Page images
PDF
EPUB

CHAP. V.

Conduct of the King of Prussia.---Succinct Account of Poland.---Its Dismemberment.--- Alterations in its Constitution.---The Empress of Russia prepares to invade Poland.---Warlike Preparations of the Poles.---Conduct of the Nobility.---Skirmishes between the Russians and Poles.---Valor of the latter.---Signal Defeat of the Russians by Prince Poniatowski.---Poland overawed by Russia. ---Perfidy of Frederic William, who takes Possession of Thorn and Dantzic.---Conduct of the Russian Ambassador.---Insurrection in Poland.

[ocr errors]

Cracow taken by Kosciusko.---He defeats the Russians under General Woronzow.---The Russians expelled from Warsaw by the Citizens.-Warsaw besieged by the King of Prussia without Success.---Kosciusko defeated and taken Prisoner. ---Massacre at Warsaw.---Final Partition of Poland.---Reflections.

THE vacilation and inconsistent conduct of the king of Prussia has been already noticed. The unequivocal symptoms which he manifested of a desire to procure peace with the French republic induced the British government to advance him an enormous sum of money, in order to prevent his secession

[blocks in formation]

from a cause, in which, though not remarkable for penetration, he had sense enough to see that neither profit nor glory was likely to be acquired; these just ideas, nevertheless, were not the result of prudent reflection and foresight, but founded on practical experience: the disasters of Champaign not only gave him a distaste for personal service during the remainder of the struggle, but induced him to meditate the best method of terminating a war, which, instead of giving him the title of Deliverer of France, which at the commencement he had made himself certain of attaining, was pregnant with disappointment, disgrace, and ultimate ruin. Notwithstanding, he cheerfully received the English subsidy, and continued for some little time after to make a shew of opposition to the French; but he shortly threw aside the mask; and the money sent him with such alacrity and so liberally by Mr. Pitt, he employed in equipping a force destined for the oppression of a brave people, and which he fondly anticipated would repay the losses, if not the infamy, he had so recently experienced.

Poland, famous for the native valor of its inhabitants, the freedom of its government, and the persecution it repeatedly experienced from its neighbors, was doomed once more to become a prey to the baleful ambition of despotic and unprincipled potentates, and experience all the horrors of a savage war. But Frederic William was careful to adjust his differences with the French republic, prior to participat

ing in one of the most diabolical measures that ever disgraced a princely confederacy; and peace between Prussia and France was finally ratified on the 5th of April, 1795.

Poland of old was possessed by the Vandals, who were afterwards partly expelled by the Russ and Tartars. It was divided into many small states or principalities, each almost independent of another, though they generally had some prince who was paramount over the rest. In the year 700, the people, through the oppression of their petty chiefs, gave the supreme command, under the title of duke, to Cracus, the founder of the city of Cracow. His posterity failing in the year 830, a peasant named Piastus, was elected to the ducal dignity. He lived to the age of 120 years, and his reign was so long and auspicious, that every native Pole, who has since been elected king, is called a Piast. From this period, till the accession of Micislaus II. 964, we have no very certain records of the history of Poland. The title of duke was retained till the year 992, when Boleslaus assumed the title of king, and conquered Moravia, Prussia, and Bohemia, making them tributary to Poland. Boleslaus II. added Red Russia to Poland, by marrying the heiress of that duchy, anno 1059. Jagello, who in 1384 ascended the throne, was grand duke of Lithuania, and a pagan; but, on his being elected king of Poland, he not only became a christian, but was at pains to bring his subjects to that religion. He united his hereditary domi

nions to those of Poland; which gave such influence to his posterity over the hearts of the Poles, that the crown was preserved in his family until the male line became extinct in Sigismund Augustus, in 1572, who admitted the reformed, with Greeks and all other sects, to a seat in the diet, and to all the honors and privileges before confined to the catholics. He gave such evident marks of favor to the protestant profession, that he was suspected of being inclined to change his religion. At this time two powerful competitors appeared for the crown of Poland: these were, Henry duke of Anjou, brother to Charles IX. king of France; and Maximilian of Austria. The French interest prevailed: but Henry had not been four months on the throne of Poland when his brother died, and he returned privately to France, which kingdom he governed by the name of Henry III. The party who had espoused Maximilian's interest endeavored once more to revive his pretensions; but the majority of the Poles being desirous to choose a prince who might reside among them, fixed on Stephen Batori, prince of Transylvania; upon whose death, in 1596, the Poles chose Sigismund, son of John, king of Sweden, by Catherine, sister of Sigismund II. for their king.

Sigismund was crowned king of Sweden after his father's death; but being expelled by the Swedes, a long war ensued between them and the Poles, which terminated in favor of the latter. Sigismund, being secured on the throne of Poland, aspired to that of

Russia as well as Sweden; but after long wars he was defeated in both views. In 1623, Sigismund died, and Uladislaus, his son succeeded. This prince was successful both against the Turks and the Russians, and obliged the Swedes to restore all the Polish dominions they had taken in Prussia.

He was succeeded by his brother John Casimir, who, fond of retirement and study, finding that cabals and factions increased every day, and that he himself might fall a sacrifice to public discontent, abdicated his throne, and died abbot of St. Germain in France, employing the remainder of his days in Latin poetical compositions, which are far from being despicable.

The most remote descendants of the ancient kings ending in John Casimir, many foreign candidates presented themselves for the crown of Poland; but the Poles chose for their king a private gentleman of little interest, and less capacity, one Michael Wiesnowiski, because he was descended from a Piast. His reign was disgraceful to Poland. Large bodies of Cossacs had put themselves under the protection of the Turks, who conquered all the provinces of Podolia, and took Kaminieck, till then thought impregnable. The greatest part of Poland was ravaged, and the Poles were obliged to pay an annual tribute to the sultan. Notwithstanding these disgraceful events, the credit of the Polish arms was in some measure maintained by John Sobieski, the crown-general, a brave and active commander, who

« PreviousContinue »