It will be feen by the analyfis we have given, that these difcourfes are very ftrictly methodical and argumentative. If not remarkable for that vigour and force of language by which the reader is carried irrefiitibly away, they deserve, and are calculated to engage, his ferious attention; and place, in a clear point of view, a doctrine of the highest importance, truly fcriptural, and fundamental in the Christian fem, which has been mifunderstood by fome, and mifreprefented by others.

ART. XI. The Hiftory of Poland, from its Origin as a Nation to the Commencement of the Year 1795: to which is prefixed, an accurate Account of the Geography and Grnment of that Country, and the Cftoms and Manners of its Inhabitants. 8vo. 500 PP. 78. Vernor and Hood. 1795.

THE HE hiftory of a country which has acquired any rank in in the fcale of fociety, is at all times a subject of natural and laudable curiolity. This however becomes more particularly the cafe, when any catastrophe of great political moment has rendered it an object of attention or ympathy: and furely if calamity can command attention, if national reverfes be a title to fympathy, few ftates will prefer a larger claim to the one and the other, than the country whofe hiftory is now before us. Transformed by a variety of internal revolutions, and meliorated by a procefs of peaceable and almoft unanimous reform, it fell a victim to the jealoufy and injustice of its neighbours; and the perufal of its history is fo much the more interesting, as its difalters are recent, unmerited, and ex

treme.

"

The author of this hiftory very properly obferves, in the preface to his work, that interefting as the affairs of Poland have been for fome years paft, it is little remarkable that no hiftorical account has been lately published, to enable Englishmen to trace the progrefs of its political state; and, by connecting caufes and effects, to account for the phenomena there recently exhibited." He then enumerates thofe writers, who, either as travellers, geographers, or hiftorians, have touched upon points and portions of the Polith hiftory. The expanded and partial flatement which the fe convey, have formed, according to the author's account, the ground-work of the prefent performance. He profefles alfo to have augmented his materials by all that a cautious and difcriminating felection

from

from the British and Foreign Gazettes could contribute, tewards clearing up the myfterics of fome recent events.

The work is diftributed into two books: the first of these contains a minute defcription of the boundaries, population, local curiofities, civil government, &c. of Poland. The fecond comprifes an abridged hiftory of its fovercigns, from the commencement of its monarchy down to the captivity of Stanislaus in January 1795. In affigning the boundaries of Poland, the author has prefented us with two tables; the first of which defigns its limits under the ancient and original divifion; the fecond exhibits its final state after the difmemberment in 1793. At the clofe of this the author remarks, with a portion of afperity which fuch a contemplation will fufficiently juftify-" Hence it appears, that three of its smallest provinces are all the domains left to the unfortunate and degraded kingdom of Poland, by the modeft and magnanimous fovereigns of Auftria, Ruflia, and Pruffia." P. 4.

In defcribing the manners, customs, and habits of the Poles, the author has been judicioufly concife; the mind being neceffarily carried from these attendant circumftances, to the more interefting points of their conftitution and hiftory. Of the former, a clear analyfis is given at the clofe of the first book; but as the conftitution of this people is founded on a fluctuating bafe, and has changed, in fome of its leading particulars, with every new reign, it is neceflarily connected and interwoven with the hiftory of thofe fovereigns, from whom it has received the various modifications, under which it must be viewed. The author has therefore, with great propriety, devoted the bulk of the volume to this part of his defign; and we are of opinion, from the examination we have beftowed upon it, that he has executed his afk with a faithful attention to impartial statement and hiftorical detail. The later events are necellarily founded on lefs certain documents than those which fupport the earlier hiftory: but in thefe the author appears to have followed the best authenticated records, and to have admitted only that fpecies of evidence which all parties have agreed to acknowledge. As a fpecimen of the general manner adopted in this hiftory, we thall extract the account drawn up by the author of the patriotic general Kofciufko, a portrait of whom is prefixed to the work.

"Thadee Kofciufko is about forty years of age, of middling ftature, and of a fierce and penetrating afpect. He was born a gentleman; but his family not being in affluent circumftances, he was fent to the school of cadets, to be educated for the army. From this fchool it has been usual for the kings of Poland to fend annually four of its youths into foreign countries, to perfect them felves in military tactics,

and

and the art of war. Kofciufko had the good fortune to be one of these felected youths. He was patronized by the king, and fent into France with the best recommendations, where he ftudied upwards of four years in the military academy of Verfailles, and returned to Poland with the reputation of being a very skilful engineer. Soon after this he was appointed to the command of a company of artillery in the regiment of the crown, and was looked up to as a man of courage and eminence in his profeffion.

"About this time it was that he captivated the affections of a young lady of the first family and fortune in Poland. The lovers had contrived many private interviews before the parents of the lady had an opportunity of difcovering their connection; in all of which Kofciusko conducted himself by the rigid rules of honour and virtue. He therefore conceived himself warranted in making an open declaration of their mutual regard, and in foliciting the confent of the lady's friends for an immediate celebration of their nuptials. But being a leading family among the nobles, an alliance with Kofciufko was deemed inconfiftent and degrading; hence a peremptory refufal was experienced, and an infuperable bar put to the fond hopes of the anxious lovers. Kofciufko, however, after finding it impoffible to gain the confent of her parents, had the addrefs to carry off the lady, and was rapidly purfuing his route to France, when the unfortunate circumftance of their carriage breaking down, and no poflibility of having it replaced or repaired with requifite fpeed, gave the enraged father, and a ftrong party of relatives, an opportunity of coming up with them. Here a very fierce rencounter enfued, in which Kofeiufko was eventually reduced to the unpleafant dilemma of being obliged either to kill the father, or give up the daughter. Humanity prevailed even over the force of affection. He returned his fword peaceably to the fcabbard, and nobly restored the fair prize to his purfuers, rather than fpill the blood of him who gave her being.

"The public converfation, in all the upper circles, turning on this event, and the feelings of Kofciufko being confiderably hurt, he ob tained leave of abfence from his fovereign, and went to America. At that period the late unfortunate war with England was carrying on with full vigour. Kofciufko offered himself a volunteer to Washington, and was honoured with an important command in his army. At ter the peace, he returned with the Marquis de la Fayette to France, where the French officers who had ferved in that campaign, and Dr. Franklin, always fpoke of him as a man of equal magnanimity, fortitude, and courage, and to whom America was greatly indebted for his fervices.

"Kofciuko having thus acquired reputation abroad, returned, with the laurels, to his native country, where he afterwards diftinguifhed himself in three battles which prince Poniatowski fought with the Ruffians. at the time of the diet of Targowicz; and it is faid, that if the councils of Kofciufko had been followed in that fhort war, affairs would have taken a better turn. When, therefore, Stan flaus found himself obliged to ceafe hoftilities, Kofciufko, defpifing an inactive life, again procured leave to enter into foreign fervice. He went to Pifa in the month of December 1793. where he profefled him

felf

felf going to Geneva; but, in fact, he went to Paris. He was there introduced to many of the leading members of the convention, whose policy induced them to prefent him with ten millions of livres to ftir up an infurrection in Poland, in order to draw off the Pruffian army from acting with the allies, and to confine the attention of FrederickWilliam to a different part of the continent.

"It is evident that Kofciufko made the beft ufe both of his time and money. Early in February he found himself at the head of a confiderable body of the Polish infurgents, and boldly attacked the Pruffians who had taken poffeffion of their country. These they drove before them from one part to another, until they came to Inowlotz, where the Pruffians contrived to retard the march of Kefciusko for about half an hour, by breaking down part of the wooden bridge; till at last a party of the Polanders fwam across the river, and coming upon the rear of the enemy, put them to flight. They then attacked the Ruffian troops in Cracow, confitting of upwards of fix hundred men, whom they drove out, and took poffeffion of the garrifon; foon after which, viz. on the 24th of March, 1794, Kofciufko iffued the following proclamation:"

"Dear Fellow Citizens,

"Having been often called to affift in the falvation of our common country, behold I obey the call-but I cannot be useful to you, or break the chains of flavery, if you do not give me fpcedy fuccour !— Support me with your whole force, and fly to the ftandard of your country. In this common caufe the fame zea ought to animate us all,

"Make voluntary facrifices of your wealth, which hitherto, inftead of being at your own difpofal, was at the will of defpot.Furnish men capable of bearing arms-do not refufe the neceflary provisions of bread, bifcuit, &c.-Send horfes, fhirts, boots, cloth and canvals for tents. The generous facrifices made to liberty and your country, will receive their recompenfe in the gratitude of the

nation.

"The last moment is arrived, in which defpair, in the midst of fhame and reproach, puis arms in your hands. Our hope is in the contempt of death, which can alone enable us to ameliorate our fate, and that of our pofterity. Far be from us that terror which the enemics, confpired against us, endeavour to infufe into our minds.

66

The first step to throw off the yoke is to dare to believe ourselves free-and the firit ftep to victory is a confidence in our strength!

Citizens, the palatinate of Cracow affords you a fignal example of patriotifm. It offers the flower of its youth, having already granted pecuniary and other affiftance-their example is worthy of imitationdo not hesitate to place credit in your country, which will reward you well-the ordinances iffued by the generals of the palatinate, and the commanders of the troops, to furnish the neceflary provifions, will be placed to the account of impofts, and will be paid for in the fequel. It is unneceflary to encourage you before-hand, becaufe that would appear to doubt your civism; the continued opprefiion practised by the Ruffian foldiers, ought fufficiently to convince you, that it is better to make voluntary facrifices to your country, than to make facrifices by ferce to an enemy. Whoever in thefe circumftances dares be in

fenfible

fenfible to the urgent neceffities of his country, muft draw upon himfelf eternal infamy.

"Dear fellow citizens, I expect every thing from your zeal your hearts will join that facred union which is neither the work of foreign intrigue, nor of a defire of domination, but is folely the effect of a love for liberty.

"Who does not declare for us is against us. He who refufes to affociate with those who have fworn to thed their last drop of blood for their country, is either an enemy, or one who is neuter, and in fuch a cafe neutrality is a crime against civism. I have fworn to the nation that the powers entrusted to me thail not be applied to the oppreffion of the people. At the fame time I declare, that whoever acts against our confederacy, thall fuffer the punishment established in the national act, of a traitor and enemy to his country.

"We have already finned by connivance, which has ruined Poland. Scarcely has an offence against the people ever been punished. Let us now adopt a different mode of conduct-and let us recompenfe virtue and civifm by pursuing and punishing traitors.

THADDEE KOSCIUSKO."

"After this proclamation, the populace affembled in prodigious. numbers, every where fhouting," Long live Kofciufko." They then conducted him to the town-houfe of Cracow, where he was prefented to the heads of the Polish nobility, who had affembled there to receive him. By thefe he was formally invefted with the title of general, and made commander in chief of the troops collected for liberating Poland from the fhackles of its oppreffors. His troops then alfo took an oath to deliver their country, or perish in the attempt.

"To fuch a degree of enthufiafm were the Poles animated by the conduct of Kofciufko, that his army was fuperabundantly fupplied with every article neceffary for the profecution of hoftile operations." P. 467.

The French revolutionary jargon mixed in this proclamation, fhows plainly enough, what the hiftorian has rather concealed, how far the people now were gone in that diforder. The fpirit of the writer is, however, noble. It fhould be obferved that the author every where pays due refpect to the excellent King of Poland. We are inclined, upon the whole, to congratu late the public upon the appearance of this hiftory. If it want the embellishments of an elegant ftyle, it poffeffes the merits of accuracy and arrangemen', which more effentially conftitute the value of fuch performances. To a ftudent of continental politics it will doubtlefs prove a very ufeful and acceptable manual: as it prefents the only regular hiftory yet extant, of a country rendered interefting by the annihilation of its national independence, and the deftruction of its political conftitution.

ART.