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y 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 journeynot 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 Creatorthen; 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; 

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