Excerpts from THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE LADY CRAVEN
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It is a singular circumstance in the history of the House of Bradenburgh, that during the space of 370
years, in which time the sovereignty was in their hands, there was never experienced one minority.
Frederick enjoyed an immoderate reputation, and to a certain point even the adoration of his
contemporaries, not only as a warrior, but as a governor of his empire, and as a profound politician.
His assiduity was indefatigable, and his skill in affairs of government transcendent. The Government
of Prussia appeared to rise from the seeds of despotism, and formed a lesson of instruction to the
world. Notwithstanding his exactness and his inflexibility in war, he obtained the affections of his
soldiers, who always denominated him their Father Fritz. It was the name by which he was familiarly
called through the army.
The severity of his conduct towards Baron de Trenck has excited the indignation of mankind, and
has been considered as a blot on his escutcheon; but arbitrary order and rigorous detention have to be
exercised in other countries as well as in Prussia. Without pleading this as an excuse, I shall
endeavour, with impartiality, to remark on the leading points of the justification of Frederick's
conduct, derived from those who were acquainted with the cause of such a punishment.
M. de Trenck had been forbidden by the King, whom he acknowledged not only as his Sovereign,
but as his benefactor, to write to his uncle, who was a chief of the Pandours.
His injunctions were violated. The King demanded of him personally whether he was in
correspondence with his uncle. M. de Trenck denied it. "Do you give me your word of honour of it?"
said the King. "Yes, Sire," was the answer. It was at the very time that Trenck had just written to his
uncle, that this dialogue passed. The discovery was made, and M. de Trenck was sent to the fortress
of Magdeburg: it was a punishment usual in the Prussian service. M. de Trenck plotted his escape,
and fled with an officer whom he had seduced to desert, he killed those who pursued him. The
King's Resident at Dantzic, whither Trenck had fled, sent him back to his Sovereign. Trenck had
certainly violated every law - he had at first been disobedient, then perjured - a rebel, and a murderer.
At Magdeburg, Baron de Trenck recommenced his devices: his imprisonment was in consequence
rendered more severe, and his confinement lasted for ten years.
Trenck was six feet two inches high, and squinted: he was popular, and always followed by
thousands. After the death of Frederick he published his Memoirs. At that period, all who were
acquainted with the groundwork of his history were dead: on his own testimony depends the whole
of his relation. Those whom he cites in his narrative have probably forgotten the circumstances of so
distant a date, but without recurring to vague conjectures regarding the truth of this affair, or of the
cruelty exercised against him, M. de Trenck avows that he had intrigued with a person of illustrious
rank. If that person, as has been generally supposed, and which from good authority I know to be the
case, was the Princess Amelia, sister of the King; if from this connection there were children who
were deprived of life by means the most horrible - what strong inducements might not the King have
had for visiting on Trenck a punishment of the severest kind, without being under the necessity of
explaining (from motives of decorum and decency) the reasons which influenced him to such an act.
Frederick frequently broke his officers for causes light in appearance; but he always had heavier
charges against them, which were unknown to the rest of mankind, and which he concealed for the
purpose of preserving military discipline.