals of his accusers to terminate after his death. I gained them all +and his accusers were condemned in costs, also to refund the so much per +day which had been paid them by General Loewenwalde; but they were all +poor, and I might seek the money where I could. In justice, Loewenwalde +ought to have reimbursed me. The total of the sum they received was +15,000 florins. + +Most of the other articles of accusation consisted in Trenck's having +beheaded some mutinous pandours, and broken his officers without a court- +martial; that he had bought of his soldiers, and melted down the holy +vessels of the church, chalices, and rosaries; had bastinadoed some +priests, had not heard mass every Sunday, and had dragged malefactors +from convents, in which they had taken refuge. When the officers were no +longer protected by Loewenwalde, or Weber, they decamped, but did not +cease to labour to gain their purpose, which they attained by the aid of +the Court-confessor. This monk found means to render Maria Theresa +insensible of pity towards a man who had been so prodigal of his blood in +her defence. Loewenwalde knew how to profit by the opportunity. Gerhauer +discovered the secret proceedings; and Loewenwalde, now deeply interested +in the ruin of Trenck, went to the Empress, related the manner in which +the judges had been bribed, and threatened that should he, through the +protection of the Emperor and Prince Charles, be declared innocent, he +would publicly vindicate the honour of the court-martial. + +Had my cousin followed my advice and plan of flight he would not have +died in prison nor should I have lain in the dungeon of Magdeburg. With +respect to individuals whom he robbed, innocent men whom he massacred, +and many other worthy people whom he made miserable; with respect to his +father, aged eighty-four, and his virtuous wife, whom he treated with +barbarity; with respect to myself, to the duties of consanguinity and of +man, he merited punishment, the pursuit of the avenging arm of justice, +and to be extirpated from all human society. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +Thomas Carlyle's opinion of the author of this History is expressed in +the following passages from his _History of Friedrich II. of Prussia_: +"'Frederick Baron Trenck,' loud sounding phantasm, once famous in the +world, now gone to the nurseries as mythical, was of this carnival (1742- +3.) . . . A tall actuality in that time, swaggering about in sumptuous +Life Guard uniform in his mess-rooms and assembly-rooms; much in love +with himself, the fool! And I rather think, in spite of his dog +insinuations, neither Princess had heard of him till twenty years hence, +in a very different phasis of his life! The empty, noisy, quasi-tragic +fellow; sounds throughout quasi-tragical, like an empty barrel; +well-built, longing to be filled."--Book xiv., ch. 3. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF BARON +TRENCK*** + + +******* This file should be named 2669.txt or 2669.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/6/6/2669 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Proofing was by Bridie, Rab +Hughes and Roland Chapman. + + + + + +LIFE AND ADVENTURE OF BARON TRENCK - VOLUME 2 + + + + +TRANSLATED BY THOMAS HOLCROFT + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + + + +Thomas Holcroft, the translator of these Memoirs of Baron Trenck, +was the author of about thirty plays, among which one, The Road to +Ruin, produced in 1792, has kept its place upon the stage. He was +born in December, 1745, the son of a shoemaker who did also a little +business in horse-dealing. After early struggles, during which he +contrived to learn French, German, and Italian, Holcroft contributed +to a newspaper, turned actor, and wrote plays, which appeared +between the years 1791 and 1806. He produced also four novels, the +first in 1780, the last in 1807. He was three times married, and +lost his first wife in 1790. In 1794, his sympathy with ideals of +the French revolutionists caused him to be involved with Hardy, +Horne Tooke, and Thelwall, in a charge of high treason; but when +these were acquitted, Holcroft and eight others were discharged +without trial. + +Holcroft earned also by translation. He translated, besides these +Memoirs of Baron Trenck, Mirabeau's Secret History of the Court of +Berlin, Les Veillees du Chateau of Madame de Genlis, and the +posthumous works of Frederick II., King of Prussia, in thirteen +volumes. + +The Memoirs of Baron Trenck were first published at Berlin as his +Merkwurdige Lebensbeschreibung, in three volumes octavo, in 1786 and +1787. They were first translated into French by Baron Bock (Metz, +1787); more fully by Letourneur (Paris, 1788); and again by himself +(Strasbourg, 1788), with considerable additions. Holcroft +translated from the French versions. + +H.M. + + + +THE LIFE OF BARON TRENCK. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +Blessed shade of a beloved sister! The sacrifice of my adverse and +dreadful fate! Thee could I never avenge! Thee could the blood of +Weingarten never appease! No asylum, however sacred, should have +secured him, had he not sought that last of asylums for human +wickedness and human woes--the grave! To thee do I dedicate these +few pages, a tribute of thankfulness; and, if future rewards there +are, may the brightest of these rewards be thine. For us, and not +for ours, may rewards be expected from monarchs who, in apathy, have +beheld our mortal sufferings. Rest, noble soul, murdered though +thou wert by the enemies of thy brother. Again my blood boils, +again my tears roll down my cheeks, when I remember thee, thy +sufferings in my cause, and thy untimely end! I knew it not; I +sought to thank thee; I found thee in the grave; I would have made +retribution to thy children, but unjust, iron-hearted princes had +deprived me of the power. Can the virtuous heart conceive +affliction more cruel? My own ills I would have endured with +magnanimity; but thine are wrongs I have neither the power to forget +nor heal. + +Enough of this. - + +The worthy Emperor, Francis I., shed tears when I afterwards had the +honour of relating to him in person my past miseries; I beheld them +flow, and gratitude threw me at his feet. His emotion was so great +that he tore himself away. I left the palace with all the +enthusiasm of soul which such a scene must inspire. + +He probably would have done more than pitied me, but his death soon +followed. I relate this incident to convince posterity that Francis +I. possessed a heart worthy an emperor, worthy a man. In the +knowledge I have had of monarchs he stands alone. Frederic and +Theresa both died without doing me justice; I am now too old, too +proud, have too much apathy, to expect it from their successors. +Petition I will not, knowing my rights; and justice from courts of +law, however evident my claims, were in these courts vain indeed to +expect. Lawyers and advocates I know but too well, and an army to +support my rights I have not. + +What heart that can feel but will pardon me these digressions! At +the exact and simple recital of facts like these, the whole man must +be roused, and the philosopher himself shudder. + +Once more:- I heard nothing of what had happened for some days; at +length, however, it was the honest Gelfhardt's turn to mount guard; +but the ports being doubled, and two additional grenadiers placed +before my door, explanation was exceedingly difficult. He, however, +in spite of precaution, found means to inform me of what had +happened to his two unfortunate comrades. + +The King came to a review at Magdeburg, when he visited Star-Fort, +and commanded a new cell to be immediately made, prescribing himself +the kind of irons by which I was to be secured. The honest +Gelfhardt heard the officer say this cell was meant for me, and gave +me notice of it, but assured me it could not be ready in less than a +month. I therefore determined, as soon as possible, to complete my +breach in the wall, and escape without the aid of any one. The +thing was possible; for I had twisted the hair of my mattress into a +rope, which I meant to tie to a cannon, and descend the rampart, +after which I might endeavour to swim across the Elbe, gain the +Saxon frontiers, and thus safely escape. + +On the 26th of May I had determined to break into the next casemate; +but when I came to work at the bricks, I found them so hard and +strongly cemented that I was obliged to defer the labour till the +following day. I left off, weary and spent, at daybreak, and should +any one enter my dungeon, they must infallibly discover the breach. +How dreadful is the destiny by which, through life, I have been +persecuted, and which has continually plunged me headlong into +calamity, when I imagined happiness was at hand! + +The 27th of May was a cruel day in the history of my life. My cell +in the Star-Fort had been finished sooner than Gelfhardt had +supposed; and at night, when I was preparing to fly, I heard a +carriage stop before my prison. O God! what was my terror, what +were the horrors of this moment of despair! The locks and bolts +resounded, the doors flew open, and the last of my poor remaining +resources was to conceal my knife. The town-major, the major of the +day, and a captain entered; I saw them by the light of their two +lanterns. The only words they spoke were, "Dress yourself," which +was immediately done. I still wore the uniform of the regiment of +Cordova. Irons were given me, which I was obliged myself to fasten +on my wrists and ankles; the town-major tied a bandage over my eyes, +and, taking me under the arm, they thus conducted me to the +carriage. It was necessary to pass through the city to arrive at +the Star-Fort; all was silent, except the noise of the escort; but +when we entered Magdeburg I heard the people running, who were +crowding together to obtain a sight of me. Their curiosity was +raised by the report that I was going to be beheaded. That I was +executed on this occasion in the Star-Fort, after having been +conducted blindfold through the city, has since been both affirmed +and written; and the officers had then orders to propagate this +error that the world might remain in utter ignorance concerning me. +I, indeed, knew otherwise, though I affected not to have this +knowledge; and, as I was not gagged, I behaved as if I expected +death, reproached my conductors in language that even made them +shudder, and painted their King in his true colours, as one who, +unheard, had condemned an innocent subject by a despotic exertion of +power. + +My fortitude was admired, at the moment when it was supposed I +thought myself leading to execution. No one replied, but their +sighs intimated their compassion; certain it is, few Prussians +willingly execute such commands. The carriage at length stopped, +and I was brought into my new cell. The bandage was taken from my +eyes. The dungeon was lighted by a few torches. God of heaven! +what were my feelings when I beheld the whole floor covered with +chains, a fire-pan, and two grim men standing with their smiths' +hammers! + +* * * * * * + +To work went these engines of despotism! Enormous chains were fixed +to my ankle at one end, and at the other to a ring which was +incorporated in the wall. This ring was three feet from the ground, +and only allowed me to move about two or three feet to the right and +left. They next riveted another huge iron ring, of a hand's +breadth, round my naked body, to which hung a chain, fixed into an +iron bar as thick as a man's arm. This bar was two feet in length, +and at each end of it was a handcuff. The iron collar round my neck +was not added till the year 1756. + +* * * * * * + +No soul bade me good night. All retired in dreadful silence; and I +heard the horrible grating of four doors, that were successively +locked and bolted upon me! + +Thus does man act by his fellow, knowing him to be innocent, having +received the commands of another man so to act. + +O God! Thou alone knowest how my heart, void as it was of guilt, +beat at this moment. There sat I, destitute, alone, in thick +darkness, upon the bare earth, with a weight of fetters +insupportable to nature, thanking Thee that these cruel men had not +discovered my knife, by which my miseries might yet find an end. +Death is a last certain refuge that can indeed bid defiance to the +rage of tyranny. What shall I say? How shall I make the reader +feel as I then felt? How describe my despondency, and yet account +for that latent impulse that withheld my hand on this fatal, this +miserable night? + +This misery I foresaw was not of short duration; I had heard of the +wars that were lately broken out between Austria and Prussia. +Patiently to wait their termination, amid sufferings and +wretchedness such as mine, appeared impossible, and freedom even +then was doubtful. Sad experience had I had of Vienna, and well I +knew that those who had despoiled me of my property most anxiously +would endeavour to prevent my return. Such were my meditations! +such my night thoughts! Day at length returned; but where was its +splendour? Fled! I beheld it not; yet was its glimmering obscurity +sufficient to show me what was my dungeon. + +In breadth it was about eight feet; in length, ten. Near me once +more stood a night-table; in a corner was a seat, four bricks broad, +on which I might sit, and recline against the wall. Opposite the +ring to which I was fastened, the light was admitted through a semi- +circular aperture, one foot high, and two in diameter. This +aperture ascended to the centre of the wall, which was six feet +thick, and at this central part was a close iron grating, from +which, outward, the aperture descended, and its two extremities were +again secured by strong iron bars. My dungeon was built in the +ditch of the fortification, and the aperture by which the light +entered was so covered by the wall of the rampart that, instead of +finding immediate passage, the light only gained admission by +reflection. This, considering the smallness of the aperture, and +the impediments of grating and iron bars, must needs make the +obscurity great; yet my eyes, in time, became so accustomed to this +glimmering that I could see a mouse run. In winter, however, when +the sun did not shine into the ditch, it was eternal night with me. +Between the bars and the grating was a glass window, most curiously +formed, with a small central casement, which might be opened to +admit the air. My night-table was daily removed, and beside me +stood a jug of water. The name of TRENCK was built in the wall, in +red brick, and under my feet was a tombstone with the name of TRENCK +also cut on it, and carved with a death's head. The doors to my +dungeon were double, of oak, two inches thick; without these was an +open space or front cell, in which was a window, and this space was +likewise shut in by double doors. The ditch, in which this dreadful +den was built, was enclosed on both sides by palisades, twelve feet +high, the key of the door of which was entrusted to the officer of +the guard, it being the King's intention to prevent all possibility +of speech or communication with the sentinels. The only motion I +had the power to make was that of jumping upward, or swinging my +arms to procure myself warmth. When more accustomed to these +fetters, I became capable of moving from side to side, about four +feet; but this pained my shin-bones. + +The cell had been finished with lime and plaster but eleven days, +and everybody supposed it would be impossible I should exist in +these damps above a fortnight. I remained six months, continually +immersed in very cold water, that trickled upon me from the thick +arches under which I was; and I can safely affirm that, for the +first three months, I was never dry; yet did I continue in health. +I was visited daily, at noon, after relieving guard, and the doors +were then obliged to be left open for some minutes, otherwise the +dampness of the air put out their candles. + +This was my situation, and here I sat, destitute of friends, +helplessly wretched, preyed on by all the torture of thought that +continually suggested the most gloomy, the most horrid, the most +dreadful of images. My heart was not yet wholly turned to stone; my +fortitude was sunken to despondency; my dungeon was the very cave of +despair; yet was my arm restrained, and this excess of misery +endured. + +How then may hope be wholly eradicated from the heart of man? My +fortitude, after some time, began to revive; I glowed with the +desire of convincing the world I was capable of suffering what man +had never suffered before; perhaps of at last emerging from this +load of wretchedness triumphant over my enemies. So long and +ardently did my fancy dwell on this picture, that my mind at length +acquired a heroism which Socrates himself certainly never possessed. +Age had benumbed his sense of pleasure, and he drank the poisonous +draught with cool indifference; but I was young, inured to high +hopes, yet now beholding deliverance impossible, or at an immense, a +dreadful distance. Such, too, were the other sufferings of soul and +body, I could not hope they might be supported and live. + +About noon my den was opened. Sorrow and compassion were painted on +the countenances of my keepers. No one spoke; no one bade me good +morrow. Dreadful indeed was their arrival; for, unaccustomed to the +monstrous bolts and bars, they were kept resounding for a full half- +hour before such soul-chilling, such hope-murdering impediments were +removed. It was the voice of tyranny that thundered. + +My night-table was taken out, a camp-bed, mattress, and blankets +were brought me; a jug of water set down, and beside it an +ammunition loaf of six pounds' weight. "That you may no more +complain of hunger," said the town-major, "you shall have as much +bread as you can eat." The door was shut, and I again left to my +thoughts. + +What a strange thing is that called happiness! How shall I express +my extreme joy when, after eleven months of intolerable hunger, I +was again indulged with a full feast of coarse ammunition bread? +The fond lover never rushed more eagerly to the arias of his +expecting bride, the famished tiger more ravenously on his prey, +than I upon this loaf. I ate, rested; surveyed the precious morsel; +ate again; and absolutely shed tears of pleasure. Breaking bit +after bit, I had by evening devoured all my loaf. + +Oh, Nature! what delight hast thou combined with the gratification +of thy wants! Remember this, ye who gorge, ye who rack invention to +excite appetite, and yet which you cannot procure! Remember how +simple are the means that will give a crust of mouldy bread a +flavour more exquisite than all the spices of the East, or all the +profusion of land or sea! Remember this, grow hungry, and indulge +your sensuality. + +Alas! my enjoyment was of short duration. I soon found that excess +is followed by pain and repentance. My fasting had weakened +digestion, and rendered it inactive. My body swelled, my water-jug +was emptied; cramps, colics, and at length inordinate thirst racked +me all the night. I began to pour curses on those who seemed to +refine on torture, and, after starving me so long, to invite me to +gluttony. Could I not have reclined on my bed, I should indeed have +been driven, this night, to desperation; yet even this was but a +partial relief; for, not yet accustomed to my enormous fetters, I +could not extend myself in the same manner I was afterwards taught +to do by habit. I dragged them, however, so together as to enable +me to sit down on the bare mattress. This, of all my nights of +suffering, stands foremost. When they opened my dungeon next day +they found me in a truly pitiable situation, wondered at my +appetite, brought me another loaf; I refused to accept it, believing +I nevermore should have occasion for bread; they, however, left me +one, gave me water, shrugged up their shoulders, wished me farewell, +as, according to all appearance, they never expected to find me +alive, and shut all the doors, without asking whether I wished or +needed further assistance. + +Three days had passed before I could again eat a morsel of bread; +and my mind, brave in health, now in a sick body became +pusillanimous, so that I determined on death. The irons, everywhere +round my body, and their weight, were insupportable; nor could I +imagine it was possible I should habituate myself to them, or endure +them long enough to expect deliverance. Peace was a very distant +prospect. The King had commanded that such a prison should be built +as should exclude all necessity of a sentinel, in order that I might +not converse with and seduce them from what is called their duty: +and, in the first days of despair, deliverance appeared impossible; +and the fetters, the war, the pain I felt, the place, the length of +time, each circumstance seemed equally impossible to support. A +thousand reasons convinced me it was necessary to end my sufferings. +I shall not enter into theological disputes: let those who blame me +imagine themselves in my situation; or rather let them first +actually endure my miseries, and then let them reason. I had often +braved death in prosperity, and at this moment it seemed a blessing. + +Full of these meditations, every minute's patience appeared +absurdity, and resolution meanness of soul; yet I wished my mind +should be satisfied that reason, and not rashness, had induced the +act. I therefore determined, that I might examine the question +coolly, to wait a week longer, and die on the fourth of July. In +the meantime I revolved in my mind what possible means there were of +escape, not fearing, naked and chained, to rush and expire on the +bayonets of my enemies. + +The next day I observed, as the four doors were opened, that they +were only of wood, therefore questioned whether I might not even cut +off the locks with the knife that I had so fortunately concealed: +and should this and every other means fail, then would be the time +to die. I likewise determined to make an attempt to free myself of +my chains. I happily forced my right hand through the handcuff, +though the blood trickled from my nails. My attempts on the left +were long ineffectual; but by rubbing with a brick, which I got from +my seat, on the rivet that had been negligently closed, I effected +this also. + +The chain was fastened to the run round my body by a hook, one end +of which was not inserted in the rim; therefore, by setting my foot +against the wall, I had strength enough so far to bend this hook +back, and open it, as to force out the link of the chain. The +remaining difficulty was the chain that attached my foot to the +wall: the links of this I took, doubled, twisted, and wrenched, +till at length, nature having bestowed on me great strength, I made +a desperate effort, sprang forcibly up, and two links at once flew +off. + +Fortunate, indeed, did I think myself: I hastened to the door, +groped in the dark to find the clinkings of the nails by which the +lock was fastened, and discovered no very large piece of wood need +be cut. Immediately I went to work with my knife, and cut through +the oak door to find its thickness, which proved to be only one +inch, therefore it was possible to open all the four doors in four- +and-twenty hours. + +Again hope revived in my heart. To prevent detection I hastened to +put on my chains; but, O God! what difficulties had I to surmount! +After much groping about, I at length found the link that had flown +off; this I hid: it being my good fortune hitherto to escape +examination, as the possibility of ridding myself of such chains was +in nowise suspected. The separated iron links I tied together with +my hair ribbon; but when I again endeavoured to force my hand into +the ring, it was so swelled that every effort was fruitless. The +whole might was employed upon the rivet, but all labour was in vain. + +Noon was the hour of visitation, and necessity and danger again +obliged me to attempt forcing my hand in, which at length, after +excruciating torture, I effected. My visitors came, and everything +had the appearance of order. I found it, however, impossible to +force out my right hand while it continued swelled. + +I therefore remained quiet till the day fixed, and on the determined +fourth of July, immediately as my visitors had closed the doors upon +me, I disencumbered myself of my irons, took my knife, and began my +Herculean labour on the door. The first of the double doors that +opened inwards was conquered in less than an hour; the other was a +very different task. The lock was soon cut round, but it opened +outwards; there was therefore no other means left but to cut the +whole door away above the bar. + +Incessant and incredible labour made this possible, though it was +the more difficult as everything was to be done by feeling, I being +totally in the dark; the sweat dropped, or rather flowed, from my +body; my fingers were clotted in my own blood, and my lacerated +hands were one continued wound. + +Daylight appeared: I clambered over the door that was half cut +away, and got up to the window in the space or cell that was between +the double doors, as before described. Here I saw my dungeon was in +the ditch of the first rampart: before me I beheld the road from +the rampart, the guard but fifty paces distant, and the high +palisades that were in the ditch, and must be scaled before I could +reach the rampart. Hope grew stronger; my efforts were redoubled. +The first of the next double doors was attacked, which likewise +opened inward, and was soon conquered. The sun set before I had +ended this, and the fourth was to be cut away as the second had +been. My strength failed; both my hands were raw; I rested awhile, +began again, and had made a cut of a foot long, when my knife +snapped, and the broken blade dropped to the ground! + +God of Omnipotence! what was I at this moment? Was there, God of +Mercies! was there ever creature of Thine more justified than I in +despair? The moon shone very clear; I cast a wild and distracted +look up to heaven, fell on my knees, and in the agony of my soul +sought comfort: but no comfort could be found; nor religion nor +philosophy had any to give. I cursed not Providence, I feared not +annihilation, I dared not Almighty vengeance; God the Creator was +the disposer of my fate; and if He heaped afflictions upon me He had +not given me strength to support, His justice would not therefore +punish me. To Him, the Judge of the quick and dead, I committed my +soul, seized the broken knife, gashed through the veins of my left +arm and foot, sat myself tranquilly down, and saw the blood flow. +Nature, overpowered fainted, and I know not how long I remained, +slumbering, in this state. Suddenly I heard my own name, awoke, and +again heard the words, "Baron Trenck!" My answer was, "Who calls?" +And who indeed was it--who but my honest grenadier Gelfhardt--my +former faithful friend in the citadel! The good, the kind fellow +had got upon the rampart, that he might comfort me. + +"How do you do?" said Gelfhardt. "Weltering in my blood," answered +I; "to-morrow you will find me dead."--"Why should you die?" replied +he. "It is much easier for you to escape here than from the +citadel! Here is no sentinel, and I shall soon find means to +provide you with tools; if you can only break out, leave the rest to +me. As often as I am on guard, I will seek opportunity to speak to +you. In the whole Star-Fort, there are but two sentinels: the one +at the entrance, and the other at the guard-house. Do not despair; +God will succour you; trust to me." The good man's kindness and +discourse revived my hopes: I saw the possibility of an escape. A +secret joy diffused itself through my soul. I immediately tore my +shirt, bound up my wounds, and waited the approach of day; and the +sun soon after shone through the window, to me, with unaccustomed +brightness. + +Let the reader judge how far it was chance, or the effect of Divine +providence, that in this dreadful hour my heart again received hope. +Who was it sent the honest Gelfhardt, at such a moment, to my +prison? For, had it not been for him, I had certainly, when I awoke +from my slumbers, cut more effectually through my arteries. + +Till noon I had time to consider what might further be done: yet +what could be done, what expected, but that I should now be much +more cruelly treated, and even more insupportably ironed than +before--finding, as they must, the doors cut through and my fetters +shaken off? + +After mature consideration, I therefore made the following +resolution, which succeeded happily, and even beyond my hopes. +Before I proceed, however, I will speak a few words concerning my +situation at this moment. It is impossible to describe how much I +was exhausted. The prison swam with blood; and certainly but little +was left in my body. With painful wounds, swelled and torn hands, I +there stood shirtless, felt an inclination to sleep almost +irresistible, and scarcely had strength to keep my legs, yet was I +obliged to rouse myself, that I might execute my plan. + +With the bar that separated my hands, I loosened the bricks of my +seat, which, being newly laid, was easily done, and heaped them up +in the middle of my prison. The inner door was quite open, and with +my chains I so barricaded the upper half of the second as to prevent +any one climbing over it. When noon came and the first of the doors +was unlocked, all were astonished to find the second open. There I +stood, besmeared with blood, the picture of horror, with a brick in +one hand, and in the other my broken knife, crying, as they +approached, "Keep off, Mr. Major, keep off! Tell the governor I +will live no longer in chains, and that here I stand, if so he +pleases, to be shot; for so only will I be conquered. Here no man +shall enter--I will destroy all that approach; here are my weapons; +lucre will I die in despite of tyranny." The major was terrified, +wanted resolution, and made his report to the governor. I meantime +sat down on my bricks, to wait what might happen: my secret intent, +however, was not so desperate as it appeared. I sought only to +obtain a favourable capitulation. + +The governor, General Borck, presently came, attended by the town- +major and some officers, and entered the outward cell, but sprang +back the moment he beheld a figure like me, standing with a brick +and uplifted arm. I repeated what I had told the major, and he +immediately ordered six grenadiers to force the door. The front +cell was scarcely six feet broad, so that no more than two at a time +could attack my intrenchment, and when they saw my threatening +bricks ready to descend, they leaped terrified back. A short pause +ensued, and the old town-major, with the chaplain, advanced towards +the door to soothe me: the conversation continued some time: whose +reasons were most satisfactory, and whose cause was the most just, I +leave to the reader. The governor grew angry, and ordered a fresh +attack. The first grenadier was knocked down, and the rest ran back +to avoid my missiles. + +The town-major again began a parley. "For God's sake, my dear +Trenck," said he, "in what have I injured you, that you endeavour to +effect my ruin? I must answer for your having, through my +negligence, concealed a knife. Be persuaded, I entreat you. Be +appeased. You are not without hope, nor without friends." My +answer was--"But will you not load me with heavier irons than +before?" + +He went out, spoke with the governor, and gave me his word of honour +that the affair should be no further noticed, and that everything +should be exactly reinstated as formerly. + +Here ended the capitulation, and my wretched citadel was taken. The +condition I was in was viewed with pity; my wounds were examined, a +surgeon sent to dress them, another shirt was given me, and the +bricks, clotted with blood, removed. I, meantime, lay half dead on +my mattress; my thirst was excessive. The surgeon ordered me some +wine. Two sentinels were stationed in the front cell, and I was +thus left four days in peace, unironed. Broth also was given me +daily, and how delicious this was to taste, how much it revived and +strengthened me, is wholly impossible to describe. Two days I lay +in a slumbering kind of trance, forced by unquenchable thirst to +drink whenever I awoke. My feet and hands were swelled; the pains +in my back and limbs were excessive. + +On the fifth day the doors were ready; the inner was entirely plated +with iron, and I was fettered as before: perhaps they found further +cruelty unnecessary. The principal chain, however, which fastened +me to the wall, like that I had before broken, was thicker than the +first. Except this, the capitulation was strictly kept. They +deeply regretted that, without the King's express commands, they +could not lighten my afflictions, wished me fortitude and patience, +and barred up my doors. + +It is necessary I should here describe my dress. My hands being +fixed and kept asunder by an iron bar, and my feet chained to the +wall, I could neither put on shirt nor stockings in the usual mode; +the shirt was therefore tied, and changed once a fortnight; the +coarse ammunition stockings were buttoned on the sides; a blue +garment, of soldier's cloth, was likewise tied round me, and I had a +pair of slippers for my feet. The shirt was of the army linen; and +when I contemplated myself in this dress of a malefactor, chained +thus to the wall in such a dungeon, vainly imploring mercy or +justice, my conscience void of reproach, my heart of guilt--when I +reflected on my former splendour in Berlin and Moscow, and compared +it with this sad, this dreadful reverse of destiny, I was sunk in +grief, or roused to indignation, that might have hurried the +greatest hero or philosopher to madness or despair. I felt what can +only be imagined by him who has suffered like me, after having like +me flourished, if such can be found. + +Pride, the justness of my cause, the unbounded confidence I had in +my own resolution, and the labours of an inventive head and iron +body--these only could have preserved my life. These bodily +labours, these continued inventions, and projected plans to obtain +my freedom, preserved my health. Who would suppose that a man +fettered as I was could find means of exercising himself? By +swinging my arms, acting with the upper part of my body, and leaping +upwards, I frequently put myself in a strong perspiration. After +thus wearying myself I slept soundly, and often thought how many +generals, obliged to support the inclemencies of weather, and all +the dangers of the field--how many of those who had plunged me into +this den of misery, would have been most glad could they, like me, +have slept with a quiet conscience. Often did I reflect how much +happier I was than those tortured on the bed of sickness by gout, +stone, and other terrible diseases. How much happier was I in +innocence than the malefactor doomed to suffer the pangs of death, +the ignominy of men, and the horrors of internal guilt! + + + +CHAPTER II. + + + +In the following part of my history it will appear I often had much +money concealed under the ground and in the walls of my den, yet +would I have given a hundred ducats for a morsel of bread, it could +not have been procured. Money was to me useless. In this I +resembled the miser, who hoards, yet hives in wretchedness, having +no joy in gentle acts of benevolence. As proudly might I delight +myself with my hidden treasure as such misers; nay, more, for I was +secure from robbers. + +Had fastidious pomp been my pleasure, I might have imagined myself +some old field-marshal bedridden, who hears two grenadier sentinels +at his door call, "Who goes there?" My honour, indeed, was still +greater; for, during my last year's imprisonment, my door was +guarded by no less than four. My vanity also might have been +flattered: I might hence conclude how high was the value set upon +my head, since all this trouble was taken to hold me in security. +Certain it is that in my chains I thought more rationally, more +nobly, reasoned more philosophically on man, his nature, his zeal, +his imaginary wants, the effects of his ambition, his passions, and +saw more distinctly his dream of earthly good, than those who had +imprisoned, or those who guarded me. I was void of the fears that +haunt the parasite who servilely wears the fetters of a court, and +daily trembles for the loss of what vice and cunning have acquired. +Those who had usurped the Sclavonian estates, and feasted +sumptuously from the service of plate I had been robbed of, never +ate their dainties with so sweet an appetite as I my ammunition +bread, nor did their high-flavoured wines flow so limpid as my cold +water. + +Thus, the man who thinks, being pure of heart, will find consolation +when under the most dreadful calamities, convinced, as he must be, +that those apparently most are frequently least happy, insensible as +they are of the pleasures they might enjoy. Evil is never so great +as it appears. + + +"Sweet are the uses of adversity, +Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, +Wears yet a precious jewel in his head." +As you LIKE IT. + + +Happy he who, like me, having suffered, can become an example to his +suffering brethren! + +YOUTH, prosperous, and imagining eternal prosperity, read my history +attentively, though I should be in my grave! Read feelingly, and +bless my sleeping dust, if it has taught thee wisdom or fortitude! + +FATHER, reading this, say to thy children, I felt thus like them, in +blooming youth, little prophesied of misfortune, which after fell so +heavy on me, and by which I am even still persecuted! Say that I +had virtue, ambition, was educated in noble principles; that I +laboured with all the zeal of enthusiastic youth to become wiser, +better, greater than other men; that I was guilty of no crimes, was +the friend of men, was no deceiver of man or woman; that I first +served my own country faithfully, and after, every other in which I +found bread; that I was never, during life, once intoxicated; was no +gamester, no night rambler, no contemptible idler; that yet, through +envy and arbitrary power, I have fallen to misery such as none but +the worst of criminals ought to feel. + +BROTHER, fly those countries where the lawgiver himself knows no +law, where truth and virtue are punished as crimes; and, if fly you +cannot, be it your endeavour to remain unknown, unnoticed; in such +countries, seek not favour or honourable employ, else will you +become, when your merits are known, as I have been, the victim of +slander and treachery: the behests of power will persecute you, and +innocence will not shield you from the shafts of wicked men who are +envious, or who wish to obtain the favour of princes, though by the +worst of means. + +SIRE, imagine not that thou readest a romance. My head is grey, +like thine. Read, yet despise not the world, though it has treated +me thus unthankfully. Good men have I also found, who have +befriended me in misfortunes, and there, where I had least claim, +have I found them most. May my book assist thee in noble thoughts; +mayest thou die as tranquilly as I shall render up my soul to appear +before the Judge of me and my persecutors. Be death but thought a +transition from motion to rest. Few are the delights of this world +for him who, like me, has learned to know it. Murmur not, despair +not of Providence. Me, through storms, it has brought to haven; +through many griefs to self-knowledge; and through prisons to +philosophy. He only can tranquilly descend to annihilation who +finds reason not to repent he has once existed. My rudder broke not +amid the rocks and quicksands, but my bark was cast upon the strand +of knowledge. Yet, even on these clear shores are impenetrable +clouds. I have seen more distinctly than it is supposed men ought +to see. Age will decay the faculties, and mental, like bodily +sight, must then decrease. I even grew weary of science, and envied +the blind-born, or those who, till death, have been wilfully +hoodwinked. How often have I been asked, "What didst thou see?" +And when I answered with sincerity and truth, how often have I been +derided as a liar, and been persecuted by those who determined not +to see themselves, as an innovator singular and rash! + +Sire, I further say to thee, teach thy descendants to seek the +golden mean, and say with Gellert--"The boy Fritz needs nothing;-- +his stupidity will insure his success, Examine our wealthy and +titled lords, what are their abilities and honours, then inquire how +they were attained, and, if thou canst, discover in what true +happiness consists." + +Once more to my prison. The failure of my escape, and the recovery +of life from this state of despair, led me to moralise deeper than I +had ever done before; and in this depth of thought I found +unexpected consolation and fortitude, and a firm persuasion I yet +should accomplish my deliverance. + +Gelfhardt, my honest grenadier, had infused fresh hope, and my mind +now busily began to meditate new plans. A sentinel was placed +before my door, that I might be more narrowly watched, and the +married men of the Prussian states were appointed to this duty, who, +as I will hereafter show, were more easy to persuade in aiding my +flight than foreign fugitives. The Pomeranian will listen, and is +by nature kind, therefore may easily be moved, and induced to +succour distress. + +I began to be more accustomed to my irons, which I had before found +so insupportable; I could comb out my long hair, and could tie it at +last with one hand. My beard, which had so long remained unshaven, +gave me a grim appearance, and I began to pluck it up by the roots. +The pain at first was considerable, especially about the lips; but +this also custom conquered, and I performed this operation in the +following years, once in six weeks, or two months, as the hair thus +plucked up required that length of time before the nails could again +get hold. Vermin did not molest me; the dampness of my den was +inimical to them. My limbs never swelled, because of the exercise I +gave myself, as before described. The greatest pain I found was in +the continued unvivifying dimness in which I lived. + +I had read much, had lived in, and seen much of the world. Vacuity +of thought, therefore, I was little troubled with; the former +transactions of my life, and the remembrance of the persons I had +known, I revolved so often in my mind, that they became as familiar +and connected as if the events had each been written in the order it +occurred. Habit made this mental exercise so perfect to me, that I +could compose speeches, fables, odes, satires, all of which I +repeated aloud, and had so stored my memory with them that I was +enabled, after I had obtained my freedom, to commit to writing two +volumes of my prison labours. Accustomed to this exercise, days +that would otherwise have been days of misery appeared but as a +moment. The following narrative will show how munch esteem, how +many friends, these compositions procured me, even in my dungeon; +insomuch that I obtained light, paper, and finally freedom itself. +For these I have to thank the industrious acquirements of my youth; +therefore do I counsel all my readers so to employ their time. +Riches, honours, the favours of fortune, may be showered by monarchs +upon the most worthless; but monarchs can give and take, say and +unsay, raise and pull down. Monarchs, however, can neither give +wisdom nor virtue. Arbitrary power itself, in the presence of +these, is foiled. + +How wisely has Providence ordained that the endowments of industry, +learning, and science, given by ourselves, cannot be taken from us; +while, on the contrary, what others bestow is a fantastical dream, +from which any accident may awaken us! The wrath of Frederic could +destroy legions, and defeat armies; but it could not take from me +the sense of honour, of innocence, and their sweet concomitant, +peace of mind--could not deprive me of fortitude and magnanimity. I +defied his power, rested on the justice of my cause, found in myself +expedients wherewith to oppose him, was at length crowned with +conquest, and came forth to the world the martyr of suffering +virtue. + +Some of my oppressors now rot in dishonourable graves. Others, +alas! in Vienna, remain immured in houses of correction, as Krugel +and Zeto, or beg their bread, like Gravenitz and Doo. Nor are the +wealthy possessors of my estates more fortunate, but look down with +shame wherever I and my children appear. We stand erect, esteemed, +and honoured, while their injustice is manifest to the whole world. + +Young man, be industrious: for without industry can none of the +treasures I have described be purchased. Thy labour will reward +itself; then, when assaulted by misfortune, or even misery, learn of +me and smile; or, shouldst thou escape such trials, still labour to +acquire wisdom, that in old age thou mayest find content and +happiness. + +The years in my dungeon passed away as days, those moments excepted +when, thinking on the great world, and the deeds of great men, my +ambition was roused: except when, contemplating the vileness of my +chains, and the wretchedness of my situation, I laboured for +liberty, and found my labours endless and ineffectual; except while +I remembered the triumph of my enemies, and the splendour in which +those lived by whom I had been plundered. Then, indeed, did I +experience intervals that approached madness, despair, and horror: +beholding myself destitute of friend or protector, the Empress +herself, for whose sake I suffered, deserting me; reflecting on past +times and past prosperity; remembering how the good and virtuous, +from the cruel nature of my punishment, must be obliged to conclude +me a wretch and a villain, and that all means of justification were +cut off: O God! How did my heart beat! with what violence! What +would I not have undertaken, in these suffering moments, to have put +my enemies to shame! Vengeance and rage then rose rebellious +against patience; long-suffering philosophy vanished, and the +poisoned cup of Socrates would have been the nectar of the gods. + +Man deprived of hope is man destroyed. I found but little +probability in all my plans and projects; yet did I trust that some +of them should succeed, yet did I confide in them and my honest +Gelfhardt, and that I should still free myself from my chains. + +The greatest of all my incitements to patient endurance was love. I +had left behind me, in Vienna, a lady for whom the world still was +dear to me; her would I neither desert nor afflict. To her and my +sister was my existence still necessary. For their sakes, who had +lost and suffered so much for mine, would I preserve my life; for +them no difficulty, no suffering was too great; yet, alas! when +long-desired liberty was restored, I found them both in their +graves. The joy, for which I had borne so much, was no more to be +tasted. + +About three weeks after my attempt to escape, the good Gelfhardt +first came to stand sentinel over me; and the sentinel they had so +carefully set was indeed the only hope I could have of escape; for +help must be had from without, or this was impossible. + +The effort I had made had excited too munch surprise and alarm for +me to pass without strict examination; since, on the ninth day after +I was confined, I had, in eighteen hours, so far broken through a +prison built purposely for myself, by a combination of so many +projectors, and with such extreme precaution, that it had been +universally declared impenetrable. + +Gelfhardt scarcely had taken his post before we had free opportunity +of conversing together; for, when I stood with one foot on my +bedstead, I could reach the aperture through which light was +admitted. + +Gelfhardt described the situation of my dungeon, and our first plan +was to break under the foundation which he had seen laid, and which +he affirmed to be only two feet deep. + +Money was the first thing necessary. Gelfhardt was relieved during +his guard, and returned bringing within him a sheet of paper rolled +on a wire, which he passed through my grating; as he also did a +piece of small wax candle, some burning amadone (a kind of tinder), +a match, and a pen. I now had light, and I pricked my finger, and +wrote with my blood to my faithful friend, Captain Ruckhardt, at +Vienna, described my situation in a few words, sent him an +acquittance for three thousand florins on my revenues, and requested +he would dispose of a thousand florins to defray the expenses of his +journey to Gummern, only two miles from Magdeburg. Here he was +positively to be on the 15th of August. About noon, on this same +day, he was to walk with a letter in his hand; and a man was there +to meet him, carrying a roll of smoking tobacco, to whom he must +remit the two thousand florins, and return to Vienna. + +I returned the written paper to Gelfhardt by the same means it had +been received, gave him my instructions, and he sent his wife with +it to Gummern, by whom it was safely put in the post. + +My hopes daily rose, and as often as Gelfhardt mounted guard, so +often did we continue our projects. The 15th of August came, but it +was some days before Gelfhardt was again on guard; and oh! how did +my heart palpitate when he came and exclaimed, "All is right! we +have succeeded." He returned in the evening, and we began to +consider by what means he could convey the money to me. I could +not, with my hands chained to an iron bar, reach the aperture of the +window that admitted air--besides that it was too small. It was +therefore agreed that Gelfhardt should, on the next guard, perform +the office of cleaning my dungeon, and that he then should convey +the money to me in the water-jug. + +This luckily was done. How great was my astonishment when, instead +of one, I found two thousand florins! For I had permitted him to +reserve half to himself, as a reward for his fidelity; he, however, +had kept but five pistoles, which he persisted was enough. + +Worthy Gelfhardt! This was the act of a Pomeranian grenadier! How +rare are such examples! Be thy name and mine ever united! Live +thou while the memory of me shall live! Never did my acquaintance +with the great bring to my knowledge a soul so noble, so +disinterested! + +It is true, I afterwards prevailed on him to accept the whole +thousand; but we shall soon see he never had them, and that his +foolish wife, three years after, suffered by their means; however, +she suffered alone, for he soon marched to the field, and therefore +was unpunished. + +Having money to carry on my designs, I began to put my plan of +burrowing under the foundation into execution. The first thing +necessary was to free myself from my fetters. To accomplish this, +Gelfhardt supplied me with two small files, and by the aid of these, +this labour, though great, was effected. + +The cap, or staple, of the foot ring was made so wide that I could +draw it forward a quarter of an inch. I filed the iron which passed +through it on the inside; the more I filed this away, the farther I +could draw the cap down, till at last the whole inside iron, through +which the chains passed, was cut quite through! by this means I +could slip off the ring, while the cap on the outside continued +whole, and it was impossible to discover any cut, as only the +outside could be examined. My hands, by continued efforts, I so +compressed as to be able to draw them out of the handcuffs. I then +filed the hinge, and made a screw-driver of one of the foot-long +flooring nails, by which I could take out the screw at pleasure, so +that at the time of examination no proofs could appear. The rim +round my body was but a small impediment, except the chain, which +passed from my hand-bar: and this I removed, by filing an aperture +in one of the links, which, at the necessary hour, I closed with +bread, rubbed over with rusty-iron, first drying it by the heat of +my body; and would wager any sum that, without striking the chain +link by link, with a hammer, no one not in the secret would have +discovered the fracture. + +The window was never strictly examined; I therefore drew the two +staples by which the iron bars were fixed to the wall, and which I +daily replaced, carefully plastering them over. I procured wire +from Gelfhardt, and tried how well I could imitate the inner +grating: finding I succeeded tolerably, I cut the real grating +totally away, and substituted an artificial one of my own +fabricating, by which I obtained a free communication with the +outside, additional fresh air, together with all necessary +implements, tinder, and candles. + +That the light might not be seen, I hung the coverlid of my bed +before the window, so that I could work fearless and undetected. + +Every thing prepared, I went to work. The floor of my dungeon was +not of stone, but oak plank, three inches thick; three beds of which +were laid crossways, and were fastened to each other by nails half +an inch in diameter, and a foot long. Raving worked round the head +of a nail, I made use of the hole at the end of the bar, which +separated my hands, to draw it out, and this nail, sharpened upon my +tombstone, made an excellent chisel. + +I now cut through the board more than an inch in width, that I might +work downwards, and having drawn away a piece of board which was +inserted two inches under the wall, I cut this so as exactly to fit; +the small crevice it occasioned I stopped up with bread and strewed +over with dust, so as to prevent all suspicious appearance. My +labour under this was continued with less precaution, and I had soon +worked through my nine-inch planks. Under them I came to a fine +white sand, on which the Star Fort was built. My chips I carefully +distributed beneath the boards. If I had not help from without, I +could proceed no farther; for to dig were useless, unless I could +rid myself of my rubbish. Gelfhardt supplied me with some ells of +cloth, of which I made long narrow bags, stuffed them with earth, +and passed them between the iron bars, to Gelfhardt, who, as he was +on guard, scattered or conveyed away their contents. + +Furnished with room to secrete them under the floor, I obtained more +instruments, together with a pair of pistols, powder, ball, and a +bayonet. + +I now discovered that the foundation of my prison, instead of two, +was sunken four feet deep. Time, labour, and patience were all +necessary to break out unheard and undiscovered; but few things are +impossible, where resolution is not wanting. + +The hole I made was obliged to be four feet deep, corresponding with +the foundation, and wide enough to kneel and stoop in: the lying +down on the floor to work, the continual stooping to throw out the +earth, the narrow space in which all must be performed, these made +the labour incredible: and, after this daily labour, all things +were to be replaced, and my chains again resumed, which alone +required some hours to effect. My greatest aid was in the wax +candles, and light I had procured; but as Gelfhardt stood sentinel +only once a fortnight, my work was much delayed; the sentinels were +forbidden to speak to me under pain of death: and I was too fearful +of being betrayed to dare to seek new assistance. + +Being without a stove, I suffered much this winter from cold; yet my +heart was cheerful as I saw the probability of freedom; and all were +astonished to find me in such good spirits. + +Gelfhardt also brought me supplies of provisions, chiefly consisting +of sausages and salt meats, ready dressed, which increased my +strength, and when I was not digging, I wrote satires and verses: +thus time was employed, and I contented even in prison. + +Lulled into security, an accident happened that will appear almost +incredible, and by which every hope was nearly frustrated. + +Gelfhardt had been working with me, and was relieved in the morning. +As I was replacing the window, which I was obliged to remove on +these occasions, it fell out of my hand, and three of the glass +panes were broken. Gelfhardt was not to return till guard was again +relieved: I had therefore no opportunity of speaking with him, or +concerting any mode of repair. I remained nearly an hour +conjecturing and hesitating; for certainly had the broken window +been seen, as it was impossible I should reach it when fettered, I +should immediately have been more rigidly examined, and the false +grating must have been discovered. + +I therefore came to a resolution, and spoke to the sentinel (who was +amusing himself with whistling), thus: "My good fellow, have pity, +not upon me, but upon your comrades, who, should you refuse, will +certainly be executed: I will throw you thirty pistoles through the +window, if you will do me a small favour." He remained some moments +silent, and at last answered in a low voice, "What, have you money, +then?"--I immediately counted thirty pistoles, and threw them +through the window. He asked what he was to do: I told him my +difficulty, and gave him the size of the panes in paper. The man +fortunately was bold and prudent. The door of the pallisadoes, +through the negligence of the officer, had not been shut that day: +he prevailed on one of his comrades to stand sentinel for him, +during half an hour, while he meantime ran into the town, and +procured the glass, on the receipt of which I instantly threw him +out ten more pistoles. Before the hour of noon and visitation came, +everything was once more reinstated, my glaziery performed to a +miracle, and the life of my worthy Gelfhardt preserved!--Such is the +power of money in this world! This is a very remarkable incident, +for I never spoke after to the man who did me this signal service. + +Gelfhardt's alarm may easily be imagined; he some days after +returned to his post, and was the more astonished as he knew the +sentinel who had done me this good office; that he had five +children, and a man most to be depended on by his officers, of any +one in the whole grenadier company. + +I now continued my labour, and found it very possible to break out +under the foundation; but Gelfhardt had been so terrified by the +late accident, that he started a thousand difficulties, in +proportion as my end was more nearly accomplished; and at the moment +when I wished to concert with him the means of flight, he persisted +it was necessary to find additional help, to escape in safety, and +not bring both him and myself to destruction. At length we came to +the following determination, which, however, after eight months' +incessant labour, rendered my whole project abortive. + +I wrote once more to Ruckhardt, at Vienna; sent him a new assignment +for money, and desired he would again repair to Gummern, where he +should wait six several nights, with two spare horses, on the glacis +of Klosterbergen, at the time appointed, everything being prepared +for flight. Within these six days Gelfhardt would have found means, +either in rotation, or by exchanging the guard, to have been with +me. Alas! the sweet hope of again beholding the face of the sun, of +once more obtaining my freedom, endured but three days: Providence +thought proper otherwise to ordain. Gelfhardt sent his wife to +Gummern with the letter, and this silly woman told the post-master +her husband had a lawsuit at Vienna, that therefore she begged he +would take particular care of the letter, for which purpose she +slipped ten rix-dollars into his hand. + +This unexpected liberality raised the suspicions of the Saxon post- +master, who therefore opened the letter, read the contents, and +instead of sending it to Vienna, or at least to the general post- +master at Dresden, he preferred the traitorous act of taking it +himself to the governor of Magdeburg, who then, as at present, was +Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. + +What were my terrors, what my despair, when I beheld the Prince +himself, about three o'clock in the afternoon, enter my prison with +his attendants, present my letter, and ask, in an authoritative +voice, who had carried it to Gummern. My answer was, "I know not." +Strict search was immediately made by smiths, carpenters, and +masons, and after half an hour's examination, they discovered +neither my hole nor the manner in which I disencumbered myself of my +chains; they only saw that the middle grating, in the aperture where +the light was admitted, had been removed. This was boarded up the +next day, only a small air-hole left, of about six inches diameter. + +The Prince began to threaten; I persisted I had never seen the +sentinel who had rendered me this service, nor asked his name. +Seeing his attempts all ineffectual, the governor, in a milder tone, +said, "You have ever complained, Baron Trenck, of not having been +legally sentenced, or heard in your own defence; I give you my word +of honour, this you shall be, and also that you shall be released +from your fetters, if you will only tell me who took your letter." +To this I replied, with all the fortitude of innocence, "Everybody +knows, my lord, I have never deserved the treatment I have met with +in my country. My heart is irreproachable. I seek to recover my +liberty by every means in my power: but were I capable of betraying +the man whose compassion has induced him to succour my distress; +were I the coward that could purchase happiness at his expense, I +then should, indeed, deserve to wear those chains with which I am +loaded. For myself, do with me what you please: yet remember I am +not wholly destitute: I am still a captain in the Imperial service, +and a descendant of the house of Trenck." + +Prince Ferdinand stood for a moment unable to answer; then renewed +his threats, and left my dungeon. I have since been told that, when +he was out of hearing, he said to those around him, "I pity his hard +fate, and cannot but admire his strength of mind!" + +I must here remark that, when we remember the usual circumspection +of this great man, we are obliged to wonder at his imprudence in +holding a conversation of such a kind with me, which lasted a +considerable time, in the presence of the guard. The soldiers of +the whole garrison had afterwards the utmost confidence, as they +were convinced I would not meanly devote others to destruction, that +I might benefit myself. This was the way to gain me esteem and +intercourse among the men, especially as the Duke had said he knew I +must have money concealed, for that I had distributed some to the +sentinels. + +He had scarcely been gone an hour, before I heard a noise near my +prison. I listened--what could it be? I heard talking, and learned +a grenadier had hanged himself to the pallisadoes of my prison. + +The officer of the town-guard, and the town-major again entered my +dungeon to fetch a lanthorn they had forgotten, and the officer at +going out, told me in a whisper, "One of your associates has just +hanged himself." + +It was impossible to imagine my terror or sensations; I believed it +could be only my kind, my honest Gelfhardt. After many gloomy +thoughts, and lamenting the unhappy end of so worthy a fellow, I +began to recollect what the Prince had promised me, if I would +discover the accomplice. I knocked at the door, and desired to +speak to the officer; he came to the window and asked me what I +wanted; I requested he would inform the governor that if he would +send me light, pen, ink, and paper, I would discover my whole +secret. + +These were accordingly sent, an hour's time was granted; the door +was shut, and I was left alone. I sat myself down, began to write +on my night-table, and was about to insert the name of Gelfhardt, +but my blood thrilled, and shrank back to my heart. I shuddered, +rose, went to the aperture of the window and called, "Is there no +man who in compassion will tell me the name of him who has hanged +himself, that I may deliver many others from destruction?" The +window was not nailed up till the next day; I therefore wrapped five +pistoles in a paper, threw them out, called to the sentinel, and +said, "Friend, take these, and save thy comrades; or go and betray +me, and bring down innocent blood upon thy head!" + +The paper was taken up; a pause of silence ensued: I heard sighs, +and presently after a low voice said, "his name is Schutz; he +belonged to the company of Ripps." I had never heard the name +before, or known the man, but I however immediately wrote SCHUTZ, +instead of Gelfhardt. Having finished the letter I called the +lieutenant, who took that and the light away, and again barred up +the door of my dungeon. The Duke, however, suspected there must be +some evasion, and everything remained in the same state: I obtained +neither hearing nor court-martial. I learned, in the sequel, the +following circumstances, which will display the truth of this +apparently incredible story. + +While I was imprisoned in the citadel, a sentinel came to the post +under my window, cursed and blasphemed, exclaiming aloud against the +Prussian service, and saying, if Trenck only knew my mind, he would +not long continue in his hole! I entered into discourse with him, +and he told me, if I could give him money to purchase a boat, in +which he might cross the Elbe, he would soon make my doors fly open, +and set me free. + +Money at that time I had none; but I gave him a diamond shirt- +buckle, worth five hundred ferns, which I had concealed. I never +heard more from this man; he spoke to me no more. He often stood +sentinel over me, which I knew by his Westphalian dialect, and I as +often addressed myself to him, but ineffectually; he would make no +answer. + +This Schutz must have sold my buckle, and let his riches be seen; +for, when the Duke left me, the lieutenant on guard said to him-- +"You must certainly be the rascal who carried Trenck's letter; you +have, for some time past, spent much money, and we have seen you +with louis-d'ors. How came you by them?" Schutz was terrified, his +conscience accused him, he imagined I should betray him, knowing he +had deceived me. He, therefore, in the first agonies of despair, +came to the pallisadoes, and hung himself before the door of my +dungeon. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +How wonderful is the hand of Providence! The wicked man fell a +sacrifice to his crime, after having escaped a whole year, and the +faithful, the benevolent-hearted Gelfhardt was thereby saved. + +The sentinels were now doubled, that any intercourse with them might +be rendered more difficult. Gelfhardt again stood guard, but he had +scarcely opportunity, without danger, to speak a few words: he +thanked me for having preserved him, wished me better fortune, and +told me the garrison, in a few days, would take the field. + +This was dreadful news: my whole plan was destroyed at a breath. +I, however, soon recovered fresh hopes. The hole I had sunken was +not discovered: I had five hundred florins, candles, and +implements. + +The seven years' war broke out about a week after, and the regiment +took the field. Major Weyner came, for the last time, and committed +me to the care of the new major of the militia, Bruckhausen, who was +one of the most surly and stupid of men. I shall often have +occasion to mention this man. + +All the majors and lieutenants of the guard, who had treated me with +compassion and esteem, now departed, and I became an old prisoner in +a new world. I acquired greater confidence, however, by remembering +that both officers and men in the militia were much easier to gain +over than in the regulars; the truth of which opinion was soon +confirmed. + +Four lieutenants were appointed, with their men, to mount guard at +the Star Fort in turn, and before a year had passed, three of them +were in my interest. + +The regiments had scarcely taken the field ere the new governor, +General Borck, entered my prison, like what he was, an imperious, +cruel tyrant. The King, in giving him the command, had informed him +he must answer for my person with his head: he therefore had full +power to treat me with whatever severity he pleased. + +Borck was a stupid man, of an unfeeling heart, the slave of despotic +orders; and as often as he thought it possible I might rid myself of +my fetters and escape, his heart palpitated with fear. In addition +to this, he considered me as the vilest of men and traitors, seeing +his King had condemned me to imprisonment so cruel, and his +barbarity towards me was thus the effect of character and meanness +of soul. He entered my dungeon not as an officer, to visit a +brother officer in misery, but as an executioner to a felon. Smiths +then made their appearance, and a monstrous iron collar, of a hand's +breadth, was put round my neck, and connected with the chains of the +feet by additional heavy links. My window was walled up, except a +small air-hole. He even at length took away my bed, gave me no +straw, and quitted me with a thousand revilings on the Empress- +Queen, her whole army, and myself. In words, however, I was little +in his debt, and he was enraged even to madness. + +What my situation was under this additional load of tyranny, and the +command of a man so void of human pity, the reader may imagine. My +greatest good fortune consisted in the ability I still had to +disencumber myself of all the irons that were connected with the +ankle-rims, and the provision I had of light, paper, and implements; +and though it was apparently impossible I should break out +undiscovered by both sentinels, yet had I the remaining hope of +gaining some officer, by money, who, as in Glatz, should assist my +escape. + +Had the commands of the King been literally obeyed escape would have +been wholly impossible; for, by this, all communication would have +been totally cut off with the sentinels. To this effect the four +keys of the four doors were each to be kept by different persons; +one with the governor, another with the town-major, the third with +the major of the day, and the fourth with the lieutenant of the +guard. I never could have found opportunity to have spoken with any +one of them singly. These commands at first were rigidly observed, +with this exception, that the governor made his appearance only +every week. Magdeburg became so full of prisoners that the town- +major was obliged to deliver up his key to the major of the day, and +the governor's visitations wholly subsided, the citadel being an +English mile and a half distant from the Star Fort. + +General Walrabe, who had been a prisoner ever since the year 1746, +was also at the Star Fort, but he had apartments, and three thousand +rix-dollars a year. The major of the day and officer of the guard +dined with him daily, and generally stayed till evening. Either +from compassion, or a concurrence of fortunate circumstances, these +gentlemen entrusted the keys to the lieutenant on guard, by which +means I could speak with each of them alone when they made their +visits, and they themselves at length sought these opportunities. +My consequent undertakings I shall relate, with all the arts and +inventions of a wretched prisoner endeavouring to escape. + +Borck had selected three majors and four lieutenants for this +service as those he could best trust. My situation was truly +deplorable. The enormous iron round my neck pained me, and +prevented motion; and I durst not attempt to disengage myself from +the pendant chains till I had, for some months, carefully observed +the mode of their examination, and which parts they supposed were +perfectly secure. The cruelty of depriving me of my bed was still +greater: I was obliged to sit upon the bare ground, and lean with +my head against the damp wall. The chains that descended from the +neck collar were obliged to be supported first with one band, and +then with the other; for, if thrown behind, they would have +strangled me, and if hanging forward occasioned most excessive +headaches. The bar between my hands held one down, while leaning on +my elbow; I supported with the other my chains; and this so benumbed +the muscles and prevented circulation, that I could perceive my arms +sensibly waste away. The little sleep I could have in such a +situation may easily be supposed, and, at length, body and mind sank +under this accumulation of miserable suffering, and I fell ill of a +burning fever. + +The tyrant Borck was inexorable; he wished to expedite my death, and +rid himself of his troubles and his terrors. Here did I experience +what was the lamentable condition of a sick prisoner, without bed, +refreshment, or aid from human being. Reason, fortitude, heroism, +all the noble qualities of the mind, decay when the corporal +faculties are diseased; and the remembrance of my sufferings, at +this dreadful moment, still agitates, still inflames my blood, so as +almost to prevent an attempt to describe what they were. + +Yet hope had not totally forsaken me. Deliverance seemed possible, +especially should peace ensue; and I sustained, perhaps, what mortal +man never bore, except myself, being, as I was, provided with +pistols, or any such immediate mode of despatch. + +I continued ill about two months, and was so reduced at last that I +had scarcely strength to lift the water-jug to my mouth. What must +the sufferings of that man be who sits two months on the bare ground +in a dungeon so damp, so dark, so horrible, without bed or straw, +his limbs loaded as mine were, with no refreshment but dry +ammunition bread, without so much as a drop of broth, without +physic, without consoling friend, and who, under all these +afflictions, must trust, for his recovery, to the efforts of nature +alone + +Sickness itself is sufficient to humble the mightiest mind; what, +then, is sickness, with such an addition of torment? The burning +fever, the violent headaches, my neck swelled and inflamed with the +irons, enraged me almost to madness. The fever and the fetters +together flayed my body so that it appeared like one continued +wound--Enough! Enough! The malefactor extended living on the +wheel, to whom the cruel executioner refuses the last stroke--the +blow of death--must yet, in some short period, expire: he suffers +nothing I did not then suffer; and these, my excruciating pangs, +continued two dreadful months--Yet, can it be supposed? There came +a day! A day of horror, when these mortal pangs were beyond +imagination increased. I sat scorched with this intolerable fever, +in which nature and death were contending; and when attempting to +quench my burning entrails with cold water, the jug dropped from my +feeble hands, and broke! I had four-and-twenty hours to remain +without water. So intolerable, so devouring was my thirst, I could +have drank human blood! Ay, in my madness, had it been the blood of +my father! + +* * * * * * + +Willingly would I have seized my pistols, but strength had forsaken +me, I could not open the place I was obliged to render so secure. + +My visitors next day supposed me gone at last. I lay motionless, +with my tongue out of my mouth. They poured water down my throat, +and I revived. + +Oh, God! Oh, God! How pure, how delicious, how exquisite was this +water! My insatiable thirst soon emptied the jug; they filled it +anew, bade me farewell, hoped death would soon relieve my mortal +sufferings, and departed. + +The lamentable state in which I lay at length became the subject of +general conversation, that all the ladies of the town united with +the officers, and prevailed on the tyrant, Borck, to restore me my +bed. + +Oh, Nature, what are thy operations? From the day I drank water in +such excess I gathered strength, and to the astonishment of every +one, soon recovered. I had moved the heart of the officer who +inspected my prison; and after six months, six cruel months of +intense misery, the day of hope again began to dawn. + +One of the majors of the day entrusted his key to Lieutenant +Sonntag, who came alone, spoke in confidence, and related his own +situation, complained of his debts, his poverty, his necessities; +and I made him a present of twenty-five louis-d'ors, for which he +was so grateful that our friendship became unshaken. + +The three lieutenants all commiserated me, and would sit hours with +me, when a certain major had the inspection; and he himself, after a +time, would even pass half the day with me. He, too, was poor: and +I gave him a draft for three thousand florins; hence new projects +took birth. + +Money became necessary; I had disbursed all I possessed, a hundred +florins excepted, among the officers. The eldest son of Captain K- +, who officiated as major, had been cashiered: his father +complained to me of his distress, and I sent him to my sister, not +far from Berlin, from whom he received a hundred ducats. He +returned and related her joy at hearing from me. He found her +exceedingly ill; and she informed me, in a few lines, that my +misfortunes, and the treachery of Weingarten, had entailed poverty +upon her, and an illness which had endured more than two years. She +wished me a happy deliverance from my chains, and, in expectation of +death, committed her children to my protection. She, however, grew +better, and married a second time, Colonel Pape; but died in the +year 1758. I shall forbear to relate her history: it indeed does +no honour to the ashes of Frederic, and would but less dispose my +own heart to forgiveness, by reviving the memory of her oppressions +and griefs. + +K-n returned happy with the money: all things were concerted with +the father. I wrote to the Countess Bestuchef, also to the Grand +Duke, afterwards Peter III., recommended the young soldier, and +entreated every possible succour for myself. + +K-n departed through Hamburg, for Petersburg, where, in consequence +of my recommendation, he became a captain, and in a short time +major. He took his measures so well that I, by the intervention of +his father, and a Hamburg merchant, received two thousand rubles +from the Countess, while the service he rendered me made his own +fortune in Russia. + +To old K- , who was as poor as he was honest, I gave three hundred +ducats; and he, till death, continued my grateful friend. I +distributed nearly as much to the other officers; and matters +proceeded so far that Lieutenant Glotin gave back the keys to the +major without locking my prison, himself passing half the night with +me. Money was given to the guard to drink; and thus everything +succeeded to my wish, and the tyrant Borck was deceived. I had a +supply of light; had books, newspapers, and my days passed swiftly +away. I read, I wrote, I busied myself so thoroughly that I almost +forgot I was a prisoner. When, indeed, the surly, dull blockhead, +Major Bruckhausen, had the inspection, everything had to be +carefully reinstated. Major Z- , the second of the three, was also +wholly mine. He was particularly attached to me; for I had promised +to marry his daughter, and, should I die in prison, to bequeath him +a legacy of ten thousand florins, + +Lieutenant Sonntag got false handcuffs made for me, that were so +wide I could easily draw my hands out; the lieutenants only examined +my irons, the new handcuffs were made perfectly similar to the old, +and Bruckhausen had too much stupidity to remark any difference. + +The remainder of my chains I could disencumber myself of at +pleasure. When I exercised myself, I held them in my hands, that +the sentinel might be deceived by their clanking. The neck-iron was +the only one I durst not remove; it was likewise too strongly +riveted. I filed through the upper link of the pendant chain, +however, by which means I could take it off, and this I concealed +with bread in the manner before mentioned. + +So I could disencumber myself of most of my fetters, and sleep in +ease. I again obtained sausages and cold meat, and thus my +situation, bad as it still was, became less miserable. Liberty, +however, was most desirable: but, alas! not one of the three +lieutenants had the courage of a Schell: Saxony, too, was in the +hands of the Prussians, and flight, therefore, more dangerous. +Persuasion was in vain with men determined to risk nothing, but, if +they went, to go in safety. Will, indeed, was not wanting in Glotin +and Sonntag; but the first was a poltroon, and the latter a man of +scruples, who thought this step might likewise be the ruin of his +brother at Berlin. + +The sentinels were doubled, therefore my escape through my hole, +which had been two years dug, could not, unperceived by them, be +effected: still less could I, in the face of the guard, clamber the +twelve feet high pallisadoes. The following labour, therefore, +though Herculean, was undertaken. + +Lieutenant Sonntag, measuring the interval between the hole I had +dug and the entrance in the gallery in the principal rampart, found +it to be thirty-seven feet. Into this it was possible I might, by +mining, penetrate. The difficulty of the enterprise was lessened by +the nature of the ground, a fine white sand. Could I reach the +gallery my freedom was certain. I had been informed how many steps +to the right or left must be taken, to find the door that led to the +second rampart: and, on the day when I should be ready for flight, +the officer was secretly to leave this door open. I had light, and +mining tools, and was further to rely on money and my own +discretion. + +I began and continued this labour about six months. I have already +noticed the difficulty of scraping out the earth with my hands, as +the noise of instruments would have been heard by the sentinels. I +had scarcely mined beyond my dungeon wall before I discovered the +foundation of the rampart was not more than a foot deep; a capital +error certainly in so important a fortress. My labour became the +lighter, as I could remove the foundation stones of my dungeon, and +was not obliged to mine so deep. + +My work at first proceeded so rapidly, that, while I had room to +throw back my sand, I was able in one night to gain three feet; but +ere I had proceeded ten feet I discovered all my difficulties. +Before I could continue my work I was obliged to make room for +myself, by emptying the sand out of my hole upon the floor of the +prison, and this itself was an employment of some hours. The sand +was obliged to be thrown out by the hand, and after it thus lay +heaped in my prison, must again be returned into the hole; and I +have calculated that after I had proceeded twenty feet, I was +obliged to creep under ground, in my hole, from fifteen hundred to +two thousand fathoms, within twenty-four hours, in the removal and +replacing of the sand. This labour ended, care was to be taken that +in none of the crevices of the floor there might be any appearance +of this fine white sand. The flooring was the next to be exactly +replaced, and my chains to be resumed. So severe was the fatigue of +one day, in this mode, that I was always obliged to rest the three +following. + +To reduce my labour as much as possible, I was constrained to make +the passage so small that my body only had space to pass, and I had +not room to draw my arm back to my head. The work, too, must all be +done naked, otherwise the dirtiness of my shirt must have been +remarked; the sand was wet, water being found at the depth of four +feet, where the stratum of the gravel began. At length the +expedient of sand-bags occurred to me, by which it might be removed +out and in more expeditiously. I obtained linen from the officers, +but not in sufficient quantities; suspicions would have been excited +at observing so much linen brought into the prison. At last I took +my sheets and the ticking that enclosed my straw, and cut them up +for sand-bags, taking care to lie down on my bed, as if ill, when +Bruckhausen paid his visit. + +The labour, towards the conclusion, became so intolerable as to +incite despondency. I frequently sat contemplating the heaps of +sand, during a momentary respite from work; and thinking it +impossible I could have strength or time again to replace all things +as they were, resolved patiently to wait the consequence, and leave +everything in its present disorder. Yes! I can assure the reader +that, to effect concealment, I have scarcely had time in twenty-four +hours to sit down and eat a morsel of bread. Recollecting, however, +the efforts, and all the progress I had made, hope would again +revive, and exhausted strength return: again would I begin my +labours, that I might preserve my secret and my expectations: yet +has it frequently happened that my visitors have entered a few +minutes after I had reinstated everything in its place. + +When my work was within six or seven feet of being accomplished, a +new misfortune happened that at once frustrated all further +attempts. I worked, as I have said, under the foundation of the +rampart near where the sentinels stood. I could disencumber myself +of my fetters, except my neck collar and its pendent chain. This, +as I worked, though it was fastened, got loose, and the clanking was +heard by one of the sentinels about fifteen feet from my dungeon. +The officer was called, they laid their ears to the ground, and +heard me as I went backward and forward to bring my earth bags. +This was reported the next day; and the major, who was my best +friend, with the town-major, and a smith and mason, entered my +prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant by a sign gave me to +understand I was discovered. An examination was begun, but the +officers would not see, and the smith and mason found all, as they +thought, safe. Had they examined my bed, they would have seen the +ticking and sheets were gone. + +The town-major, who was a dull man, was persuaded the thing was +impossible, and said to the sentinel, "Blockhead! you have heard +some mole underground, and not Trenck. How, indeed, could it be, +that lee should work underground, at such a distance from his +dungeon?" Here the scrutiny ended. + +There was now no time for delay. Had they altered their hour of +coming, they must have found me at work: but this, during ten +years, never happened: for the governor and town-major were stupid +men, and the others, poor fellows, wishing me all success, were +willingly blind. In a few days I could have broken out, but, when +ready, I was desirous to wait for the visitation of the man who had +treated me so tyranically, Bruckhausen, that his own negligence +might be evident. But this man, though he wanted understanding, did +not want good fortune. He was ill for some time, and his duty +devolved on K- . + +He recovered; and the visitation being over, the doors were no +sooner barred than I began my supposed last labour. I had only +three feet farther to proceed, and it was no longer necessary I +should bring out the sand, I having room to throw it behind me. +What my anxiety was, what my exertions were, may well be imagined. +My evil genius, however, had decreed that the same sentinel, who had +heard me before, should be that day on guard. He was piqued by +vanity, to prove he was not the blockhead he had been called; he +therefore again laid his ear to the ground, and again heard me +burrowing. Ho called his comrades first, next thee major; lee came, +and heard me likewise; they then went without the pallisadoes, and +heard me working near the door, at which place I was to break into +the gallery. This door they immediately opened, entered the gallery +with lanthorns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed. + +Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light, and saw +the heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a +thunder-stroke! I crept back, made my way through the sand I had +cast behind me, and awaited my fate with shuddering! I had the +presence of mind to conceal my pistols, candles, paper, and some +money, under the floor which I could remove. The money was disposed +of in various holes, well concealed also between the panels of the +doors; and under different cracks in the floor I hid my small files +and knives. Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors +resounded: the floor was covered with sand and sand-bags: my +handcuffs, however, and the separating bar, I had hastily resumed +that they might suppose I had worked with them on, which they were +silly enough to credit, highly to my future advantage. + +No man was more busy on this occasion than the brutal and stupid +Bruckhausen, who put many interrogatories, to which I made no reply, +except assuring him that I should have completed my work some days +sooner, had it not been his good fortune to fall sick, and that this +only had been the cause of my failure. + +The man was absolutely terrified with apprehension; he began to fear +me, grew more polite, and even supposed nothing was impossible to +me. + +It was too late to remove the sand; therefore the lieutenant and +guard continued with me, so that this night at least I did not want +company. When the morning came, the hole was first filled up; the +planking was renewed. The tyrant Borck was ill, and could not come, +otherwise my treatment would have been still more lamentable. The +smiths had ended before the evening, and the irons were heavier than +ever. The foot chains, instead of being fastened as before, were +screwed and riveted; all else remained as formerly. They were +employed in the flooring till the next day, so that I could not +sleep, and at last I sank down with weariness. + +The greatest of my misfortunes was they again deprived me of my bed, +because I had cut it up for sand-bags. Before the doors were barred +Bruckhausen and another major examined my body very narrowly. They +often had asked me where I concealed all my implements? My answer +was, "Gentlemen, Beelzebub is my best and most intimate friend; he +brings me everything I want, supplies me with light: we play whole +nights at piquet, and, guard me as you please, he will finally +deliver me out of your power." + +Some were astonished, others laughed. At length, as they were +barring the last door, I called, "Come back, gentlemen! you have +forgotten something of great importance." In the interim I had +taken up one of my hidden files. When they returned, "Look ye, +gentlemen," said I, "here is a proof of the friendship Beelzebub has +for me, he has brought me this in a twinkling." Again they +examined, and again they shut their doors. While they were so +doing, I took out a knife, and ten louis-d'ors, called, and they re +turned, grumbling curses; I then shewed the knife and the louis- +d'ors. Their consternation was excessive; and I diverted my +misfortunes by jesting at such blundering, short-sighted keepers. +It was soon rumoured through Magdeburg, especially among the simple +and vulgar, that I was a magician to whom the devil brought all I +asked. + +One Major Holtzkammer, a very selfish man, profited by this report. +A foolish citizen had offered him fifty dollars if he might only be +permitted to see me through the door, being very desirous to see a +wizard. Holtzkammer told me, and we jointly determined to sport +with his credulity. The major gave me a mask with a monstrous nose, +which I put on when the doors were opening, and threw myself in an +heroic attitude. The affrighted burger drew back; but Holtzkammer +stopped him, and said, "Have patience for some quarter of an hour, +and you shall see he will assume quite a different countenance." +The burger waited, my mask was thrown by, and my face appeared +whitened with chalk, and made ghastly. The burger again shrank +back; Holtzkammer kept him in conversation, and I assumed a third +farcical form. I tied my hair under my nose, and a pewter dish to +my breast, and when the door a third time opened, I thundered, +"Begone, rascals, or I'll set your necks--awry!" They both ran: +and the silly burger, eased of his fifty dollars, scampered first. + +The major, in vain, laid his injunctions on the burger never to +reveal what he had beheld, it being a breach of duty in him to admit +any persons whatever to the sight of me. In a few days, the +necromancer Trenck was the theme of every alehouse in Magdeburg, and +the person was named who had seen me change my form thrice in the +space of one hour. Many false and ridiculous circumstances were +added, and at last the story reached the governor's ears. The +citizen was cited, and offered to take his oath of what himself and +the major had seen. Holtzkammer accordingly suffered a severe +reprimand, and was some days under arrest. We frequently laughed, +however, at this adventure, which had rendered me so much the +subject of conversation. Miraculous reports were the more easily +credited, because no one could comprehend how, in despite of the +load of irons I carried, and all the vigilance of my guards, I +should be continually able to make new attempts, while those +appointed to examine my dungeon seemed, as it were, blinded and +bewildered. A proof this, how easy it is to deceive the credulous, +and whence have originated witchcraft, prophecies, and miracles. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + + +My last undertaking had employed me more than twelve months, and so +weakened me that I appeared little better than a skeleton. +Notwithstanding the greatness of my spirit, I should have sunk into +despondency, at seeing an end like this to all my labours, had I not +still cherished a secret hope of escaping, founded on the friends I +had gained among the officers. + +I soon felt the effects of the loss of my bed, and was a second time +attacked by a violent fever, which would this time certainly have +consumed me had not the officers, unknown to the governor, treated +me with all possible compassion. Bruckhausen alone continued my +enemy, and the slave of his orders; on his day of examination rules +and commands in all their rigour were observed, nor durst I free +myself from my irons, till I had for some weeks remarked those parts +on which he invariably fixed his attention. I then cut through the +link, and closed up the vacancy with bread. My hands I could always +draw out, especially after illness had consumed the flesh off my +bones. Half a year had elapsed before I had recovered sufficient +strength to undertake, anew, labours like the past. + +Necessity at length taught me the means of driving Bruckhausen from +my dungeon, and of inducing him to commit his office to another. I +learnt his olfactory nerves were somewhat delicate, and whenever I +heard the doors unbar, I took care to make a stir in my night-table. +This made him give back, and at length he would come no farther than +the door. Such are the hard expedients of a poor unhappy prisoner! + +One day he came, bloated with pride, just after a courier had +brought the news of victory, and spoke of the Austrians, and the +august person of the Empress-Queen with so much virulence, that, at +last, enraged almost to madness, I snatched the sword of an officer +from its sheath, and should certainly have ended him, had he not +made a hasty retreat. From that day forward he durst no more come +without guards to examine the dungeon. Two men always preceded him, +with their bayonets fixed, and their pieces presented, behind whom +he stood at the door. This was another fortunate incident, as I +dreaded only his examination. + +The following anecdote will afford a specimen of this man's +understanding. While digging in the earth I found a cannon-ball, +and laid it in the middle of my prison. When he came to examine-- +"What in the name of God is that?" said he. "It is a part of the +ammunition," answered I, "that my Familiar brings me. The cannon +will be here anon, and you will then see fine sport!" He was +astonished, told this to others, nor could conceive such a ball +might by any natural means enter my prison. + +I wrote a satire on him, when the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel was +governor of Magdeburg; and I had permission to write as will +hereafter appear: the Land-grave gave it to him to read himself; +and so gross was his conception, that though his own phraseology was +introduced, part of his history and his character painted, yet he +did not perceive the jest, but laughed heartily with the hearers. +The Landgrave was highly diverted, and after I obtained my freedom, +restored me the manuscript written in my own blood. + +About the time that my last attempt at escaping failed, General +Krusemarck came to my prison, whom I had formerly lived with in +habits of intimacy, when cornet of the body guard. Without +testifying friendship, esteem, or compassion, he asked, among other +things, in an authoritative tone, how I could employ my time to +prevent tediousness? I answered in as haughty a mood as he +interrogated: for never could misfortune bend my mind. I told him, +"I always could find sources of entertainment in my own thoughts; +and that, as for my dreams, I imagined they would at least be as +peaceful and pleasant as those of my oppressors." "Had you in +time," replied he, "curbed this fervour of yours, had you asked +pardon of the King, perhaps you would have been in very different +circumstances; but he who has committed an offence in which he +obstinately persists, endeavouring only to obtain freedom by +seducing men from their duty, deserves no better fate." + +Justly was my anger roused! "Sir," answered I, "you are a general +of the King of Prussia, I am an Austrian captain. My royal mistress +will protect, perhaps deliver me, or, at least, revenge my death; I +have a conscience void of reproach. You, yourself, well know I have +not deserved these chains. I place my hope in time, and the +justness of my cause, calumniated and condemned, as I have been, +without legal sentence or hearing. In such a situation, the +philosopher will always be able to brave and despise the tyrant." + +He departed with threats, and his last words were, "The bird shall +soon be taught to sing another tune." The effects of this courteous +visit were soon felt. An order came that I should be prevented +sleeping, and that the sentinels should call, and wake me every +quarter of an hour; which dreadful order was immediately executed. + +This was indeed a punishment intolerable to nature! Yet did custom +at length teach me to answer in my sleep. Four years did this +unheard of cruelty continue! The noble Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel at +length put an end to it a year before I was released from my +dungeon, and once again, in mercy, suffered me to sleep in peace. + +Under this new affliction, I wrote an Elegy which may be found in +the second volume of my works, a few lines of which I shall cite. + + +Wake me, ye guards, for hark, the quarter strikes! +Sport with my woes, laugh loud at my miseries +Hearken if you hear my chains clank! Knock! Beat! +Of an inexorable tyrant be ye +Th' inexorable instruments! Wake me, ye slaves; +Ye do but as you're bade. Soon shall he lie +Sleepless, or dreaming, the spectres of conscience +Behold and shriek, who me deprives of rest. + +Wake me: Again the quarter strikes! Call loud +Rip up all my bleeding wounds, and shrink not! +Yet think 'tis I that answer, God that hears! +To every wretch in chains sleep is permitted: +I, I alone, am robb'd of this last refuge +Of sinking nature! Hark! Again they thunder! +Again they iterate yells of Trenck and death. + +Peace to thy anger, peace, thou suffering heart! +Nor indignant beat, adding tenfold pangs to pain. + +Ye burthened limbs, arise from momentary +Slumbers! Shake your chains! Murmur not, but rise! +And ye! Watch-dogs of Power! let loose your rage: +Fear not, for I am helpless, unprotected. +And yet, not so--The noble mind, within +Itself, resources finds innumerable. + +Thou, Oh God, thought'st good me t' imprison thus: +Thou, Oh God, in Thy good time, wilt me deliver. + +Wake me then, nor fear! My soul slumbers not. +And who can say but those who fetter me, +May, ere to-morrow, groan themselves in fetters! +Wake me! For lo! their sleep's less sweet than mine. + +Call! Call! From night to morn, from twilight to dawn, +Incessant! Yea, in God's name, Call! Call! Call! +Amen! Amen! Thy will, Oh God, be done! +Yet surely Thou at length shalt hear my sighs! +Shalt burst my prison doors! Shalt shew me fair +Creation! Yea, the very heav'n of heav'ns! + + +With whom these orders originated, unexampled in the history even of +tyranny, I shall not venture to say. The major, who was my friend, +advised me to persist in not answering. I followed his advice; and +it produced this good effect that we mutually forced each other to a +capitulation: they restored me my bed, and I was obliged to reply. + +Immediately after this regulation, the sub-governor, General Borck, +my bitter enemy, became insane, was dispossessed of his post, and +Lieutenant-General Reichmann, the benevolent friend of humanity, was +made sub-governor. + +About the same time the Court fled from Berlin, and the Queen, the +Prince of Prussia, the Princess Amelia, and the Margrave Henry, +chose Magdeburg for their residence. Bruckhausen grew more polite, +probably perceiving I was not wholly deserted, and that it was yet +possible I might obtain my freedom. The cruel are usually cowards, +and there is reason to suppose Bruckhausen was actuated by his fears +to treat me with greater respect. + +The worthy new governor had not indeed the power to lighten my +chains, or alter the general regulations; what he could, he did. If +he did not command, he connived at the doors being occasionally at +first, and at length, daily, kept open some hours, to admit daylight +and fresh air. After a time, they were open the whole day, and only +closed by the officers when they returned from their visit to +Walrabe. + +Having light, I began to carve, with a nail, on the pewter cup in +which I drank, satirical verses and various figures, and attained so +much perfection that my cups, at last, were considered as master- +pieces, both of engraving and invention, and were sold dear, as rare +curiosities. My first attempts were rude, as may well be imagined. +My cup was carried to town, and shown to visitors by the governor, +who sent me another. I improved, and each of the inspecting +officers wished to possess one. I grew more expert, and spent a +whole year in this employment, which thus passed swiftly away. The +perfection I had now acquired obtained me the permission of candle- +light, and this continued till I was restored to freedom. + +The King gave orders these cups should all be inspected by +government, because I wished, by my verses and devices, to inform +the world of my fate. But this command was not obeyed; the officers +made merchandise of my cups, and sold them at last for twelve ducats +each. Their value increased so much, when I was released from +prison, that they are now to be found in various museums throughout +Europe. Twelve years ago the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel +presented one of them to my wife; and another came, in a very +unaccountable manner, from the Queen-Dowager of Prussia to Paris. I +have given prints of both these, with the verses they contained, in +my works; whence it may be seen how artificially they were engraved. + +A third fell into the hands of Prince Augustus Lobkowitz, then a +prisoner of war at Magdeburg, who, on his return to Vienna, +presented it to the Emperor, who placed it in his museum. Among +other devices on this cup, was a landscape, representing a vineyard +and husbandmen, and under it the following words:- By my labours my +vineyard flourished, and I hoped to have gathered the fruit; but +Ahab came. Alas! for Naboth. + +The allusion was so pointed, both to the wrongs done me in Vienna, +and my sufferings in Prussia, that it made a very strong impression +on the Empress-Queen, who immediately commanded her minister to make +every exertion for my deliverance. She would probably at last have +even restored me to my estates, had not the possessors of them been +so powerful, or had she herself lived one year longer. To these my +engraved cups was I indebted for being once more remembered at +Vienna. On the same cup, also, was another engraving of a bird in a +cage, held by a Turk, with the following inscription:- The bird +sings even in the storm; open his cage, break his fetters, ye +friends of virtue, and his songs shall be the delight of your +abodes! + +There is another remarkable circumstance attending these cups. All +were forbidden under pain of death to hold conversation with me, or +to supply me with pen and ink; yet by this open permission of +writing what I pleased on pewter, was I enabled to inform the world +of all I wished, and to prove a man of merit was oppressed. The +difficulties of this engraving will be conceived, when it is +remembered that I worked by candle-light on shining pewter, attained +the art of giving light and shade, and by practice could divide a +cup into two-and-thirty compartments as regularly with a stroke of +the hand as with a pair of compasses. The writing was so minute +that it could only be read with glasses. I could use but one hand, +both, being separated by the bar, and therefore held the cup between +my knees. My sole instrument was a sharpened nail, yet did I write +two lines on the rim only. + +My labour became so excessive, that I was in danger of distraction +or blindness. Everybody wished for cups, and I wished to oblige +everybody, so that I worked eighteen hours a day. The reflection of +the light from the pewter was injurious to my eyes, and the labour +of invention for apposite subjects and verses was most fatiguing. I +had learnt only architectural drawing. + +Enough of these cups, which procured me so much honour, so many +advantages, and helped to shorten so many mournful hours. My +greatest encumbrance was the huge iron collar, with its enormous +appendages, which, when suffered to press the arteries in the back +of my neck, occasioned intolerable headaches. I sat too much, and a +third time fell sick. A Brunswick sausage, secretly given me by a +friend, occasioned an indigestion, which endangered my life; a +putrid fever followed, and my body was reduced to a skeleton. +Medicines, however, were conveyed to me by the officers, and, now +and then, warm food. + +After my recovery, I again thought it necessary to endeavour to +regain my liberty. I had but forty louis-d'ors remaining, and these +I could not get till I had first broken up the flooring. + +Lieutenant Sonntag was consumptive, and obtained his discharge. I +supplied bins with money to defray the expenses of his journey, and +with an order that four hundred florins should be annually paid him +from my effects till his death or my release. I commissioned him to +seek an audience from the Empress, endeavour to excite her +compassion in my behalf, and to remit me four thousand florins, for +which I gave a proper acquittance, by the way of Hamburgh. The +money-draft was addressed to my administrators, Counsellors Kempf +and Huttner. + +But no one, alas! in Vienna, wished my return; they had already +begun to share my property, of which they never rendered me an +account. Poor Sonntag was arrested as a spy, imprisoned, ill +treated for some weeks, and, at last, when naked and destitute, +received a hundred florins, and was escorted beyond the Austrian +confines. The worthy man fell a shameful sacrifice to his honesty, +could never obtain an audience of the Empress, and returned poor and +miserable on foot to Berlin, where he was twelve months secretly +maintained by his brother, and with whom he died. He wrote an +account of all this to the good Knoblauch, my Hamburgh agent, and I, +from my small store, sent him a hundred ducats. + +How much must I despair of finding any place of refuge on earth, +hearing accounts like these from Vienna. + +A friend, whom I will never name, by the aid of one of the +lieutenants, secretly visited me, and supplied me with six hundred +ducats. The same friend, in the year 1763, paid four thousand +florins to the imperial envoy, Baron Reidt, at Berlin, for the +furthering of my freedom, as I shall presently more fully show. +Thus I had once more money. + +About this time the French army advanced to within five miles of +Magdeburg. This important fortress was, at that time, the key of +the whole Prussian power. It required a garrison of sixteen +thousand men, and contained not more than fifteen hundred. The +French might have marched in unopposed, and at once have put an end +to the war. The officers brought me all the news, and my hopes rose +as they approached. What was my astonishment when the major +informed me that three waggons had entered the town in the night, +had been sent back loaded with money, and that the French were +retreating. This, I can assure my readers, on my honour, is +literally truth, to the eternal disgrace of the French general. The +major, who informed me, was himself an eye-witness of the fact. It +was pretended the money was for the army of the King, but everybody +could guess whither it was going; it left the town without a convoy, +and the French were then in the neighbourhood. Such were the allies +of Maria Theresa; the receivers of this money are known in Paris. +Not only were my hopes this way frustrated, but in Russia likewise, +where the Countess of Bestuchef and the Chancellor had fallen into +disgrace. + +I now imagined another, and, indeed, a fearful and dangerous +project. The garrison of Magdeburg at this moment consisted but of +nine hundred militia, who were discontented men. Two majors and two +lieutenants were in my interest. The guard of the Star Fort +amounted but to a hundred and fifteen men. Fronting the gate of +this fort was the town gate, guarded only by twelve men and an +inferior officer; beside these lay the casemates, in which were +seven thousand Croat prisoners. Baron K-y, a captain, and prisoner +of war, also was in our interest, and would hold his comrades ready +at a certain place and time to support my undertaking. Another +friend was, under some pretence, to hold his company ready, with +their muskets loaded, and the plan was such that I should have had +four hundred men in arms ready to carry it into execution. + +The officer was to have placed the two men we most suspected and +feared, as sentinels over me; he was to command them to take away my +bed, and when encumbered, I was to spring out, and shut them in the +prison. Clothing and arms were to have been procured, and brought +me into my prison; the town-gate was to have been surprised; I was +to have run to the casemate, and called to the Croats, "Trenck to +arms!" My friends, at the same instant, were to break forth, and +the plan was so well concerted that it could not have failed. +Magdeburg, the magazine of the army, the royal treasury, arsenal, +all would have been mine; and sixteen thousand men, who were then +prisoners of war, would have enabled me to keep possession. + +The most essential secret, by which all this was to have been +effected, I dare not reveal; suffice it to say, everything was +provided for, everything made secure; I shall only add that the +garrison, in the harvest months, was exceedingly weakened, because +the farmers paid the captains a florin per man each day, and the men +for their labour likewise, to obtain hands. The sub-governor +connived at the practice. + +One Lieutenant G- procured a furlough to visit his friends; but, +supplied by me with money, he went to Vienna. I furnished him with +a letter, addressed to Counsellors Kempf and Huttner, including a +draft for two thousand ducats; wherein I said that, by these means, +I should not only soon be at liberty, but in possession of the +fortress of Magdeburg; and that the bearer was entrusted with the +rest. + +The lieutenant came safe to Vienna, underwent a thousand +interrogatories, and his name was repeatedly asked. This, +fortunately, he concealed. They advised him not to be concerned in +so dangerous an undertaking; told him I had not so much money due to +me, and gave him, instead of two thousand ducats, one thousand +florins. With these he left Vienna, but with very prudent +suspicions which prevented him ever returning to Magdeburg. A month +had scarcely passed before the late Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, then +chief governor, entered my prison, showed me my letter, and demanded +to know who had carried the letter, and who were to free me and +betray Magdeburg. Whether the letter was sent immediately to the +King or the governor I know not; it is sufficient that I was once +more betrayed at Vienna. The truth was, the administrators of my +effects had acted as if I were deceased, and did not choose to +refund two thousand ducats. They wished not I should obtain my +freedom, in a manner that would have obliged the government to have +rewarded me, and restore the effects they had embezzled and the +estates they had seized. What happened afterwards at Vienna, which +will be related in its place, will incontestably prove this surmise +to be well founded. + +These bad men did not, it is true, die in the manner they ought, but +they are all dead, and I am still living, an honest, though poor +man: they did not die so. Be this read and remembered by their +luxurious heirs, who refuse to restore my children to their rights. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + + +My consternation on the appearance of the Landgrave, with my letter +in his hand, may well be supposed; I had the presence of mind, +however, to deny my handwriting, and affect astonishment at so +crafty a trick. The Landgrave endeavoured to convict me, told me +what Lieutenant Kemnitz had repeated at Vienna concerning my +possessing myself of Magdeburg, and thereby showed me how fully I +had been betrayed. But as no such person existed as Lieutenant +Kemnitz, and as my friend had fortunately concealed his name, the +mystery remained impenetrable, especially as no one could conceive +how a prisoner, in my situation, could seduce or subdue the whole +garrison. The worthy prince left my prison, apparently satisfied +with my defence; his heart felt no satisfaction in the misfortunes +of others. + +The next day a formal examination was taken, at which the sub- +governor Reichmann presided. I was accused as a traitor to my +country; but I obstinately denied my handwriting. Proofs or +witnesses there were none, and in answer to the principal charge, I +said, "I was no criminal, but a man calumniated, illegally +imprisoned, and loaded with irons; that the King, in the year 1746, +had cashiered me, and confiscated my parental inheritance; that +therefore the laws of nature enforced me to seek honour and bread in +a foreign service; and that, finding these in Austria, I became an +officer and a faithful subject of the Empress-Queen; that I had been +a second time unoffendingly imprisoned; that here I was treated as +the worst of malefactors, and my only resource was to seek my +liberty by such means as I could; were I therefore in this attempt +to destroy Magdeburg, and occasion the loss of a thousand lives, I +should still be guiltless. Had I been heard and legally sentenced, +previous to my imprisonment at Glatz, I should have been, and still +continued, a criminal; but not having been guilty of any small, much +less of any great crime, equal to my punishment, if such crime could +be, I was therefore not accountable for consequences; I owed neither +fidelity nor duty to the King of Prussia; for by the word of his +power he had deprived me of bread, honour, country, and freedom." + +Here the examination ended, without further discovery; the officers, +however, falling under suspicion, were all removed, and thus I lost +my best friends; yet it was not long before I had gained two others, +which was no difficult matter, as I knew the national character, and +that none but poor men were made militia officers. Thus was the +governor's precaution fruitless, and almost everybody secretly +wished I might obtain my freedom. + +I shall never forget the noble manner in which I was treated on this +occasion by the Landgrave. This I personally acknowledged, some +years afterwards, in the city of Cassel, when I heard many things +which confirmed all my surmises concerning Vienna. The Landgrave +received me with all grace, favour, and distinction. I revere his +memory, and seek to honour his name. He was the friend of +misfortune. When I not long afterwards fell ill, he sent me his own +physician, and meat from his table, nor would he suffer me, during +two months, to be wakened by the sentinels. He likewise removed the +dreadful collar from my neck; for which he was severely reprimanded +by the King, as he himself has since assured me. + +I might fill a volume with incidents attending two other efforts to +escape, but I will not weary the reader's patience with too much +repetition. I shall merely give an abstract of both. + +When I had once more gained the officers, I made a new attempt at +mining my way out. Not wanting for implements, my chains and the +flooring were soon cut through, and all was so carefully replaced +that I was under no fear of examination. I here found my concealed +money, pistols, and other necessaries, but till I had rid myself of +some hundredweight of sand, it was impossible to proceed. For this +purpose I made two different openings in the floor: out of the real +hole I threw a great quantity of sand into my prison; after which I +closed it with all possible care. I then worked at the second with +so much noise, that I was certain they must hear me without. About +midnight the doors began to thunder, and in they came, detecting me, +as I intended they should. None of them could conceive why I should +wish to break out under the door, where there was a triple guard to +pass. The sentinels remained, and in the morning prisoners were +sent to wheel away the sand. The hole was walled up and boarded, +and my fetters were renewed. They laughed at the ridiculousness of +my undertaking, but punished me by depriving me of my light and bed, +which, however, in a fortnight were both restored. Of the other +hole, out of which most of the earth had been thrown, no one was +aware. The major and lieutenant were too much my friends to remark +that they had removed thrice the quantity of sand the false opening +could contain. They supposed this strange attempt having failed, it +would be my last, and Bruckhausen grew negligent. + +The governor and sub-governor both visited me after some weeks, but +far from imitating the brutality of Borck, the Landgrave spoke to me +with mildness, promised me his interest to regain my freedom, when +peace should be concluded; told me I had more friends than I +supposed, and assured me I had not been forgotten by the Court at +Vienna. + +He promised me every alleviation, and I gave him my word I would no +more attempt to escape while he remained governor. My manner +enforced conviction and he ordered my neck-collar to be taken off, +my window to be unclosed, my doors to be left open two hours every +day, a stove to be put in my dungeon, finer linen for my shirts, and +paper to amuse myself by writing my thoughts. The sheets were to be +numbered when given, and then returned, by the town-major, that I +might not abuse this liberty. + +Ink was not allowed me, I therefore pricked my fingers, suffered the +blood to trickle into a pot; by these means I procured a substitute +for ink, both to write and draw. + +I now engraved my cups, and versified. I had opportunity to display +my abilities to awaken compassion. My emulation was increased by +knowing that my works were seen at Courts, that the Princess Amelia +and the Queen herself testified their satisfaction. I had subjects +to engrave from sent me; and the wretch whom the King intended to +bury alive, whose name no man was to mention, never was more famous +than while he vented his groans in his dungeon. My writings +produced their effect, and really regained my freedom. To my +cultivation of the sciences and presence of mind I am indebted for +all; these all the power of Frederic could not deprive me of. Yes! +This liberty I procured, though he answered all petitions in my +behalf--"He is a dangerous man: and so long as I live he shall +never see the light!" Yet have I seen it during his life: after +his death I have seen it without revenging myself, otherwise than by +proving my virtue to a monarch who oppressed because he knew me not, +because be would not recall the hasty sentence of anger, or own he +might be mistaken. He died convinced of my integrity, yet without +affording me retribution! Man is formed by misfortune; virtue is +active in adversity. It is indifferent to me that the companions of +my youth have their ears gratified, delighted with the titles of +General! Field-Marshal I have learned to live without such +additions; I am known in my works. + +I returned to my dungeon. Here, after my last conference with the +Landgrave, I waited my fate with a mind more at ease than that of a +prince in a palace. The newspapers they brought me bespoke +approaching peace, on which my dependence was placed, and I passed +eighteen months calmly, and without further attempt to escape. + +The father of the Landgrave died; and Magdeburg now lost its +governor. The worthy Reichmann, however, testified for me all +compassion and esteem; I had books, and my time was employed. +Imprisonment and chains to me were become habitual, and freedom in +hope approached. + +About this time I wrote the poems, "The Macedonian Hero," "The Dream +Realised," and some fables. The best of my poems are now lost to +me. The mind's sensibility when the body is imprisoned is strongly +roused, nor can all the aids of the library equal this advantage. +Perhaps I may recover some in Berlin; if so, the world may learn +what my thoughts then were. When I was at liberty, I had none but +such as I remembered, and these I committed to writing. On my first +visit to the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel I received a volume of them +written in my own blood; but there were eight of these which I shall +never regain. + +The death of Elizabeth, the deposing of Peter III., and the +accession of Catherine II. produced peace. On the receipt of this +intelligence I tried to provide for all contingencies. The worthy +Captain K- had opened me a correspondence with Vienna: I was +assured of support; but was assured the administrators and those who +possessed my estates would throw every impediment in the way of +freedom. I tried to persuade another officer to aid my escape, but +in vain. + +I therefore opened my old hole, and my friends assisted me to +disembarrass myself of sand. My money melted away, but they +provided me with tools, gunpowder, and a good sword. I had remained +so long quiet that my flooring was not examined. + +My intent was to wait the peace; and should I continue in chains, +then would I have my subterranean passage to the rampart ready for +escape. For my further security, an old lieutenant had purchased a +house in the suburbs, where I might lie concealed. Gummern, in +Saxony, is two miles from Magdeburg; here a friend, with two good +horses, was to wait a year, to ride on the glacis of Klosterbergen +on the first and fifteenth of each month, and at a given signal to +hasten to my assistance. + +My passage had to be ready in case of emergency; I removed the upper +planking, broke up the two beds, cut the boards into chips, and +burnt them in my stove. By this I obtained so much additional room +as to proceed half way with my mine. Linen again was brought me, +sand-bags made, and thus I successfully proceeded to all but the +last operation. Everything was so well concealed that I had nothing +to fear from inspection, especially as the new come garrison could +not know what was the original length of the planks. + +I must here relate a dreadful accident, which I cannot remember +without shuddering, and the terror of which has often haunted my +very dreams. + +While mining under the rampart, as I was carrying out the sand-bag, +I struck my foot against a stone which fell down and closed up the +passage. + +What was my horror to find myself buried alive! After a short +reflection, I began to work the sand away from the side, that I +might turn round. There were some feet of empty space, into which I +threw the sand as I worked it away; but the small quantity of air +soon made it so foul that I a thousand times wished myself dead, and +made several attempts to strangle myself. Thirst almost deprived me +of my senses, but as often as I put my mouth to the sand I inhaled +fresh air. My sufferings were incredible, and I imagine I passed +eight hours in this situation. My spirits fainted; again I +recovered and began to labour, but the earth was as high as my chin, +and I had no more space where I might throw the sand. I made a more +desperate effort, drew my body into a ball, and turned round; I now +faced the stone; there being an opening at the top, I respired +fresher air. I rooted away the sand under the stone, and let it +sink so that I might creep over; at length I once more arrived in my +dungeon! + +The morning was advanced; I sat down so exhausted that I supposed it +was impossible I had strength to conceal my hole. After half an +hour's rest, my fortitude returned: again I went to work, and +scarcely had I ended before my visitors approached. + +They found me pale: I complained of headache, and continued some +days affected by the fatigue I had sustained. After a time strength +returned; but perhaps of all my nights of horror this was the most +horrible. I repeatedly dreamt I was buried in the centre of the +earth; and now, though three and twenty years are elapsed, my sleep +is still haunted by this vision. + +After this accident, when I worked in my cavity, I hung a knife +round my neck, that if I should be enclosed I might shorten my +miseries. Over the stone that had fallen several others hung +tottering, under which I was obliged to creep. Nothing, however, +could deter me from trying to obtain my liberty. + +When my passage was ready, I wrote letters to my friends at Vienna, +and also a memorial to my Sovereign. When the militia left +Magdeburg and the regulars returned, I took leave of my friends who +had behaved so benevolently. Several weeks elapsed before they +departed and I learnt that General Reidt was appointed ambassador +from Vienna to Berlin. + +I had seen the world; I knew this General was not averse to a bribe: +I wrote him a letter, conjuring him to act with ardour in my behalf. +I enclosed a draft for six thousand florins on my effects at Vienna, +and he received four thousand from one of my relations. I have to +thank these ten thousand florins for my freedom, which I obtained +nine months after. My vouchers show the six thousand florins were +paid in April, 1763, to the order of General Reidt. The other four +thousand I repaid, when at liberty, to my friend. + +I received intelligence before the garrison departed that no +stipulation had been made on my behalf at the peace of Hubertsberg. +The Vienna plenipotentiaries, after the articles were signed, +mentioned my name to Hertzberg, with but few assurances of every +effort being made to move Frederic, a promise on which I could much +better rely than on my protectors at Vienna, who had left me in +misfortune. I determined to wait three months longer, and should I +still find myself neglected, to owe my escape to myself. + +On the change of the garrison, the officers were more difficult to +gain than the former. The majors obeyed their orders; their help +was unnecessary; but still I sighed for my old friends. I had only +ammunition-bread again for food. + +My time hung very heavy; everything was examined on the change of +the garrison. A stricter scrutiny might occur, and my projects be +discovered. This had nearly been effected, as I shall here relate. +I had so tamed a mouse that it would eat from my mouth; in this +small animal I discovered proofs of intelligence. + +This mouse had nearly been my ruin. I had diverted myself with it +one night; it had been nibbling at my door and capering on a +trencher. The sentinels hearing our amusement, called the officers: +they heard also, and thought all was not right. At daybreak the +town-major, a smith, and mason entered; strict search was begun; +flooring, walls, chains, and my own person were all scrutinised, but +in vain. They asked what was the noise they had heard; I mentioned +the mouse, whistled, and it came and jumped upon my shoulder. +Orders were given I should be deprived of its society; I entreated +they would spare its life. The officer on guard gave me his word he +would present it to a lady, who would treat it with tenderness. + +He took it away and turned it loose in the guardroom, but it was +tame to me alone, and sought a hiding place. It had fled to my +prison door, and, at the hour of visitation, ran into my dungeon, +testifying its joy by leaping between my legs. It is worthy of +remark that it had been taken away blindfold, that is to say, +wrapped in a handkerchief. The guard-room was a hundred paces from +the dungeon. + +All were desirous of obtaining this mouse, but the major carried it +off for his lady; she put it into a cage, where it pined, and in a +few days died. + +The loss of this companion made me quite melancholy, yet, on the +last examination, I perceived it had so eaten the bread by which I +had concealed the crevices I had made in cutting the floor, that the +examiners must be blind not to discover them. I was convinced my +faithful little friend had fallen a necessary victim to its master's +safety. This accident determined me not to wait the three months. + +I have related that horses were to be kept ready, on the first and +fifteenth, and I only suffered the first of August to pass, because +I would not injure Major Pfuhl, who had treated me with more +compassion than his comrades, and whose day of visitation it was. +On the fifteenth I determined to fly. This resolution formed, I +waited in expectation of the day, when a new and remarkable +succession of accidents happened. + +An alarm of fire had obliged the major to repair to the town; he +committed the keys to the lieutenant. The latter, coming to visit +me, asked--"Dear Trenck, have you never, during seven years that you +have been under the guard of the militia, found a man like Schell?" +"Alas! sir," answered I, "such friends are rare; the will of many +has been good; each knew I could make his fortune, but none had +courage enough for so desperate an attempt! Money I have +distributed freely, but have received little help." + +"How do you obtain money in this dungeon?" "From a correspondent at +Vienna, by whom I am still supplied." "If I can serve you, command +me: I will do it without asking any return." So saying, I took +fifty ducats from between the panels, and gave them to the +lieutenant. At first he refused, but at length accepted them with +fear. He left me, promised to return, pretended to shut the door, +and kept his word. He now said debt obliged him to desert; that +this had long been his determination, and that, desirous to assist +me at the same time if he could find the means, I had only to show +how this might be effected. + +We continued two hours in conference: a plan was formed, approved, +and a certainty of success demonstrated; especially when I told him +I had two horses waiting. We vowed eternal friendship; I gave him +fifty ducats, and his debts, not amounting to more than two hundred +rix-dollars, which he never could have discharged out of his pay. + +He was to prepare four keys to resemble those of my dungeon; the +latter were to be exchanged on the day of flight, being kept in the +guard-room while the major was with General Walrabe. He was to give +the grenadiers on guard leave of absence, or send them into the town +on various pretences. The sentinels he was to call from their duty, +and those placed over me were to be sent into my dungeon to take +away my bed; while encumbered with this, I was to spring out and +lock them in, after which we were to mount our horses, which were +kept ready, and ride to Gummern. Every thing was to be prepared +within a week, when he was to mount guard. We had scarcely formed +our project before the sentinels called the major was coming; he +accordingly barred the door, and the major passed to General +Walrabe. + +No man was happier than myself; my hopes of escape were triple; the +mediation at Berlin, the mine I had made, and my friend the +lieutenant. + +When most my mind ought to have been clear, I seemed to have lost my +understanding. I came to a resolution which will appear extravagant +and pitiable. I was stupid enough, mad enough, to form the design +of casting myself on the magnanimity of the Great Frederic! Should +this fail, I still thought my lieutenant a saviour. + +Having heated my imagination with this scheme, I waited the +visitation with anxiety. The major entered, I bespoke him thus: + +"I know, sir, the great Prince Ferdinand is again in Magdeburg. +Inform him that he may examine my prison, double the sentinels, and +give me his commands, stating what hour will please him I should +make my appearance on the glacis of Klosterbergen. If I prove +myself capable of this, I then hope for the protection of Prince +Ferdinand: and that he will relate my proceeding to the King, who +may he convinced of my innocence." + +The major was astonished; the proposal he held to be ridiculous, and +the performance impossible. I persisted; he returned with the sub- +governor, Reichmann, the town-major, Riding, and the major of +inspection. The answer they delivered was, that the Prince promised +me his protection, the King's favour, and a release from my chains, +should I prove my assertion. I required they would appoint a time; +they ridiculed the thing as impossible, and said that it would be +sufficient could I prove the practicability of such a scheme; but +should I refuse, they would break up the flooring, and place +sentinels in my dungeon, adding, the governor would not admit of any +breaking out. + +After promises of good faith, I disencumbered myself of my chains, +raised my flooring, gave them my implements, and two keys, my +friends had procured me, to the doors of the subterranean gallery. +This gallery I desired them to sound with their sword hilts, at the +place through which I was to break, which might be done in a few +minutes. I described the road I was to take through the gallery, +informed them that two of the doors had not been shut for six +months, and to the others they had the keys; adding, I had horses +waiting at the glacis, that would be now ready; the stables for +which were unknown to them. They went, examined, returned, put +questions, which I answered with precision. They left me with +seeming friendship, came back, told me the Prince was astonished at +what he had heard, that he wished me all happiness, and then took me +unfettered, to the guard-house. The major came in the evening, +treated us with a supper, assured me everything would happen to my +wishes, and that Prince Ferdinand had written to Berlin. + +The guard was reinforced next day. The whole guard loaded with ball +before my eyes, the drawbridges were raised in open day, and +precautions were taken as if I intended to make attempts as +desperate as those I had made at Glatz. + +I now saw workmen employed on my dungeon, and carts bringing quarry- +stones. The officers on guard behaved with kindness, kept a good +table, at which I ate; but two sentinels, and an under-officer, +never quitted the guard-room. Conversation was cautious, and this +continued five or six days; at length, it was the lieutenant's turn +to mount guard; he appeared to be as friendly as formerly, but +conference was difficult; he found an opportunity to express his +astonishment at my ill-timed discovery, told me the Prince knew +nothing of the affair, and that the report through the garrison was, +I had been surprised in making a new attempt. + +My dungeon was completed in a week. The town-major re-conducted me +to it. My foot was chained to the wall with links twice as strong +as formerly; the remainder of my irons were never after added. + +The dungeon was paved with flag-stones. That part of my money only +was saved which I had concealed in the panels of the door, and the +chimney of my stove; some thirty louis-d'ors, hidden about my +clothes, were taken from me. + +While the smith was riveting my chains, I addressed the sub- +governor. "Is this the fulfilment of the pledge of the Prince? +Think not you deceive me, I am acquainted with the false reports +that have been spread; the truth will soon come to light, and the +unworthy be put to shame. Nay, I forewarn you that Trenck shall not +be much longer in your power; for were you to build your dungeon of +steel, it would be insufficient to contain me." + +They smiled at me. Reichmann told me I might soon obtain my freedom +in a proper manner. My firm reliance on my friend, the lieutenant, +gave me a degree of confidence that amazed them all. + +It is necessary to explain this affair. When I obtained my liberty, +I visited Prince Ferdinand. He informed me the majors had not made +a true report. Their story was, they had caught me at work, and, +had it not been for their diligence, I should have made my escape. +Prince Ferdinand heard the truth, and informed the King, who only +waited an opportunity to restore me to liberty. + +Once more I was immured. I waited in hope for the day when my +deliverer was to mount guard. What again was my despair when I saw +another lieutenant! I buoyed myself up with the hope that accident +was the occasion of this; but I remained three weeks, and saw him no +more. I heard at length that he had left the corps of grenadiers, +and was no longer to mount guard at the Star Fort. He has my +forgiveness, and I applaud myself for never having said anything by +which he might be injured. He might have repented his promise, he +might have trusted another friend with the enterprise, and have been +himself betrayed; but, be it as it may, his absence cut off all +hope. + +I now repented my folly and vanity; I had brought my misfortunes on +myself. I had myself rendered my dungeon impenetrable. Death would +have followed but for the dependence I placed in the court of +Vienna. + +The officers remarked the loss of my fortitude and thoughtfulness; +the verses I wrote were desponding. The only comfort they could +give was--"Patience, dear Trenck; your condition cannot be worse; +the King may not live for ever." Were I sick, they told me I might +hope my sufferings would soon have an end. If I recovered they +pitied me, and lamented their continuance. What man of my rank and +expectations ever endured what I did, ever was treated as I have +been treated! + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + + +Peace had been concluded nine months. I was forgotten. At last, +when I supposed all hope lost, the 25th of December, and the day of +freedom, came. At the hour of parade, Count Schlieben, lieutenant +of the guards, brought orders for my release! + +The sub-governor supposed me weaker in intellect than I was, and +would not too suddenly tell me these tidings. He knew not the +presence of mind, the fortitude, which the dangers I had seen had +made habitual. + +My doors for the LAST TIME resounded! Several people entered; their +countenances were cheerful, and the sub-governor at their head at +length said, "This time, my dear Trenck, I am the messenger of good +news. Prince Ferdinand has prevailed on the King to let your irons +be taken off." Accordingly, to work went the smith. "You shall +also," continued he, "have a better apartment." "I am free, then," +said I. "Speak! fear not! I can moderate my transports." + +"Then you are free!" was the reply. + +The sub-governor first embraced me, and afterwards his attendants. + +He asked me what clothes I would wish. I answered, the uniform of +my regiment. The tailor took my measure. Reichmann told him it +must be made by the morning. The man excused himself because it was +Christmas Eve. "So, then, this gentleman must remain in his dungeon +because it is holiday with you." The tailor promised to be ready. + +I was taken to the guard-room, congratulations were universal, and +the town-major administered the oath customary to all state +prisoners. + +1st. That I should avenge myself on no man. + +2nd. That I should neither enter the Prussian nor Saxon states. + +3rd. That I should never relate by speech or in writing what had +happened to me. + +4th. And that, so long as the King lived, I should neither serve in +a civil nor military capacity. + +Count Schlieben delivered me a letter from the imperial minister, +General Reidt, to the following purport:- That he rejoiced at having +found an opportunity of obtaining my liberty from the King, and that +I must obey the requisitions of Count Schlieben, whose orders were +to accompany me to Prague. + +"Yes, dear Trenck," said Schlieben, "I am to conduct you through +Dresden to Prague, with orders not to suffer you to speak to any one +on the road. I have received three hundred ducats, to defray the +expenses of travelling. As all things cannot be prepared today, +the, sub-governor has determined we shall depart to-morrow night." + +I acquiesced, and Count Schlieben remained with me; the others +returned to town, and I dined with the major and officers on guard, +with General Walrabe in his prison. + +Once at liberty, I walked about the fortifications, to collect the +money I had concealed in my dungeon. To every man on guard I gave a +ducat, to the sentinels, each three, and ten ducats to be divided +among the relief-guard. I sent the officer on guard a present from +Prague, and the remainder of my money I bestowed on the widow of the +worthy Gelfhardt. He was no more, and she had entrusted the +thousand florins to a young soldier, who, spending them too freely, +was suspected, betrayed her, and she passed two years in prison. +Gelfhardt never received any punishment; he was in the field. Had +he left any children, I should have provided for them. To the widow +of the man who hung himself before my prison door, in the year 1756, +I gave thirty ducats, lent me by Schlieben. + +The night was riotous, the guard made merry, and I passed most of it +in their company. I was visited by all the generals of the garrison +on Christmas morning, for I was not allowed to enter the town. I +dressed, viewed myself in the glass, and found pleasure; but the +tumult of my passions, the congratulations I received, and the +vivacity round me, prevented my remembering incidents minutely. + +Yet how wonderful an alteration in the countenances of those by whom +I had been guarded! I was treated with friendship, attention, and +flattery. And why? Because these fetters had dropped off which I +had never justly borne. + +Evening came, and with it Count Schlieben, a waggon, and four post- +horses. After an affecting farewell, we departed. I shed tears at +leaving Magdeburg. It seems strange that I lived here ten years, +yet never saw the town. + +The duration of my imprisonment at Magdeburg was nearly ten years, +and with the term of my imprisonment at Glatz, the time is eleven +years. Thus was I robbed of time, my body weakened, my health +impaired, so that in my decline of life, a second time, I suffer the +gloom and chains of the dungeon at Magdeburg. + +The reader would now hope that my calamities were at an end; yet, +upon my honour, I would prefer the suffering of the Star Fort to +those I have since endured in Austria, especially while Krugel and +Zetto were my referendaries and curators. + +At this moment I am obliged to be guarded in my expressions. I have +put my enemies to shame; but the hope of justice or reward is vain. +No rewards are bestowed on him who, with the consciousness of +integrity, demands, and does not deplore. The facts I shall relate +will seem incredible, yet I have, in my own hands, the vouchers of +their veracity. + +"If my right hand is guilty of writing untruths in this book, may +the executioner sever it from my body, and, in the memory of +posterity, may I live a villain!" + +I will proceed with my history. + +On the 2nd of January I arrived, with Count Schlieben, at Prague; +the same day he delivered me to the governor, the Duke of Deuxponts. +He received me with kindness; we dined with him two days, and all +Prague were anxious to see a man who had surmounted ten years of +suffering so unheard of as mine. Here I received three thousand +florins, and paid General Reidt his three hundred ducats, which he +had advanced Count Schlieben, for my journey, the repayment of which +he demanded in his letter, although he had received ten thousand +florins. The expense of returning I also paid to Schlieben, made +him a present, and provided myself with some necessaries. After +remaining a few days at Prague, a courier arrived from Vienna, to +whom I was obliged to pay forty florins, with an order from +government to bring me from Prague to Vienna. My sword was +demanded; Captain Count Wela, and two inferior officers, entered the +carriage, which I was obliged to purchase, in company with me, and +brought me to Vienna. I took up a thousand florins more, in Prague, +to defray these expenses, and was obliged, in Vienna, to pay the +captain fifty ducats for travelling charges back. + +I was brought back like a criminal, was sent as a prisoner to the +barracks, there kept in the chamber of Lieutenant Blonket, with +orders that I should be suffered to write to no one, speak to no +one, without a ticket from the counsellors Kempt or Huttner. + +Thus I remained six weeks; at length, the colonel of the regiment of +Poniatowsky, the present field-marshal, Count Alton, spoke to me. I +related what I supposed were the reasons of my being kept a prisoner +in Vienna; and to the exertions of this man am I indebted that the +intentions of my enemies were frustrated, which were to have me +imprisoned as insane in the fortress of Glatz. Had they once +removed me from Vienna, I should certainly have pined away my life +in a madhouse. Yet I could never obtain justice against these men. +The Empress was persuaded that my brain was affected, and that I +uttered threats against the King of Prussia. The election of a king +of the Romans was then in agitation, and the court was apprehensive +lest I should offend the Prussian envoy. General Reidt had been +obliged to promise Frederic that I should not appear in Vienna, and +that they should hold a wary eye over me. The Empress-Queen felt +compassion for my supposed disease, and asked if no assistance could +be afforded me; to which they answered, I had several times let +blood, but that I still was a dangerous man. They added, that I had +squandered four thousand florins in six days at Prague; that it +would be proper to appoint guardians to impede such extravagancies. + +Count Alton spoke of me and my hard destiny to the Countess Parr, +mistress of the ceremonies to the Empress-Queen. The late Emperor +entered the chamber, and asked whether I ever had any lucid +intervals. "May it please your Majesty," answered Alton, "he has +been seven weeks in my barracks, and I never met a more reasonable +man. There is mystery in this affair, or he could not be treated as +a madman. That he is not so in anywise I pledge my honour." + +The next day the Emperor sent Count Thurn, grand-master of the +Archduke Leopold, to speak to me. In him I found an enlightened +philosopher, and a lover of his country. To him I related how I had +twice been betrayed, twice sold at Vienna, during my imprisonment; +to him showed that my administrators had acted in this vile manner +that I might be imprisoned for life, and they remain in possession +of my effects. We conversed for two hours, during which many things +were said that prudence will not permit me to repeat. I gained his +confidence, and he continued my friend till death. He promised me +protection, and procured me an audience of the Emperor. + +I spoke with freedom; the audience lasted an hour. At length the +Emperor retired into the next apartment. I saw the tears drop from +his eyes. I fell at his feet, and wished for the presence of a +Rubens or Apelles, to preserve a scene so honourable to the memory +of the monarch, and paint the sensations of an innocent man, +imploring the protection of a compassionate prince. The Emperor +tore himself from me, and I departed with sensations such as only +those can know who, themselves being virtuous, have met with wicked +men. I returned to the barracks with joy, and an order the next day +came for my release. I went with Count Alton to the Countess Parr, +and by her mediation I obtained an audience with the Empress. + +I cannot describe how much she pitied my sufferings and admired my +fortitude. She told me she was informed of the artifices practised +against me in Vienna; she required me to forgive my enemies, and +pass all the accounts of my administrators. "Do not complain of +anything," said she, "but act as I desire--I know all--you shall be +recompensed by me; you deserve reward and repose, and these you +shall enjoy." + +I must either sign whatever was given to sign, or be sent to a +madhouse. I received orders to accompany M. Pistrich to Counsellor +Ziegler; thither I went, and the next day was obliged to sign, in +their presence, the following conditions:- + +First--That I acknowledged the will of Trenck to be valid. + +Secondly--That I renounced all claim to the Sclavonian estates, +relying alone on her Majesty's favour. + +Thirdly--That I solemnly acquitted my accountants and curators. +And, + +Lastly--That I would not continue in Vienna. + +This I must sign, or languish in prison. + +How did my blood boil while I signed! This confidence I had in +myself assured me I could obtain employment in any country of +Europe, by the labours of my mind, and the recital of all my woes. +At that time I had no children; I little regretted what I had lost, +or the poor portion that remained. + +I determined to avoid Austria eternally. My pride would never +suffer me, by insidious arts, to approach the throne. I knew no +such mode of soliciting for justice, hence I was not a match for my +enemies; hence my misfortunes. Appeals to justice were represented +as the splenetic effusions of a man never to be satisfied. My too +sensitive heart was corroded by the treatment I met at Vienna. I, +who with so much fortitude had suffered so much in the cause of +Vienna, I, on whom the eyes of Germany were fixed, to behold what +should be the reward of these sufferings, I was again, in this +country, kept a prisoner, and delivered to those by whom I had been +plundered as a man insane! + +Before my intended departure to seek my fortune, I fell ill, and +sickness almost brought me to the grave. The Empress, in her great +clemency, sent one of her physicians and a friar to my assistance, +both of whom I was obliged to pay. + +At this time I refused a major's commission, for which I was obliged +to pay the fees. Being excluded from actual service, to me the +title was of little value; my rank in the army had been equal ten +years before in other service. The following words, inserted in my +commission, are not unworthy of remark:- "Her Majesty, in +consequence of my fidelity for her service, demonstrated during a +long imprisonment, my endowments and virtues, had been graciously +pleased to grant me, in the Imperial service, the rank of major."-- +The rank of major!--From this preamble who would not have expected +either the rank of general, or the restoration of my great +Sclavonian estates? I had been fifteen years a captain of cavalry, +and then was I made an invalid major three-and-twenty years ago, and +an invalid major I still remain! Let all that has been related be +called to mind, the manner in which I had been pillaged and +betrayed; let Vienna, Dantzic, and Magdeburg he remembered; and be +this my promotion remembered also! Let it be known that the +commission of major might be bought for a few thousand florins! +Thirty thousand florins only of the money I had been robbed of would +have purchased a colonel's commission. I should then have been a +companion for generals. + +During the thirty-six years that I have been in the service of +Austria, I never had any man of rank, any great general, my enemy, +except Count Grassalkowitz, and he was only my enemy because he had +conceived a friendship for my estates. + +My character was never calumniated, nor did any worthy man ever +speak of me but with respect. Who were, who are, my enemies?-- +Jesuits, monks, unprincipled advocates, wishing to become my +curators, referendaries, who died despicable, or now live in houses +of correction. Such as live, live in dread of a similar end, for +the Emperor Joseph is able to discover the truth. Alas! the truth +is discovered so late; age has now nearly rendered me an invalid. +Men with hearts so base ought, indeed, to become the scavengers of +society, that, terrified by their example, succeeding judges may not +rack the heart of an honest man, seize on the possessions of the +orphan and the widow, and expel virtue out of Austria. + +I attended the levee of Prince Kaunitz. Not personally known to +him, he viewed in me a crawling insect. I thought somewhat more +proudly; my actions were upright, and so should my body be. I +quitted the apartment, and was congratulated by the mercenary Swiss +porter on my good fortune of having obtained an audience! + +I applied to the field-marshal, from whom I received this answer-- +"If you cannot purchase, my dear Trenck, it will be impossible to +admit you into service; besides, you are too old to learn our +manoeuvres." I was then thirty-seven. I briefly replied, "Your +excellency mistakes my character. I did not come to Vienna to serve +as an invalid major. My curators have taken good care I should have +no money to purchase; but had I millions, I would never obtain rank +in the army by that mode." I quitted the room with a shrug. The +next day I addressed a memorial to the Empress. I did not re-demand +my Sclavonian estates, I only petitioned. + +First--That those who had carried off quintals of silver and gold +from the premises, and had rendered no account to me or the +treasury, should refund at least a part. + +Secondly--That they should be obliged to return the thirty-six +thousand florins taken from my inheritance, and applied to a +hospital. + +Thirdly--That the thirty-six thousand florins might be repaid, which +Count Grassalkowitz had deducted from the allodial estates, for +three thousand six hundred pandours who had fallen in the service of +the Empress; I not being bound to pay for the lives of men who had +died in defence of the Empress. + +Fourthly--I required that fifteen thousand florins, which had been +deducted from my capital, and applied to the Bohemian +fortifications, should likewise be restored, together with the +fifteen thousand which had been unduly paid to the regiment of +Trenck. + +Fifthly--I reclaimed the twelve thousand florins which I had been +robbed of at Dantzic by the treachery of the Imperial Resident, +Abramson; and public satisfaction from the magistracy of Dantzic, +who had delivered me up, so contrary to the laws of nations, to the +Prussian power. + +I likewise claimed the interest of six per cent, for seventy-six +thousand florins, detained by the Hungarian Chamber, which amounted +to twenty thousand florins; I having been allowed five per cent., +and at last four. + +I insisted on the restoration of my Sclavonian estates, and a proper +allowance for improvements, which the very sentence of the court had +granted, and which amounted to eighty thousand florins. + +I petitioned for an arbitrator; I solicited justice concerning +rights, but received no answer to this and a hundred other +petitions! + +I must here speak of transactions during my imprisonment. I had +bought a house in Vienna in the year 1750; the price was sixteen +thousand florins, thirteen thousand of which I had paid by +instalments. The receipts were among my writings; these writings, +with my other effects, were taken from me at Dantzic, in the year +1754; nor have I, to this hour, been able to learn more than that my +writings were sent to the administrators of my affairs at Vienna. +With respect to my houses and property in Dantzic, in what manner +these were disposed of no one could or would say. + +After being released at Magdeburg, I inquired concerning my house, +but no longer found it mine. Those who had got possession of my +writings must have restored the acquittances to the seller, +consequently he could re-demand the whole sum. My house was in +other hands, and I was brought in debtor six thousand florins for +interest and costs of suit. Thus were house and money gone. Whom +can I accuse? + +Again, I had maintained, at my own expense Lieutenant Schroeder, who +had deserted from Glatz, and for whom I obtained a captain's +commission in the guard of Prince Esterhazy, at Eisenstadt. His +misconduct caused him to be cashiered. In my administrator's +accounts I found the following + +"To Captain Schroeder, for capital, interest, and costs of suit, +sixteen hundred florins." + +It was certain I was not a penny indebted to this person; I had no +redress, having been obliged to pass and sign all their accounts. + +I, four years afterwards, obtained information concerning this +affair: I met Schroeder, knew him, and inquired whether he had +received these sixteen hundred florins. He answered in the +affirmative. "No one believed you would ever more see the light. I +knew you would serve me, and that you would relieve my necessities. +I went and spoke to Dr. Berger; he agreed we should halve the sum, +and his contrivance was, I should make oath I had lent you a +thousand florins, without having received your note. The money was +paid me by M. Frauenberger, to whom I agreed to send a present of +Tokay, for Madam Huttner." + +This was the manner in which my curators took care of my property! +Many instances I could produce, but I am too much agitated by the +recollection. I must speak a word concerning who and what my +curators were. + +The Court Counsellor, Kempf, was my administrator, and Counsellor +Huttner my referendary. The substitute of Kempf was Frauenberger, +who, being obliged to act as a clerk at Prague during the war, +appointed one Krebs as a sub-substitute; whether M. Krebs had also a +sub-substitute is more than I am able to say. + +Dr. Bertracker was fidei commiss-curator, though there was no fidei +commissum existing. Dr. Berger, as Fidei Commiss-Advocate, was +superintendent, and to them all salaries were to be paid. + +Let us see what was the business this company had to transact. I +had seventy-six thousand florins in the Hungarian Chamber, the +interest of which was to be yearly received, and added to the +capital: this was their employment, and was certainly so trifling +that any man would have performed it gratis. The war made money +scarce, and the discounting of bills with my ducats was a profitable +trade to my curators. Had it been honestly employed, I should have +found my capital increased, after my imprisonment, full sixty +thousand florins. Instead of these I received three thousand +florins at Prague, and found my capital diminished seven thousand +florins. + +Frauenberger and Berger died rich; and I must be confined as a +madman, lest this deputy should have been proved a rogue. This is +the clue to the acquittal I was obliged to sign:- Madam K- was a +lady of the bedchamber at court; she could approach the throne: her +chamber employments, indeed, procured her the keys of doors that to +me were eternally locked. + +Not satisfied with this, Kempf applied to the Empress, informed her +they were acquitted, not recompensed, and that Frauenberger required +four thousand florins for remuneration. The Empress laid an +interdict on the half of my income and pension. Thus was I obliged +to live in poverty; banished the Austrian dominions, where my +seventy-six thousand florins were reduced to sixty-three, the +interest of which I could only receive; and that burthened by the +above interdict, the fidei commissum, and administratorship. + +The Empress during my sickness ordered that my captain's pay, during +my ten years' imprisonment, should be given me, amounting to eight +thousand florins; which pay she also settled on me as a pension. By +this pension I never profited; for, during twenty-three years, that +and more was swallowed by journeys to Vienna, chicanery of courtiers +and agents, and costs of suits. Of the eight thousand florins three +were stolen; the court physician must be paid thrice as much as +another, and what remained after my recovery was sunk in the +preparations I had made to seek my fortune elsewhere. + +How far my captain's pay was matter of right or favour, let the +world judge, being told I went in the service of Vienna to the city +of Dantzic. Neither did this restitution of pay equal the sum I had +sent the Imperial Minister to obtain my freedom. I remained nine +months in my dungeon after the articles were signed, unthought of; +and, when mentioned by the Austrians, the King had twice rejected +the proposal of my being set free. The affair happened as follows, +as I received it from Prince Henry, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, +and the Minister, Count Hertzberg:- General Reidt had received my +ten thousand florins full six months, and seemed to remember me no +more. One gala day, on the 21st of December, the King happened to +be in good humour; and Her Majesty the Queen, the Princess Amelia, +and the present monarch, said to the Imperial Minister, "This is a +fit opportunity for you to speak in behalf of Trenck." He +accordingly waited his time, did speak, and the King replied, "Yes." + +The joy of the whole company appeared so great that Frederic THE +GREAT was offended! + +Other circumstances which contributed to promote this affair, the +reader will collect from my history. That there were persons in +Vienna who desired to detain me in prison is indubitable, from their +proceedings after my return. My friends in Berlin and my money were +my deliverers. + +Walking round Vienna, having recovered from my sickness, the broad +expanse of heaven inspired a consciousness of freedom and pleasure +indescribable. I heard the song of the lark. My heart palpitated, +my pulse quickened, for I recollected I was not in chains. +"Happen," said I, "what may, my will and heart are free." + +An incident happened which furthered my project of getting away from +Austria. Marshal Laudohn was going to Aix-la-Chapelle to take the +waters. He went to take his leave of the Countess Parr; I was +present the Empress entered the chamber, and the conversation +turning upon Laudohn's journey, she said to me, "The baths are +necessary to the re-establishment of your health, Trenck." I was +ready, and followed him in two days, where we remained about three +months. + +The mode of life at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa pleased me, where men of +all nations meet, and where princes mingle with persons of all +ranks. One day here procured me more pleasure than a whole life in +Vienna. + +I had scarcely remained a month before the Countess Parr wrote to me +that the Empress had provided for me, and would make my fortune as +soon as I returned to Vienna. I tried to discover in what it +consisted, but in vain. The death of the Emperor Francis at +Innsbruck occasioned the return of General Laudohn, and I followed +him, on foot, to Vienna. + +By means of the Countess Parr I obtained an audience. The Empress +said to me, "I will prove to you, Trenck, that I keep my word. I +have insured your fortune; I will give you a rich and prudent wife." +I replied, "Most gracious Sovereign, I cannot determine to marry, +and, if I could, my choice is already made at Aix-la-Chapelle."-- +"How! are you married, then?"--"Not yet, please your Majesty."--"Are +you promised?" + +"Yes."--"Well, well, no matter for that; I will take care of that +affair; I am determined on marrying you to the rich widow of M-, and +she approves my choice. She is a good, kind woman, and has fifty +thousand florins a year. You are in want of such a wife." + +I was thunderstruck. This bride was a canting hypocrite of sixty- +three, covetous, and a termagant. I answered, "I must speak the +truth to your Majesty; I could not consent did she possess the +treasures of the whole earth. I have made my choice, which, as an +honest man, I must not break." The Empress said, "Your unhappiness +is your own work. Act as you think proper; I have done." Here my +audience ended. I was not actually affianced at that time to my +present wife, but love had determined my choice. + +Marshal Laudohn promoted the match. He was acquainted with my heart +and the warmth of my passion, and perceived that I could not conquer +the desire of vengeance on men by whom I had been so cruelly +treated. He and Professor Gellert advised me to take this mode of +calming passions that often inspired projects too vast, and that I +should fly the company of the great. This counsel was seconded by +my own wishes. I returned to Aix-la-Chapelle in December, 1766, and +married the youngest daughter of the former Burgomaster De Broe. He +was dead; he had lived on his own estate in Brussels, where my wife +was born and educated. My wife's mother was sister to the Vice- +Chancellor of Dusseldorf, Baron Robert, Lord of Roland. My wife was +with me in most parts of Europe. She was then young, handsome, +worthy, and virtuous, has borne me eleven children, all of whom she +has nursed herself; eight of them are still living and have been +properly educated. Twenty-two years she has borne a part of all my +sufferings, and well deserves reward. + +During my abode in Vienna I made one effort more. I sought an +audience with the present Emperor Joseph, related all that had +happened to me, and remarked such defects as I had observed in the +regulations of the country. He heard me, and commanded me to commit +my thoughts to writing. My memorial was graciously received. I +also gave a full account of what had happened to me in various +countries, which prudence has occasioned me to express more +cautiously in these pages. My memorial produced no effect, and I +hastened back to Aix-la-Chapelle. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +For some years I lived in peace; my house was the rendezvous of the +first people, who came to take the waters. I began to be more known +among the very first and best people. I visited Professor Gellert +at Leipzig, and asked his advice concerning what branch of +literature he thought it was probable I might succeed in. He most +approved my fables and tales, and blamed the excessive freedom with +which I spoke in political writings. I neglected his advice, and +many of the ensuing calamities were the consequence. + +I received orders to correspond with His Majesty's private +secretary, Baron Roder; suffice it to say, my attempts to serve my +country were frustrated; I saw defects too clearly, spoke my +thoughts too frankly, and wanted sufficient humility ever to obtain +favour. + +In the year 1767 I wrote "The Macedonian Hero," which became famous +throughout all Germany. The poem did me honour, but entailed new +persecutions; yet I never could repent: I have had the honour of +presenting it to five reigning princes, by none of whom it has been +burnt. The Empress alone was highly enraged. I had spoken as +Nathan did to David, and the Jesuits now openly became my enemies. + +The following trick was played me in 1768. A friend in Brussels was +commissioned to receive my pay, from whom I learnt an interdict had +been laid upon it by the court called Hofkriegsrath, in Vienna, in +which I was condemned to pay seven hundred florins to one Bussy, +with fourteen years' interest. + +Bussy was a known swindler. I therefore journeyed, post-haste, to +Vienna. No hearing; no satisfactory account was to be obtained. +The answer was, "Sentence is passed, therefore all attempts are too +late." + +I applied to the Emperor Joseph, pledged my head to prove the +falsification of this note; and entreated a revision of the cause. +My request was granted and my attorney, Weyhrauch, was an upright +man. When he requested a day of revision to be appointed, he was +threatened to be committed by the referendary. Zetto, should he +interfere and defend the affairs of Trenck. He answered firmly, +"His defence is my business: I know my cause to be good." + +Four months did I continue in Vienna before the day was appointed to +revise this cause. It now appeared there were erasures and holes +through the paper in three places; all in court were convinced the +claim ought to be annulled, and the claimant punished. Zetto +ordered the parties to withdraw, and then so managed that the judges +resolved that the case must be laid before the court with formal and +written proofs. + +This gave time for new knavery; I was obliged to return to Aix-la- +Chapelle, and four years elapsed before this affair was decided. +Two priests, in the interim, took false oaths that they had seen me +receive money. At length, however, I proved that the note was dated +a year after I had been imprisoned at Magdeburg. Further, my +attorney proved the writs of the court had been falsified. Zetto, +referendary, and Bussy, were the forgers; but I happened to be too +active, and my attorney too honest, to lose this case. I was +obliged to make three very expensive journeys from Aix-la-Chapelle +to Vienna, lest judgement should go by default. Sentence at last +was pronounced. I gained my cause, and the note was declared a +forgery, but the costs, amounting to three thousand five hundred +florins, I was obliged to pay, for Bussy could not: nor was he +punished, though driven from Vienna for his villainous acts. Zetto, +however, still continued for eleven years my persecutor, till he was +deprived of his office, and condemned to the House of Correction. + +My knowledge of the world increased at Aix-la-Chapelle, where men of +all characters met. In the morning I conversed with a lord in +opposition, in the afternoon with an orator of the King's party, and +in the evening with an honest man of no party. I sent Hungarian +wine into England, France, Holland, and the Empire. This occasioned +me to undertake long journeys, and as my increased acquaintance gave +me opportunities of receiving foreigners with politeness an my own +house, I was also well received wherever I went. + +The income I should have had from Vienna was engulfed by law-suits, +attorneys, and the journeys I undertook; having been thrice cited to +appear, in person, before the Hofkriegsrath. No hope remained. I +was described as a dangerous malcontent, who had deserted his native +land. I nevertheless remained an honest man; one who could provide +for his necessities without the favour of courts; one whose +acquaintance was esteemed. In Vienna alone was I unsought, +unemployed, and obscure. + +One day an accident happened which made me renowned as a magician, +as one who had power over fogs and clouds. + +I had a quarrel with the Palatine President, Baron Blankart, +concerning a hunting district. I wrote to him that he should repair +to the spot in dispute, whither I would attend with sword and +pistol, hoping he would there give me satisfaction for the affront I +had received. Thither I went, with two huntsmen and two friends, +but instead of the baron I found two hundred armed peasants +assembled. + +I sent one of my huntsmen to the army of the enemy, informing them +that, if they did not retreat, I should fire. The day was fine, but +a thick and impenetrable fog arose. My huntsman returned, with +intelligence that, having delivered his message just as the fog came +on, these heroes had all run away with fright. + +I advanced, fired my piece, as did my followers, and marched to the +mansion of my adversary, where my hunting-horn was blown in triumph +in his courtyard. The runaway peasants fired, but the fog prevented +their taking aim. + +I returned home, where many false reports had preceded me. My wife +expected I should be brought home dead; however, not the least +mischief had happened. + +It soon was propagated through the country that I had raised a fog +to render myself invisible, and that the truth of this could be +justified by two hundred witnesses. All the monks of Aix-la- +Chapelle, Juliers, and Cologne, preached concerning me, reviled me, +and warned the people to beware of the arch-magician and Lutheran, +Trenck. + +On a future occasion, this belief I turned to merriment. I went to +hunt the wolf in the forests of Montjoie, and invited the townsmen +to the chase. Towards evening I, and some forty of my followers, +retired to rest in the charcoal huts, provided with wine and brandy. +"My lads," said I, "it is necessary you should discharge your +pieces, and load them anew; that to-morrow no wolf may escape, and +that none of you excuse yourselves on your pieces missing fire." +The guns were reloaded, and placed in a separate chamber. While +they were merry-making, my huntsman drew the balls, and charged the +pieces with powder, several of which he loaded with double charges. +Some of their notched balls I put into my pocket. + +In the morning away went I and my fellows to the chase. Their +conversation turned on my necromancy, and the manner in which I +could envelope myself in a cloud, or make myself bullet-proof. +"What is that you are talking about?" said I.--"Some of these +unbelieving folks," answered my huntsman, "affirm your honour is +unable to ward off balls."--"Well, then," said I, "fire away, and +try." My huntsman fired. I pretended to parry with my hand, and +called, "Let any man that is so inclined fire, but only one at a +time." Accordingly they began, and, pretending to twist and turn +about, I suffered them all to discharge their pieces. My people had +carefully noticed that no man had reloaded his gun. Some of them +received such blows from the guns that were doubly charged that they +fell, terrified at the powers of magic. I advanced, holding in my +hand some of the marked balls. "Let every one choose his own," +called I. All stood motionless, and many of them slunk home with +their guns on their shoulders; some remained, and our sport was +excellent. + +On Sunday the monks of Aix-la-Chapelle again began to preach. My +black art became the theme of the whole country, and to this day +many of the people make oath that they fired upon me, and that, +after catching them, I returned the balls. + +My invulnerable qualities were published throughout Juliers, Aix-la- +Chapelle, Maestricht, and Cologne, and perhaps this belief saved my +life; the priests having propagated it from their pulpits, in a +country which swarms with highway robbers, and where, for a single +ducat, any man may hire an assassin. + +It is no small surprise that I should have preserved my life, in a +town where there are twenty-three monasteries and churches, and +where the monks are adored as deities. The Catholic clergy had been +enraged against me by my poem of "The Macedonian Hero;" and in 1772 +I published a newspaper at Aix-la-Chapelle, and another work +entitled, "The Friend of Men," in which I unmasked hypocrisy. A +major of the apostolic Maria Theresa, writing thus in a town +swarming with friars, and in a tone so undaunted, was unexampled. + +At present, now that freedom of opinion is encouraged by the +Emperor, many essayists encounter bigotry and deceit with ridicule; +or, wanting invention themselves, publish extracts from writings of +the age of Luther. But I have the honour of having attacked the +pillars of the Romish hierarchy in days more dangerous. I may boast +of being the first German who raised a fermentation on the Upper +Rhine and in Austria, so advantageous to truth, the progress of the +understanding, and the happiness of futurity. + +My writings contain nothing inimical to the morality taught by +Christ. I attacked the sale of indulgences, the avarice of Rome, +the laziness, deceit, gluttony, robbery, and blood-sucking of the +monks of Aix-la-Chapelle. The arch-priest, and nine of his +coadjutors, declared every Sunday that I was a freethinker, a +wizard, one whom every man, wishing well to God and the Church, +ought to assassinate. Father Zunder declared me an outlaw, and a +day was appointed on which my writings were to be burnt before my +house, and its inhabitants massacred. My wife received letters +warning her to fly for safety, which warning she obeyed. I and two +of my huntsmen remained, provided with eighty-four loaded muskets. +These I displayed before the window, that all might be convinced +that I would make a defence. The appointed day came, and Father +Zunder, with my writings in his hand, appeared ready for the attack; +the other monks had incited the townspeople to a storm. Thus passed +the day and night in suspense. + +In the morning a fire broke out in the town. I hastened, with my +two huntsmen, well armed, to give assistance; we dashed the water +from our buckets, and all obeyed my directions. Father Zunder and +his students were there likewise. I struck his anointed ear with my +leathern bucket, which no man thought proper to notice. I passed +undaunted through the crowd; the people smiled, pulled off their +hats, and wished me a good-morning. The people of Aix-la-Chapelle +were bigots, but too cowardly to murder a man who was prepared for +his own defence. + +As I was riding to Maestricht, a ball whistled by my ears, which, no +doubt, was a messenger sent after me by these persecuting priests. + +When hunting near the convent of Schwartzenbruck, three Dominicans +lay in ambush behind a hedge. One of their colleagues pointed out +the place. I was on my guard with my gun, drew near, and called +out, "Shoot, scoundrels! but do not kill me, for the devil stands +ready for you at your elbow." One fired, and all ran: The ball hit +my hat. I fired and wounded one desperately, whom the others +carried off. + +In 1774, journeying from Spa to Limbourg, I was attacked by eight +banditti. The weather was rainy, and my musket was in its case; my +sabre was entangled in my belt, so that I was obliged to defend +myself as with a club. I sprang from the carriage, and fought in +defence of my life, striking down all before me, while my faithful +huntsman protected me behind. I dispersed my assailants, hastened +to my carriage, and drove away. One of these fellows was soon after +hanged, and owned that the confessor of the banditti had promised +absolution could they but despatch me, but that no man could shoot +me, because Lucifer had rendered me invulnerable. My agility, +fighting, too, for life, was superior to theirs, and they buried two +of their gang, whom with my heavy sabre I had killed. + +To such excess of cruelty may the violence of priests be carried! I +attacked only gross abuses--the deceit of the monks of Aix-la- +Chapelle, Cologne, and Liege, where they are worse than cannibals. +I wished to inculcate true Christian duties among my fellow- +citizens, and the attempt was sufficient to irritate the selfish +Church of Rome. + +From my Empress I had nothing to hope. Her confessor had painted me +as a persecutor of the blessed Mother Church. Nor was this all. +Opinions were propagated throughout Vienna that I was a dangerous +man to the community. + +Hence I was always wronged in courts of judicature, where there are +ever to be found wicked men. They thought they were serving the +cause of God by injuring me. Yet they were unable to prevent my +writings from producing me much money, or from being circulated +through all Germany. The Aix-la-Chapelle Journal became so famous, +that in the second year I had four thousand subscribers, by each of +whom I gained a ducat. + +The postmasters, who gained considerably by circulating newspapers, +were envious, because the Aix-la-Chapelle Journal destroyed several +of the others, and they therefore formed a combination. + +Prince Charles of Sweden placed confidence in me during his +residence at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, and I accompanied him into +Holland. When I took my leave of him at Maestricht, he said to me, +"When my father dies, either my brother shall be King, or we will +lose our heads." The King died, and Prince Charles soon after said, +in the postscript of one of his letters, "What we spoke of at +Maestricht will soon be fully accomplished, and you may then come to +Stockholm." + +On this, I inserted an article in my journal declaring a revolution +had taken place in Sweden, that the king had made himself absolute. +The other papers expressed their doubts, and I offered to wager a +thousand ducats on the truth of the article published in my journal +under the title of "Aix-la-Chapelle." The news of the revolution in +Sweden was confirmed. + +My journal foretold the Polish partition six weeks sooner than any +other; but how I obtained this news must not be mentioned. I was +active in the defence of Queen Matilda of Denmark. + +The French Ministry were offended at the following pasquinade:- "The +three eagles have rent the Polish bear, without losing a feather +with which any man in the Cabinet of Versailles can write. Since +the death of Mazarin, they write only with goose-quills." + +By desire of the King of Poland, I wrote a narrative of the attempt +made to assassinate him, and named the nuncio who had given +absolution to the conspirators in the chapel of the Holy Virgin. + +The house was now in flames. Rome insisted I should recall my +words. Her nuncio, at Cologne, vented poison, daggers, and +excommunication; the Empress-Queen herself thought proper to +interfere. I obtained, for my justification, from Warsaw a copy of +the examination of the conspirators. This I threatened to publish, +and stood unmoved in the defence of truth. + +The Empress wrote to the Postmaster-General of the Empire, and +commanded him to lay an interdict on the Aix-la-Chapelle Journal. +Informed of this, I ended its publication with the year, but wrote +an essay on the partition of Poland, which also did but increase my +enemies. + +The magistracy of Aix-la-Chapelle is elected from the people, and +the Burghers' court consists of an ignorant rabble. I know no +exceptions but Baron Lamberte and De Witte; and this people assume +titles of dignity, for which they are amenable to the court at +Vienna. Knowing I should find little protection at Vienna, they +imagined they might drive me from their town. I was a spy on their +evil deeds, of whom they would have rid themselves. I knew that the +two sheriffs, Kloss and Furth, and the recorder, Geyer, had robbed +the town-chamber of forty thousand dollars, and divided the spoil. +To these I was a dangerous man. For such reasons they sought a +quarrel with me, pretending I had committed a trespass by breaking +down a hedge, and cited me to appear at the town-house. + +The postmaster, Heinsberg, of Aix-la-Chapelle, although he had two +thousand three hundred rix-dollars of mine in his possession, +instituted false suits against me, obtained verdicts against me, +seized on a cargo of wine at Cologne, and I incurred losses to the +amount of eighteen thousand florins, which devoured the fortune of +my wife, and by which she, with myself and my children, were reduced +to poverty. + +The Gravenitz himself, in 1778, acknowledged how much he had injured +me, affirmed he had been deceived, and promised he would try to +obtain restitution. I forgave him, and he attempted to keep his +promise; but his power declined; the bribes he had received became +too public. He was dispossessed of his post, but, alas! too late +for me. Two other of my judges are at this time obliged to sweep +the streets of Vienna, where they are condemned to the House of +Correction. Had this been their employment instead of being seated +on the seat of judgment twenty years ago, I might have been more +fortunate. It is a remarkable circumstance that I should so +continually have been despoiled by unjust judges. Who would have +had the temerity to affirm that their evil deeds should bring them +to attend on the city scavenger? I indeed knew them but too well, +and fearlessly spoke what I knew. It was my misfortune that I was +acquainted with their malpractices sooner than gracious Sovereign. + +Let the scene close on my litigations at Aix-la-Chapelle and Vienna. +May God preserve every honest man from the like! They have +swallowed up my property, and that of my wife. Enough! + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +From the year 1774 to 1777, I journeyed through England and France. +I was intimate with Dr. Franklin, the American Minister, and with +the Counts St. Germain and de Vergennes, who made me proposals to go +to America; but I was prevented by my affection for my wife and +children. + +My friend the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, who had been Governor of +Magdeburg during my imprisonment, offered me a commission among the +troops going to America, but I answered--"Gracious prince, my heart +beats in the cause of freedom only; I will never assist in enslaving +men. Were I at the head of your brave grenadiers. I should revolt +to the Americans." + +During 1775 I continued at Aix-la-Chapelle my essays, entitled, "The +Friend of Men." My writings had made some impression; the people +began to read; the monks were ridiculed, but my partisans increased, +and their leader got himself cudgelled. + +They did not now mention my name publicly, but catechised their +penitents at confession. During this year people came to me from +Cologne, Bonn, and Dusseldorf, to speak with me privately. When I +inquired their business, they told me their clergy had informed them +I was propagating a new religion, in which every man must sign +himself to the devil, who then would supply them with money. They +were willing to become converts to my faith, would Beelzebub but +give them money, and revenge them on their priests. "My good +friends," answered I, "your teachers have deceived you; I know of no +devils but themselves. Were it true that I was founding a new +religion, the converts to whom the devil would supply money, your +priests, would be the first of my apostles, and the most catholic. +I am an honest, moral man, as a Christian ought to be. Go home, in +God's name, and do your duty." + +I forgot to mention that the recorder of the sheriff's court at Aix- +la-Chapelle, who is called Baron Geyer, had associated himself in +1778 with a Jew convert, and that this noble company swindled a +Dutch merchant out of eighty thousand florins, by assuming the arms +of Elector Palatine, and producing forged receipts and contracts. +Geyer was taken in Amsterdam, and would have been hanged, but, by +the aid of a servant, he escaped. He returned to Aix-la-Chapelle, +where he enjoys his office. Three years ago he robbed the town- +chamber. His wife was, at that time, generis communis, and procured +him friends at court. The assertions of this gentleman found +greater credit at Vienna than those of the injured Trenck! Oh, +shame! Oh, world! world! + +My wine trade was so successful that I had correspondents and stores +in London, Paris, Brussels, Hamburg, and the Hague, and had gained +forty thousand florins. One unfortunate day destroyed all my hopes +in the success of this traffic. + +In London I was defrauded of eighteen hundred guineas by a swindler. +The fault was my brother-in-law's, who parted with the wine before +he had received the money. When I had been wronged, and asked my +friends' assistance, I was only laughed at, as if they were happy +that an Englishman had the wit to cheat a German. + +Finding myself defrauded, I hastened to Sir John Fielding. He told +me he knew I had been swindled, and that his friendship would make +him active in my behalf; that he also knew the houses where my wine +was deposited, and that a party of his runners should go with me, +sufficiently strong for its recovery. I was little aware that he +had, at that time, two hundred bottles of my best Tokay in his +cellar. His pretended kindness was a snare; he was in partnership +with robbers, only the stupid among whom he hanged, and preserved +the most adroit for the promotion of trade. + +He sent a constable and six of his runners with me, commanding them +to act under my orders. By good fortune I had a violent headache, +and sent my brother-in-law, who spoke better English than I. Him +they brought to the house of a Jew, and told him, "Your wine, sir, +is here concealed." Though it was broad day, the door was locked, +that he might be induced to act illegally. The constable desired +him to break the door open, which he did; the Jews came running, and +asked--"What do you want, gentlemen?"--"I want my wine," answered my +brother.--"Take what is your own," replied a Jew; "but beware of +touching my property. I have bought the wine." + +My brother attended the constable and runners into a cellar, and +found a great part of my wine. He wrote to Sir John Fielding that +he had found the wine, and desired to know how to act. Fielding +answered: "It must be taken by the owner." My brother accordingly +sent me the wine. + +Next day came a constable with a warrant, saying, "He wanted to +speak with my brother, and that he was to go to Sir John Fielding." +When he was in the street, he told him--"Sir, you are my prisoner." + +I went to Sir John Fielding, and asked him what it meant. This +justice answered that my brother had been accused of felony. The +Jews and swindlers had sworn the wine was a legal purchase. If I +had not been paid, or was ignorant of the English laws, that was my +fault. Six swindlers had sworn the wine was paid for, which +circumstance he had not known, or he should not have granted me a +warrant. My brother had also broken open the doors, and forcibly +taken away wine which was not his own. They made oath of this, and +he was charged with burglary and robbery. + +He desired me to give bail in a thousand guineas for my brother for +his appearance in the Court of King's Bench; otherwise his trial +would immediately come on, and in a few days he would be hanged. + +I hastened to a lawyer, who confirmed what had been told me, advised +me to give bail, and he would then defend my cause. I applied to +Lord Mansfield, and received the same answer. I told my story to +all my friends, who laughed at me for attempting to trade in London +without understanding the laws. My friend Lord Grosvenor said, +"Send more wine to London, and we will pay you so well that you will +soon recover your loss." + +I went to my wine-merchants, who had a stock of mine worth upwards +of a thousand guineas. They gave bail for my brother, and he was +released. + +Fielding, in the interim, sent his runners to my house, took back +the wine, and restored it to the Jews. They threatened to prosecute +me as a receiver of stolen goods. I fled from London to Paris, +where I sold off my stock at half-price, honoured my bills, and so +ended my merchandise. + +My brother returned to London in November, to defend his cause in +the Court of King's Bench; but the swindlers had disappeared, and +the lawyer required a hundred pounds to proceed. The conclusion was +that my brother returned with seventy pounds less in his pocket, +spent as travelling expenses, and the stock in the hands of my wine- +merchants was detained on pretence of paying the bail. They brought +me an apothecary's bill, and all was lost. + +The Swedish General Sprengporten came to Aix-la-Chapelle in 1776. +He had planned and carried into execution the revolution so +favourable to the King, but had left Sweden in discontent, and came +to take the waters with a rooted hypochondria. + +He was the most dangerous man in Sweden, and had told the King +himself, after the revolution, in the presence of his guards, "While +Sprengporten can hold a sword, the King has nothing to command." + +It was feared he would go to Russia, and Prince Charles wrote to me +in the name of the monarch, desiring I would exert myself to +persuade him to return to Sweden. He was a man of pride, which +rendered him either a fool or a madman. He despised everything that +was not Swedish. + +The Prussian Minister, Count Hertzberg, the same year came to Aix- +la-Chapelle. I enjoyed his society for three months, and +accompanied this great man. To his liberality am I indebted that I +can return to my country with honour. + +The time I had to spare was not spent in idleness; I attacked, in my +weekly writings, those sharpers who attend at Aix-la-Chapelle and +Spa to plunder both inhabitants and visitants, under the connivance +of the magistracy; nor are there wanting foreign noblemen who become +the associates of these pests of society. The publication of such +truths endangered my life from the desperadoes, who, when detected, +had nothing more to lose. How powerful is an innocent life, nothing +can more fully prove than that I still exist, in despite of all the +attempts of wicked monks and despicable sharpers. + +Though my life was much disturbed, yet I do not repent of my manner +of acting; many a youth, many a brave man, have I detained from the +gaming-table, and pointed out to them the most notorious sharpers. + +This was so injurious to Spa, that the Bishop of Liege himself, who +enjoys a tax on all their winnings, and therefore protects such +villains, offered me an annual pension of five hundred guineas if I +would not come to Spa; or three per cent. on the winnings, would I +but associate myself with Colonel N-t, and raise recruits for the +gaming-table. My answer may easily be imagined; yet for this was I +threatened to be excommunicated by the Holy Catholic Church! + +I and my family passed sixteen summers in Spa. My house became the +rendezvous of the most respectable part of the company, and I was +known to some of the most respectable characters in Europe. + +A contest arose between the town of Aix-la-Chapelle and Baron +Blankart, the master of the hounds to the Elector Palatine: it +originated in a dispute concerning precedence between the before- +mentioned wife of the Recorder Geyer and the sister of the +Burgomaster of Aix-la-Chapelle, Kahr, who governed that town with +despotism. + +This quarrel was detrimental to the town and to the Elector +Palatine, but profitable to Kahr, whose office it was to protect the +rights of the town, and those persons who defended the claims of the +Elector; the latter kept a faro bank, the plunder of which had +enriched the town; and the former Kahr, under pretence of defending +their cause, embezzled the money of the people; so that both parties +endeavoured with all their power to prolong the litigation. + +It vexed me to see their proceedings. Those who suffered on each +side were deceived; and I conceived the project of exposing the +truth. For this purpose I journeyed to the court at Mannheim, +related the facts to the Elector, produced a plan of accommodation, +which he approved, and obtained power to act as arbitrator. The +Minister of the Elector, Bekkers, pretended to approve my zeal, +conducted me to an auberge, made me dine at his house, and said a +commission was made out for my son, and forwarded to Aix-la- +Chapelle--which was false; the moment he quitted me he sent to Aix- +la-Chapelle to frustrate the attempt he pretended to applaud. He +was himself in league with the parties. In fine, this silly +interference brought me only trouble, expense, and chagrin. I made +five journeys to Mannheim, till I became so dissatisfied that I +determined to quit Aix-la-Chapelle, and purchase an estate in +Austria. + +The Bavarian contest was at this time in agitation; my own affairs +brought me to Paris, and here I learned intelligence of great +consequence; this I communicated to the Grand Duke of Florence, on +my return to Vienna. The Duke departed to join the army in Bohemia, +and I again wrote to him, and thought it my duty to send a courier. +The Duke showed my letter to the Emperor; but I remained unnoticed. + +I did not think myself safe in foreign countries during this time of +war, and purchased the lordship of Zwerbach, with appurtenances, +which, with the expenses, cost me sixty thousand florins. + +To conclude this purchase, I was obliged to solicit the referendary, +Zetto, and his friend whom he had appointed as my curator, for my +new estate was likewise made a fidei commissum, as my referendaries +and curators would not let me escape contribution. The six thousand +florins of which they emptied my purse would have done my family +much service. + +In May, 1780, I went to Aix-la-Chapelle, where my wife's mother died +in July; and in September my wife, myself, and family, all came to +Vienna. + +My wife solicited the mistress of the ceremonies to obtain an +audience. Her request was granted, and she gained the favour of the +Empress. Her kindness was beyond expression: she introduced my +wife to the Archduchess, and commanded her mistress of the +ceremonies to present her everywhere. "You were unwilling," said +she, "to accompany your husband into my country, but I hope to +convince you that you may live happier in Austria than at Aix-la- +Chapelle." + +She next day sent me her decree, assuring me of a pension of four +hundred florins. + +My wife petitioned the Empress to grant me an audience: her request +was complied with: and the Empress said to me: "This is the third +time in which I would have made your fortune, had you been so +disposed." She desired to see my children, and spoke of my +writings. "How much good might you do," said she, "would you but +write in the cause of religion!" + +We departed for Zwerbach, where we lived contentedly, but when we +were preparing to return to Vienna, and solicited the restitution of +part of my lost fortune, during this favour of the court, Theresa +died, and all my hopes were overcast. + +I forgot to relate that the Archduchess, Maria Anna, desired me to +translate a religious work, written in French by the Abbe Baudrand, +into German. I replied I would obey Her Majesty's commands. I +began my work, took passages from Baudrand, but inserted more of my +own. The first volume was finished in six weeks; the Empress +thought it admirable. The second soon followed, and I presented +this myself. + +She asked me if it equalled the first; I answered, I hoped it would +be found more excellent. "No," said she; "I never in my life read a +better book:" and added, "she wondered how I could write so well and +so quickly." I promised another volume within a month. Before the +third was ready, Theresa died. She gave orders on her death-bed to +have the writings of Baron Trenck read to her; and though her +confessor well knew the injustice that had been done me, yet in her +last moments he kept silence, though he had given me his sacred +promise to speak in my behalf. + +After her death the censor commanded that I should print what I have +stated in the preface to that third volume, and this was my only +satisfaction. + +For one-and-thirty years had I been soliciting my rights, which I +never could obtain, because the Empress was deceived by wicked men, +and believed me a heretic. In the thirty-second, my wife had the +good fortune to convince her this was false; she had determined to +make me restitution; just at this moment she died. + +The pension granted my wife by the Empress in consequence of my +misfortunes and our numerous family, we only enjoyed nine months. + +Of this she was deprived by the new monarch. He perhaps knew +nothing of the affair, as I never solicited. Yet much has it +grieved me. Perhaps I may find relief when the sighs wrung from me +shall reach the heart of the father of his people in this my last +writing. At present, nothing for me remains but to live unknown in +Zwerbach. + +The Emperor thought proper to collect the moneys bestowed on +hospitals into one fund. The system was a wise one. My cousin +Trenck had bequeathed thirty-six thousand florins to a hospital for +the poor of Bavaria. This act he had no right to do, having +deducted the sum from the family estate. I petitioned the Emperor +that these thirty-six thousand florins might be restored to me and +my children, who were the people whom Trenck had indeed made poor, +nothing of the property of his acquiring having been left to pay +this legacy, but, on the contrary, the money having been exacted +from mine. + +In a few days it was determined I should be answered in the same +tone in which, for six-and-thirty years past, all my petitions had +been answered:- + +"THE REQUEST OF THE PETITIONER CANNOT BE GRANTED." + +Fortune persecuted me in my retreat. Within six years two +hailstorms swept away my crops; one year was a misgrowth; there were +seven floods; a rot among my sheep: all possible calamities befell +me and my manor. + +The estate had been ruined, the ponds were to drain, three farms +were to be put into proper condition, and the whole newly stocked. +This rendered me poor, especially as my wife's fortune had been sunk +in lawsuits at Aix-la-Chapelle and Cologne. + +The miserable peasants had nothing, therefore could not pay: I was +obliged to advance them money. My sons assisted me, and we laboured +with our own hands: my wife took care of eight children, without so +much as the help of a maid. We lived in poverty, obliged to earn +our daily bread. + +The greatest of my misfortunes was my treatment in the military +court, when Zetto and Krugel were my referendaries. Zetto had +clogged me with a curator and when the cow had no more milk to give, +they began to torture me with deputations, sequestrations, +administrations, and executions. Nineteen times was I obliged to +attend in Vienna within two years, at my own expense. Every six +years must I pay an attorney to dispute and quarrel with the +curator. I, in conclusion, was obliged to pay. If any affair was +to be expedited, I, by a third hand, was obliged to send the +referendary some ducats. Did he give judgment, still that judgment +lay fourteen months inefficient, and, when it then appeared, the +copy was false, and so was sent to the upper courts, the high +referendary of which said I "must be dislodged from Zwerbach." + +They obliged me at last to purchase my naturalisation. I sent to +Prussia for my pedigree; the attestation of this was sent me by +Count Hertzberg. Although the family of Trenck had a hundred years +been landholders in Hungary, yet was my attorney obliged to solicit +the instrument called ritter-diploma, for which, under pain of +execution, I must pay two thousand florins. + +By decree a Prussian nobleman is not noble in Austria, where every +lackey can purchase a diploma, making him a knight of the Empire, +for twelve hundred wretched florins!--where such men as P- and +Grassalkowitz have purchased the dignity of a prince! + +Tortured by the courts, terrified by hailstorms, I determined to +publish my works, in eight volumes, and this history of my life. + +Fourteen months accomplished this purpose. My labours found a +favourable reception through all Germany, procured me money, esteem, +and honour. By my writings only will I seek the means of existence, +and by trying to obtain the approbation and the love of men. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +On the 22nd of August, 1786, the news arrived that Frederic the +Great had left this world + +* * * + +The present monarch, the witness of my sufferings in my native +country, sent me a royal passport to Berlin. The confiscation of my +estates was annulled, and my deceased brother, in Prussia, had left +my children his heirs. + +* * * + +I journey, within the Imperial permission, back to my country, from +which I have been two-and-forty years expelled! I journey--not as a +pardoned malefactor, but as a man whose innocence has been +established by his actions, has been proved in his writings, and who +is journeying to receive his reward. + +Here I shall once more encounter my old friends my relations, and +those who have known me in the days of my affliction. Here shall I +appear, not as my country's Traitor, but as my country's Martyr! + +Possible, though little probable, are still future storms. For +these also I am prepared. Long had I reason daily to curse the +rising sun, and, setting, to behold it with horror. Death to me +appears a great benefit: a certain passage from agitation to peace, +from motion to rest. As for my children, they, jocund in youth, +delight in present existence. When I have fulfilled the duties of a +father, to live or die will then be as I shall please. + +Thou, O God! my righteous Judge, didst ordain that I should be an +example of suffering to the world; Thou madest me what I am, gavest +me these strong passions, these quick nerves, this thrilling of the +blood, when I behold injustice. Strong was my mind, that deeply it +might meditate on deep subjects; strong my memory, that these +meditations I might retain; strong my body, that proudly it might +support all it has pleased Thee to inflict. + +Should I continue to exist, should identity go with me, and should I +know what I was then, when I was called Trenck; when that +combination of particles which Nature commanded should compose this +body shall be decomposed, scattered, or in other bodies united; when +I have no muscles to act, no brain to think, no retina on which +pictures can mechanically be painted, my eyes wasted, and no tongue +remaining to pronounce the Creator's name, should I still behold a +Creator--then, oh then, will my spirit mount, and indubitably +associate with spirits of the just who expectant wait for their +golden harps and glorious crowns from the Most High God. For human +weaknesses, human failings, arising from our nature, springing from +our temperament, which the Creator has ordained, shall be even thus, +and not otherwise; for these have I suffered enough on earth. + +Such is my confession of faith; in this have I lived, in this will I +die. The duties of a man and of a Christian I have fulfilled; nay, +often have exceeded, often have been too benevolent, too generous; +perhaps also too proud, too vain. I could not bend, although liable +to be broken. + +That I have not served the world, in acts and employments where best +I might, is perhaps my own fault: the fault of my manner, which is +now too radical to be corrected in this, my sixtieth year. Yes, I +acknowledge my failing, acknowledge it unblushingly; nay, glory in +the pride of a noble nature. + +For myself, I ask nothing of those who have read my history; to them +do I commit my wife and children. My eldest son is a lieutenant in +the Tuscan regiment of cavalry, under General Lasey, and does honour +to his father's principles. The second serves his present Prussian +Majesty, as ensign in the Posadowsky dragoons, with equal promise. +The third is still a child. My daughters will make worthy men +happy, for they have imbibed virtue and gentleness with their +mother's milk. Monarchs may hereafter remember what I have +suffered, what I have lost, and what is due to my ashes. + +Here do I declare--I will seek no other revenge against my enemies +than that of despising their evil deeds. It is my wish, and shall +be my endeavour, to forget the past; and having committed no +offence, neither will I solicit monarchs for posts of honour; as I +have ever lived a free man, a free man will I die. + +I conclude this part of my history on the evening preceding my +journey to Berlin. God grant I may encounter no new afflictions, to +be inserted in the remainder of this history. + +This journey I prepared to undertake, but my ever-envious fate threw +me on the bed of sickness, insomuch that small hope remained that I +ever should again behold the country of my forefathers. I seemed +following the Great Frederic to the mansions of the dead; then +should I never have concluded the history of my life, or obtained +the victory by which I am now crowned. + +A variety of obstacles being overcome, I found it necessary to make +a journey into Hungary, which was one of the most pleasant of my +whole life. + +I have no words to express my ardent wishes for the welfare of a +nation where I met with so many proofs of friendship. Wherever I +appeared I was welcomed with that love and enthusiasm which only +await the fathers of their country. The valour of my cousin Trenck, +who died ingloriously in the Spielberg, the loss of my great +Hungarian estates, the fame of my writings, and the cruelty of my +sufferings, had gone before me. The officers of the army, the +nobles of the land, alike testified the warmth of their esteem. + +Such is the reward of the upright; such too are the proofs that this +nation knows the just value of fortitude and virtue. Have I not +reason to publish my gratitude, and to recommend my children to +those who, when I am no more, shall dare uprightly to determine +concerning the rights which have unjustly been snatched from me in +Hungary? + +Not a man in Hungary but will proclaim I have been unjustly dealt +by; yet I have good reason to suspect I never shall find redress. +Sentence had been already given; judges, more honest, cannot, +without difficulty, reverse old decrees; and the present possessors +of my estates are too powerful, too intimate with the governors of +the earth, for me to hope I shall hereafter be more happy. God +knows my heart; I wish the present possessors may render services to +the state equal to those rendered by the family of the Trencks. + +There is little probability I shall ever behold my noble friends in +Hungary more. Here I bid them adieu, promising them to pass the +remainder of any life so as still to merit the approbation of a +people with whose ashes I would most willingly have mingled my own. +May the God of heaven preserve every Hungarian from a fate similar +to mine! + +The Croats have ever been reckoned uncultivated; yet, among this +uncultivated people I found more subscribers to my writings than +among all the learned men of Vienna; and in Hungary, more than in +all the Austrian dominions. + +The Hungarians, the unlettered Croats, seek information. The people +of Vienna ask their confessors' permission to read instructive +books. Various subscribers, having read the first volume of my +work, brought it back, and re-demanded their money, because some +monk had told them it was a book dangerous to be read. The judges +of their courts have re-sold them to the booksellers for a few pence +or given them to those who had the care of their consciences to +burn. + +In Vienna alone was my life described as a romance; in Hungary I +found the compassion of men, their friendship, and effectual aid. +Had my book been the production of an Englishman, good wishes would +not have been his only reward. + +We German writers have interested critics to encounter if we would +unmask injustice; and if a book finds a rapid sale, dishonest +printers issue spurious editions, defrauding the author of his +labours. + +The encouragement of the learned produces able teachers, and from +their seminaries men of genius occasionally come forth. The world +is inundated with books and pamphlets; the undiscerning reader knows +not which to select; the more intelligent are disgusted, or do not +read at all, and thus a work of merit becomes as little profitable +to the author as to the state. + +I left Vienna on the 5th of January, and came to Prague. Here I +found nearly the same reception as in Hungary; my writings were +read. Citizens, noblemen, and ladies treated me with like favour. +May the monarch know how to value men of generous feelings and +enlarged understandings! + +I bade adieu to Prague, and continued my journey to Berlin. In +Bohemia, I took leave of my son, who saw his father and his two +brothers, destined for the Prussian service, depart. He felt the +weight of this separation; I reminded him of his duty to the state +he served; I spoke of the fearful fate of his uncle and father in +Austria, and of the possessors of our vast estates in Hungary. He +shrank back--a look from his father pierced him to the soul--tears +stood in his eyes--his youthful blood flowed quick, and the +following expression burst suddenly from his lips:- "I call God to +witness that I will prove myself worthy of my father's name; and +that, while I live, his enemies shall be mine!" + +At Peterswald, on the road to Dresden, my carriage broke down: my +life was endangered; and my son received a contusion in the arm. +The erysipelas broke out on him at Berlin, and I could not present +him to the King for a month after. + +I had been but a short time at Berlin before the well-known +minister, Count Hertzberg, received me with kindness. Every man to +whom his private worth is known will congratulate the state that has +the wisdom to bestow on him so high an office. His scholastic and +practical learning, his knowledge of languages, his acquaintance +with sciences, are indeed wonderful. His zeal for his country is +ardent, his love of his king unprejudiced, his industry admirable, +his firmness that of a man. He is the most experienced man in the +Prussian states. The enemies of his country may rely on his word. +The artful he can encounter with art; those who menace, with +fortitude; and with wise foresight can avert the rising storm. He +seeks not splendour in sumptuous and ostentatious retinue; but if he +can only enrich the state, and behold the poor happy, he is himself +willing to remain poor. His estate, Briess, near Berlin, is no +Chanteloup, but a model to those patriots who would study economy. +Here he, every Wednesday, enjoys recreation. The services he +renders the kingdom cost it only five thousand rix-dollars yearly; +he, therefore, lives without ostentation, yet becoming his state, +and with splendour when splendour is necessary. He does not plunder +the public treasury that he may preserve his own private property. + +This man will live in the annals of Prussia: who was employed under +the Great Frederic; had so much influence in the cabinets of Europe; +and was a witness of the last actions, the last sensations, of his +dying king; yet who never asked, nor ever received, the least +gratuity. This is the minister whose conversation I had the +happiness to partake at Aix-la-Chapelle and Spa, whose welfare is +the wish of my heart, and whose memory I shall ever revere. + +I was received with distinction at his table, and became acquainted +with those whose science had benefited the Prussian states; nor was +anything more flattering to my self-love than that men like these +should think me worthy their friendship. + +Not many days after I was presented to the court by the Prussian +chamberlain, Prince Sacken, as it is not customary at Berlin for a +foreign subject to be presented by the minister of his own court. +Though a Prussian subject, I wore the Imperial uniform. + +The King received me with condescension; all eyes were directed +towards me, each welcomed me to my country. This moved me the more +as it was remarked by the foreign ministers, who asked who that +Austrian officer could be who was received with so much affection +and such evident joy in Berlin. The gracious monarch himself gave +tokens of pleasure at beholding me thus surrounded. Among the rest +came the worthy General Prittwitz, who said aloud - + +"This is the gentleman who might have ruined me to effect his own +deliverance." + +Confused at so public a declaration, I desired him to expound this +riddle; and he added - + +"I was obliged to be one of your guards on your unfortunate journey +from Dantzic to Magdeburg, in 1754, when I was a lieutenant. On the +road I continued alone with you in an open carriage. This gave you +an opportunity to escape, but you forbore. I afterwards saw the +danger to which I had exposed myself. Had you been less noble- +minded, had such a prisoner escaped through my negligence, I had +certainly been ruined. The King believed you alike dangerous and +deserving of punishment. I here acknowledge you as my saviour, and +am in gratitude your friend." I knew not that the generous man, who +wished me so well, was the present General Prittwitz. That he +should himself remind me of this incident does him the greater +honour. + +Having been introduced at court, I thought it necessary to observe +ceremonies, and was presented by the Imperial ambassador, Prince +Reuss, to all foreign ministers, and such families as are in the +habit of admitting such visits. I was received by the Prince Royal, +the reigning Queen, the Queen-Dowager, and the royal family in their +various places, with favour never to be forgotten. His Royal +Highness Prince Henry invited me to a private audience, continued +long in conversation with me, promised me his future protection, +admitted me to his private concerts, and sometimes made me sup at +court. + +A like reception I experienced in the palace of Prince Ferdinand of +Brunswick, where I frequently dined and supped. His princess took +delight in hearing my narratives, and loaded me with favour. + +Prince Ferdinand's mode of educating children is exemplary. The +sons are instructed in the soldier's duties, their bodies are inured +to the inclemencies of weather; they are taught to ride, to swim, +and are steeled to all the fatigue of war. Their hearts are formed +for friendship, which they cannot fail to attain. Happy the nation +in defence of which they are to act! + +How ridiculous these their ROYAL HIGHNESSES appear who, though born +to rule, are not deserving to be the lackeys to the least of those +whom they treat with contempt; and yet who swell, strut, stride, and +contemplate themselves as creatures essentially different by nature, +and of a superior rank in the scale of beings, though, in reality, +their minds are of the lowest, the meanest class. + +Happy the state whose prince is impressed with a sense that the +people are not his property, but he the property of the people! A +prince beloved by his people will ever render a nation more happy +those he whose only wish is to inspire fear. + +The pleasure I received at Berlin was great indeed. When I went to +court, the citizens crowded to see me, and when anyone among them +said, "That is Trenck," the rest would cry, "Welcome once more to +your country," while many would reach me their hands, with the tears +standing in their eyes. Frequent were the scenes I experienced of +this kind. No malefactor would have been so received. It was the +reward of innocence; this reward was bestowed throughout the +Prussian territories. + +Oh world, ill-judging world, deceived by show! Dost thou not +blindly follow the opinion of the prince, be he severe, arbitrary, +or just? Thy censure and thy praise equally originate in common +report. In Magdeburg I lay, chained to the wall, ten years, sighing +in wretchedness, every calamity of hunger, cold, nakedness, and +contempt. And wherefore? Because the King, deceived by slanderers, +pronounced me worthy of punishment. Because a wise King mistook me, +and treated me with barbarity. Because a prudent King knew he had +done wrong, yet would not have it so supposed. So was his heart +turned to stone; nay, opposed by manly fortitude, was enraged to +cruelty. Most men were convinced I was an innocent sufferer; "Yet +did they all cry out the more, saying, let him be crucified!" My +relations were ashamed to hear my name. My sister was barbarously +treated because she assisted me in my misfortunes. No man durst +avow himself my friend, durst own I merited compassion; or, much +less, that the infallible King had erred. I was the most despised, +forlorn man on earth; and when thus put on the rack, had I there +expired, my epitaph would have been, "Here lies the traitor, +Trenck." + +Frederic is dead, and the scene is changed; another monarch has +ascended the throne, and the grub has changed to a beautiful +butterfly! The witnesses to all I have asserted are still living, +loudly now proclaim the truth, and embrace me with heart-felt +affection. + +Does the worth of a man depend upon his actions? his reward or +punishment upon his virtue? In arbitrary states, certainly not. +They depend on the breath of a king! Frederic was the most +penetrating prince of his age, but the most obstinate also. A vice +dreadful to those whom he selected as victims, who must be +sacrificed to the promoting of his arbitrary views. + +How many perished, the sin offerings of Frederic's obstinate self- +will, whose orphan children now cry to God for vengeance! The dead, +alas! cannot plead. Trial began and ended with execution. The few +words--IT IS THE KING'S COMMAND--were words of horror to the poor +condemned wretch denied to plead his innocence! Yet what is the +Ukase (Imperial order) in Russia, Tel est notre bon plaisir (Such is +our pleasure) in France, or the Allergnadigste Hofresolution (The +all-gracious sentence of the court), pronounced with the sweet tone +of a Vienna matron? In what do these differ from the arbitrary +order of a military despot? + +Every prayer of man should be consecrated to man's general good; for +him to obtain freedom and universal justice! Together should we cry +with one voice, and, if unable to shackle arbitrary power, still +should we endeavour to show how dangerous it is! The priests of +liberty should offer up their thanks to the monarch who declares +"the word of power" a nullity, and "the sentence" of justice +omnipotent. + +Who can name the court in Europe where Louis, Peter, or Frederic, +each and all surnamed The Great, have not been, and are not, +imitated as models of perfection?. Lettres-de-cachet, the knout, +and cabinet-orders, superseding all right, are become law! + +No reasoning, says the corporal to the poor grenadier, whom he +canes!--No reasoning! exclaim judges; the court has decided.--No +reasoning, rash and pertinacious Trenck, will the prudent reader +echo. Throw thy pen in the fire, and expose not thyself to become +the martyr of a state inquisition. + +My fate is, and must remain, critical and undecided. I have six- +and-thirty years been in the service of Austria, unrewarded, and +beholding the repeated and generous efforts I made effectually to +serve that state, unnoticed. The Emperor Joseph supposes me old, +that the fruit is wasted, and that the husk only remains. It is +also supposed I should not be satisfied with a little. To continue +to oppress him who has once been oppressed, and who possess +qualities that may make injustice manifest, is the policy of states. +My journey to Berlin has given the slanderer further opportunity of +painting me as a suspicious character: I smile at the ineffectual +attempt. + +I appeared in the Imperial uniform and belied such insinuations. To +this purpose it was written to court, in November, when I went into +Hungary, "The motions of Trenck ought to be observed in Hungary." +Ye poor malicious blood-suckers of the virtuous! Ye shall not be +able to hurt a hair of my head. Ye cannot injure the man who has +sixty years lived in honour. I will not, in my old age, bring upon +myself the reproach of inconstancy, treachery, or desire of revenge. +I will betray no political secrets: I wish not to injure those by +whom I have been injured.--Such acts I will never commit. I never +yet descended to the office of spy, nor will I die a rewarded +villain. + +Yes, I appeared in Berlin among the upright and the just. Instead +of being its supposed enemy, I was declared an honour to my country. +I appeared in the Imperial uniform and fulfilled the duties of my +station: and now must the Prussian Trenck return to Austria, there +to perform a father's duty. + +Yet more of what happened in Berlin. + +Some days after I had been presented to the King, I entreated a +private audience, and on the 12th of February received the following +letter:- + +"In answer to your letter of the 8th of this month, I inform you +that, if you will come to me to-morrow, at five o'clock in the +afternoon, I shall have the pleasure to speak with you; meantime, I +pray God to take you into his holy keeping. + +"FREDERIC WILLIAM. + +"Berlin, Feb. 12, 1787." + +"P.S.--After signing the above, I find it more convenient to appoint +to-morrow, at nine in the morning, about which time you will come +into the apartment named the Marmor Kammer (marble chamber)." + + +The anxiety with which I expected this wished-for interview may well +be conceived. I found the Prussian Titus alone, and he continued in +conversation with me more than an hour. + +How kind was the monarch! How great! How nobly did he console me +for the past! How entirely did his assurance of favour overpower my +whole soul! He had read the history of my life. When prince of +Prussia, he had been an eyewitness, in Magdeburg, of my martyrdom, +and my attempts to escape. His Majesty parted from me with tokens +of esteem and condescension.--My eyes bade adieu, but my heart +remained in the marble chamber, in company with a prince capable of +sensations so dignified; and my wishes for his welfare are eternal. + +I have since travelled through the greater part of the Prussian +states. Where is the country in which the people are all satisfied? +Many complained of hard times, or industry unrewarded. My answer +was:- + +"Friends, kneel with the rising sun, and thank the God of heaven +that you are Prussians. I have seen and known much of this world, +and I assure you, you are among the happiest people of Europe. +Causes of complaint everywhere exist; but you have a king, neither +obstinate, ambitious, covetous, nor cruel: his will is that his +people should have cause of content, and should he err by chance, +his heart is not to blame if the subject suffers." + +Prussia is neither wanting in able nor learned men. The warmth of +patriots glows in their veins. Everything remains with equal +stability, as under the reign of Frederic; and should the thunder +burst, the ready conductors will render the shock ineffectual. + +Hertzberg still labours in the cabinet, still thinks, writes, and +acts as he has done for years. The king is desirous that justice +shall be done to his subjects, and will punish, perhaps, with more +severity, whenever he finds himself deceived, than from the goodness +of his disposition, might be supposed. The treasury is full, the +army continues the same, and there is little reason to doubt but +that industry, population, and wealth will increase. None but the +vile and the wicked would leave the kingdom; while the oppressed and +best subjects of other states would fly from their native country, +certain of finding encouragement and security in Prussia. + +The personal qualities of Fredric William merit description. He is +tall and handsome, his mien is majestic, and his accomplishments of +mind and body would procure him the love of men, were he not a king. +He is affable without deceit, friendly and kind in conversation, and +stately when stateliness is necessary. He is bountiful, but not +profuse; he knows that without economy the Prussian must sink. He +is not tormented by the spirit of conquest, he wishes harm to no +nation, yet he will certainly not suffer other nations to make +encroachments, nor will he be terrified by menaces. + +The wise Frederic, when living, though himself learned, and a lover +of the sciences, never encouraged them in his kingdom. Germany, +under his reign, might have forgotten her language: he preferred +the literature of France. Konigsberg, once the seminary of the +North, contains, at present, few professors, or students; the former +are fallen into disrepute, and are ill paid; the latter repair to +Leipsic and Gottingen. We have every reason to suppose the present +monarch, though no studious man himself, will encourage the +academies of the literati, that men learned in jurisprudence and the +sciences may not be wanting: which want is the more to be +apprehended as the nobility must, without exception, serve in the +army, so that learning has but few adherents, and these are deprived +of the means of improvement. + +Frederic William is also too much the friend of men to suffer them +to pine in prisons. He abhors the barbarity with which the soldiers +are beaten: his officers will not be fettered hand and foot; +slavish subordination will be banished, and the noble in heart will +be the noble of the land. May he, in his people, find perfect +content! May his people be ever worthy of such a prince! Long may +he reign, and may his ministers be ever enlightened and honourable +men! + +He sent for me a second time, conversed much with me, and confirmed +those ideas which my first interview had inspired. + +On the 11th of March I presented my son at another audience, whom I +intended for the Prussian service. The King bestowed a commission +on him in the Posadowsky dragoons, at my request. + +I saw him at the review at Velau, and his superior officers formed +great expectations from his zeal. Time will discover whether he who +is in the Austrian, or this in the Prussian service, will first +obtain the rewards due to their father. Should they both remain +unnoticed, I will bestow him on the Grand Turk, rather than on +European courts, whence equity to me and mine is banished. + +To Austria I owe no thanks; all that could be taken from me was +taken. I was a captain before I entered those territories, and, +after six-and-thirty years' service, I find myself in the rank of +invalid major. The proof of all I have asserted, and of how little +I am indebted to this state is most incontestable, since the history +of my life is allowed by the royal censor to be publicly sold in +Vienna. + +It is remarkable that one only of all the eight officers, with whom +I served, in the body guard, in 1745, is dead. Lieutenant-colonel +Count Blumenthal lives in Berlin; Pannewitz is commander of the +Knights of Malta: both gave me a friendly reception. Wagnitz is +lieutenant-general in the service of Hesse-Cassel; he was my tent +comrade, and was acquainted with all that happened. Kalkreuter and +Grethusen live on their estates, and Jaschinsky is now alive at +Konigsberg, but superannuated, and tortured by sickness, and +remorse. He, instead of punishment, has forty years enjoyed a +pension of a thousand rix-dollars. I have seen my lands +confiscated, of the income of which I have been forty-two years +deprived, and never yet received retribution. + +Time must decide; the king is generous, and I have too much pride to +become a beggar. The name of Trenck shall be found in the history +of the acts of Frederic. A tyrant himself, he was the slave of his +passions; and even did not think an inquiry into my innocence worth +the trouble. To be ashamed of doing right, because he has done +wrong, or to persist in error, that fools, and fools only, can think +him infallible, is a dreadful principle in a ruler. + +Since I have been at Berlin, and was received there with so many +testimonies of friendship, the newspapers of Germany have published +various articles concerning me, intending to contribute to my honour +or ease. They said my eldest daughter is appointed the governess of +the young Princess. This has been the joke of some witty +correspondent; for my eldest daughter is but fifteen, and stands in +need of a governess herself. Perhaps they may suppose me mean +enough to circulate falsehood. + +I daily receive letters from all parts of Germany, wherein the +sensations of the feeling heart are evident. Among these letters +was one which I received from Bahrdt, Professor at Halle, dated +April 10, 1787 wherein he says, "Receive, noble German, the thanks +of one who, like you, has encountered difficulties; yet, far +inferior to those you have encountered. You, with gigantic +strength, have met a host of foes, and conquered. The pests of men +attacked me also. From town to town, from land to land, I was +pursued by priestcraft and persecution; yet I acquired fame. I fled +for refuge and repose to the states of Frederic, but found them not. +I have eight years laboured under affliction with perseverance, but +have found no reward. By industry have I made myself what I am; by +ministerial favour, never. Worn out and weak, the history of your +life, worthy sir, fell into my hands, and poured balsam into my +wounds. There I saw sufferings immeasurably greater; there, indeed, +beheld fortitude most worthy of admiration. Compared to you, of +what could I complain? Receive, noble German, my warmest thanks; +while I live they shall flow. And should you find a fortunate +moment, in the presence of your King, speak of me as one consigned +to poverty; as one whose talents are buried in oblivion. Say to +him--'Mighty King! stretch forth thy hand, and dry up his tears.' I +know the nobleness of your mind, and doubt not your good wishes." + +To the Professor's letter I returned the following answer:- + + +"I was affected, sir, by your letter. I never yet was unmoved, when +the pen was obedient to the dictates of the heart. I feel for your +situation; and if my example can teach wisdom even to the wise, I +have cause to triumph. This is the sweetest of rewards. At Berlin +I have received much honour, but little more. Men are deaf to him +who confides only in his right. What have I gained? Shadowy fame +for myself, and the vapour of hope for my heirs! + +"Truth and Trenck, my good friend, flourish not in courts. You +complain of priestcraft. He who would disturb their covetousness, +he who speaks against the false opinions they scatter, considers not +priests, and their aim, which is to dazzle the stupid and stupefy +the wise. Deprecate their wrath! avoid their poisoned shafts, or +they will infect tiny peace: will blast thy honour. And wherefore +should we incur this danger. To cure ignorance of error is +impossible. Let us then silently steal to our graves, and thus +small we escape the breath of envy. He who should enjoy all even +thought could grasp, should yet have but little. Having acquired +this knowledge, the passions of the soul are lulled to apathy. I +behold error, and I laugh; do thou, my friend, laugh also. If that +can comfort us, men will do our memory justice--when we are dead! +Fame plants her laurels over the grave, and there they flourish +best. + +"BARON TRENCK + +"Schangulach, near Konigsberg, +April 30th, 1787." + +"P.S--I have spoken, worthy Professor, the feelings of my heart, in +answer to your kind panegyric. You will but do me justice, when you +believe I think and act as I write with respect to my influence at +court, it is as insignificant at Berlin as at Vienna or at +Constantinople" + + +Among the various letters I have received, as it may answer a good +purpose, I hope the reader will not think the insertion of the +following improper. + +In a letter from an unknown correspondent, who desired me to speak +for this person at Berlin, eight others were enclosed. They came +from the above person in distress, to this correspondent: and I was +requested to let them appear in the Berlin Journal. I selected two +of them, and here present them to the world, as it can do me injury, +while they describe an unhappy victim of an extraordinary kind: and +may perhaps obtain him some relief. + +Should this hope be verified, I am acquainted with him who wishes to +remain concealed, can introduce him to the knowledge of such as +might wish to interfere in his behalf. Should they not, the reader +will still find them well-written and affecting letters; such as may +inspire compassion. The following is the first of those I selected. + + +LETTER I + +"Neuland, Feb 12th, 1787. + +"I thought I had so satisfactorily answered you by my last, that you +would have left me in peaceful possession of my sorrows! but your +remarks, entreaties, and remonstrances, succeed each other with such +rapidity, that I am induced to renew the contest. Cowardice, I +believe, you are convinced, is not a native in my heart, and should +I now yield, you might suppose that age and the miseries I have +suffered, had weakened my powers of mind as well as body; and that I +ought to have been classed among the unhappy multitudes whose +sufferings have sunk them to despondency. + +"Baron Trenck, that man of many woes, once so despised, but who now +is held in admiration, where he was before so much the object of +hatred; who now speaks so loudly in his own defence, where, +formerly, the man who had but whispered his name would have lived +suspected; Baron Trenck you propose as an example of salvation for +me. You are wrong. Have you considered how dissimilar our past +lives have been; how different, too, are our circumstances? Or, +omitting these, have you considered to whom you would have me +appeal? + +"In 1767, I became acquainted, in Vienna, with this sufferer of +fortitude, this agreeable companion. We are taught that a noble +aspect bespeaks a corresponding mind; this I believe him to possess. +But what expectations can I form from Baron Trenck? + +"I will briefly answer the questions you have put. Baron Trenck was +a man born to inherit great estates; this and the fire of his youth, +fanned by flattering hopes from his famous kinsman, rendered him too +haughty to his King; and this alone was the origin of all his future +sufferings. I, on the contrary, though the son of a Silesian +nobleman of property, did not inherit so much as the pay of a common +soldier; the family having been robbed by the hand of power, after +being accused by wickedness under the mask of virtue. You know my +father's fate, the esteem in which he was held by the Empress +Theresa; and that a pretended miracle was the occasion of his fall. +Suddenly was he plunged from the height to which industry, talents, +and virtue had raised him, to the depth of poverty. At length, at +the beginning of the seven years' war, one of the King of Prussia's +subjects represented him to the Austrian court as a dangerous +correspondent of Marshal Schwerin's. Then at sixty years of age, my +father was seized at Jagerndorf, and imprisoned in the fortress of +Gratz, in Styria. He had an allowance just sufficient to keep him +alive in his dungeon; but, for the space of seven years, never +beheld the sun rise or set. I was a boy when this happened, +however, I was not heard. I only received some pecuniary relief +from the Empress, with permission to shed my blood in her defence. +In this situation we first vowed eternal friendship; but from this I +soon was snatched by my father's enemies. What the Empress had +bestowed, her ministers tore from me. I was seized at midnight, and +was brought, in company with two other officers, to the fortress of +Gratz. Here I remained immured six years. My true name was +concealed, and another given me. + +"Peace being restored, Trenck, I, and my father were released; but +the mode of our release was very different. The first obtained his +freedom at the intercession of Theresa, she, too, afforded him a +provision. We, on the contrary, according to the amnesty, +stipulated in the treaty of peace, were led from our dungeons as +state prisoners, without inquiry concerning the verity or falsehood +of our crimes. Extreme poverty, wretchedness, and misery, were our +reward for the sufferings we had endured. + +"Not only was my health destroyed, but my jawbone was lost, eaten +away by the scurvy. I laid before Frederic the Great the proofs of +the calamities I had undergone, and the dismal state to which I was +reduced, by his foe, and for his sake; entreated bread to preserve +me and my father from starving, but his ear was deaf to my prayer, +his heart insensible to my sighs. + +"Providence, however, raised me up a saviour,--Count Gellhorn was +the man. After the taking of Breslau, he had been also sent a state +prisoner to Gratz. During his imprisonment, he had heard the report +of my sufferings and my innocence. No sooner did he learn I was +released, than he became my benefactor, my friend, and restored me +to the converse of men, to which I had so long been dead. + +"I defer the continuance of my narrative to the next post. The +remembrance of past woes inflict new ones. I am eternally." + + +LETTER II. + + +"February 24, 1787. + +"Dear Friend,--After an interval of silence, remembering my promise, +I again continue my story. + +"My personal sufferings have not been less than those of Trenck. +His, I am acquainted with only from the inaccurate relations I have +heard: my own I have felt. A colonel in the Prussian service, +whose name was Hallasch, was four years my companion; he was insane, +and believed himself the Christ that was to appear at the +millennium: he persecuted me with his reveries, which I was obliged +to listen to, and approve, or suffer violence from one stronger than +myself. + +"The society of men or books, everything that could console or +amuse, were forbidden me; and I considered it as wonderful that I +did not myself grow mad, in the company of this madman. Four hard +winters I existed without feeling the feeble emanation of a winter +sun, much less the warmth of fire. The madman felt more pity than +my keeper, and lent me his cloak to cover my body, though the other +denied me a truss of straw, notwithstanding I had lost the use of my +hands and feet. The place where we were confined was called a +chamber; it rather resembled the temple of Cloacina. The noxious +damps and vapours so poisoned my blood that an unskilful surgeon, +who tortured me during nine months, with insult as a Prussian +traitor, and state criminal, I lost the greatest part of my jaw. + +"Schottendorf was our governor and tyrant; a man who repaid the +friendship he found in the mansion of my fathers--with cruelty. He +was ripe for the sickle, and Time cut him off. Tormentini and Galer +were his successors in office, by them we were carefully watched, +but we were treated with commiseration. Their precautions rendered +imprisonment less wretched. Ever shall I hold their memory sacred. +Yet, benevolent as they were, their goodness was exceeded by that of +Rottensteiner, the head gaoler. He considered his prisoners as his +children; and he was their benefactor. Of this I had experience, +during two years after the release of Hallasch. + +"Here I but cursorily describe misery, at which the monarch shall +shudder, if the blood of a tyrant flow not in his veins. Theresa +could not wish these things. But she was fallible, and not +omniscient. + +"From the above narrative, you will perceive how opposite the +effects must be which the histories of Baron Trenck and of myself +must produce. + +"Trenck left his dungeon shielded from contempt; the day of freedom +was the day of triumph. I, on the contrary, was exposed to every +calamity. The spirit of Trenck again raised itself. I have +laboured many a night that I might neither beg nor perish the +following day: working for judges who neither knew law nor had +powers of mind to behold the beauty of justice: settling accounts +that, item after item, did not prove that the lord they were +intended for, was an imbecile dupe. + +"Trenck remembers his calamities, but the remembrance is +advantageous to himself and his family; while with me, the past did +but increase, did but agonise, the present and the future. He was +not like me, obliged to crouch in presence of those vulgar, those +incapable minds, that do but consider the bent back as the footstool +of pride. Every man is too busy to act in behalf of others; pity me +therefore, but advise me not to hope assistance, by petitioning +princes at second hand. I know your good wishes, and, for these, I +have nothing to return but barren thanks.--I am, &c" + + +The reasons why I published the foregoing letters are already +stated, and will appear satisfactory to the reader. Once more to +affairs that concern myself. + +I met at Berlin many old friends of both sexes; among others, an +aged invalid came to see me, who was at Glatz, in 1746, when I cut +my way through the guard. He was one of the sentinels before my +door, whom I had thrown down the stairs. + +The hour of quitting Berlin, and continuing my journey into Prussia, +towards Konigsberg, approached. On the eve of my departure, I had +the happiness of conversing with her Royal Highness the Princess +Amelia, sister of Frederic the Great. She protected me in my hour +of adversity; heaped benefits upon me, and contributed to gain my +deliverance. She received me as a friend, as an aged patriot; and +laid her commands upon me to write to my wife, and request that she +would come to Berlin, in the month of June, with her two eldest +daughters. I received her promise that the happiness of the latter +should be her care; nay, that she would remember my wife in her +will. + +At this moment, when about to depart, she asked me if I had money +sufficient for my journey: "Yes, madam," was my reply; "I want +nothing, ask nothing; but may you remember my children!" + +The deep feeling with which I pronounced these words moved the +princess; she showed me how she comprehended my meaning, and said, +"Return, my friend, quickly: I shall be most happy to see you." + +I left the room: a kind of indecision came over me. I was inclined +to remain longer at Berlin. Had I done so, my presence would have +been of great advantage to my children. Alas! under the guidance of +my evil genius, I began my journey. The purpose for which I came to +Berlin was frustrated: for after my departure, the Princess Amelia +died! + +Peace be to thy ashes, noble princess! Thy will was good, and be +that sufficient. I shall not want materials to write a commentary +on the history of Frederic, when, in company with thee, I shall +wander on the banks of Styx; there the events that happened on this +earth may be written without danger. + +So proceed we with our story. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +On the 22nd of March I pursued my journey to Konigsberg, but +remained two days at the court of the Margrave of Brandenburg, where +I was received with kindness. The Margrave had bestowed favours on +me, during my imprisonment at Magdeburg. + +I departed thence through Soldin to Schildberg, here to visit my +relation Sidau, who had married the daughter of my sister, which +daughter my sister had by her first husband, Waldow, of whom I have +before spoken. I found my kinsman a worthy man, and one who made +the daughter of an unfortunate sister happy. I was received at his +house within open arms; and, for the first time after an interval of +two-and-forty years, beheld one of my own relations. + +On my journey thither, I had the pleasure to meet with Lieutenant- +General Kowalsky: This gentleman was a lieutenant in the garrison +of Glatz, in 1745, and was a witness of my leap from the wall of the +rampart. He had read my history, some of the principal facts of +which he was acquainted with. Should anyone therefore doubt +concerning those incidents, I may refer to him, whose testimony +cannot be suspected. + +From Schildberg I proceeded to Landsberg, on the Warta. Here I +found my brother-in-law, Colonel Pape, commander of the Gotz +dragoons, and the second husband of my deceased sister: and here I +passed a joyous day. Everybody congratulated me on my return into +my country. + +I found relations in almost every garrison. Never did man receive +more marks of esteem throughout a kingdom. The knowledge of my +calamities procured me sweet consolation; and I were insensible +indeed, and ungrateful, did my heart remain unmoved on occasions +like these. + +In Austria I never can expect a like reception; I am there mistaken, +and I feel little inclination to labour at removing mistakes so +rooted. Yet, even there am I by the general voice, approved. Yes, +I am admired, but not known; pitied but not supported; honoured, but +not rewarded. + +When at Berlin, I discovered an error I had committed in the +commencement of my life. At the time I wrote I believed that the +postmaster-general of Berlin, Mr Derschau, was my mother's brother, +and the same person who, in 1742, was grand counsellor at Glogau, +and afterwards, president in East Friesland. I was deceived; the +Derschau who is my mother's brother is still living, and president +at Aurich in East Friesland. The postmaster was the son of the old +Derschau who died a general, and who was only distantly related to +my mother. Neither is the younger Derschau, who is the colonel of a +regiment at Burg, the brother of my mother, but only her first +cousin; one of their sisters married Lieut.-Colonel Ostau, whose +son, the President Ostau, now lives on his own estate, at Lablack in +Prussia. + +I was likewise deceived in having suspected a lieutenant, named +Mollinie, in the narrative I gave of my flight from Glatz, of having +acted as a spy upon me at Braunau, and of having sent information to +General Fouquet. I am sorry. This honest man is still alive, a +captain in Brandenburg. He was affected at my suspicion, fully +justified himself, and here I publicly apologise. He then was, and +again is become my friend. + +I have received a letter from one Lieutenant Brodowsky. This +gentleman is offended at finding his mother's name in my narrative, +and demands I should retract my words. + +My readers will certainly allow the virtue of Madame Brodowsky, at +Elbing, is not impeached. Although I have said I had the fortune to +be beloved by her, I have nowhere intimated that I asked, or that +she granted, improper favours. + +By the desire of a person of distinction, I shall insert an incident +which I omitted in a former part. This person was an eye-witness of +the incident I am about to relate, at Magdeburg, and reminded me of +the affair. It was my last attempt but one at flight. + +The circumstances were these:- + +As I found myself unable to get rid of more sand, after having again +cut through the planking, and mined the foundation, I made a hole +towards the ditch, in which three sentinels were stationed. This I +executed one night, it being easy, from the lightness of the sand, +to perform the work in two hours. + +No sooner had I broken through, than I threw one of my slippers +beside the palisades, that it might be supposed I had lost it when +climbing over them. These palisades, twelve feet in length, were +situated in the front of the principal fosse, and my sentinels stood +within. There was no sentry-box at the place where I had broken +through. + +This done, I returned into my prison, made another hole under the +planking, where I could hide myself, and stopped up the passage +behind me, so that it was not probable I could be seen or found. + +When daylight came, the sentinel saw the hole and gave the alarm, +the slipper was found, and it was concluded that Trenck had escaped +over the palisades, and was no longer in prison. + +Immediately the sub-governor came from Magdeburg, the guns were +fired, the horse scoured the country, and the subterranean passages +were all visited: no tidings came; no discovery was made, and the +conclusion was I had escaped. That I should fly without the +knowledge of the sentinels, was deemed impossible; the officer, and +all the guard, were put under arrest, and everybody was surprised. + +I, in the meantime, sat quiet in my hole, where I heard their +searches, and suppositions that I was gone. + +My heart bounded with joy, and I held escape to be indubitable. +They would not place sentinels over the prison the following night, +and I should then really have left my place of concealment, and, +most probably have safely arrived in Saxony. My destiny, however, +robbed me of all hope at the very moment when I supposed the +greatest of my difficulties were conquered. + +Everything seemed to happen as I could wish. The whole garrison +came, and visited the casemates, and all stood astonished at the +miracle they beheld. In this state things remained till four +o'clock in the afternoon. At length, an ensign of the militia came, +a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years of age, who had more wit +than any or all of them. He approached the hole, examined the +aperture next the fosse, thought it appeared small, tried to enter +it himself, found he could not, therefore concluded it was +impossible a man of my size could have passed through, and +accordingly called for a light. + +This was an accident I had not foreseen. Half stifled in my hole, I +had opened the canal under the planking. No sooner had the youth +procured a light, than he perceived my shirt, examined nearer, felt +about, and laid hold of me by the arm. The fox was caught, and the +laugh was universal. My confusion may easily be imagined. They all +came round me, paid me their compliments, and finding nothing better +was to be done, I laughed in company with them, and, thus laughing +was led back with an aching heart to be sorrowfully enchained in my +dungeon. + +I continued my journey, and arrived, on the fourth of April, at +Konigsberg, where my brother expected my arrival. We embraced as +brothers must, after the absence of two-and-forty years. Of all the +brothers and sisters I had left in this city, he only remained. He +lived a retired and peaceable life on his own estates. He had no +children living. I continued a fortnight within him and his wife. + +Here, for the first time, I learned what had happened to my +relations, during their absence. The wrath of the Great Frederic +extended itself to all my family. My second brother was an ensign +in the regiment of cuirassiers at Kiow, in 1746, when I first +incurred disgrace from the King. Six years he served, fought at +three battles, but, because his name was Trenck, never was promoted. +Weary of expectation he quitted the army, married, and lived on his +estates at Meicken, where he died about three years ago, and left +two sons, who are an honour to the family of the Trencks. + +Fame spoke him a person capable of rendering the state essential +service, as a military man; but he was my brother, and the King +would never suffer his name to be mentioned. + +My youngest brother applied himself to the sciences; it was proposed +that he should receive some civil employment, as he was an +intelligent and well-informed man; but the King answered in the +margin of the petition, + + +"No Trenck is good for anything." + + +Thus have all my family suffered, because of my unjust condemnation. +My last-mentioned brother chose the life of a private man, and lived +at his ease, in independence, among the first people of the kingdom. +The hatred of the monarch extended itself to my sister, who had +married the son of General Waldow, and lived in widowhood, from the +year 1749, to her second marriage. The misfortunes of this woman, +in consequence of the treachery of Weingarten, and the aid she sent +to me in my prison at Magdeburg, I have before related. She was +possessed of the fine estate of Hammer, near Landsberg on the Warta. +The Russian army changed the whole face of the country, and laid it +desert. She fled to Custrin, where everything was destroyed during +the siege. The Prussian army also demolished the fine forests. + +After the war, the King assisted all the ruined families of +Brandenburg; she alone obtained nothing, because she was my sister. +She petitioned the King, who repined she must seek for redress from +her dear brother. She died, in the flower of her age, a short time +after she had married her second husband, the present Colonel Pape: +her son, also, died last year. He was captain in the regiment of +the Gotz dragoons. Thus were all my brothers and sisters punished +because they were mine. Could it be believed that the great +Frederic would revenge himself on the children and the children's +children? Was it not sufficient that he should wreak his wrath on +my head alone? Why has the name of Trenck been hateful to him, to +the very hour of his death? + +One Derschau, captain of horse, and brother of my mother, addressed +himself to the King, in 1753, alleging he was my nearest relation +and feudal heir, and petitioned that he would bestow on him my +confiscated estates of Great Sharlack. The King demanded that the +necessary proofs should be sent from the chamber at Konigsberg. He +was uninformed that I had two brothers living, that Great Sharlack +was an ancient family inheritance, and that it appertained to my +brothers, and not to Derschau. My brothers then announced +themselves as the successors to this fief, and the King bestowed on +them the estate of Great Sharlack conformable to the feudal laws. +That it might be properly divided, it was put up to auction, and +bought by the youngest of my brothers, who paid surplus to the +other, and to my sister. He likewise paid debts charged upon it, +according to the express orders of the court. The persons who +called themselves my creditors were impostors, for I had no +creditors; I was but nineteen when my estates were confiscated, +consequently was not of age. By what right therefore, could such +debts be demanded or paid? Let them explain this who can. + +The same thing happened when an account was given in to the Fiscus +of the guardianship, although I acknowledge my guardians were men of +probity. One of them was eight years in possession, and when he +gave it up to my brothers he did not account with them for a single +shilling. At present, therefore, the affair stands thus:- Frederic +William has taken off the sentence of confiscation, and ordered me +to be put in possession of my estates, by a gracious rescript: +empowered by this I come and demand restitution; my brother answers, +"I have bought and paid for the estate, am the legal possessor, have +improved it so much that Great Sharlack, at present, is worth three +or four times the sum it was at the time of confiscation. Let the +Fiscus pay me its actual value, and then let them bestow it on whom +they please. If the reigning king gives what his predecessor sold +to me, I ought not thereby to be a loser." + +This is a problem which the people of Berlin must resolve. My +brother has no children, and, without going to law, will bequeath +Great Sharlack to mine, when he shall happen to die. If he is +forced in effect to restore it without being reimbursed, the King +instead of granting a favour, has not done justice. I do not +request any restitution like this, since such restitution would be +made without asking it as a favour of the King. If his Majesty +takes off the confiscation because he is convinced it was originally +violent and unjust, then have I a right to demand the rents of two- +and-forty years. This I am to require from the Fiscus, not from my +brother. And should the Fiscus only restore me the price for which +it then sold, it would commit a manifest injustice, since all +estates in the province of Prussia have, since 1746, tripled and +quadrupled their value. If the estates descend only to my children +after my death, I receive neither right nor favour; for, in this +case, I obtain nothing for myself, and shall remain deprived of the +rents, which, as the estate is at present farmed by my brother +amount to four thousand rix-dollars per annum. This estate cannot +be taken from him legally, since he enjoys it by right of purchase + +Such is the present state of the business. How the monarch shall +think proper to decide, will be seen hereafter. I have demanded of +the Fiscus that it shall make a fair valuation of Great Sharlack, +reimburse my brother, and restore it to me. My brother has other +estates. These he will dispose of by testament, according to his +good pleasure. Be these things as they may, the purpose of my +journey is accomplished. + +Thou, great God, has preserved me amidst my trouble. The purest +gratitude penetrates my heart. Oh, that thou wouldst shield man +from arbitrary power, and banish despotism from the earth! + +May this my narration be a lesson to the afflicted, afford hope to +the despairing, fortitude to the wavering, and humanise the hearts +of kings. Joyfully do I journey to the shores of death. My +conscience is void of reproach, posterity shall bless my memory, and +only the unfeeling, the wicked, the confessor of princes and the +pious impostor, shall vent their rage against my writings. My mind +is desirous of repose, and should this be denied me, still I will +not murmur. I now wish to steal gently towards that last asylum, +whither if I had gone in my youth, it must have been with colours +flying. Grant, Almighty God, that the prayer I this day make may be +heard, and that such may be the conclusion of my eventful life! + + + +HISTORY OF +FRANCIS BARON TRENCK. +WRITTEN BY +FREDERICK BARON TRENCK, +AS A NECESSARY SUPPLEMENT TO HIS OWN HISTORY. + + + +Francis Baron Trenck was born in 1714, in Calabria, a province of +Sicily. His father was then a governor and lieutenant-colonel +there, and died in 1743, at Leitschau, in Hungary, lord of the rich +manors of Prestowacz, Pleternitz, and Pakratz, in Sclavonia, and +other estates in Hungary. His christian name was John; he was my +father's brother, and born in Konigsberg in Prussia. + +The name of his mother was Kettler; she was born in Courland. +Trenck was a gentleman of ancient family; and his grandfather, who +was mine also, was of Prussia. His father, who had served Austria +to the age of sixty-eight, a colonel, and bore those wounds to his +grave which attested his valour. + +Francis Baron Trenck was his only son; he had attained the rank of +colonel during his father's life, and served with distinction in the +army of Maria Theresa. The history of his life, which he published +in 1747, when he was under confinement at Vienna, is so full of +minute circumstances, and so poorly written, that I shall make but +little use of it. Here I shall relate only what I have heard from +his enemies themselves, and what I have myself seen. His father, a +bold and daring soldier, idolised his only son, and wholly neglected +his education, so that the passions of this son were most unbridled. +Endowed with extraordinary talents, this ardent youth was early +allowed to indulge the impetuous fire of his constitution. +Moderation was utterly unknown to him, and good fortune most +remarkably favoured all his enterprises. These were numerous, +undertaken from no principle of virtue, nor actuated by any motives +of morality. The love of money, and the desire of fame, were the +passions of his soul. To his warlike inclination was added the +insensibility of a heart natively wicked: and he found himself an +actor, on the great scene of life, at a time when the earth was +drenched with human gore, and when the sword decided the fate of +nations: hence this chief of pandours, this scourge of the +unprotected, became an iron-hearted enemy, a ferocious foe of the +human race, a formidable enemy in private life, and a perfidious +friend. + +Constitutionally sanguinary, addicted to pleasures, sensual, and +brave; he was unappeased when affronted, prompt to act, in the +moment of danger circumspect, and, when under the dominion of anger, +cruel even to fury; irreconcilable, artful, fertile in invention, +and ever intent on great projects. When youth and beauty inspired +love, he then became supple, insinuating, amiable, gentle, +respectful; yet, ever excited by pride, each conquest gave but new +desires of adding another slave over whom he might domineer; and, +whenever he encountered resistance, he then even ceased to be +avaricious. A prudent and intelligent woman, turning this part of +his character to advantage, might have formed this man to virtue, +probity, and the love of the human race: but, from his infancy, his +will had never suffered restraint, and he thought nothing +impossible. As a soldier, he was bold even to temerity; capable of +the most hazardous enterprise, and laughing at the danger he +provoked. His projects were the more elevated because the +acquirement of renown was the intent of all his actions. In council +he was dangerous; everything must be conceded to his views. To him +the means by which his end was to be obtained were indifferent. + +The Croats at this time were undisciplined, prone to rapine, +thirsting for human blood, and only taught obedience by violence; +these had been the companions of his infancy: these he undertook to +subject, by servitude and fear, to military subordination, and from +banditti to make them soldiers. + +With respect to his exterior, Nature had been prodigal of her +favours. His height was six feet three inches, and the symmetry of +his limbs was exact; his form was upright, his countenance +agreeable, yet masculine, and his strength almost incredible. He +could sever the head from the body of the largest ox with one stroke +of his sabre, and was so adroit at this Turkish practice, that he at +length could behead men in the manner boys do nettles. In the +latter years of his life, his aspect had become terrible; for, +during the Bavarian war, he had been scorched by the explosion of a +powder-barrel, and ever after his face remained scarred and +impregnated with black spots. In company he rendered himself +exceedingly agreeable, spoke seven languages fluently, was jocular, +possessed wit, and in serious conversation, understanding; had +learned music, sung with taste, and had a good voice, so that he +might have been well paid as an actor, had that been his fate. He +could even, when so disposed, become gentle and complaisant. + +His look told the man of observation that he was cunning and +choleric; and his wrath was terrible. He was ever suspicious, +because he judged others by himself. Self-interest and avarice +constituted his ruling passion, and, whenever he had an opportunity +of increasing his wealth, he disregarded the duties of religion, the +ties of honour, and human pity. In the thirty-first year of his +age, when he was possessed of nearly two millions, he did not expend +a florin per day. + +As he and his pandours always led the van, and as he thence had an +opportunity to ravage the enemy's country, at the head of troops +addicted to rapine, we must not wonder that Bavaria, Silesia, and +Alsatia were so plundered. He alone purchased the booty from his +troops at a low price, and this he sent by water to his own estates. +If any one of his officers had made a rich capture, Trenck instantly +became his enemy. He was sent on every dangerous expedition till he +fell, and the colonel became his universal heir, for Trenck +appropriated all he could to himself. He was reputed to be a man +most expert in military science, an excellent engineer, and to +possess an exact eye in estimating heights and distances. In all +enterprises he was first; inured to fatigue, his iron body could +support it without inconvenience. Nothing escaped his vigilance, +all was turned to account, and what valour could not accomplish, +cunning supplied. His pride suffered him not to incur an +obligation, and thus he was unthankful; his actions all centred in +self, and as he was remarkably fortunate in whatever he undertook, +he ascribed even that, which accident gave, to foresight and genius. + +Yet was he ever, as an officer, a most useful and inestimable man to +the state. His respect for his sovereign, and his zeal in her +service, were unbounded; whenever her glory was at stake, he devoted +himself her victim. This I assert to be truth: I knew him well. +Of little consequence is it to me, whether the historians of Maria +Theresa have, or have not, misrepresented his talents and the fame +he deserved. + +The life of Trenck I write for the following reasons. He had the +honour first to form, and command, regular troops, raised in +Sclavonia. The soldiers acquired glory under their leader, and +sustained the tottering power of Austria: they made libations of +their blood in its defence, as did Trenck, in various battles. He +served like a brave warrior, with zeal, loyalty, and effect. The +vile persecutions of his enemies at Vienna, with whom he refused to +share the plunder he had made, lost him honour, liberty, and not +only the personal property he had acquired, but likewise the family +patrimony in Hungary. He died like a malefactor, illegally +sentenced to imprisonment; and knaves have affirmed, and fools have +believed, and believe still, he took the King of Prussia prisoner, +and that he granted him freedom in consequence of a bribe. So have +the loyal Hungarians been led to suppose that an Hungarian had +really been a traitor. + +By my writings, I wish to prove to this noble nation on the +contrary, that Trenck, for his loyalty deserved compassion, esteem, +and honour in his country. This I have already done in the former +part of my history. The dead Trenck can speak no more; but it is +the duty of the living ever to speak in defence of right. + +Trenck wrote his own history while he was confined in the arsenal at +Vienna; and, in the last two sheets he openly related the manner in +which he had been treated by the council of war, of which Count +Loewenwalde, his greatest enemy, was president. The count, however, +found supporters too powerful, and these sheets were torn from the +book and publicly burnt at Vienna. Defence after this became +impossible: he groaned under the grip of his adversaries. + +I have given a literal copy of these sheets in the first part of +this history; and I again repeat I am able to prove the truth of +what is there asserted, by the acts, proceedings, and judicial +registers which are in my possession. He was confined in the +Spielberg, because much was to be dreaded from an injured man, whom +they knew capable of the most desperate enterprises. He died +defenceless, the sacrifice of iniquity and unjust judges. He died, +and his honour remained unprotected. I am by duty his defender: +although he expired my personal enemy, the author of nearly all the +ills I have suffered. I came to the knowledge of his persecutors +too late for the unfortunate Trenck. And who are those who have +divided his spoils--who slew him that they might fatten themselves? +Your titles have been paid for from the coffers of Trenck! Yet +neither can your cabals, your wealthy protectors, your own riches, +nor your credit at court, deprive me of the right of vindicating his +fame. + +I have boldly written, have openly shown, that Trenck was pillaged +by you; that he served the house of Austria as a worthy man, with +zeal; not in court-martials and committees of inquiry, but fighting +for his country, sharing the soldier's glory, falling the victim of +envy and power; falling by the hands of those who are unworthy of +judging merit. He take the King of Prussia! They might as well say +he took the Emperor of Morocco. + +Yes, he is dead. But should any man dare affirm that the Hungarian +or the Prussian Trenck were capable of treason, that either of them +merited punishment for having betrayed their country, he will not +have long to seek before he will be informed that he has done us +both injustice. After this preface, I shall continue my narrative +on the plan I proposed. Trenck, the father, was a miser, yet a +well-meaning man. Trenck the son, was a youthful soldier, who stood +in need of money to indulge his pleasures. Many curious pranks he +played, when an ensign in I know not what regiment of foot. He went +to one of the collectors of his father's rents, and demanded money; +the collector refused to give him any, and Trenck clove his skull +with his sabre. A prosecution was entered against him, but, war +breaking out in 1756, between the Russians and the Turks, he raised +a squadron of hussars, and went with it into the Russian service, +contrary to the will of his father. + +In this war he distinguished himself highly, and acquired the +protection of Field-marshal Munich. He was so successful as a +leader against the Tartars, that he became very famous in the army, +and at the end of the campaign, was appointed major. + +It happened that flying parties of Turks approached his regiment +when on march, and Trenck seeing a favourable moment for attacking +them, went to Colonel Rumin, desiring the regiment might be led to +the charge, and that they might profit by so fair an opportunity. +The colonel answered, "I have no such orders." Trenck then demanded +permission to charge the Turks only with his own squadron; but this +was refused. He became furious, for he had never been acquainted +with contradiction or subordination, and cried aloud to the +soldiers, "If there be one brave man among you, let him follow me." +About two hundred stepped from the ranks; he put himself at their +head, routed the enemy, made a horrible carnage, and returned +intoxicated with joy, accompanied by prisoners, and loaded with +dissevered heads. Once more arrived in presence of the regiment, he +attacked the colonel, treated him like the rankest coward, called +him opprobrious names, without the other daring to make the least +resistance. The adventure, however, became known; Trenck was +arrested, and ordered to be tried. His judges condemned him to be +shot, and the day was appointed, but the evening before execution, +Field-marshal Munich passed near the tent in which he was confined, +Trenck saw him, came forward, and said, "Certainly your excellency +will not suffer a foreign cavalier to die an ignominious death +because he has chastised a cowardly Russian! If I must die, at +least give me permission to saddle my horse, and with my sabre in my +hand, let me fall surrounded by the enemy." + +The Tartars happened to be at this time harassing the advanced +posts; the Field-marshal shrugged his shoulders, and was silent. +Trenck, not discouraged, added, "I will undertake to bring your +excellency three heads or lose my own. Will you, if I do, be +pleased to grant me my pardon?" The Field-marshal replied, "Yes." +The horse of Trenck was brought: he galloped to the enemy, and +returned within four heads knotted to the horse's mane, himself only +slightly wounded in the shoulder. Munich immediately appointed him +major in another regiment. Various and almost incredible were his +feats: among others, a Tartar ran him through the belly with his +lance: Trenck grasped the projecting end with his hands, exerted +his prodigious strength, broke the lance, set spurs to his horse, +and happily escaped. Of this wound, dreadful as it was, he was soon +cured. I myself have seen the two scars, and can affirm the fact; I +also learned this, and many others in 1746, from officers who had +served in the same army. + +During this campaign he behaved with great honour, was wounded by an +arrow in the leg, and gained the affection of Field-marshal Munich, +but excited the envy of all the Russians. Towards the conclusion of +the war he had a new misfortune; his regiment was incommoded on all +sides by the enemy: he entreated his colonel, for leave to attack +them. The colonel was once more a Russian, and he was refused. +Trenck gave him a blow, and called aloud to the soldiers to follow +him. They however being Russians, remained motionless, and he was +put under arrest. The court-martial sentenced him to death, and all +hope of reprieve seemed over. The general would have granted his +pardon, but as he was himself a foreigner, he was fearful of +offending the Russians. The day of execution came, and he was led +to the place of death, Munich so contrived it that Field-marshal +Lowenthal should pass by, at this moment, in company within his +lady. Trenck profited by the opportunity, spoke boldly, and +prevailed. A reprieve was requested, and the sentence was changed +into banishment and labour in Siberia. + +Trenck protested against this sentence. The Field-marshal wrote to +Petersburg, and an order came that he should be broken, and +conducted out of the Russian territories. This order was executed, +and he returned into Hungary to his father. At this period he +espoused the daughter of Field-marshal Baron Tillier, one of the +first families in Switzerland. The two brothers of his wife each +became lieutenant-general, one of whom died honourably during the +seven years' war. The other was made commander-general in Croatia, +where he is still living, and is at the head of a regiment of +infantry that bears his name. Trenck did not live long with his +lady. She was pregnant, and he took her to hunt with him in a +marsh: she returned ill, and died without leaving him an heir. + +Having no opportunity to indulge his warlike inclination, because of +the general peace, he conceived the project of extirpating the +Sclavonian banditti. + +Trenck, to execute this enterprise, employed his own pandours. The +contest now commenced and activity and courage were necessary to +ensure success in such a war. Trenck seemed born for this murderous +trade. Day and night he chased them like wild beasts, killing now +one, then another, and without distinction, treating them with the +utmost barbarity. + +Two incidents will sufficiently paint the character of this +unaccountable man. He had impaled alive the father of a Harum- +Bashaw. One evening he was going on patrol, along the banks of a +brook, which separated two provinces. On the opposite shore was the +son of this impaled father, with his Croats. It was moonlight, and +the latter called aloud--"I heard thy voice, Trenck! Thou hast +impaled my father! If thou hast a heart in thy body, come hither +over the bridge, I will send away my followers; leave thy firearms, +come only with thy sabre, and we will then see who shall remain the +victor." The agreement was made--and the Harum-Bashaw sent away his +Croats, and laid down his musket. Trenck passed the wooden bridge, +both drew their sabres; but Trenck treacherously killed his +adversary with a pistol, that he had concealed, after which he +severed his head from his body, took it with him, and stuck it upon +a pole. + +One day, when hunting, he heard music in a lone house which belonged +to one of his vassals. He was thirsty, entered, and found the +guests seated at table. He sat down and ate within them, not +knowing this was a rendezvous for the banditti. As he was seated +opposite the door, he saw two Harum-Bashaws enter. His musket stood +in a corner; he was struck with terror, but one of them addressed +him thus:- "Neither thee, nor thy vassals, Trenck, have we ever +injured, yet thou dost pursue us with cruelty. Eat thy fill. When +thou hast satisfied thy hunger, we will then, sabre in thy hand, see +who has most justice on his side, and whether thou art as courageous +as men speak thee." + +Hereupon they sat down and began to eat and drink and make merry. +The situation of Trenck could not be very pleasant. He recollected +that besides these, there might be more of their companions, +without, ready to fall upon him; he, therefore, privately drew his +pistols, held them under the table while he cocked them, presented +each hand to the body of a Harum-Bashaw, fired them both at the same +instant, overset the table on the guests, and escaped from the +house. As he went he had time to seize on one of their muskets, +which was standing at the door. One of the Croats was left +weltering in his blood; the other disengaged himself from the table, +and ran after Trenck, who suffered him to approach, killed him +within his own gun, struck off his head and brought it home in +triumph. By this action the banditti were deprived of their two +most valorous chiefs. + +War broke out about this time, in 1740, when all the Hungarians took +up arms in defence of their beloved queen. Trenck offered to raise +a free corps of pandours, and requested an amnesty for the banditti +who should join his troops. His request was granted, he published +the amnesty, and began to raise recruits; he therefore enrolled his +own vassals, formed a corps of 500 men, went in search of the +robbers, drove them into a strait between the Save and Sarsaws, +where they capitulated, and 300 of them enrolled themselves with his +pandours. Most of these men were six feet in height, determined, +and experienced soldiers. To indulge them on certain occasions in +their thirst of pillage were means which he successfully employed to +lead them where he pleased, and to render them victorious. By means +like these Trenck became at once the terror of the enemies of +Austria, and rendered signal services to his Empress. + +In 1741, while he was exercising his regiment, a company fired upon +Trenck, and killed his horse, and his servant that stood by his +side. He ran to the company, counted one, two, three, and beheaded +the fourth. He was continuing this, when a Harum-Bashaw left the +ranks, drew his sword, and called aloud, "It is I who fired upon +thee, defend thyself." The soldiers stood motionless spectators. +Trenck attacked him and hewed him down. He was proceeding to +continue the execution of the fourth man, but the whole regiment +presented their arms. The revolt became general, and Trenck, still +holding his drawn sabre, ran amidst them, hacking about him on all +sides. The excess of his rage was terrific; the soldiers all called +"Hold!" each fell on their knees, and promised obedience. After +this he addressed them in language suitable to their character, and +from that time they became invincible soldiers whenever they were +headed by himself. Let the situation of Trenck be considered; he +was the chief of a band of robbers who supposed they were authorised +to take whatever they pleased in an enemy's country, a banditti that +had so often defied the gallows, and had never known military +subordination. Let such men be led to the field and opposed to +regular troops. That they are never actuated by honour is evident: +their leader is obliged to excite their avidity by the hope of +plunder to engage them in action; for if they perceive no personal +advantage, the interest of the sovereign is insufficient to make +them act. + +Trenck had need of a particular species of officers. They must be +daring, yet cautious. They are partisans, and must be capable of +supporting fatigue, desirous of daily seeking the enemy, and +hazarding their lives. As he was himself never absent at the time +of action, he soon became acquainted with those whom he called old +women, and sent them from his regiment. These officers then +repaired to Vienna, vented their complaints, and were heard. His +avarice prevented him from making any division of his booty with +those gentlemen who constituted the military courts, thus neglecting +what was customary at Vienna: and in this originated the +prosecution to which he fell a victim. Scarcely had he entered +Austria with his troops before he found an opportunity of reaping +laurels. The French army was defeated at Lintz. Trenck pursued +them, treated his prisoners with barbarity; and, never granting +quarter in battle, the very appearance of his pandours inspired +terror. + +Trenck was a great warrior, and knew how to profit by the slightest +advantage. From this time he became renowned, gained the confidence +of Prince Charles, and the esteem of the Field-marshal Count +Kevenhuller, who discovered the worth of the man. No partisan had +ever before obtained so much power as Trenck; he everywhere pursued +the enemy as far as Bavaria, carrying fire and sword wherever he +went. As it was known Trenck gave no quarter, the Bavarians and the +French flew at the sight of a red mantle. Pillage and murder +attended the pandours wherever they went, and their colonel bought +up all the booty they acquired. Chamb, in particular, was a scene +of a dreadful massacre. The city was set on fire and the people +perished in the flames; women and children who endeavoured to fly, +were obliged to pass over a bridge, where they were first stripped, +and afterwards thrown into the water. This action was one of the +accusations brought against Trenck when he was prosecuted, but he +alleged his justification. + +The banks of the Iser to this day reverberate groans for the +barbarities of Trenck. Deckendorf and Filtzhofen felt all his fury. +In the first of these towns 600 French prisoners capitulated, +although his forces were four miles distant; but he formed a kind of +straw men, on which he put pandour caps and cloaks, and set them up +as sentinels; and the garrison, deceived by this stratagem, signed +the capitulation. The services he rendered the army during the +Bavarian war are well known in the history of Maria Theresa. The +good he has done has been passed over in silence, because he died +under misfortunes, and did not leave his historian a legacy. He was +informed that either at Deckendorf or Filtzhofen there was a barrel +containing 20,000 florins, concealed at the house of an apothecary. +Impelled by the desire of booty, Trenck hastened to the place, with +a candle in his hand, searching everywhere, and, in his hurry, +dropped a spark into a quantity of gunpowder, by the explosion of +which he was dreadfully scorched. They carried him off, but the +scars and the gunpowder with which his skin was blackened rendered +his countenance terrific. + +The present Field-marshal Laudohn was at that time a lieutenant in +his regiment, and happened to be at the door when his colonel was +burnt. Scarcely was Trenck cured before his spies informed him that +Laudohn had plenty of money. Immediately he suspected that Laudohn +had found the barrel of florins, and from that moment he persecuted +him by all imaginable arts. Wherever there was danger he sent him, +at the head of 30 men, against 300, hoping to have him cut off, and +to make himself his heir. This was so often repeated that Laudohn +returned to Vienna, where, joining the crowd of the enemies of +Trenck, he became instrumental in his destruction. Yet it is +certain that, in the beginning, Trenck had shown a friendship for +Laudohn, had given him a commission, and that this great man +learned, under the command of Trenck, his military principles. +General Tillier was likewise formed in this nursery of soldiers, +where officers were taught activity, stratagem, and enterprise. And +who are more capable of commanding a Hungarian army than Tillier and +Laudohn? I, one day said to Trenck, when he was in Vienna, +embarrassed by his prosecution, and when he had published a +defamatory writing against all his accusers, excepting no man,--"You +have always told me that Laudohn was one of the most capable of your +officers, and that he is a worthy man. Wherefore then do you class +him among such wretches?" He replied, "What! would you have me +praise a man who labours, at the head of my enemies, to rob me of +honour, property, and life!" I have related this incident to prove +by the testimony of so honourable a man, that Trenck was a great +soldier, and a zealous patriot, and that he never took the King of +Prussia prisoner, as has been falsely affirmed, and as is still +believed by the multitude. Had such a thing happened, Laudohn must +have been present, and would have supported this charge. + +Bavaria was plundered by Trenck; barges were loaded with gold, +silver, and effects, which he sent to his estates in Sclavonia; +Prince Charles and Count Kevenhuller countenanced his proceedings; +but when Field-marshal Neuperg was at the head of the army, he had +other principles. He was connected with Baron Tiebes, a counsellor +of the Hofkriegsrath who was the enemy of Trenck. Persecution was +at that time instituted against him, and Trenck was imprisoned; but +he defended himself so powerfully that in a month he was set at +liberty. Mentzel, meanwhile, had the command of the pandours; and +this man appropriated to himself the fame that Trenck had acquired +by the warriors he himself had formed. Mentzel never was the equal +of Trenck. Trenck now increased the number of his Croats to 4,000, +from whom, in 1743, a regiment of Hungarian regulars was formed, but +who still retained the name of pandours. It was a regiment of +infantry. Trenck also had 600 hussars and 150 chasseurs, whom he +equipped at his own expense. Yet, when this corps was reduced, all +was sold for the profit of the imperial treasury, without bringing a +shilling to account. + +With a corps so numerous, he undertook great enterprises. The enemy +fled wherever he appeared. He led the van, raised contributions +which amounted to several millions, delivered unto the Empress, in +five years, 7,000 prisoners, French and Bavarian, and more than +3,000 Prussians. He never was defeated. He gained confidence among +his troops, and will remain in history the first man who rendered +the savage Croats efficient soldiers. This it was impossible to +perform among a bloodthirsty people without being guilty himself of +cruel acts. The necessity of the excesses he committed, when the +army was in want of forage, was so evident that he received +permission of Prince Charles, though for this he was afterwards +prosecuted; while the plunders of Brenklau, Mentzel, and the whole +army, were never once questioned. That Trenck advanced more than +100,000 florins to his regiment, I clearly proved, in 1750. This +proof came too late. He was dead. The evidence I brought +occasioned a quartermaster, Frederici, to be imprisoned. He +confessed the embezzlement of this money, yet found so many friends +among the enemies of Trenck that he refunded nothing, but was +released in the year 1754, when I was thrown into the dungeon of +Magdeburg. + +My cousin, who had lived like a miser, did not, at his death, leave +half of the property he had inherited from his father, and which +legally descended to me; it was torn from me by violence. + +In 1744 he obliged the French to retire beyond the Rhine, seized on +a fort near Phillipsburg, swam across the river with 70 pandours, +attacked the fortifications, slew the Marquis de Crevecoeur, with +his own hand manned the post, traversed the other arm of the Rhine, +surprised two Bavarian regiments of cavalry, and by this daring +manoeuvre, secured the passage of the Rhine to the whole army, +which, but for him, would not have been effected. Wherever he came, +he laid the country under contribution, and, at this moment of +triumph for the Austrian arms, opened himself a passage to enter the +territories of France. In September, 1744, war having broken out +between Austria and Prussia, the imperial army was obliged to +return, abandon Alsatia, and hasten to the succour of the Austrian +states. Trenck succeeded in covering its retreat. The history of +Maria Theresa declares the damages he did the enemy, during this +campaign. He gave proof of his capacity at Tabor and Budweis. With +300 men he attacked one of these towns, which was defended by the +two Prussian regiments of Walrabe and Kreutz. He found the water in +the moats was deeper than his spies had declared, and the scaling +ladders too short: most of those led to the attack were killed, or +drowned in the water, and the small number that crossed the moats +were made prisoners. The garrison of Tabor, of Budweis, and of the +castle of Frauenburg, were, nevertheless, induced to capitulate, and +yield themselves prisoners, although the main body under Trenck was +more than five miles distant. His corps did not come up till the +morrow, and it was ridiculous enough to see the pandours dressed in +the caps of the Prussian fusiliers and pioneers, which they wore +instead of their own, and which they afterwards continued to wear. + +The campaign to him was glorious, and the enemy's want of light +troops gave free scope to his enterprises, highly to their +prejudice. He never returned without prisoners. He passed the Elbe +near Pardubitz, took the magazines, and was the cause of the great +dearth and desertion among the Prussians, and of that hasty retreat +to which they were forced. The King was at Cohn with his +headquarters, where I was with him, when Trenck attacked the town, +which he must have carried, had he not been wounded by a cannon- +ball, which shattered his foot. He was taken away, the attack did +not succeed, and his men, without him, remained but so many ciphers. + +In 1745, he went to Vienna, where his entrance resembled a triumph. +The Empress received him with distinction. He appeared on crutches; +she, by her condescending speech, inflamed his zeal to extravagance. +Who would have supposed that the favourite of the people would that +year be abandoned to the power of his enemies; who had not rendered, +during their whole lives, so much essential service to the state as +Trenck had done in a single day? He returned to his estate, raised +eight hundred recruits that he might aid in the next campaign, and +gather new laurels. He rejoined the army. At the battle of Sorau +he fell upon the Prussian camp, and seized upon the tent of the +King, but he came too late to attack the rear, as had been +preconcerted. Frederic gave up his camp to be plundered, for the +Croats could not be drawn off to attack the army, and the King was +prepared to receive them, even if they should. In the meantime, the +imperial army was defeated. + +Here was a field for the enemies of Trenck to incite the people +against him. They accused him of having made the King of Prussia a +prisoner in his tent; that he also pillaged the camp instead of +attacking the rear of the army. After having ended the campaign, he +returned to Vienna to defend himself. Here he found twenty-three +officers, whom he expelled his regiment, most of them for cowardice +or mean actions. They were ready to bear false testimony. +Counsellor Weber and Gen. Loewenwalde, had sworn his downfall, which +they effected. Trenck despised their attacks. While things +remained thus, they instructed one of the Empress's attendants to +profit by every opportunity to deprive him of her confidence. It +was affirmed, Trenck is an atheist! who never prayed to the holy +Virgin! The officers, whom he had broken, whispered it in coffee- +houses, that Trenck had taken and set free the King of Prussia! +This raised the cry among the fanatical mob of Vienna. Teased by +their complaints, and at the requisition of Trenck himself, the +Empress commanded that examination should be undertaken of these +accusations. Field-marshal Cordova was chosen to preside over this +inquiry. He spoke the truth, and drew up a statement of the case; +it was presented to the Court, and which I shall here insert. + +"The complaints brought against him did not require a court-martial. +Trenck had broken some officers by his own authority; their demands +ought to be satisfied by the payment of 12,000 florins. The +remaining accusations were all the attempts of revenge and calumny, +and were insufficient to detain at Vienna, entangled in law-suits, a +man so necessary to the army. Moreover, it would be prudent not to +inquire into trifles, in consideration of his important services." + +Trenck, dissatisfied by this sentence, and animated by avarice and +pride, refused to pay a single florin, and returned to Sclavonia. +His presence was necessary at Vienna, to obtain other advantages +against his enemies. They gave the Empress to understand, that +being a man excessively dangerous, whenever he supposed himself +injured, Trenck had spread pernicious views in Sclavonia, where all +men were dependent on him. He raised six hundred more men, with +whom he made a campaign in the Netherlands, and in October, 1746, +returned to Vienna. After the peace of Dresden, his regiment was +incorporated among the regulars, and served against France. + +Scarcely had he arrived at Vienna, before an order came from the +Empress that he must remain under arrest in his chamber. Here he +rendered himself guilty by the most imprudent action of his whole +life. He ordered his carriage and horses, despising the imperial +mandate, went to the theatre, when the Empress was present. In one +of the boxes he saw Count Gossau, in company with a comrade of his +own, whom he had cashiered: these persons were among the foremost +of his accusers. Inflamed with the desire of revenge, he entered +the box, seized Count Gossau, and would have thrown him into the pit +in the presence of the Sovereign herself. Gossau drew his sword, +and tried to run him through, but the latter seizing it, wounded +himself in the hand. Everybody ran to save Gossau, who was unable +to defend himself. After this exploit, the colonel of the pandours +returned foaming home. + +Such an action rendered it impossible for Maria Theresa to declare +herself the protectress of a man so rash. Sentinels were placed +over him, and his enemies profiting by his imprudence and passion, +he was ordered to be tried by a court-martial. General Loewenwalde +intrigued so successfully, that he procured himself to be named, by +the Hofkriegsrath, president of the court-martial, and to be charged +with the sequestration of the property of Trenck. In vain did the +latter protest against his judge. The very man, whom the year +before he had kicked out of the ante-chamber of Prince Charles, +received full power to denounce him guilty. Then was it that public +notice was given that all those who would prefer complaints against +Colonel Baron Trenck should receive a ducat per day while the +council continued to sit. They soon amounted to fifty-four, who, in +a space of four months, received 15,000 florins from the property of +Trenck. The judge himself purchased the depositions of false +witnesses; and Count Loewenwalde offered me one thousand ducats, if +I would betray the secrets of my cousin, and promised me I should be +put in possession of my confiscated estates in Prussia, and have a +company in a regiment. + +That the indictment and the examinations of the witnesses were +falsified, has already been proved in the revision of the cause; but +as the indictment did not contain one article that could affect his +life, they invented the following stratagem. A courtesan, a +mistress of Baron Rippenda, who was a member of the court-martial, +was bribed, and made oath she was the daughter of Count Schwerin, +Field-marshal in the Prussian service, and that she was in bed with +the King of Prussia, when Trenck surprised the camp at Sorau, made +her and the King prisoners, and restored them their freedom. She +even ventured to name Baron Hilaire, aide-de-camp to Frederic, whom +she affirmed was then present. Hilaire, who afterwards married the +Baroness Tillier, and who consequently was brother-in-law to Trenck, +fortunately happened to be in Vienna. He was confronted with this +woman, and through her falsehoods, the gentleman was obliged to +remain in prison, where they offered him bribes, which be refused to +accept; and, to prevent his speaking, he continued in prison some +weeks, and was not released till this shameful proceeding was made +public. + +Count Loewenwalde invented another artifice; he drew up a false +indictment; and, that he might be prevented all means of +justification, he chose a day to put it in practice, when the +Emperor and Prince Charles were hunting at Holitzsch. Loewenwalde's +court-martial had already signed a sentence of death, and every +preparation for the erection of a scaffold was made. His intention +was then to go to the Empress and induce her to sign the sentence, +under a pretence that there was some imminent peril at hand, if a +man so dangerous to the state was not immediately put out of the +way, and that it would be necessary to execute the sentence of death +before the Emperor could return. He well knew the Emperor was +better acquainted with Trenck, and had ever been his protector. + +Had this succeeded, Trenck would have died like a traitor; Miss +Schwerin would have espoused the aide-de-camp of Loewenwalde, with +fifty thousand florins, taken from the funds of Trenck, and his +property would have been divided between his judges and his +accusers. As it happened, however, the valet-de-chambre of Count +Loewenwalde, who was an honest man, and who had an intimacy with a +former mistress of Trenck, confided the whole secret to her. She +immediately flew to Colonel Baron Lopresti, who was the sincere +friend of my kinsman, and, being then powerful at Court, was his +deliverer. The Emperor and Prince Charles were informed of what was +in agitation, but they thought proper to keep it secret. The +hunting at Holitzsch took place on the appointed day. Count +Loewenwalde made his appearance before the Empress, and solicited +her to sign the sentence. She, however, had been pre-informed, the +Emperor having returned on the same day, and their abominable +project proved abortive. Miss Schwerin was imprisoned; Loewenwalde +was deprived of his power, as well as of the sequestration of the +effects of Trenck; a total revision of the proceedings of the court- +martial, and of the prosecution of my cousin, was ordered, which was +an event, that, till then, was unexampled at Vienna. + +Trenck was freed from his fetters, removed to the arsenal, an +officer guarded him, and he had every convenience he could wish. He +was also permitted the use of a counsellor to defend his cause. I +obtained by the influence of the Emperor leave to visit him and to +aid him in all things. It was at this epoch that I arrived at +Vienna, and, at this very instant, when the revision of the +prosecution was commanded and determined on. Count Loewenwalde, +supposing me a needy, thoughtless youth, endeavoured to bribe me, +and prevail on me to betray my kinsman. Prince Charles of Lorraine +then desired me seriously to represent to Trenck that his avarice +had been the cause of all these troubles, for he hind refused to pay +the paltry sum of 12,000 florins, by which he might have silenced +all his accusers; but that, as at present, affairs had become so +serious, he ought himself to secure his judges for the revision of +the suit; to spare no money, and then he might be certain of every +protection the prince could afford. + +The respectable Field-marshal Konigseck, governor of Vienna, was +appointed president; but, being an old man, he was unable to preside +at any one sitting of the court. Count S- was the vice-president, a +subtle, insatiable judge, who never thought he had money enough. I +took 3,000 ducats, which Baron Lopresti gave me, to this most worthy +counsellor. The two counsellors, Komerkansquy and Zetto, each +received 4,000 rix-dollars, with a promise of double the sum if +Trenck were acquitted; there was a formal contract drawn up, which a +certain noble lord secretly signed. Trenck was defended by the +advocate Gerhauer and by Berger. They began with the self-created +daughter of Marshal Schwerin; and, to conceal the iniquitous +proceedings of the late court-martial, it was thought proper that +she should appear insane, and return incoherent answers to the +questions put by the examiners. Trenck insisted that a more severe +inquiry should be instituted; but they affirmed that she had been +conducted out of the Austrian territories. + +Trenck was accused of having ordered a certain pandour, named Paul +Diack, to suffer the bastinado of 1,000 blows, and that he had died +under the punishment. This was sworn to by two officers, now great +men in the army, who said they were eye-witnesses of the fact. When +the revision of the suit began, Trenck sent me into Sclavonia, where +I found the dead Paul Diack alive, and brought him to Vienna. He +was examined by the court, where it appeared that the two officers, +who had sworn they were present when he expired, and had seen him +buried, were at that time 160 miles from the regiment, and +recruiting in Sclavonia. Paul Diack had engaged in plots, and had +mutinied three times. Trenck had pardoned him, but afterwards +mutinying once more, with forty others, he was condemned to death. +At the place of execution he called to his colonel: "Father, if I +receive a thousand blows, will you pardon me?" Trenck replied in +the affirmative. He received the punishment, was taken to the +hospital, and cured. + +I brought fourteen more witnesses from Sclavonia, who attested the +falsity of other articles of accusation which were not worthy of +attention. The cause wore a new aspect; and the wickedness of those +who were so desirous to have seen Trenck executed became apparent. + +One of the chief articles in the prosecution, which for ever +deprived him of favour from his virtuous and apostolic mistress, and +for which alone he was condemned to the Spielberg, was, that he had +ravished the daughter of a miller in Silesia. This was made oath +of, and he was not entirely cleared of the charge in the revision, +because his accusers had excluded all means of justification. Two +years after his death, I discovered the truth of this affair. +Mainstein accused him of this crime that he might prevent his return +to the regiment; his motive was, because he, in conjunction with +Frederici, had appropriated to their own purposes 8,000 florins of +regimental money. + +This miller's daughter was the mistress of Mainstein, before she had +been seen by Trenck. Maria Theresa, however, would never forgive +him; and, to satisfy the honour of this damsel, he was condemned to +pay 8,000 florins to her, and 15,000 to the chest of the invalids, +and to suffer perpetual imprisonment. Sixty-three civil suits had I +to defend, and all the appeals of his accusers to terminate after +his death. I gained them all and his accusers were condemned in +costs, also to refund the so much per day which had been paid them +by General Loewenwalde; but they were all poor, and I might seek the +money where I could. In justice, Loewenwalde ought to have +reimbursed me. The total of the sum they received was 15,000 +florins. + +Most of the other articles of accusation consisted in Trenck's +having beheaded some mutinous pandours, and broken his officers +without a court-martial; that he had bought of his soldiers, and +melted down the holy vessels of the church, chalices, and rosaries; +had bastinadoed some priests, had not heard mass every Sunday, and +had dragged malefactors from convents, in which they had taken +refuge. When the officers were no longer protected by Loewenwalde, +or Weber, they decamped, but did not cease to labour to gain their +purpose, which they attained by the aid of the Court-confessor. +This monk found means to render Maria Theresa insensible of pity +towards a man who had been so prodigal of his blood in her defence. +Loewenwalde knew how to profit by the opportunity. Gerhauer +discovered the secret proceedings; and Loewenwalde, now deeply +interested in the ruin of Trenck, went to the Empress, related the +manner in which the judges had been bribed, and threatened that +should he, through the protection of the Emperor and Prince Charles, +be declared innocent, he would publicly vindicate the honour of the +court-martial. + +Had my cousin followed my advice and plan of flight he would not +have died in prison nor should I have lain in the dungeon of +Magdeburg. With respect to individuals whom he robbed, innocent men +whom he massacred, and many other worthy people whom he made +miserable; with respect to his father, aged eighty-four, and his +virtuous wife, whom he treated with barbarity; with respect to +myself, to the duties of consanguinity and of man, he merited +punishment, the pursuit of the avenging arm of justice, and to be +extirpated from all human society. + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + +Thomas Carlyle's opinion of the author of this History is expressed +in the following passages from his History of Friedrich II. of +Prussia: "'Frederick Baron Trenck,' loud sounding phantasm, once +famous in the world, now gone to the nurseries as mythical, was of +this carnival (1742-3.) . . . A tall actuality in that time, +swaggering about in sumptuous Life Guard uniform in his mess-rooms +and assembly-rooms; much in love with himself, the fool! And I +rather think, in spite of his dog insinuations, neither Princess had +heard of him till twenty years hence, in a very different phasis of +his life! The empty, noisy, quasi-tragic fellow; sounds throughout +quasi-tragical, like an empty barrel; well-built, longing to be +filled."--Book xiv., ch. 3. + + + + + +End of Volume 2 + +End of the Project Gutenberg eText Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck + diff --git a/old/2labt10.zip b/old/2labt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9a7567 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2labt10.zip |