There were, however, some forays later on, which, though not so glorious, were celebrated and bloody enough. About the year 1817 a certain U⸺, in the Novogrodek palatinate, slew in a foray the whole garrison in the town, and took the leaders prisoners. ↩
The dates of the battles here enumerated are as follows: Oczakow, 1788; Ismail, 1790; Novi, in the plain of Marengo, where the French were defeated by the Austro-Russian army, 1799. The retreat of Suwarow’s army from Zurich took place in the same year. ↩
At the battle of Raclawice, near Krakow, Kosciuszko gained a signal victory over the Austrian and Russian troops; in a great measure by the peasant infantry armed with scythes, which he was the first to organise, and of which he there proved the efficiency. ↩
Maciejowice, the field where Kosciuszko was defeated and taken prisoner by the Russians on the 10th October 1794. ↩
“Nosil wilk, poniesli i wilka.” A proverb. ↩
In translating the whole of this scene, an effort has been made to reproduce the effect of the broken lines in the original. ↩
John Tenczynski, in the sixteenth century, gained the love of a princess of Sweden, with the approval of her brother King Eric, but being taken prisoner at sea by the Danish fleet, died in captivity, without the consummation of his wishes. This story forms the base of a novel by Niemcewicz, and there is a very pretty poem by Karpinski on the same subject. ↩
Black broth, served to a suitor for the hand of a lady, signified a refusal. See Notes to Book II. ↩
Prince Charles Radziwill, surnamed Kochanek or Beloved, from his invariable habit of thus addressing all persons. ↩
It would appear that the Stolnik was killed about the year 1791, in the first war [followed by the Russian occupation, and subsequent insurrection]. ↩
Of the Greek Church. ↩
War between France and Russia was declared on the 3rd August 1811. ↩
The French and Polish armies crossed the Niemen on the 24th June 1812. ↩
A book now extremely rare, published by Stanislaw Czernicki. ↩
This Roman embassy has been often described. See “The Perfect Cook,” preface. “This legation, being a great marvel to all the Western empire, proclaimed a lord unsurpassed in wit, by the splendour of the house and the service of the table, so that one of the Roman princes said, ‘Today Rome is happy in possessing such an ambassador.’ ” ↩
A proverb, used to imply great abundance and luxury. ↩
In Lithuania, on the entrance of the French and Polish armies, Confederations were formed in the palatinates, and deputies elected to the Diet. ↩
It is well known that a Polish corps, under the leadership of General Kniaziewicz, at Hohenlinden, decided the victory. ↩
The capture of Somosierra, by which the road to Madrid was left open to Napoleon’s troops, was accomplished on the 30th November 1808. After several unsuccessful assaults, owing to the obstinate resistance of the Spaniards, a body of Polish lancers and sharpshooters was despatched against the chief entrenchments. After covering the ground with their dead, they captured the Spanish artillery, and thereby supported, dislodged the defenders. The Spanish commander, San Juan, with great difficulty cut his way through the Poles, and reached Segovia at imminent hazard. —Toreño, Guerra i Revolucion en España ↩
Legion d’honneur. ↩
The meaning of militem is obvious. Scartabel is one of those terms not easy to define. It has many classical derivations assigned to it, with which it is hardly worth while to trouble the reader. Linde thinks that it is a term used to express a new nobility, who owe their rank to fortune in war, from the right to be ennobled which a soldier by a law of Stephen Batory might claim after a certain amount of service, and which was often granted. Or scartabelli might be nobles living under citizen law. Czacki says: “The scartabellus hold a midway position between the ancient nobility and those who have risen from being peasants.” —Linde ↩
The inhabitants of cities only received full political privileges by the constitution of 1791. ↩
The three brothers Czech, Lech, and Russ were the legendary founders of the Bohemian, Polish, and Russian peoples. (See Le Monde Slave, by Cyprien Robert.) ↩
A proverb, signifying to be ready to avenge oneself on the first occasion. —E. S. N. ↩
Prince Denassau’s real name was the Duke of Nassau-Siegen, a noted warrior and adventurer. He was Russian admiral, and defeated the Turks, and was himself defeated by the Swedes. He remained for some time in Poland, where he obtained letters of nobility. His single combat with a tiger (in Africa!!) was much celebrated in
