lied 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 pro