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In Austria I never can expect a like reception； I am there mistaken； and I feel little inclination to labour at removing mistakes so rooted。 Yet； even there am I by the general voice； approved。 Yes； I am admired； but not known； pitied but not supported； honoured； but not rewarded。
When at Berlin； I discovered an error I had committed in the commencement of my life。 At the time I wrote I believed that the postmaster…general of Berlin； Mr Derschau； was my mother's brother； and the same person who； in 1742； was grand counsellor at Glogau； and afterwards； president in East Friesland。 I was deceived； the Derschau who is my mother's brother is still living； and president at Aurich in East Friesland。 The postmaster was the son of the old Derschau who died a general； and who was only distantly related to my mother。 Neither is the younger Derschau； who is the colonel of a regiment at Burg； the brother of my mother； but only her first cousin； one of their sisters married Lieut。…Colonel Ostau； whose son； the President Ostau； now lives on his own estate； at Lablack in Prussia。
I was likewise deceived in having suspected a lieutenant； named Mollinie； in the narrative I gave of my flight from Glatz； of having acted as a spy upon me at Braunau； and of having sent information to General Fouquet。 I am sorry。 This honest man is still alive； a captain in Brandenburg。 He was affected at my suspicion； fully justified himself； and here I publicly apologise。 He then was； and again is become my friend。
I have received a letter from one Lieutenant Brodowsky。 This gentleman is offended at finding his mother's name in my narrative； and demands I should retract my words。
My readers will certainly allow the virtue of Madame Brodowsky； at Elbing； is not impeached。 Although I have said I had the fortune to be beloved by her； I have nowhere intimated that I asked； or that she granted； improper favours。
By the desire of a person of distinction； I shall insert an incident which I omitted in a former part。 This person was an eye…witness of the incident I am about to relate； at Magdeburg； and reminded me of the affair。 It was my last attempt but one at flight。
The circumstances were these：…
As I found myself unable to get rid of more sand； after having again cut through the planking； and mined the foundation； I made a hole towards the ditch； in which three sentinels were stationed。 This I executed one night； it being easy； from the lightness of the sand； to perform the work in two hours。
No sooner had I broken through； than I threw one of my slippers beside the palisades； that it might be supposed I had lost it when climbing over them。 These palisades； twelve feet in length； were situated in the front of the principal fosse； and my sentinels stood within。 There was no sentry…box at the place where I had broken through。
This done； I returned into my prison； made another hole under the planking； where I could hide myself； and stopped up the passage behind me； so that it was not probable I could be seen or found。
When daylight came； the sentinel saw the hole and gave the alarm； the slipper was found； and it was concluded that Trenck had escaped over the palisades； and was no longer in prison。
Immediately the sub…governor came from Magdeburg； the guns were fired； the horse scoured the country； and the subterranean passages were all visited： no tidings came； no discovery was made； and the conclusion was I had escaped。 That I should fly without the knowledge of the sentinels； was deemed impossible； the officer； and all the guard； were put under arrest； and everybody was surprised。
I； in the meantime； sat quiet in my hole； where I heard their searches； and suppositions that I was gone。
My heart bounded with joy； and I held escape to be indubitable。 They would not place sentinels over the prison the following night； and I should then really have left my place of concealment； and； most probably have safely arrived in Saxony。 My destiny； however； robbed me of all hope at the very moment when I supposed the greatest of my difficulties were conquered。
Everything seemed to happen as I could wish。 The whole garrison came； and visited the casemates； and all stood astonished at the miracle they beheld。 In this state things remained till four o'clock in the afternoon。 At length； an ensign of the militia came； a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years of age； who had more wit than any or all of them。 He approached the hole； examined the aperture next the fosse； thought it appeared small； tried to enter it himself； found he could not； therefore concluded it was impossible a man of my size could have passed through； and accordingly called for a light。
This was an accident I had not foreseen。 Half stifled in my hole； I had opened the canal under the planking。 No sooner had the youth procured a light； than he perceived my shirt； examined nearer； felt about； and laid hold of me by the arm。 The fox was caught； and the laugh was universal。 My confusion may easily be imagined。 They all came round me； paid me their compliments； and finding nothing better was to be done； I laughed in company with them； and； thus laughing was led back with an aching heart to be sorrowfully enchained in my dungeon。
I continued my journey； and arrived； on the fourth of April； at Konigsberg； where my brother expected my arrival。 We embraced as brothers must； after the absence of two…and…forty years。 Of all the brothers and sisters I had left in this city； he only remained。 He lived a retired and peaceable life on his own estates。 He had no children living。 I continued a fortnight within him and his wife。
Here； for the first time； I learned what had happened to my relations； during their absence。 The wrath of the Great Frederic extended itself to all my family。 My second brother was an ensign in the regiment of cuirassiers at Kiow； in 1746； when I first incurred disgrace from the King。 Six years he served； fought at three battles； but； because his name was Trenck； never was promoted。 Weary of expectation he quitted the army； married； and lived on his estates at Meicken； where he died about three years ago； and left two sons； who are an honour to the family of the Trencks。
Fame spoke him a person capable of rendering the state essential service； as a military man； but he was my brother； and the King would never suffer his name to be mentioned。
My youngest brother applied himself to the sciences； it was proposed that he should receive some civil employment； as he was an intelligent and well…informed man； but the King answered in the margin of the petition；
〃No Trenck is good for anything。〃
Thus have all my family suffered； because of my unjust condemnation。 My last…mentioned brother chose the life of a private man； and lived at his ease； in independence； among the first people of the kingdom。 The hatred of the monarch extended itself to my sister； who had married the son of General Waldow； and lived in widowhood； from the year 1749； to her second marriage。 The misfortunes of this woman； in consequence of the treachery of Weingarten； and the aid she sent to me in my prison at Magdeburg； I have before related。 She