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；