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 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

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