LETTERII。
"February24,1787。
"DearFriend,——Afteranintervalofsilence,rememberingmypromise,Iagaincontinuemystory。
"MypersonalsufferingshavenotbeenlessthanthoseofTrenck。
His,IamacquaintedwithonlyfromtheinaccuraterelationsIhaveheard:myownIhavefelt。AcolonelinthePrussianservice,whosenamewasHallasch,wasfouryearsmycompanion;hewasinsane,andbelievedhimselftheChristthatwastoappearatthemillennium:hepersecutedmewithhisreveries,whichIwasobligedtolistento,andapprove,orsufferviolencefromonestrongerthanmyself。
"Thesocietyofmenorbooks,everythingthatcouldconsoleoramuse,wereforbiddenme;andIconsidereditaswonderfulthatI
didnotmyselfgrowmad,inthecompanyofthismadman。FourhardwintersIexistedwithoutfeelingthefeebleemanationofawintersun,muchlessthewarmthoffire。Themadmanfeltmorepitythanmykeeper,andlentmehiscloaktocovermybody,thoughtheotherdeniedmeatrussofstraw,notwithstandingIhadlosttheuseofmyhandsandfeet。Theplacewherewewereconfinedwascalledachamber;itratherresembledthetempleofCloacina。Thenoxiousdampsandvapourssopoisonedmybloodthatanunskilfulsurgeon,whotorturedmeduringninemonths,withinsultasaPrussiantraitor,andstatecriminal,Ilostthegreatestpartofmyjaw。
"Schottendorfwasourgovernorandtyrant;amanwhorepaidthefriendshiphefoundinthemansionofmyfathers——withcruelty。Hewasripeforthesickle,andTimecuthimoff。TormentiniandGalerwerehissuccessorsinoffice,bythemwewerecarefullywatched,butweweretreatedwithcommiseration。Theirprecautionsrenderedimprisonmentlesswretched。EvershallIholdtheirmemorysacred。
Yet,benevolentastheywere,theirgoodnesswasexceededbythatofRottensteiner,theheadgaoler。Heconsideredhisprisonersashischildren;andhewastheirbenefactor。OfthisIhadexperience,duringtwoyearsafterthereleaseofHallasch。
"HereIbutcursorilydescribemisery,atwhichthemonarchshallshudder,ifthebloodofatyrantflownotinhisveins。Theresacouldnotwishthesethings。Butshewasfallible,andnotomniscient。
"Fromtheabovenarrative,youwillperceivehowoppositetheeffectsmustbewhichthehistoriesofBaronTrenckandofmyselfmustproduce。
"Trencklefthisdungeonshieldedfromcontempt;thedayoffreedomwasthedayoftriumph。I,onthecontrary,wasexposedtoeverycalamity。ThespiritofTrenckagainraiseditself。IhavelabouredmanyanightthatImightneitherbegnorperishthefollowingday:workingforjudgeswhoneitherknewlawnorhadpowersofmindtobeholdthebeautyofjustice:settlingaccountsthat,itemafteritem,didnotprovethatthelordtheywereintendedfor,wasanimbeciledupe。
"Trenckremembershiscalamities,buttheremembranceisadvantageoustohimselfandhisfamily;whilewithme,thepastdidbutincrease,didbutagonise,thepresentandthefuture。Hewasnotlikeme,obligedtocrouchinpresenceofthosevulgar,thoseincapableminds,thatdobutconsiderthebentbackasthefootstoolofpride。Everymanistoobusytoactinbehalfofothers;pitymetherefore,butadvisemenottohopeassistance,bypetitioningprincesatsecondhand。Iknowyourgoodwishes,and,forthese,I
havenothingtoreturnbutbarrenthanks。——Iam,&c"
ThereasonswhyIpublishedtheforegoinglettersarealreadystated,andwillappearsatisfactorytothereader。Oncemoretoaffairsthatconcernmyself。
ImetatBerlinmanyoldfriendsofbothsexes;amongothers,anagedinvalidcametoseeme,whowasatGlatz,in1746,whenIcutmywaythroughtheguard。Hewasoneofthesentinelsbeforemydoor,whomIhadthrowndownthestairs。
ThehourofquittingBerlin,andcontinuingmyjourneyintoPrussia,towardsKonigsberg,approached。Ontheeveofmydeparture,IhadthehappinessofconversingwithherRoyalHighnessthePrincessAmelia,sisterofFrederictheGreat。Sheprotectedmeinmyhourofadversity;heapedbenefitsuponme,andcontributedtogainmydeliverance。Shereceivedmeasafriend,asanagedpatriot;andlaidhercommandsuponmetowritetomywife,andrequestthatshewouldcometoBerlin,inthemonthofJune,withhertwoeldestdaughters。Ireceivedherpromisethatthehappinessofthelattershouldbehercare;nay,thatshewouldremembermywifeinherwill。
Atthismoment,whenabouttodepart,sheaskedmeifIhadmoneysufficientformyjourney:"Yes,madam,"wasmyreply;"Iwantnothing,asknothing;butmayyouremembermychildren!"
ThedeepfeelingwithwhichIpronouncedthesewordsmovedtheprincess;sheshowedmehowshecomprehendedmymeaning,andsaid,"Return,myfriend,quickly:Ishallbemosthappytoseeyou。"
Ilefttheroom:akindofindecisioncameoverme。IwasinclinedtoremainlongeratBerlin。HadIdoneso,mypresencewouldhavebeenofgreatadvantagetomychildren。Alas!undertheguidanceofmyevilgenius,Ibeganmyjourney。ThepurposeforwhichIcametoBerlinwasfrustrated:foraftermydeparture,thePrincessAmeliadied!
Peacebetothyashes,nobleprincess!Thywillwasgood,andbethatsufficient。IshallnotwantmaterialstowriteacommentaryonthehistoryofFrederic,when,incompanywiththee,IshallwanderonthebanksofStyx;theretheeventsthathappenedonthisearthmaybewrittenwithoutdanger。
Soproceedwewithourstory。
CHAPTERX。
Onthe22ndofMarchIpursuedmyjourneytoKonigsberg,butremainedtwodaysatthecourtoftheMargraveofBrandenburg,whereIwasreceivedwithkindness。TheMargravehadbestowedfavoursonme,duringmyimprisonmentatMagdeburg。
IdepartedthencethroughSoldintoSchildberg,heretovisitmyrelationSidau,whohadmarriedthedaughterofmysister,whichdaughtermysisterhadbyherfirsthusband,Waldow,ofwhomIhavebeforespoken。Ifoundmykinsmanaworthyman,andonewhomadethedaughterofanunfortunatesisterhappy。Iwasreceivedathishousewithinopenarms;and,forthefirsttimeafteranintervaloftwo—and—fortyyears,beheldoneofmyownrelations。
Onmyjourneythither,IhadthepleasuretomeetwithLieutenant—
GeneralKowalsky:ThisgentlemanwasalieutenantinthegarrisonofGlatz,in1745,andwasawitnessofmyleapfromthewalloftherampart。Hehadreadmyhistory,someoftheprincipalfactsofwhichhewasacquaintedwith。Shouldanyonethereforedoubtconcerningthoseincidents,Imayrefertohim,whosetestimonycannotbesuspected。
FromSchildbergIproceededtoLandsberg,ontheWarta。HereI
foundmybrother—in—law,ColonelPape,commanderoftheGotzdragoons,andthesecondhusbandofmydeceasedsister:andhereI
passedajoyousday。Everybodycongratulatedmeonmyreturnintomycountry。
Ifoundrelationsinalmosteverygarrison。Neverdidmanreceivemoremarksofesteemthroughoutakingdom。Theknowledgeofmycalamitiesprocuredmesweetconsolation;andIwereinsensibleindeed,andungrateful,didmyheartremainunmovedonoccasionslikethese。
InAustriaInevercanexpectalikereception;Iamtheremistaken,andIfeellittleinclinationtolabouratremovingmistakessorooted。Yet,eventhereamIbythegeneralvoice,approved。Yes,Iamadmired,butnotknown;pitiedbutnotsupported;honoured,butnotrewarded。
WhenatBerlin,IdiscoveredanerrorIhadcommittedinthecommencementofmylife。AtthetimeIwroteIbelievedthatthepostmaster—generalofBerlin,MrDerschau,wasmymother’sbrother,andthesamepersonwho,in1742,wasgrandcounselloratGlogau,andafterwards,presidentinEastFriesland。Iwasdeceived;theDerschauwhoismymother’sbrotherisstillliving,andpresidentatAurichinEastFriesland。ThepostmasterwasthesonoftheoldDerschauwhodiedageneral,andwhowasonlydistantlyrelatedtomymother。NeitheristheyoungerDerschau,whoisthecolonelofaregimentatBurg,thebrotherofmymother,butonlyherfirstcousin;oneoftheirsistersmarriedLieut。—ColonelOstau,whoseson,thePresidentOstau,nowlivesonhisownestate,atLablackinPrussia。
Iwaslikewisedeceivedinhavingsuspectedalieutenant,namedMollinie,inthenarrativeIgaveofmyflightfromGlatz,ofhavingactedasaspyuponmeatBraunau,andofhavingsentinformationtoGeneralFouquet。Iamsorry。Thishonestmanisstillalive,acaptaininBrandenburg。Hewasaffectedatmysuspicion,fullyjustifiedhimself,andhereIpubliclyapologise。Hethenwas,andagainisbecomemyfriend。
IhavereceivedaletterfromoneLieutenantBrodowsky。Thisgentlemanisoffendedatfindinghismother’snameinmynarrative,anddemandsIshouldretractmywords。
MyreaderswillcertainlyallowthevirtueofMadameBrodowsky,atElbing,isnotimpeached。AlthoughIhavesaidIhadthefortunetobebelovedbyher,IhavenowhereintimatedthatIasked,orthatshegranted,improperfavours。
Bythedesireofapersonofdistinction,IshallinsertanincidentwhichIomittedinaformerpart。Thispersonwasaneye—witnessoftheincidentIamabouttorelate,atMagdeburg,andremindedmeoftheaffair。Itwasmylastattemptbutoneatflight。
Thecircumstanceswerethese:—
AsIfoundmyselfunabletogetridofmoresand,afterhavingagaincutthroughtheplanking,andminedthefoundation,Imadeaholetowardstheditch,inwhichthreesentinelswerestationed。ThisI
executedonenight,itbeingeasy,fromthelightnessofthesand,toperformtheworkintwohours。
NosoonerhadIbrokenthrough,thanIthrewoneofmyslippersbesidethepalisades,thatitmightbesupposedIhadlostitwhenclimbingoverthem。Thesepalisades,twelvefeetinlength,weresituatedinthefrontoftheprincipalfosse,andmysentinelsstoodwithin。Therewasnosentry—boxattheplacewhereIhadbrokenthrough。
Thisdone,Ireturnedintomyprison,madeanotherholeundertheplanking,whereIcouldhidemyself,andstoppedupthepassagebehindme,sothatitwasnotprobableIcouldbeseenorfound。
Whendaylightcame,thesentinelsawtheholeandgavethealarm,theslipperwasfound,anditwasconcludedthatTrenckhadescapedoverthepalisades,andwasnolongerinprison。
Immediatelythesub—governorcamefromMagdeburg,thegunswerefired,thehorsescouredthecountry,andthesubterraneanpassageswereallvisited:notidingscame;nodiscoverywasmade,andtheconclusionwasIhadescaped。ThatIshouldflywithouttheknowledgeofthesentinels,wasdeemedimpossible;theofficer,andalltheguard,wereputunderarrest,andeverybodywassurprised。
I,inthemeantime,satquietinmyhole,whereIheardtheirsearches,andsuppositionsthatIwasgone。
Myheartboundedwithjoy,andIheldescapetobeindubitable。
Theywouldnotplacesentinelsovertheprisonthefollowingnight,andIshouldthenreallyhaveleftmyplaceofconcealment,and,mostprobablyhavesafelyarrivedinSaxony。Mydestiny,however,robbedmeofallhopeattheverymomentwhenIsupposedthegreatestofmydifficultieswereconquered。
EverythingseemedtohappenasIcouldwish。Thewholegarrisoncame,andvisitedthecasemates,andallstoodastonishedatthemiracletheybeheld。Inthisstatethingsremainedtillfouro’clockintheafternoon。Atlength,anensignofthemilitiacame,aboyofaboutfifteenorsixteenyearsofage,whohadmorewitthananyorallofthem。Heapproachedthehole,examinedtheaperturenextthefosse,thoughtitappearedsmall,triedtoenterithimself,foundhecouldnot,thereforeconcludeditwasimpossibleamanofmysizecouldhavepassedthrough,andaccordinglycalledforalight。
ThiswasanaccidentIhadnotforeseen。Halfstifledinmyhole,I
hadopenedthecanalundertheplanking。Nosoonerhadtheyouthprocuredalight,thanheperceivedmyshirt,examinednearer,feltabout,andlaidholdofmebythearm。Thefoxwascaught,andthelaughwasuniversal。Myconfusionmayeasilybeimagined。Theyallcameroundme,paidmetheircompliments,andfindingnothingbetterwastobedone,Ilaughedincompanywiththem,and,thuslaughingwasledbackwithanachinghearttobesorrowfullyenchainedinmydungeon。
Icontinuedmyjourney,andarrived,onthefourthofApril,atKonigsberg,wheremybrotherexpectedmyarrival。Weembracedasbrothersmust,aftertheabsenceoftwo—and—fortyyears。OfallthebrothersandsistersIhadleftinthiscity,heonlyremained。Helivedaretiredandpeaceablelifeonhisownestates。Hehadnochildrenliving。Icontinuedafortnightwithinhimandhiswife。
Here,forthefirsttime,Ilearnedwhathadhappenedtomyrelations,duringtheirabsence。ThewrathoftheGreatFredericextendeditselftoallmyfamily。MysecondbrotherwasanensignintheregimentofcuirassiersatKiow,in1746,whenIfirstincurreddisgracefromtheKing。Sixyearsheserved,foughtatthreebattles,but,becausehisnamewasTrenck,neverwaspromoted。
Wearyofexpectationhequittedthearmy,married,andlivedonhisestatesatMeicken,wherehediedaboutthreeyearsago,andlefttwosons,whoareanhonourtothefamilyoftheTrencks。
Famespokehimapersoncapableofrenderingthestateessentialservice,asamilitaryman;buthewasmybrother,andtheKingwouldneversufferhisnametobementioned。
Myyoungestbrotherappliedhimselftothesciences;itwasproposedthatheshouldreceivesomecivilemployment,ashewasanintelligentandwell—informedman;buttheKingansweredinthemarginofthepetition,"NoTrenckisgoodforanything。"
Thushaveallmyfamilysuffered,becauseofmyunjustcondemnation。
Mylast—mentionedbrotherchosethelifeofaprivateman,andlivedathisease,inindependence,amongthefirstpeopleofthekingdom。
Thehatredofthemonarchextendeditselftomysister,whohadmarriedthesonofGeneralWaldow,andlivedinwidowhood,fromtheyear1749,tohersecondmarriage。Themisfortunesofthiswoman,inconsequenceofthetreacheryofWeingarten,andtheaidshesenttomeinmyprisonatMagdeburg,Ihavebeforerelated。ShewaspossessedofthefineestateofHammer,nearLandsbergontheWarta。
TheRussianarmychangedthewholefaceofthecountry,andlaiditdesert。ShefledtoCustrin,whereeverythingwasdestroyedduringthesiege。ThePrussianarmyalsodemolishedthefineforests。
Afterthewar,theKingassistedalltheruinedfamiliesofBrandenburg;shealoneobtainednothing,becauseshewasmysister。
ShepetitionedtheKing,whorepinedshemustseekforredressfromherdearbrother。Shedied,intheflowerofherage,ashorttimeaftershehadmarriedhersecondhusband,thepresentColonelPape:
herson,also,diedlastyear。HewascaptainintheregimentoftheGotzdragoons。Thuswereallmybrothersandsisterspunishedbecausetheyweremine。CoulditbebelievedthatthegreatFredericwouldrevengehimselfonthechildrenandthechildren’schildren?Wasitnotsufficientthatheshouldwreakhiswrathonmyheadalone?WhyhasthenameofTrenckbeenhatefultohim,totheveryhourofhisdeath?
OneDerschau,captainofhorse,andbrotherofmymother,addressedhimselftotheKing,in1753,alleginghewasmynearestrelationandfeudalheir,andpetitionedthathewouldbestowonhimmyconfiscatedestatesofGreatSharlack。TheKingdemandedthatthenecessaryproofsshouldbesentfromthechamberatKonigsberg。HewasuninformedthatIhadtwobrothersliving,thatGreatSharlackwasanancientfamilyinheritance,andthatitappertainedtomybrothers,andnottoDerschau。Mybrothersthenannouncedthemselvesasthesuccessorstothisfief,andtheKingbestowedonthemtheestateofGreatSharlackconformabletothefeudallaws。
Thatitmightbeproperlydivided,itwasputuptoauction,andboughtbytheyoungestofmybrothers,whopaidsurplustotheother,andtomysister。Helikewisepaiddebtschargeduponit,accordingtotheexpressordersofthecourt。Thepersonswhocalledthemselvesmycreditorswereimpostors,forIhadnocreditors;Iwasbutnineteenwhenmyestateswereconfiscated,consequentlywasnotofage。Bywhatrighttherefore,couldsuchdebtsbedemandedorpaid?Letthemexplainthiswhocan。
ThesamethinghappenedwhenanaccountwasgivenintotheFiscusoftheguardianship,althoughIacknowledgemyguardiansweremenofprobity。Oneofthemwaseightyearsinpossession,andwhenhegaveituptomybrothershedidnotaccountwiththemforasingleshilling。Atpresent,therefore,theaffairstandsthus:—FredericWilliamhastakenoffthesentenceofconfiscation,andorderedmetobeputinpossessionofmyestates,byagraciousrescript:
empoweredbythisIcomeanddemandrestitution;mybrotheranswers,"Ihaveboughtandpaidfortheestate,amthelegalpossessor,haveimproveditsomuchthatGreatSharlack,atpresent,isworththreeorfourtimesthesumitwasatthetimeofconfiscation。LettheFiscuspaymeitsactualvalue,andthenletthembestowitonwhomtheyplease。Ifthereigningkinggiveswhathispredecessorsoldtome,Ioughtnottherebytobealoser。"
ThisisaproblemwhichthepeopleofBerlinmustresolve。Mybrotherhasnochildren,and,withoutgoingtolaw,willbequeathGreatSharlacktomine,whenheshallhappentodie。Ifheisforcedineffecttorestoreitwithoutbeingreimbursed,theKinginsteadofgrantingafavour,hasnotdonejustice。Idonotrequestanyrestitutionlikethis,sincesuchrestitutionwouldbemadewithoutaskingitasafavouroftheKing。IfhisMajestytakesofftheconfiscationbecauseheisconvinceditwasoriginallyviolentandunjust,thenhaveIarighttodemandtherentsoftwo—
and—fortyyears。ThisIamtorequirefromtheFiscus,notfrommybrother。AndshouldtheFiscusonlyrestoremethepriceforwhichitthensold,itwouldcommitamanifestinjustice,sinceallestatesintheprovinceofPrussiahave,since1746,tripledandquadrupledtheirvalue。Iftheestatesdescendonlytomychildrenaftermydeath,Ireceiveneitherrightnorfavour;for,inthiscase,Iobtainnothingformyself,andshallremaindeprivedoftherents,which,astheestateisatpresentfarmedbymybrotheramounttofourthousandrix—dollarsperannum。Thisestatecannotbetakenfromhimlegally,sinceheenjoysitbyrightofpurchaseSuchisthepresentstateofthebusiness。Howthemonarchshallthinkpropertodecide,willbeseenhereafter。IhavedemandedoftheFiscusthatitshallmakeafairvaluationofGreatSharlack,reimbursemybrother,andrestoreittome。Mybrotherhasotherestates。Thesehewilldisposeofbytestament,accordingtohisgoodpleasure。Bethesethingsastheymay,thepurposeofmyjourneyisaccomplished。
Thou,greatGod,haspreservedmeamidstmytrouble。Thepurestgratitudepenetratesmyheart。Oh,thatthouwouldstshieldmanfromarbitrarypower,andbanishdespotismfromtheearth!
Maythismynarrationbealessontotheafflicted,affordhopetothedespairing,fortitudetothewavering,andhumanisetheheartsofkings。JoyfullydoIjourneytotheshoresofdeath。Myconscienceisvoidofreproach,posterityshallblessmymemory,andonlytheunfeeling,thewicked,theconfessorofprincesandthepiousimpostor,shallventtheirrageagainstmywritings。Mymindisdesirousofrepose,andshouldthisbedeniedme,stillIwillnotmurmur。Inowwishtostealgentlytowardsthatlastasylum,whitherifIhadgoneinmyyouth,itmusthavebeenwithcoloursflying。Grant,AlmightyGod,thattheprayerIthisdaymakemaybeheard,andthatsuchmaybetheconclusionofmyeventfullife!
HISTORYOF
FRANCISBARONTRENCK。
WRITTENBY
FREDERICKBARONTRENCK,ASANECESSARYSUPPLEMENTTOHISOWNHISTORY。
FrancisBaronTrenckwasbornin1714,inCalabria,aprovinceofSicily。Hisfatherwasthenagovernorandlieutenant—colonelthere,anddiedin1743,atLeitschau,inHungary,lordoftherichmanorsofPrestowacz,Pleternitz,andPakratz,inSclavonia,andotherestatesinHungary。HischristiannamewasJohn;hewasmyfather’sbrother,andborninKonigsberginPrussia。
ThenameofhismotherwasKettler;shewasborninCourland。
Trenckwasagentlemanofancientfamily;andhisgrandfather,whowasminealso,wasofPrussia。Hisfather,whohadservedAustriatotheageofsixty—eight,acolonel,andborethosewoundstohisgravewhichattestedhisvalour。
FrancisBaronTrenckwashisonlyson;hehadattainedtherankofcolonelduringhisfather’slife,andservedwithdistinctioninthearmyofMariaTheresa。Thehistoryofhislife,whichhepublishedin1747,whenhewasunderconfinementatVienna,issofullofminutecircumstances,andsopoorlywritten,thatIshallmakebutlittleuseofit。HereIshallrelateonlywhatIhaveheardfromhisenemiesthemselves,andwhatIhavemyselfseen。Hisfather,aboldanddaringsoldier,idolisedhisonlyson,andwhollyneglectedhiseducation,sothatthepassionsofthissonweremostunbridled。
Endowedwithextraordinarytalents,thisardentyouthwasearlyallowedtoindulgetheimpetuousfireofhisconstitution。
Moderationwasutterlyunknowntohim,andgoodfortunemostremarkablyfavouredallhisenterprises。Thesewerenumerous,undertakenfromnoprincipleofvirtue,noractuatedbyanymotivesofmorality。Theloveofmoney,andthedesireoffame,werethepassionsofhissoul。Tohiswarlikeinclinationwasaddedtheinsensibilityofaheartnativelywicked:andhefoundhimselfanactor,onthegreatsceneoflife,atatimewhentheearthwasdrenchedwithhumangore,andwhenthesworddecidedthefateofnations:hencethischiefofpandours,thisscourgeoftheunprotected,becameaniron—heartedenemy,aferociousfoeofthehumanrace,aformidableenemyinprivatelife,andaperfidiousfriend。
Constitutionallysanguinary,addictedtopleasures,sensual,andbrave;hewasunappeasedwhenaffronted,prompttoact,inthemomentofdangercircumspect,and,whenunderthedominionofanger,crueleventofury;irreconcilable,artful,fertileininvention,andeverintentongreatprojects。Whenyouthandbeautyinspiredlove,hethenbecamesupple,insinuating,amiable,gentle,respectful;yet,everexcitedbypride,eachconquestgavebutnewdesiresofaddinganotherslaveoverwhomhemightdomineer;and,wheneverheencounteredresistance,hethenevenceasedtobeavaricious。Aprudentandintelligentwoman,turningthispartofhischaractertoadvantage,mighthaveformedthismantovirtue,probity,andtheloveofthehumanrace:but,fromhisinfancy,hiswillhadneversufferedrestraint,andhethoughtnothingimpossible。Asasoldier,hewasboldeventotemerity;capableofthemosthazardousenterprise,andlaughingatthedangerheprovoked。Hisprojectswerethemoreelevatedbecausetheacquirementofrenownwastheintentofallhisactions。Incouncilhewasdangerous;everythingmustbeconcededtohisviews。Tohimthemeansbywhichhisendwastobeobtainedwereindifferent。
TheCroatsatthistimewereundisciplined,pronetorapine,thirstingforhumanblood,andonlytaughtobediencebyviolence;
thesehadbeenthecompanionsofhisinfancy:theseheundertooktosubject,byservitudeandfear,tomilitarysubordination,andfrombandittitomakethemsoldiers。
Withrespecttohisexterior,Naturehadbeenprodigalofherfavours。Hisheightwassixfeetthreeinches,andthesymmetryofhislimbswasexact;hisformwasupright,hiscountenanceagreeable,yetmasculine,andhisstrengthalmostincredible。Hecouldsevertheheadfromthebodyofthelargestoxwithonestrokeofhissabre,andwassoadroitatthisTurkishpractice,thatheatlengthcouldbeheadmeninthemannerboysdonettles。Inthelatteryearsofhislife,hisaspecthadbecometerrible;for,duringtheBavarianwar,hehadbeenscorchedbytheexplosionofapowder—barrel,andeverafterhisfaceremainedscarredandimpregnatedwithblackspots。Incompanyherenderedhimselfexceedinglyagreeable,spokesevenlanguagesfluently,wasjocular,possessedwit,andinseriousconversation,understanding;hadlearnedmusic,sungwithtaste,andhadagoodvoice,sothathemighthavebeenwellpaidasanactor,hadthatbeenhisfate。Hecouldeven,whensodisposed,becomegentleandcomplaisant。
Hislooktoldthemanofobservationthathewascunningandcholeric;andhiswrathwasterrible。Hewaseversuspicious,becausehejudgedothersbyhimself。Self—interestandavariceconstitutedhisrulingpassion,and,wheneverhehadanopportunityofincreasinghiswealth,hedisregardedthedutiesofreligion,thetiesofhonour,andhumanpity。Inthethirty—firstyearofhisage,whenhewaspossessedofnearlytwomillions,hedidnotexpendaflorinperday。
Asheandhispandoursalwaysledthevan,andashethencehadanopportunitytoravagetheenemy’scountry,attheheadoftroopsaddictedtorapine,wemustnotwonderthatBavaria,Silesia,andAlsatiaweresoplundered。Healonepurchasedthebootyfromhistroopsatalowprice,andthishesentbywatertohisownestates。