fancy, yet fuftains you. Can you refign our brethren, our fathers, and that land which has foftered your youth? All that as king you pollels, as king has been conferred by the Poles; they have loaded you with bleffings, will you reward them with flavery? "Such a throne will have no comfort; you must difdain to purchase it at fuch a price. The general opinion is, that you have been indebted to Catharine for its fecurity. Let the univerfe fee, that it was God alone who deftined you to be a king, and established your throne. Demonftrate that you will reign with glory, and faithful to your engagements; then, too, when a greater force fubmits every thing to its will, and menaces all with deftruction, for you to wear a crown, as the flave of defpots, can have no charms. "You, fire, who are our monarch and our father, (for here you will be ftyled fo by all, and, in Siberia, our hearts fhall treafure up thofe titles ineffaceable,) conduct us, if it must be so, into Siberia. Let us go, where we are menaced, into those melancholy wafies: there, yet, pur virtue, and your own, will cover with confufion thofe who confpired our ruin. (Here the deputies cried unanimously aloud, "Let us go into Siberia.") We are your children, and will follow you with the enthufiafm of grateful love; and the measure of your fuffering fhall be exceeded by our earnest vene. ration." In one of the articles of the alliance with Rullia it was ftipulated, that without the aflent of this power, no alteration thould ever take place in the old fyftem of its government, now re-eftablished. This confirmed, at once, the perpetual dependence of Poland upon Ruflia, In order to render this dependence complete, the revenues of the kingdom, now diminished by two-thirds, through an equal diminution of its territories, were fo reduced by the late confufions, that it was found neceffary to apply to the guarantee of Ruffia, for the raifing of a loan to difcharge the public debts.*--Notwithstanding the degraded ftate of the Polish nation, it could not be brought to diffemble its refentment at the principal agent in its depreffion. An order of knighthood had been inftituted, by the diet that eftablished the revolution of 1791, for the reward of military virtue and patriotifm; this order had, in compliance with the reprefentations of the emprefs, been abolished: but a fpirit of oppofition to Ruffia fuddenly arofe, that prompted feveral members of the diet to demand its re-establishment. It was accordingly decreed, to gratify the wishes of the public, which feemed to think, that a badge of houour, at leaft, was due to thofe patriots who had made fuch confpicuous, though fruitlels, exertions in the By the fecond partition of Poland, in 1793, the share of Pruflia was, in extent of country, 1061 fquare leagues, 262 towns, 8272 villages, 1,136,381 inhabitants; taxes, 3,594,640 Polifh florins. The thare of Ruffia, in extent of country, fquare leagues, 4553; towns, 455; vilLes, 10,081; inhabitants, 3.001,688; taxes, 8,691,072.Remainder of Poland, in extent of country, fquare leagues, 4016; towns, 697; villages, 10,599; inhabitants, 3,512,710; taxes, 12,559, 181. caufe canfe of their country, The diet alfo was glad of this opportunity of fhewing its gratitude to thofe on whom it had no other recompenfe to bestow. This was the laft act of the famous, but unfortunate, diet of Grodno, which terminated on the twenty-fourth of Nov. 1793. But the revival of this order was attended with fatal confequences: it irritated the emprefs to fuch a degree, that he directed her ambailador to quit Warfaw without taking leave. Alarmed at this proof of her refentment, the king and council inftantly agreed to fupprefs this order, and to send a deputation to Petersburgh, to requeft her oblivion of the imprudence of the late diet in reviving it. This tranfaction feems, neverthelefs, to have funk deep into her mind, and to have influenced much of her fubfequent conduct towards the Poles, whom he was led to confider as ir reconcileably averfe to her perfon, as well as to the meatures enforced upon them, and unalterably determined to feek every opportunity of throwing off their obedience. Herein fhe was not mistaken; but it was no lefs certain that her feverity afforded them ample reafon to be diffatisfied. Baron Ingelftrohm, who fucceeded count Seivers in the embaffy at Warlaw, was ordered to demand a folemn abrogation of all the acts of the diets of 1788 and 1791, both which had been remarkably inimical to the interefts of Ruffia. After complying with this injunction, the Polith government was ordered to reduce the army to fixteen thousand. But this, together with other defpotic measures, proved a fignal of general infurrection. The oppreflive treatment of the Polish gentry and peafantry was become intolerable. They were compelled to find food and quarters for the Ruffian folder and to furnifh them with all nece ries, at the price which thefe were pleased to fix, without certainty, however, of any payment. They were treated with infolence, and liable to the harfheft ufage. Such behaviour in the Ruffians did not fail to render them odious, and to create a thirft of revenge. When, to these oppreffions, the infulting mandate was added to difband the army, the patience of the Poles was exhaufted, and they refused to obey. The first who refufed compliance was Mada Linfki, a nobleman highly respected, and a brigadier in the Polish army. Several regiments followed his example, and the defection at length became general. On receiving intelligence of this infurrection, the court of Petersburgh immediately difpatched fifteen thoufand men into Poland, and the Ruffian ambaffador required the Polish government to fend a body of forces againft the infurgents, and to put every fufpected perfon under arreft. But his demands were refused; the latter particularly, as contrary to law. The infurrection continued daily to increase: all the military had joined it, and every man able to bear arms feemed heartily ready to unite in one trial more, for the deliverance of his country. An individual now arofe, who fixed at once the eye and expectation of the public. This was the celebrated Kofciufko, whofe character pointed him out as the propereft man to head the refifiance of his countrymen to the Ruffians. He had, from early life, been bred a foldier, furping powers, for the well ordering of the affairs of the confe deracy, the conftitution of the year 1791, was folemnly read and fworn to in the cathedral of that city. The revolutionary government being thus fettled, Kofciufko advanced towards Warfaw, with a confiderable force. The moft vigorous meafures had been taken in that capital, through the power and influence of the Ruffian ambassador, to ftop the progress of the infurrection there. Fifteen thoufand Ruffians were quartered in that city, and more were daily expected. The king had found himself under the neceffity of publishing orders. against the infurgents, and of illuing a proclamation to enjoin obedience to government. a foldier, and greatly diftinguished himfelf in that capacity, efpecially in America, where he rendered effential fervice to the congrefs. Returned to his country, he was amongst the foremoft openly to profels and encourage a determination to affert the independence of Poland. When the Ruffians invaded it, in confequence of the conftitution of 1791, a command of importance was conferred upon him, and he diffinguished himself in all the principal actions. It has been afferted, that if his advices had been more frequently adopted, the refiftance to Ruffia would have proved much more effectual, if not wholly fuccessful. When that unfortunate ftruggle was over, he went to France, where he fo far interested the principal members of the convention in favour of his country, that they fupplied them with a very confiderable fum of money, with which he speeded back to Poland, the moment it appeared probable that another infurrection might be raised against the Ruffians. He employed the money entrusted to him to fo good purpose, that about the middle of February, 1794, he had collected a large number of the moft refulute infurgents, with whom he attacked the Pruffians in their new acquifitions, from many of which he drove them with great flaughter. He next marched to the city of Cracow, which the Ruffians deferted on his approach. Here he was declared commander in chief of the Polish confederates, by the nobility and gentry, who had affembled there for that purpofe, and who took an oath of fidelity to the caufe they had embraced. After a On the intelligence that Kofcivariety of arrangements for the pro- ufko was marching to Warfaw, bafecution of hoftilities against the uron Ingelftrohm, the Ruffian am The fituation of the king, who had loft much of his popularity, was now, not only irkfome, but by no means fecure from danger. The people did no fcruple to affirm, that the king was devoted to the interest of Ruffia, and meant to make his escape from Warfaw. This fufpicion being communicated, in a manner full of respect and attachment to his majesty's perfon, by a deputation from the council of Warlaw, he readily agreed, that fome perfons, in the confidence of the people, fhould be his conftant attendants. According to his majefty's with, fourteen citizens were appointed his adjutants, two of them to do duty at the palace, and accompany the king wherever he fhould go. From that time, two municipal officers, wearing blue fcarfs, accompanied him wherever he went, and ate at his table. bassador, baffador, demanded the furrender of the arfenal; but was refolutely refufed. He had, in the mean time, difpatched general Woronzow, with fix thousand men, to oppofe Kofciutko, On the fourth of April, 1794, they both met, and a defperate battle was fought, wherein the Ruffians left upwards of a thoufand men dead on the field, with all their cannon and amunition, befides a number of prifoners, among whom was the general himself. Irritated at this lofs, Ingelftrohm again required the arfenal to be furrendered, the Polish military difarmed, and about twenty perfons of rank, whom he fufpected, to be taken into cuftody, and, if found guilty of abetting the infurrections, to be put to death. The king and council refufed compliance, and deputed the chancellor of the kingdom to remonftrate againft his demands: but he was treated with the utmost indignity by the Ruffian ambaflador, who attempted the next morning, feventeenth of April, to take poffeffion of the arfenal. But the citizens had anticipated him; they armed themfelves, drew out the cannon, and, joined by the Polifh garrifon, their forces amounted to more than twenty thoufand men. They attacked the Ruffians, and expelled them from the city, after an obftinate conteft of thirty fix hours. Notwithstanding that the king had openly encouraged the people to defend the arfenal, they fill look ed upon him with a fufpicious eye. After the expulfion of the Ruffians, they required him folemnly to promife, that he would not quit the city. The two municipal officers ftill attend him, and all his motions strictly watched. The king, folicitous to remove all fufpicions of his fincerity in the caufe, fent the one half of his plate to the mint, and expended the other in relieving the families of thofe citizens who had fallen in the conflict with the Ruffians. He daily appeared in public, and perfonally fuperintended the repairs of the fortifications round Warfaw. In order to unite all parties, and convince Europe, that the conftitution of 1791 was the real object of the Polish nation, the provifional council of regency, that had been eftablished by the patriotic party, at the commencement of the infurrection, laid down its authority, and a national council was appointed, under the direction of the king. This measure took place through the advice and influence of Kofciufko, and powerfully conduced to cement the union and cordiality now fubfifting between all claffes of people in the kingdom. These transactions happened about the end of May, by which time the hopes and expectations of the Poles feemed to be countenanced by a variety of fuccefsful and promiting events. The Ruf fians had been defeated in many fkirmishes, and the Polish forces were daily becoming more numerous. Exclufively of the peafantry, whofe vigour and zeal rendered them of moft effential utility, and who were conftantly ready to act when called upon, the regular military of the patriotic party, prefented a formidable afpect. The various bodies under Kofciutko, and the other Polifh general, amounted altogether to near feventy thousand men, well armed, and under good difcipline. But the evil ftar of Poland ftill combatted thefe exertions. Ruflia, NOW now fully convinced that the conteft was very ferious, had collected an immenfe army, which was drawing near to the Polish frontiers. Pruffa, deeply alarmed at the progrefs of the Poles, and dreading, were they to fucceed, an invafion of his own dominions, had concluded a peace with France, which left him at liberty to carry on his projects in Poland. He entered it with a powerful army, laid fiege to the city of Cracow, which was obliged to furrender on the fifteenth of June. He advanced towards Warfaw, in the proximity of which place he was joined by the Ruffian forces in thefe parts, and immediately refoved to befiege that capital. It was in a state of great fermentation: a number of perfons had been tried and convicted of treafon against their country. The citizens eager y demanded their punishment; and notwithftanting the endeavours of the more moderate to fufpend their execution, several individuals of diftinction were put to death. After facrificing those that were reputed the most guilty, they were prevailed upon to permit a respite to the others. The king of Pruffia was now encamped, with his own and the Ruffian forces, within fight of the Polih metropolis. He promifed himfelf an eafy reduction of the city, as it had no fortifications. But the inhabitants were numerous, and well provided with all neceflaries for a refolute defence. As it was forefeen, that the fate of the capital would in a great meafure influence that of the whole kingdom, Kofciufko refolved to defend it in perfon. To this intent, he approached it on that fide where the Ruffians lay. He attacked and forced all their pofts on the eleventh of July, and took an advantageous pofition in front of the city, oppofite to the Pruffian encampment. He received, in a fhort time, so many reinforcements, that he was enabled to furround Warsaw with intrenchments, by which it was fo well protected, that the king of Pruffia, began to doubt of the fuccefs of his enterprife. The Pruffians exerted themfelves with their usual skill and bravery; but they were almoft conftantly worfted in all their attempts. Theycannonaded and bombarded the city without intermiffion; but were anfwered with a fire from the intrenchments around it, that made prodigious flaughter among them. The king and prince-royal of Pruffia were more than once in great danger. The fiege continued in this manner till the beginning of Auguft, when the king wrote a letter to Stanislaus, endeavouring to perfuade him to a furrender; but the Polish monarch returned him a firm refusal. In the mean time, the Polish provinces, that had been feized by the Pruffians, were in a state of infurrection. The Poles poured in upon them from all quarters, and the advices brought every day to the Pruffian camp before Warfaw, became fo alarming, that the king began ferioufly to think it neceffary to haften to the fuccour of his own dominions. The Polith capital had fuffered very little during the fiege, and was in a condition to hold out much longer than he would be able to continue his operations against it'; and the auxiliaries, promifed to him from Ruffia, advanced fo flowly, that he apprehended they might not arrive before his own ftrength were too much impaired for the purposes he had in view. Influenced by thefe |