TherealestatesofTrenckconsistedinthegreatSclavonianmanors,calledthelordshipsofPakratz,Prestowatz,andPleternitz,whichhehadinheritedfromhisfather,andwerethefamilyproperty,togetherwithVelikaandNustak,whichhehimselfhadpurchased:
  theannualincomeofthesewas60,000florins,andtheycontainedmorethantwohundredvillagesandhamlets。ThelawsofHungaryrequire—
  1st。Thatthosewhopurchaseestatesshallobtaintheconsensusregius(royalconsent)。
  2nd。Thatthesellershallpossess,andmakeovertherightofproperty,togetherwiththatoftransferringoralienating,and3dly。Thatthepurchasershallbeanativeborn,orhaveboughthisnaturalisation。
  Indefaultofall,oranyofthese,theFiscus,onthedeathofthepurchaser,takespossession,repayingthesummaemptitia,orpurchase—money,togetherwithinwhatcanbeshowntohavebeenlaidoutinimprovements,orthesummainscriptitia,thesumatwhichitstandsratedinthefiscalregister。
  Withoutformornotice,theHungarianFiscalPresident,CountGrassalkowitz,tookpossessionofalltheTrenckestatesonhisdecease,inthenameoftheFiscus。Theprizewasgreat,notsomuchbecauseoftheestatesthemselves,asofthepersonalpropertyuponthem。Trenckhadsentloadsofmerchandisetohisestates,oflinen,ingotsofgoldandsilverfromBavaria,Alsatia,andSilesia。
  Hehadavaststorehouseofarms,andofsaddles;alsothegreatsilverserviceoftheEmperorCharlesVII。,whichhehadbroughtfromMunich,withtheserviceofplateoftheKingofPrussia;andthepersonalpropertyontheseestateswasaffirmedconsiderablytoexceedinvaluetheestatesthemselves。
  Iwasnotlongsinceinformedbyoneofthefirstgenerals,whosehonourisundoubted,thatseveralwaggonswereladenwiththesericheffectsandsenttoMihalefze。Histestimonywasindubitable;heknewthetwopandours,whoweretheconfidantsofTrenck,andthekeepersofhistreasures;andthese,duringthegeneralplunder,eachseizedabagofpearls,andfledtoTurkey,wheretheybecamewealthymerchants。Hisrichstudofhorsesweretaken,andtheverycowsdrivenoffthefarms。Hisstandofarmsconsistedofmorethanthreethousandrarepieces。Trenckhadaffirmedhehadsentlinentotheamountoffiftythousandflorins,inchestsfromDunnhausenandCersdorf,inthecountyofGlatz,tohisestates。Thepillagewasgeneral;andwhenorderscametosendallthepropertyofTrenckanddeliverittohisuniversalheir,nothingremainedthatanypersonwouldaccept。Ihavemyselfseen,inacertainHungariannobleman’shouse,somevaluablearms,whichIknewIhadbeenrobbedof!andIboughtatEssecksomesilverplatesonwhichwerethearmsofPrussia,thathadbeensoldbyCounsellorD—n,whohadbeenempoweredtotakepossessionoftheseestates,andhadthusrenderedhimselfrich。OfthisIprocuredanattestation,andprovedthetheft:IcomplainedaloudatVienna,butreceivedanorderfromthecourttobesilent,underpainofdispleasure,andalsotogonomoreintoSclavonia。TheprincipalreasonofmylossofthelandedpropertyinHungarywasmyhavingdaredtomakeinquiriesconcerningthepersonal,notoneguineaofwhichwaseverbroughttoaccount。
  Ithenprovedmyrighttothefamilyestates,leftbymyuncle,beyondalldispute,andalsoofthosepurchasedbymycousin。Thecommissionsappointedtoinquireintotheserightsevenconfirmedthem;yetaftertheyhadbeenthusestablished,Ireceivedthefollowingorderfromthecourt,inthehandoftheEmpressherself:—
  "Thepresident,CountGrassalkowitz,takesituponhisconsciencethattheSclavonianestatesdonotdescendtoTrenck,innatura;hemustthereforereceivethesummaemptitiaetinscriptitia,togetherwiththemoneyhecanshowtohavebeenexpendedinimprovements。"
  CHAPTERXIV。
  Andherewithendedmypleadingsandmyhopes。Ihadsacrificedmyproperty,labouredthroughsixty—threeinferiorsuits,andlostthisgreatcausewithoutatrial。Icouldhaveremainedsatisfiedwiththelossofthepersonalproperty:thebootyofasoldier,likethewealthamassedbyaminister,appearstomelittlebetterthanapublicrobbery;buttheacquirementsofmyancestors,mybirth—rightbydescent,oftheseIcouldnotbedeprivedwithoutexcessivecruelty。Ohpatience!patience!——Yetshallmychildrenneverbecomethefootmen,norgrooms,ofthosewhohaverobbedthemoftheirinheritance;andtothemIbequeathedmyrightsinalltheirpower:
  norshallanymanpreventmycryingaloud,solongasjusticeshallnotbedone。
  Thepresident,itistrue,didnotimmediatelypossesshimselfoftheestates,buthetookgoodcarehisfriendsshouldhavethematsuchratesthatthesaleofthemdidnotbringthefiscaltreasury150,000florins,whileI,inrealandpersonalproperty,lostamillionandahalf;nay,probablyasumequaltothisinpersonalpropertyalone。
  Thesummainscriptitiaetemptitiaforallthesegreatestatesonlyamountedto149,000florins,andthiswastobepaidbythechamber,butthepresidentthoughtpropertodeduct10,000onpretencethecattlehadbeendrivenofftheestateofPakratz;and,further,36,000more,undertheshamefulpretencethatTrenck,torecruithispandours,haddrainedtheestatesof3,600vassals,whohadneverreturned;theestates,therefore,mustmakethemgoodattherateofthirtyflorinsperhead,whichwouldhaveamountedto108,000
  florins;but,withmuchdifficulty,thissumwasreduced,asabovestated,to36,000florins,eachvassalreckonedattenflorinsperhead。ThuswasIobliged,fromthepropertyofmyfamily,topayfor3,600menwhohadgloriouslydiedinwar,indefenceofthecontestedrightsofthegreatMariaTheresa;whohadraisedsomanymillionsofcontributionsforherinthecountriesofherenemies;
  who,swordinhand,hadstormedandtakensomanytowns,anddispersed,ortakenprisoners,somanythousandsofherfoes。Wouldthisbebelievedbylisteningnations?
  Alldeductionsmadeforlegacies,fees,andformalities,thereremainedtome63,000florins,withwhichIpurchasedthelordshipofZwerbach,andIwasobligedtopay6,000florinsformynaturalisation。Thus,whenthesumsareenumeratedwhichIexpendedonthesuitsofTrenck,receivedfrommyfriendsatBerlinandPetersburg,itwillbefoundthatIcannot,atleast,havebeenagainerbyhavingbeenmadetheuniversalheiroftheimmenselyrichTrenck。WithregretIwritethesetruthsinsupportofmychildren’sclaims,thattheymaynot,inmygrave,reproachmeforhavingneglectedthedutyofafather。
  Iwillmereaddafewparticularswhichmayaffordthereadermatterformeditation,causehimtocommiseratemyfate,andgiveapictureofthemannerinwhichtheprosecutionwascarriedonagainstTrenck。
  OneSchygrai,asillykindofbeggarlybaron,whowastreatedasabuffoon,wasinvitedintheyear1743todinewithBaronPejaczewitz,whenTrenckhappenedtobepresent。Theconversationhappenedtoturnonakindofbrandymadeinthiscountry,andTrenckjocularlysaidheannuallydistilledthissortofbrandyfromcow—dungtothevalueofthirtythousandflorins。Schygraisupposedhimserious,andwishedtolearntheart,whichTrenckpromisedtoteachhimPejaczewitztoldhimhecouldgivehimthirtythousandloadofdung。
  "ButwhereshallIgetthewood?"saidSchygrai。"Iwillgiveyouthirtythousandklafters,"answeredTrenck。Thecredulousbaron,thinkinghimselfveryfortunate,desiredwrittenpromises,whichtheygavehim;andthatofTrenckranthus:"IherebypermitandempowerBaronSchygraitosellgratis,intheforestofTscherraHorra,thirtythousandklaftersofwood。
  "Witnessmyhand,"TRENCK。"
  TrenckwasnosoonerdeadthantheBaronbroughthisnote,andmadeapplicationtothecourt。HisattorneywasthenotedBussy,andthecourtdecreedtheestatesofTrenckshouldpayattherateofoneformthirtykreutzersperklafter,orforty—fivethousandflorins,withallcosts,andanorderwasgiventotheadministratorstopaythemoney。
  JustatthistimeIarrivedatVienna,fromPetersburg。DoctorBerger,theadvocateofTrenck,toldmetheaffairwouldadmitofnodelay。IhastenedtotheEmpress,andobtainedanordertodelaypayment。Aninquirywasinstituted,andthisforestofTscherraHorrawasfoundtobesituatedinTurkey。Theabsurdityandinjusticewereflagrant,anditwasrevoked。Icannotsayhowmuchoftheseforty—fivethousandflorinstheBaronhadpromisedtothenoblejudgeandtheattorney。Ionlyknowthatneitherofthemwaspunished。Hadnotsomeholidaysluckilyintervened,orhadtheattorneyexpectedmyarrival,themoneywouldhavebeenpaid,andanineffectualattempttoobtainretributionwouldhavebeentheconsequence,ashappenedinmanysimilarinstances。
  IhavebeforementionedtheadvertisementinvitingallwhohadanydemandsorcomplaintsagainstTrencktoappear,withthepromiseofaducataday;anditismerepropertoaddthatthesumoffifteenthousandflorinswasbroughttoaccount,andpaidoutoftheestatesofTrenck。Forthisshamefulpurposesomethousandofflorinswerepaidbesidestothisspeciesofclaimantsandthough,afterexamination,theirpretensionsallprovedtobefutile,andthemselveswerecastindamages,yetwasnoneofthismoneyeverrefunded,orthefalseclaimantspunished。AmongthesethepretendeddaughterofGeneralSchwerinreceivedtwothousandflorins,notoriousaswashercharacter。Again,Trenckwasaccusedofhavingappropriatedthemoneytohisownuse,andtreatedasifconvicted。Afterhisdeathaconsiderabledemandwasaccordinglymade。Ihappening,however,tomeetwithRuckhardt,hisquarter—
  master,hewithasseverationsdeclaredthat,insteadofbeingindebtedtotheregiment,theregimentwasmorethanahundredthousandflorinsindebtedtohim,advisedmetogetattestationsfromthecaptains,andassuredmehehimselfwouldgiveinaclearstatementoftheregiment’saccounts。
  Ifollowedhisadvice,hastenedtotheregiment,andobtainedsomanyproofs,thatthequarter—masteroftheregiment,who,withthemajor,hadinrealitypocketedthemoney,wasimprisonedandputinirons。WhatbecameofthethieforthefalsewitnessafterwardI
  knownot;Ionlyknowthatnothingwasrefunded,thatthequarter—
  masterfoundprotectors,detainedthemoney,and,someyearsafterthisvileaction,purchasedacommission。Oneinstancemore。
  Trenck,tothecorpsofinfantryhecommanded,addedacorpsofhussars,whichheraisedandprovidedwithhorsesandaccoutrementssoldbyauction。Mydemandonthisaccountwasupwardsofsixtythousandflorins,towhichIreceivedneithermoneynorreply。Hehadalsoexpendedahundredthousandflorinsfortheraisingandequippinghisthreethousandpandours;inconsequenceofwhichasignedagreementhadbeengivenbytheGovernmentthatthesehundredthousandflorinsshouldberepaidtohisheir,orhe,theheir,shouldreceivethecommandoftheregiment。Theregiment,however,athisdecease,wasgiventoGeneralSimschen;andasfortheagreement,carewastakenitshouldnevercomeintomyhands。Thusthesehundredthousandflorinswerelost。
  YetithasbeenwickedlyaffirmedhewasimprisonedintheSpielbergforhavingembezzledtheregiment’smoney;whereas,IwouldtoGodI
  onlywasinpossessionofthesumsheexpendedonthisregiment;forheconsideredtheregimentashisown;andgreataswashisavarice,stillgreaterwashisdesireoffame,andgreaterstillhisloveforhisEmpress,forwhomhewouldgladlyhaveyieldedbothpropertyandlife。
  Withinrespecttothemoneythatwastohavebeenrepaidforimprovementoftheestates,Imustadd,theseestateswereboughtatatimewhenthecountryhadbeenleftdesolatebytheTurks,andthereinstalmentofsuchplacesashadfallenintotheirhands,andtheerectingoffarmhouses,mills,stockingthemwithhorses,cattle,andseedcorn,accordingtomypoorestimate,couldnotamounttolessthaneightythousandflorins;butIwasforbiddentogointoSclavonia,andthepresidentoffered,asanindemnification,fourthousandflorins。Everybodywasastonished,buthe,withintheutmostcoolness,toldmeImusteitheracceptthisornothing。Thehearersofthissentencecasttheireyesuptoheavenandpitiedme。
  Iremonstrated,andtherebyonlymadethematterworse。GriefandanxietyoccasionedmetotakeajourneyintoItaly,passingthroughVenice,Rome,andFlorence。
  OnmyreturntoVienna,I,byafriendlyinterferenceinbehalfofawomanwhosefearsratherthanguilthadbroughtherintodanger,becamesuspectedmyself;andtheveryofficiousofficersofthepolicehadmeimprisonedasacoinerwithouttheleastgroundsforanysuchaccusationexcepttheirownsurmises。Iwasdetainedunheardninedays,andwhen,havingbeenheard,Ihadentirelyjustifiedmyself,wasagainrestoredtoliberty;publicdeclarationwasthenmadeintheGazettethattheofficersofthepolicehadactedtooprecipitately。
  Thiswasthesatisfactiongranted,butthisdidnotcontentme。I
  threatenedthecounsellorbywhommycharacterhadbeensoaspersed,andtheEmpress,condescendingtomediate,bestowedonmeacaptainshipofcavalryintheCordovacuirassiers。
  SuchwastherecompenseIreceivedforwoundssodeep,andsuchtheneglectintowhichIwasthrownatVienna。DiscontentledmetojoinmyregimentinHungary。
  HereIgainedtheapplauseofmycolonel,CountBettoni,whohimselftoldtheEmpressI,morethananyother,hadcontributedtotheformingoftheregiment。Itmaywellbeimaginedhowamanlikeme,accustomed,asIhadbeen,tothefirstcompanyofthefirstcourts,mustpassmytimeamongtheCarpathianmountains,whereneithersocietynorgoodbooksweretobefound,norknowledge,ofwhichI
  wasenamoured,improved。TheconversationofCountBettoni,andthechase,togetherwiththeloveofthegeneraloftheregiment,oldField—marshalCordova,weremyonlyresources;thepersecutions,neglect,andevencontempt,IreceivedatVienna,werestillthesame。
  Intheyear1754,inthemonthofMarch,mymotherdiedinPrussia,andIrequestedthepermissionofthecourtthatheldtheinheritanceofTrenck,asafideicommissum,tomakeajourneytoDantzictosettlesomefamilyaffairswithmybrothersandsister,myestatesbeingconfiscated。Thispermissionwasgranted,andthitherIwentinMay,whereIoncemorefellintothehandsofthePrussians;whichformsthesecondgreatandstillmoregloomyepochinmylife。Allwhoreadwhatfollowswillshudder,willcommiseratehimwho,feelinghimselfinnocent,relatesafflictionshehasmiserablyencounteredandgloriouslyovercome。
  IleftHungary,whereIwasingarrison,forDantzic,whereIhaddesiredmybrothersandsistertomeetmethatwemightsettleouraffairs。Myprincipalintent,however,wasajourneytoPetersburg,theretoseektheadviceandaidofmyfriends,forlawandpersecutionwerenotyetendedatVienna;andmycaptain’spayandsmallincomescarcelysufficedtodefraychargesofattorneysandcounsellors。
  ItisheremostworthyofremarkthatIwastoldbyPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick,governorofMagdeburg,hehadreceivedorderstopreparemyprisonatMagdeburgbeforeIsetoutfromHungary。
  Nay,more;ithadbeenwrittenfromViennatoBerlinthattheKingmustbewareofTrenck,forthathewouldbeatDantzicatthetimewhentheKingwastovisithiscampinPrussiaWhatthingmorevile,whatcontrivancemoreabominable,couldthewickedestwretchonearthfindtobanishamanhiscountry,thathemightsecurelyenjoythepropertyofwhichtheotherhadbeenrobbed?ThatthiswasdoneIhavelivingwitnessesinhishighnessPrinceFerdinandofBrunswickandtheBerlinministry,fromwhosemouthsIlearnedthisartificeofvillainy。Itisthemorenecessarytoestablishthistruth,becausenoonecancomprehendwhytheGREATFREDERICshouldhaveproceededagainstmeinamannersocruelthat,whenitcomestoberelated,mustraisetheindignationofthejust,andmoveheartsofirontocommiserate。
  Mensovile,sowicked,asIhavedescribedthem,inconjunctionwithoneWeingarten,secretarytoCountPuebla,thenAustrianministeratBerlin,havebroughtonmethesemymisfortunes。
  ThiswastheWeingartenwho,asisnowwellknown,betrayedallthesecretsoftheAustriancourttoFrederic,whoatlengthwasdiscoveredintheyear1756,andwho,whenthewarbrokeout,remainedintheserviceofPrussia。ThissameWeingarten,also,notonlycausedmywretchedness,butmysister’sruinanddeath,ashelikewisedidthepunishmentanddeathofthreeinnocentmen,whichwillhereafterbeshown。
  ItisanincontrovertibletruththatIwasbetrayedandsoldbymeninViennawhoseinterestitwasthatIshouldbeeternallysilenced。
  IwasimmediatelyvisitedbymybrothersandsisteronmyarrivalatDantzic,wherewelivedhappyineachother’scompanyduringafortnight,andanamicablepartitionwasmadeofmymother’seffects;mysisterperfectlyjustifiedherselfconcerningthemannerinwhichIwasobligedtoflyfromherhouseantheyear1746:ourpartingwaskind,andasbrotherandsisteroughttopart。
  OuronlyacquaintanceinDantzicwastheAustrianresident,M。
  Abramson,towhomIbroughtlettersofrecommendationfromVicuna,andwhosereceptionofuswaspoliteeventoextravagance。
  ThisAbramsonwasaPrussianborn,andhadneverseenVienna,butobtainedhisthenofficebytherecommendationofCountBestuchef,withoutsecurityforhisgoodconduct,orproofofhisgoodmorals,heart,orhead。HewasincloseconnectionwiththePrussianresident,Reimer;andwasmadetheinstrumentofmyruin。
  ScarcelyhadmybrothersandsisterdepartedbeforeIdeterminedtomakeavoyagebyseatoRussia。Abramsoncontrivedathousandartifices,bywhichhedetainedmeaweeklongerinDantzic,that,heinconjunctionwithReimer,mightmakethenecessarypreparations。
  TheKingofPrussiahaddemandedthatthemagistratesofDantzicshoulddelivermeup;butthiscouldnotbedonewithoutoffendingtheImperialcourt,Ibeingacommissionedofficerinthatservice,withproperpassports;itwasthereforeprobablethatthisnegotiationrequiredlettersshouldpassandrepass;andforthisreasonAbramsonwasemployedtodetainmesomedayslonger,till,bythelastlettersfromBerlin,themagistratesofDantzicwereinducedtoviolatepublicsafetyandthelawsofnations。Abramson,Iconsideredasmybestfriend,andmypersonasinperfectsecurity;hehadthereforenodifficultyinpersuadingmetostay。
  ThedayofsupposeddepartureonboardaSwedishshipforRigaapproached,andthedeceitfulAbramsonpromisedmetosendoneofhisservantstotheporttoknowthehour。Atfourintheafternoonhetoldmehehadhimselfspokentothecaptain,whosaidhewouldnotsailtillthenextday;addingthathe,Abramson,wouldexpectmetobreakfast,andwouldthenaccompanymetothevessel。IfeltasecretinquietudewhichmademedesirousofleavingDantzic,andimmediatelytosendallmyluggage,andtosleeponboard。Abramsonpreventedme,draggingmealmostforciblyalongwithhim,tellingmehehadmuchcompany,andthatImustabsolutelydineandsupathishouse;accordinglyIdidnotreturntomyinntillelevenatnight。
  IwasbutjustinbedwhenIheardatremendousknockingatmychamberdoor,whichwasnotshut,andtwoofthecitymagistrateswithtwentygrenadiersenteredmychamber,andsurroundedmybedsosuddenlythatIhadnottimetotaketomyarmsanddefendmyself。
  MythreeservantshadbeensecuredandIwastoldthatthemostworthymagistracyofDantzicwasobligedtodelivermeupasadelinquenttohismajestytheKingofPrussia。
  Whatweremyfeelingsatseeingmyselfthusbetrayed!Theysilentlyconductedmetothecityprison,whereIremainedtwenty—fourhours。
  AboutnoonAbramsoncametovisitme,affectedtobeinfinitelyconcernedandenraged,andaffirmedhehadstronglyprotestedagainsttheillegalityofthisproceedingtothemagistracy,asI
  wasactuallyintheAustrianservice;butthattheyhadansweredhimthecourtofViennahadaffordedthemaprecedent,forthat,in1742,theyhaddonethesamebythetwosonsoftheburgomasterRutenberg,ofDantzic,andthat,therefore,theywerejustifiedinmakingreprisal;andlikewise,theydurstnotrefusethemostearnestrequestaccompaniedwiththreats,oftheKingofPrussia。
  Theirpleaofretaliationoriginatedasfollows:—TherewasakindofclubatVienna,themembersofwhichwereseizedforhavingcommittedtheutmostextravaganceanddebauchery,twoofwhomwerethesonsoftheburgomasterRutenberg,andwhoweresentencedtothepillory。Greatsumswereofferedbythefathertoavoidthispublicdisgrace,butineffectually——theywerepunished,theirpunishmentwaslegal,andhadnosimilaritywhatevertomycase,norcoulditanywayjustlygivepretenceofreprisal。
  Abramson,whohadinrealityenterednoprotestwhatever,butratherexcitedthemagistracy,andactedinconcertwithReimer,advisedmetoputmywritingsandothervaluableeffectsintohishands,otherwisetheywouldbeseized。HeknewIhadreceivedlettersofexchangefrommybrothersandsister,aboutseventhousandflorins,andtheseIgavehim,butkeptmyring,worthaboutfourthousand,andsomesixtyguineas,whichIhadinmypurse。Hethenembracedme,declarednothingshouldbeneglectedtoeffectmyimmediatedeliverance;thatevenhewouldraisethepopulaceforthatpurpose;
  thatIcouldnotbegivenuptothePrussiansinlessthanaweek,themagistracybeingstillundeterminedinanaffairsoserious,andheleftme,sheddingabundanceofcrocodiletears,likethemostaffectionateoffriends。
  Thenextnighttwomagistrates,withtheirposse,cametomyprison,attendedbyresidentReimer,aPrussianofficerandunderofficers,andintotheirhandsIwasdelivered。Thepillageinstantlybegan;
  Reimertoreoffmyring,seizedmywatch,snuff—box,andallIhad,notsomuchassendingmeacoatorshirtfrommyeffects;afterwhich,theyputmeintoaclosecoachwiththreePrussians。TheDantzicguardaccompaniedthecarriagetothecitygate,thatwasopenedtoletmepass;afterwhichtheDantzicdragoonsescortedmeasfarasLauenburginPomerania。
  Ihaveforgottenthedateofthismiserableday;buttothebestofmymemory,itmusthavebeeninthebeginningofJune。ThirtyPrussianhussars,commandedbyalieutenant,relievedthedragoonsatLauenburg,andthuswasIescortedfromgarrisontogarrison,tillIarrivedatBerlin。
  Henceitwasevidentlyfalselyaffirmed,bythemagistracyofDantzic,andtheconspiratorAbramson,whowroteinhisownexcusetoVienna,thatmyseizuremustbeattributedwhollytomyownimprudence,andthatIhadexposedmyselftothisarrestbygoingwithoutthecitygates,whereIwastakenandcarriedoff;norwasitlessastonishingthatthecourtofViennashouldnothavedemandedsatisfactionforthetreacheryoftheDantzickerstowardanAustrianofficer。Ihaveincontrovertiblyprovedthistreachery,afterIhadregainedmylibertyAbramsonindeedtheycouldnotpunish,forduringmyimprisonmenthehadquittedtheAustrianforthePrussianservice,wherehegraduallybecamesocontemptible,thatintheyear1764,whenIwasreleasedfrommyimprisonment,hewashimselfimprisonedinthehouseofcorrection;andhiswife,latelysorich,wasobligedtobegherbread。ThushaveIgenerallylivedtoseethefallofmybetrayers;andthushaveIfoundthat,withoutindulgingpersonalrevenge,virtueandfortitudemustatlengthtriumphoverthecalumniatorandthedespot。
  Thistruthwillbefurtherprovedhereafter,norcanIbehold,unmoved,theopenshameinwhichmypersecutorslive,andhowtheytrembleinmypresence,theirwickeddeedsnowbeingknowntotheworldNay,monarchsmayyetpunishtheirperfidy:—Yetnotso!——Maytheyratherdieinpossessionofwealththeyhavetornfromme!I
  onlywishthepityandrespectofthevirtuousandthewise。
  But,thoughAustriahasneverresentedtheaffrontcommencedonthepersonofanofficerinitsservice,stillhaveIaclaimonthecityofDantzic,whereIwasthustreacherouslydeliveredup,fortheeffectsItherewasrobbedof,theamountofwhichisbetweenelevenandtwelvethousandflorins。Thisisacasetoocleartorequireargument,andthepublicationofthishistorywillmakeitknowntotheworld。Thisclaimalso,amongothers,Ileavetothechildrenofanunfortunatefather。
  Enoughofdigression;letusattendtotheremarkableeventswhichhappenedonthedismaljourneytoBerlin。Iwasescortedfromgarrisontogarrison,whichweredistantfromeachothertwo,three,oratmostfivemiles;whereverIcame,Ifoundcompassionandrespect。Thedetachmentofhussarsonlyattendedmetwodays;itconsistedoftwelvemenandanofficer,whorodewithmeinthecarriage。
  ThefourthdayIarrivedat—,wheretheDukeofWirtemberg,fatherofthepresentGrandDuchessofRussia,wascommander,andwherehisregimentwasinquarters。TheDukeconversedwithme,wasmuchmoved,invitedmetodine,anddetainedmealltheday,whereIwasnottreatedasaprisoner。IsofargainedhisesteemthatIwasallowedtoremaintherethenextday;thechiefpersonsoftheplacewereassembled,andtheDuchess,whomhehadlatelymarried,testifiedeverymarkofpityandconsideration。Idinedwithhimalsoonthethirdday,afterwhichIdepartedinanopencarriage,withoutescort,attendedonlybyalieutenantofhisregiment。