f hope or fear, have sometimes
concealed truth by endeavouring to palliate his conduct.

It must ever remain incomprehensible that a monarch so clear-sighted,
himself the daily witness of my demeanour, one well acquainted with
mankind, and conscious I wanted neither money, honour, nor hope of future
preferment; I say it is incomprehensible that he should really suppose me
guilty. I take God to witness, and all those who knew me in prosperity
and misfortune, I never harboured a thought of betraying my country. How
was it possible to suspect me? I was neither madman nor idiot. In my
eighteenth year I was a cornet of the body guard, adjutant to the King,
and possessed his favour and confidence in the highest degree. His
presents to me, in one year, amounted to fifteen hundred dollars. I kept
seven horses, four men in livery; I was valued, distinguished, and
beloved by the mistress of my soul. My relations held high offices, both
civil and military; I was even fanatically devoted to my King and
country, and had nothing to wish.

That I should become thus wretched, in consequence of this unfortunate
letter, is equally wonderful: it came by the public post. Had there been
any criminal correspondence, my kinsman certainly would not have chosen
this mode of conveyance; since, it is well known, all such letters are
opened; nor could I act more openly. My colonel read the letter I wrote;
and also that which I received, immediately after it was brought.

The day after the receipt of this letter I was, as I have before said,
unheard, unaccused, unjudged, conducted like a criminal from the army, by
fifty hussars, and imprisoned in the fortress of Glatz. I was allowed to
take three horses, and my servants, but my whole equipage was left
behind, which I never saw more, and which became the booty of Jaschinsky.
My commission was given to Cornet Schatzel, and I cashiered without
knowing why. There were no legal inquiries made: all was done by the
King's command.

Unhappy people! where power is superior to law, and where the innocent
and the virtuous meet punishment instead of reward. Unhappy land! where
the omnipotent "SUCH IS OUR WILL" supersedes all legal sentence, and robs
the subject of property, life, and honour.

I once more repeat I was brought to the citadel of Glatz; I was not,
however, thrown into a dungeon, but imprisoned in a chamber of the
officer of the guard; was allowed my servants to wait on me, and
per