my heart remained in the marble chamber； in company with a prince capable of sensations so dignified； and my wishes for his welfare are eternal。
I have since travelled through the greater part of the Prussian states。 Where is the country in which the people are all satisfied？ Many complained of hard times； or industry unrewarded。 My answer was：…
〃Friends； kneel with the rising sun； and thank the God of heaven that you are Prussians。 I have seen and known much of this world； and I assure you； you are among the happiest people of Europe。 Causes of complaint everywhere exist； but you have a king； neither obstinate； ambitious； covetous； nor cruel： his will is that his people should have cause of content； and should he err by chance； his heart is not to blame if the subject suffers。〃
Prussia is neither wanting in able nor learned men。 The warmth of patriots glows in their veins。 Everything remains with equal stability； as under the reign of Frederic； and should the thunder burst； the ready conductors will render the shock ineffectual。
Hertzberg still labours in the cabinet； still thinks； writes； and acts as he has done for years。 The king is desirous that justice shall be done to his subjects； and will punish； perhaps； with more severity； whenever he finds himself deceived； than from the goodness of his disposition； might be supposed。 The treasury is full； the army continues the same； and there is little reason to doubt but that industry； population； and wealth will increase。 None but the vile and the wicked would leave the kingdom； while the oppressed and best subjects of other states would fly from their native country； certain of finding encouragement and security in Prussia。
The personal qualities of Fredric William merit description。 He is tall and handsome； his mien is majestic； and his accomplishments of mind and body would procure him the love of men； were he not a king。 He is affable without deceit； friendly and kind in conversation； and stately when stateliness is necessary。 He is bountiful； but not profuse； he knows that without economy the Prussian must sink。 He is not tormented by the spirit of conquest； he wishes harm to no nation； yet he will certainly not suffer other nations to make encroachments； nor will he be terrified by menaces。
The wise Frederic； when living； though himself learned； and a lover of the sciences； never encouraged them in his kingdom。 Germany； under his reign； might have forgotten her language： he preferred the literature of France。 Konigsberg； once the seminary of the North； contains； at present； few professors； or students； the former are fallen into disrepute； and are ill paid； the latter repair to Leipsic and Gottingen。 We have every reason to suppose the present monarch； though no studious man himself； will encourage the academies of the literati； that men learned in jurisprudence and the sciences may not be wanting： which want is the more to be apprehended as the nobility must； without exception； serve in the army； so that learning has but few adherents； and these are deprived of the means of improvement。
Frederic William is also too much the friend of men to suffer them to pine in prisons。 He abhors the barbarity with which the soldiers are beaten： his officers will not be fettered hand and foot； slavish subordination will be banished； and the noble in heart will be the noble of the land。 May he； in his people； find perfect content！ May his people be ever worthy of such a prince！ Long may he reign； and may his ministers be ever enlightened and honourable men！
He sent for me a second time； conversed much with me； and confirmed those ideas which my first interview had inspired。
On the 11th of March I presented my son at another audience； whom I intended for the Prussian service。 The King bestowed a commission on him in the Posadowsky dragoons； at my request。
I saw him at the review at Velau； and his superior officers formed great expectations from his zeal。 Time will discover whether he who is in the Austrian； or this in the Prussian service； will first obtain the rewards due to their father。 Should they both remain unnoticed； I will bestow him on the Grand Turk； rather than on European courts； whence equity to me and mine is banished。
To Austria I owe no thanks； all that could be taken from me was taken。 I was a captain before I entered those territories； and； after six…and…thirty years' service； I find myself in the rank of invalid major。 The proof of all I have asserted； and of how little I am indebted to this state is most incontestable； since the history of my life is allowed by the royal censor to be publicly sold in Vienna。
It is remarkable that one only of all the eight officers； with whom I served； in the body guard； in 1745； is dead。 Lieutenant…colonel Count Blumenthal lives in Berlin； Pannewitz is commander of the Knights of Malta： both gave me a friendly reception。 Wagnitz is lieutenant…general in the service of Hesse…Cassel； he was my tent comrade； and was acquainted with all that happened。 Kalkreuter and Grethusen live on their estates； and Jaschinsky is now alive at Konigsberg； but superannuated； and tortured by sickness； and remorse。 He； instead of punishment； has forty years enjoyed a pension of a thousand rix…dollars。 I have seen my lands confiscated； of the income of which I have been forty…two years deprived； and never yet received retribution。
Time must decide； the king is generous； and I have too much pride to become a beggar。 The name of Trenck shall be found in the history of the acts of Frederic。 A tyrant himself； he was the slave of his passions； and even did not think an inquiry into my innocence worth the trouble。 To be ashamed of doing right； because he has done wrong； or to persist in error； that fools； and fools only； can think him infallible； is a dreadful principle in a ruler。
Since I have been at Berlin； and was received there with so many testimonies of friendship； the newspapers of Germany have published various articles concerning me； intending to contribute to my honour or ease。 They said my eldest daughter is appointed the governess of the young Princess。 This has been the joke of some witty correspondent； for my eldest daughter is but fifteen； and stands in need of a governess herself。 Perhaps they may suppose me mean enough to circulate falsehood。
I daily receive letters from all parts of Germany； wherein the sensations of the feeling heart are evident。 Among these letters was one which I received from Bahrdt； Professor at Halle； dated April 10； 1787 wherein he says； 〃Receive； noble German； the thanks of one who； like you； has encountered difficulties； yet； far inferior to those you have encountered。 You； with gigantic strength； have met a host of foes； and conquered。 The pests of men attacked me also。 From town to town； from land to land； I was pursued by priestcraft and persecution； yet I acquired fame。 I fled for refuge and repose to the states of Frederic； but found them not。 I have eight years laboured under affliction with perseverance； but have found no reward。 By industry have I made myself what I am； by ministerial favour； never。 Worn out and weak； the history of your life； worthy sir； fell into my hands； and poured balsam into my wounds。 There I saw sufferings immeasurably greater； there； indeed； beheld fortitude most worthy of admiration。 Compared to you； of what could I complain？ Receive； noble German； my warmest thanks； while I live they shall flow。 And should you find a fortunate moment； in the presence of your King； speak of me as one consigned to poverty； as one whose talents are buried in oblivion。 Say to him'Mighty King！ stretch forth thy hand； and dry up his tears。' I know the nobleness of your mind； and doubt not your good wishes。〃
To the Professor's letter I returned the following answer：…
〃I was affected； sir； by your letter。 I never yet was unmoved； when the pen was obedient to the dictates of the heart。 I feel for your situation； and if my example can teach wisdom even to the wise； I have cause to triumph。 This is the sweetest of rewards。 At Berlin I have received much honour； but little more。 Men are deaf to him who confides only in his right。 What have I gained？ Shadowy fame for myself； and the vapour of hope for my heirs！
〃Truth and Trenck； my good friend； flourish not in courts。 You complain of priestcraft。 He who would disturb their covetousness； he who speaks against the false opinions they scatter； considers not priests； and their aim； which is to dazzle the stupid and stupefy the wise。 Deprecate their wrath！ avoid their poisoned shafts； or they will infect tiny peace： will blast thy honour。 And wherefore should we incur this danger。 To cure ignorance of error is impossible。 Let us then silently steal to our graves； and thus small we escape the breath of envy。 He who should enjoy all even thought could grasp； should yet have but little。 Having acquired this knowledge； the passions of the soul are lulled to apathy。 I behold error； and I laugh； do thou； my friend； laugh also。 If that can comfort us； men will do our memory justicewhen we are dead！ Fame plants her laurels over the grave； and there they flourish