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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 wit

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