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The editor of this essay was, as the title page shows, a Jesuit: A member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests that, during the 18th century, was frequently accused of political meddling and secretive, "shameful" agendas.. He thought too reasonably and too honestly to belong any longer to a society Gesellschaft: Here referring specifically to the "Society of Jesus" (the Jesuits). that trains its members for the most dangerous and shameful principles and undertakings. He had not seen this so clearly in his early youth; partly because the system was presented to him, as always, only gradually and so "sweetly" that his eyes were only opened to it quite late. When he saw what a ruinous path he had chosen, he wanted to withdraw, but the superiors soon noticed this and persecuted him cruelly. Finally, after suffering through many hardships, he escaped their revenge and fled to America, where he has been a Lieutenant in the Provincial Army Provinzial-Armee: This likely refers to the American Continental Army or a state militia during the period of the American Revolution. for three years, and now,