to complete and re-organize the three corps of Rosen, Pahlen, and Szachowskoi; and thus each division had eighteen battalions, which, with the artillery attached to thirty-six pieces, might be calculated at 15,000 men and the twenty-two divisions, therefore, which took part in the war, amounted to 330,000 men. Every cavalry division is composed of four regiments, of six squadrons each, and thus, at the lowest estimate, one cavalry division has 4000 horsemen, and the fifteen, which had entered Poland, would therefore contain 60,000, without counting 30,000 Cossacks. Hence, during the period of eight months, not less than 420,000 Russians had been poured into Poland, of whom fewer than 200,000 escaped death by the sword or by cholera, and 40,000 were captured by the Poles; a fact worthy of remark when it is recollected that Napoleon, at the head of 300,000 men, never made 10,000 Russian prisoners. Since Poland, possessing only 30,000 troops at the outbreak of the insurrection, did that which had never been done before, might she not also, but for her own errors and foreign treachery, have achieved what seemed equally impossible the defeat of her giant foe? The radical mistake, the making the war defensive within the triangle of Warsaw, Modlin, and Serock, lay with Chlopicki, which involved the gradual exhaustion of the four palatinates thus left to struggle against all Russia. Still Polish valour achieved prodigies, and several times reduced the enemy to the verge of defeat, 412 BARBAROUS CONDUCT OF NICHOLAS. as at Grochow, where the opportunity was lost by Krukowiecki's absence and Chlopicki's wound;-after the victory at Dembe Wielkie; in the expedition against the guards; and, finally, when the passage of the Vistula was permitted by Skrzynecki, whilst relying on the promise of intervention, that most insidious and deadly blow dealt by the French Government. No sooner did Nicholas find Poland in his power, than the work of vengeance began, whilst no arm was lifted, nor a remonstrance heard in her behalf. The ancient hall, where the senate used to assemble, was dismantled ;-the army was disbanded ;-officers, soldiers, and the flower of the Polish youth, enrolled in Asiatic regiments. All institutions tending to promote science, literature, and the national language, the public and private libraries at Warsaw and Pulawy, the museums,-all were plundered to enrich Moscow. The national colours and armorial bearings were destroyed;— ancient names of provinces abolished, and the constitution shut up in an iron chest under a double lock*. The national religion was not spared,—the tombs were violated, and their mouldering relics scattered to the winds. Families were transported ;-children torn from their parents to be bred up as janissaries of the Czar, * Nicholas erected a monument to Alexander in Moscow, which represents him as treading under foot the Polish constitution enclosed in an iron chest. BARBAROUS CONDUCT OF NICHOLAS. 413 and murderers of their countrymen; young girls carried off by conscription, and consigned to the paid assassins of their fathers and brothers. Thousands of noble victims pine in Siberia and Caucasus; and, finally, all that history records of Christian martyrdom, or of Jewish and Moorish extirpation, has been converted into a permanent system by Nicholas*. Amazed at the extent of Polish emigration, he offered amnesty to privates and non-commissioned officers; but they knew his heart, and would not trust his word. Prussia then joined against these now defenceless warriors, whose personal liberty she had guaranteed to Rybinski. The officers were separated from the men; and these being next persuaded to divide into small parties, were then in several cases driven back into Poland by Prussian bayonets. On the 11th of December, 1831, one of * The following anecdote, given to the writer of these pages by a party concerned in it, may serve to illustrate the character of Nicholas. Whilst yet Czarewitch, he had a pregnant bitch, one of whose puppies he had promised to Count A. P. (since dead) at that time Grand Master of the Ceremonies at the Court of St. Petersburgh. The Count happening to call upon him on a winter's morning, found his Imperial Highness employed in throwing the puppies one by one upon the chimney fire, and burning them to death, out of pity to the poor animal which had given birth to six young ones. in comparison with those of Nicholas? No doubt it is from similar motives of commiseration for Polish mothers, that he destroys their children. What were the pastimes of Nero these parties being surrounded by Prussian infantry at Fischau, and commanded to return to Poland or be fired at, announced their determination to retire to France or to die, and refused to advance a step. The bloody scene commenced. The unarmed Poles stood firm, calling on God to witness their murder, whilst the Prussians fired, killed six on the spot, and wounded seven dangerously. The relics of the gallant 4th of the line were shut up for two years in the fortress of Graudenz, and condemned to labour as convicts. Scarcely 7000 escaped; but these were no sooner out of Prussia than they exchanged persecution for sympathy and honour. No conquering army was ever greeted with more enthusiasm than were these sufferers by the Germans. From every town the citizens went out for miles to meet them, with the flags of the different guilds entwined with the Polish colours. Their path was strewed with flowers, and their exploits sung in their native language, while music and artillery proclaimed their entry. Praises of Poland mingled with prayers for her in the churches, the poets mourned her fate; and all classes felt so deeply for the distress and want of the patriots, many of whom had lost immense wealth, that it was proposed to raise a statue at Frankforton-the-Main to a compassionate German*, who had taken off his own coat to put it on a Pole. In their sympathy was much prophetic wisdom. Six months *See "Letters of Börne." after the fall of Warsaw, their ungrateful princes deprived the true-hearted people of their liberties. It may be asked, where does liberty now exist on the continent; nay, whether Russian intrigue is not creeping up the cliffs of Albion? The tears and blood of Europe will reply, and assign the place which the Polish struggle ought to hold in the history of the world. For themselves, the Poles may address the nations in the words of Prince Czartoryski, Behold your cause and ours! We appear before you covered with our blood! The injustice done to us is known to you;-for our courage and generosity ask our enemies ;"-and conclude with the poet (Campbell,) 66 66 * * * proudly may Polonia's bands Throw down their swords at Europe's feet in scorn, FINIS. |