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to the Empress。 I did not re…demand my Sclavonian estates; I only petitioned。
FirstThat those who had carried off quintals of silver and gold from the premises; and had rendered no account to me or the treasury; should refund at least a part。
SecondlyThat they should be obliged to return the thirty…six thousand florins taken from my inheritance; and applied to a hospital。
ThirdlyThat the thirty…six thousand florins might be repaid; which Count Grassalkowitz had deducted from the allodial estates; for three thousand six hundred pandours who had fallen in the service of the Empress; I not being bound to pay for the lives of men who had died in defence of the Empress。
FourthlyI required that fifteen thousand florins; which had been deducted from my capital; and applied to the Bohemian fortifications; should likewise be restored; together with the fifteen thousand which had been unduly paid to the regiment of Trenck。
FifthlyI reclaimed the twelve thousand florins which I had been robbed of at Dantzic by the treachery of the Imperial Resident; Abramson; and public satisfaction from the magistracy of Dantzic; who had delivered me up; so contrary to the laws of nations; to the Prussian power。
I likewise claimed the interest of six per cent; for seventy…six thousand florins; detained by the Hungarian Chamber; which amounted to twenty thousand florins; I having been allowed five per cent。; and at last four。
I insisted on the restoration of my Sclavonian estates; and a proper allowance for improvements; which the very sentence of the court had granted; and which amounted to eighty thousand florins。
I petitioned for an arbitrator; I solicited justice concerning rights; but received no answer to this and a hundred other petitions!
I must here speak of transactions during my imprisonment。 I had bought a house in Vienna in the year 1750; the price was sixteen thousand florins; thirteen thousand of which I had paid by instalments。 The receipts were among my writings; these writings; with my other effects; were taken from me at Dantzic; in the year 1754; nor have I; to this hour; been able to learn more than that my writings were sent to the administrators of my affairs at Vienna。 With respect to my houses and property in Dantzic; in what manner these were disposed of no one could or would say。
After being released at Magdeburg; I inquired concerning my house; but no longer found it mine。 Those who had got possession of my writings must have restored the acquittances to the seller; consequently he could re…demand the whole sum。 My house was in other hands; and I was brought in debtor six thousand florins for interest and costs of suit。 Thus were house and money gone。 Whom can I accuse?
Again; I had maintained; at my own expense Lieutenant Schroeder; who had deserted from Glatz; and for whom I obtained a captain's commission in the guard of Prince Esterhazy; at Eisenstadt。 His misconduct caused him to be cashiered。 In my administrator's accounts I found the following
〃To Captain Schroeder; for capital; interest; and costs of suit; sixteen hundred florins。〃
It was certain I was not a penny indebted to this person; I had no redress; having been obliged to pass and sign all their accounts。
I; four years afterwards; obtained information concerning this affair: I met Schroeder; knew him; and inquired whether he had received these sixteen hundred florins。 He answered in the affirmative。 〃No one believed you would ever more see the light。 I knew you would serve me; and that you would relieve my necessities。 I went and spoke to Dr。 Berger; he agreed we should halve the sum; and his contrivance was; I should make oath I had lent you a thousand florins; without having received your note。 The money was paid me by M。 Frauenberger; to whom I agreed to send a present of Tokay; for Madam Huttner。〃
This was the manner in which my curators took care of my property! Many instances I could produce; but I am too much agitated by the recollection。 I must speak a word concerning who and what my curators were。
The Court Counsellor; Kempf; was my administrator; and Counsellor Huttner my referendary。 The substitute of Kempf was Frauenberger; who; being obliged to act as a clerk at Prague during the war; appointed one Krebs as a sub…substitute; whether M。 Krebs had also a sub…substitute is more than I am able to say。
Dr。 Bertracker was fidei commiss…curator; though there was no fidei commissum existing。 Dr。 Berger; as Fidei Commiss…Advocate; was superintendent; and to them all salaries were to be paid。
Let us see what was the business this company had to transact。 I had seventy…six thousand florins in the Hungarian Chamber; the interest of which was to be yearly received; and added to the capital: this was their employment; and was certainly so trifling that any man would have performed it gratis。 The war made money scarce; and the discounting of bills with my ducats was a profitable trade to my curators。 Had it been honestly employed; I should have found my capital increased; after my imprisonment; full sixty thousand florins。 Instead of these I received three thousand florins at Prague; and found my capital diminished seven thousand florins。
Frauenberger and Berger died rich; and I must be confined as a madman; lest this deputy should have been proved a rogue。 This is the clue to the acquittal I was obliged to sign:… Madam K… was a lady of the bedchamber at court; she could approach the throne: her chamber employments; indeed; procured her the keys of doors that to me were eternally locked。
Not satisfied with this; Kempf applied to the Empress; informed her they were acquitted; not recompensed; and that Frauenberger required four thousand florins for remuneration。 The Empress laid an interdict on the half of my income and pension。 Thus was I obliged to live in poverty; banished the Austrian dominions; where my seventy…six thousand florins were reduced to sixty…three; the interest of which I could only receive; and that burthened by the above interdict; the fidei commissum; and administratorship。
The Empress during my sickness ordered that my captain's pay; during my ten years' imprisonment; should be given me; amounting to eight thousand florins; which pay she also settled on me as a pension。 By this pension I never profited; for; during twenty…three years; that and more was swallowed by journeys to Vienna; chicanery of courtiers and agents; and costs of suits。 Of the eight thousand florins three were stolen; the court physician must be paid thrice as much as another; and what remained after my recovery was sunk in the preparations I had made to seek my fortune elsewhere。
How far my captain's pay was matter of right or favour; let the world judge; being told I went in the service of Vienna to the city of Dantzic。 Neither did this restitution of pay equal the sum I had sent the Imperial Minister to obtain my freedom。 I remained nine months in my dungeon after the articles were signed; unthought of; and; when mentioned by the Austrians; the King had twice rejected the proposal of my being set free。 The affair happened as follows; as I received it from Prince Henry; Prince Ferdi