ew more polite, probably perceiving I
was not wholly deserted, and that it was yet possible I might obtain my
freedom. The cruel are usually cowards, and there is reason to suppose
Bruckhausen was actuated by his fears to treat me with greater respect.

The worthy new governor had not indeed the power to lighten my chains, or
alter the general regulations; what he could, he did. If he did not
command, he connived at the doors being occasionally at first, and at
length, daily, kept open some hours, to admit daylight and fresh air.
After a time, they were open the whole day, and only closed by the
officers when they returned from their visit to Walrabe.

Having light, I began to carve, with a nail, on the pewter cup in which I
drank, satirical verses and various figures, and attained so much
perfection that my cups, at last, were considered as master-pieces, both
of engraving and invention, and were sold dear, as rare curiosities. My
first attempts were rude, as may well be imagined. My cup was carried to
town, and shown to visitors by the governor, who sent me another. I
improved, and each of the inspecting officers wished to possess one. I
grew more expert, and spent a whole year in this employment, which thus
passed swiftly away. The perfection I had now acquired obtained me the
permission of candle-light, and this continued till I was restored to
freedom.

The King gave orders these cups should all be inspected by government,
because I wished, by my verses and devices, to inform the world of my
fate. But this command was not obeyed; the officers made merchandise of
my cups, and sold them at last for twelve ducats each. Their value
increased so much, when I was released from prison, that they are now to
be found in various museums throughout Europe. Twelve years ago the late
Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel presented one of them to my wife; and another
came, in a very unaccountable manner, from the Queen-Dowager of Prussia
to Paris. I have given prints of both these, with the verses they
contained, in my works; whence it may be seen how artificially they were
engraved.

A third fell into the hands of Prince Augustus Lobkowitz, then a prisoner
of war at Magdeburg, who, on his return to Vienna, presented it to the
Emperor, who placed it in his museum. Among other devices on this cup,
was a landscape, representing a vineyard and husbandmen, and under it the
following words:--_By my labours my vineyard flourished_,