h lie reposited there! Who can have done it? Guesses,
researcher, were many: at length suspicion fell on one Menzel, a
KANZELLIST (Government Clerk), of good social repute, and superior
official ability; who is not himself in the Foreign Department at
all; but whose way of living, or the like sign, had perhaps seemed
questionable. In 1757, Menzel, and the Saxon Court and its businesses,
were all at Warsaw; Menzel dreaming of no disturbance, but prosecuting
his affairs as formerly,--when, one day, September 24th (the
slot-hounds, long scenting and tracking, being now at the mark), Menzel
and an Associate of his were suddenly arrested. Confronted with their
crimes, with the proofs in readiness; and next day,--made a clear
Confession, finding the matter desperate otherwise, Copy of which, in
Notarial form, exact and indisputable, the reader shall now see. As
this story, of Friedrich and the Saxon Archives, was very famous in the
world, and mythic circumstances are prevalent, let us glance into it
with our own eyes, since there is opportunity in brief compass.

"EXTRACTUS PROTOCOLLORUM IN INQUISITIONS-SACHEN,"--THAT IS TO SAY,
EXTRACT OF PROTOCOLS IN INQUEST "CONTRA FRIEDRICH WILHELM MENZEL AND
JOHANN BENJAMIN ERFURTH."

"AT WARSAW, 25th SEPTEMBER, 1757: This day, in the King's Name, in
presence of Legationsrath von Saul, Hofrath Ferbers and Kriegsrath von
Gotze the Undersigned: Examination of the Kabinets-Kanzellist Menzel,
arrested yesterday, and now brought from his place of arrest to the
Royal Palace;--who, ADMONITUS DE DICENDA VERITATE, made answers, to the
effect following:--

"His name is Friedrich Wilhelm Menzel; age thirty-eight; is a son of
the late Hofrath and Privy-referendary Menzel, who formerly was in the
King's service, and died a few years back. Has been seventeen years
Kanzellist at the GEHEIME CABINETS-CANZLEI (Secret Archive); had taken
the oath when he entered on his office.

"Acknowledges some Slips of Paper (ZETTEL), now shown to him, to be
his handwriting: they contained news intended to be communicated to the
Prussian Secretary Benoit, now residing here", at Dresden formerly.

"Confesses that he has employed, here as well as previously in Dresden,
his Brother-in-law, the journeyman goldsmith Erfurth (who was likewise
arrested yesterday), to convey to the Prussian Secretaries, Plessmann
and Benoit, such pieces and despatches from the Secret Cabinet,
especially the Foreign department, as he