condemnation of some of her subjects for a treasonable conspiracy, the freedom of speech in the diet, but above all, the mission of an envoy to Constantinople, and the conclusion of a treaty with the Porte. All these provocations, however, the empress professed her willingness to pardon, in her equity and generosity to the Polish nation. Still she could not turn a deaf ear to the claims of those patriots who had demanded the performance of her guarantee, and her support of a confederation in which they had united for the restoration of law and liberty to the republic, deprived of both by the pretended constitution of the 3rd of May. Her troops, she said, came only as friends to co-operate in this good purpose; and she concluded with exhorting the Poles to commit themselves with entire confidence to the magnanimity and disinterestedness of her Russian majesty.

This declaration of war, for such it really was, though no more than might have been expected from the known character of Catherine, burst upon the Poles like a clap of thunder. The diet, before any decisive measures were taken, resolved to communicate the Russian declaration to Lucchesini, the Prussian ambassador, conceiving that, in consequence of the treaty of alliance concluded with Frederick-William, they had a right to claim his assistance against the threatened invasion. The ambassador evaded giving a positive answer, on the plea that he expected instructions from his court; but he remarked verbally that, as his master had taken no share in the new constitution, he did not consider himself bound to afford support to its partisans. Stanislaus, desirous of coming to an immediate explanation on this point, wrote to the king of Prussia, to acquaint him with the hostile denunciations of the Russian empress, and to learn his intentions.

We have seen with what apparent sincerity the king of Prussia urged the establishment of a new constitution in

Poland his answer showed how total a change had since taken place in his sentiments and policy. He complained in his reply that the republic had, without his knowledge and co-operation, given itself a constitution which he had never thought of supporting. "From the moment," he continued, "that the restoration of the general peace of Europe allowed me to explain myself, and the empress of Russia acquainted me with her decided disapprobation of the revolution of the 3rd of May, my sentiments and the language of my ministers have not changed. Since considering calmly the new constitution which the republic has given itself without my knowledge and co-operation, I have never thought of protecting or supporting it. On the contrary, I have predicted that the threatening measures and warlike preparations must infallibly excite the displeasure of the empress, and bring upon Poland those evils which they were expected to avert. The result has justified my views. Your majesty will feel that, as the state of things since the treaty which I concluded with you is totally changed, and the present conjunctures produced by the constitution of the 3rd of May are not applicable to the obligations stipulated therein, it does not depend on me to comply with your majesty's expectations, while the views of the patriotic party continue the same, and while they persist in upholding their work."

Threatened in one quarter, denied assistance in another from which they had a right to claim it, the Poles, even such of them who had hitherto shown the most independence, fearlessness, and patriotism, might well feel alarmed. The diet, however, nothing daunted, enlarged the powers conferred on the king, and granted to those Polish subjects who had been induced to seek the protection of the Russian empress and the interference of her troops a delay, in hopes that they might perceive and make amends for their error. The king, on his part, de

clared that he should put himself at the head of the army, and solemnly promised, at the peril of his life, to defend the constitution and the independence of the nation. The sittings of the diet were provisionally suspended.

Patriotic donations poured in from all classes for the purpose of increasing the army, and putting it into a condition to defend the country. Numerous volunteers, equipped at their own expense, hastened to join it; and nothing could exceed the general enthusiasm and the impatience manifested by the nation to see the king at its head. Had Stanislaus, at this critical moment, instead of shutting himself up in his palace, sacrificed his ease to the glory and independence of the country, and repaired to the camp, the struggle which ensued might perhaps have had a different issue.

Immediately on the delivery of the declaration of the empress, her armies, under generals Kochovski and Kreczetnikoff, who had commanded divisions against the Swedes and the Turks, entered Poland at two points, Lithuania, and the Ukraine, with the evident intention of pressing forward to the capital. Their forces consisted of 80,000 troops of the line and 20,000 Cossacks.

Kochovski penetrated with three corps into the Ukraine, where prince Joseph Poniatowsky, the king's nephew, had been appointed to the chief command of the Polish troops. The king, notwithstanding his solemn promise to put himself at the head of the national army for the defence of the country, began to waver in his resolution, and at length gave it up. Still it was not doubted that he would repair to the camp formed near Warsaw; and, in consequence, a great number of volunteers flocked thither, so that the force collected in that quarter received daily accessions. Instead, however, of animating them by his presence, Stanislaus called together a council of war composed of persons whose views coincided with his

own.

This council ordered prince Poniatowski to withdraw the different corps from their positions and to fall back to the Bug, for the purpose of concentrating all the Polish forces in the neighbourhood of Warsaw. Thus an army of 60,000 men, burning with ardour for the fight, was obliged to retire, as though afraid to meet the invaders. The prince was thunderstruck when he received the orders of the king: he ventured to remonstrate, but only drew upon himself reproofs, accompanied with a positive command to defend only the passage of the Bug. As that river is extremely easy to cross at numerous points, and it was impossible to defend them all, the chiefs of the army thought these orders of the king quite as incomprehensible as his political conduct appeared to every enlightened observer.

In compliance, however, with the order to retreat, the three divisions of the Polish army in the Ukraine formed a junction near Polonna. In the various skirmishes, which could not be avoided, fortune was variable; but, when the superior force of the Russians did procure them the victory, they purchased it dearly, for the Poles fought with desperation. Convincing proofs of their valour were exhibited in the action at Zielence on the 18th of June, and likewise in that at Polonna: but it was at Dubienca on the 17th of July that their undaunted intrepidity and patriotism were more particularly displayed under the gallant Kosciusko. His division was opposed to a Russian corps of twice their number, and did not quit their position till they were turned by the Russians, who crossed the frontiers of Gallicia, and attacked them on a side from which, as a neutral country, they imagined that they had nothing to fear. This action, which cost the Russians 4,000-men, added to the laurels won by Kosciusko in the war of American independence, and was a prelude to the extraordinary efforts made two years afterwards by

that great man to avenge the honour and to assert the independence of his country.

In Lithuania the progress of the Russians was equally rapid, the Poles retiring before them towards Warsaw. Two or three actions took place during this retreat, but of so little importance, as not to deserve particular mention. When half Poland was thus abandoned by the troops, and other resources began to fail, the king ordered his nephew to demand an armistice; but the Russian generals refused it, alleging that application must be made to Petersburg.

ment.

On the entrance of the Russians into the Ukraine, the Polish nobles in the interest of the empress formed a confederation at Targowiça, and promulgated an act by which they pretended to annul the new constitution and all the proceedings of the diet subsequent to its establishA similar confederation was formed at Wilna for the grand-duchy of Lithuania, through the influence of the Kossakowski family, and this was united in the sequel to that of Targowiça. In opposition to these proceedings, however, the inhabitants of Lithuania issued an energetic proclamation, breathing a spirit of the purest patriotism, denouncing the grievances and oppressions which they had to endure from their invaders, and declaring their firm determination to defend the new constitution and the independence of their country.

The obstinacy with which Stanislaus adhered to his purpose of not leaving Warsaw, and repairing to the camp; the orders which he had sent to the army to retreat; the choice of persons immediately about him whose patriotism was very equivocal; the presence of the Russian and Prussian ambassadors, who seemed to act in concert and to take advantage of the weakness of the king's character-all appeared to denote a speedy dissolution of the government.