the Grand Duke Constantine. When the Duke of Wellington visited Warsaw, on his way to St. Petersburgh, Constantine presented Skrzynecki to him with these words:" This officer can always tell "what is in the English or French press, but "knows nothing of what passes in his own regi"ment." Tall in stature, with a noble and chivalrous expression of countenance, his courage rises superior to every trial, but it is rather of a resigned than sanguine nature, analogous to the mysticism of his religious faith. When asked by the Diet on what plan he proposed to carry on the war, his reply was truly characteristic :-"Let the deputies recollect the "senators of Rome, who died in their curule chairs"for myself, I will be their Fabius Cunctator." By Skrzynecki's recommendation, the Colonels Prondzynski and Chrzanowski were made generals; and with their assistance he concerted the plan of the coming campaign, attending first to the re-organization and recruiting of the army. The soldiers, who had hitherto known their chiefs only by name, saw Skrzynecki daily amongst them, training them by moral and military discipline. He rewarded merit, promoted talent, and endeavoured to inspire them with courage superior to all misfortunes. Amongst other regulations established with this object, he forbade any order of merit to be conferred on officers or soldiers without the express approval of both, nor did he omit any opportunity of winning their love.

Since the night of the 25th, the Polish cavalry had occupied positions a few miles above and below Warsaw, the infantry and artillery being encamped either within the walls, or near them. All was prepared for resistance, in case the enemy should attempt to pass the still frozen Vistula, the left bank of which, at that spot, commands the right, together with Praga and its environs; and a battery of twentyfour pounders was therefore placed on the left bank, in order to cover the adjacent plains and overpower any hostile guns that might be pointed against Praga. This city was divided into two parts; the one bordering on the Vistula, and strongly fortified, formed the advanced post of the bridge; the other, at a greater distance, and not fortified, was set on fire, and abandoned to the Russians. A false report of the capture of Praga, and even of Warsaw, had gone the round of the European papers. But though encamped in its presence, no one knew better than Diebitch himself, how far he was from accomplishing the object of his desires. Of Praga he possessed little beyond its ashes, which refused even shelter to his men: before him lay ramparts defended by heavy cannon, and brave men determined to die rather than surrender; beyond was the Vistula, which might open to swallow his artillery and men, should they attempt to pass; and beyond that the yet stronger rampart of Polish breasts and bayonets. Like another Suwaroff, he gazed for some days upon the beautiful capital of Poland,

and then retired to Grochow, where an altar had been raised on the field of battle, at which thousands of Russian soldiers daily raised their discordant voices in prayer. For what did they pray? The Czar best knows, he who stands between them and their God, and sends them forth to the murder of nations. Kneeling in the midst of them, the fieldmarshal also prayed. Did he supplicate his idol, Nicholas, for pardon, that he had not conquered the rebellious capital? Such must have been his prayers, for he interrupted them only by his attempts to take Warsaw by treacherous means. He first resorted to the Russian policy usual in such cases. Two Polish prisoners of war were dismissed by him with a gift of four ducats each, and enjoined to make it known amongst their troops that the same sum would be given to all Poles deserting to the Russians. On their arrival in Warsaw the two soldiers communicated this transaction to Skrzynecki, and deposited the money in the public treasury. In the order of the day Skrzynecki mentioned their good conduct, and the baseness of Diebitch. Bribery having failed, the field-marshal next attempted, in nightly excursions, to burn the bridge; and baffled in this also, he left Grochow on the 5th of March, and transferred his headquarters to Siennica, forty miles distant, General Geismar, with the rear-guard, remaining at Waver. On the 11th of March the thaw commenced, and for a time suspended all military operations.

RESULTS OF THE FIRST CAMPAIGN. 249

The retreat of Diebitch, and the advance of Dwernicki on Zamosc, opened the eyes of Europe to the real results of the fight of Grochow; and the reports of Russian victories, circulated by the Prussian gazettes, were found to have been mere inventions. It is a melancholy consideration, that even in the nineteenth century, might should still constitute right; but it certainly appeared as if victory had added yet more sanctity to the claims of the Poles, so warmly did every generous heart now sympathise with " le peuple des héros," headed in their sublime struggle by the noblest of their countrymen. The tide of public opinion now setting against Russia, had made a wide breach in her power; and had the other governments of Europe chosen to drive her back to her Asiatic steppes, and to prevent the murder of a nation, the time for doing so was not yet passed. But they contented themselves with secretly exulting at her humiliation; and the French cabinet, which had pronounced, at the commencement of the insurrection, that "la Pologne était "destinée à périr," even went so far as to regret the success that now attended the Polish arms.

Prince Czartoryski, whose diplomatic talents are well known, advised Skrzynecki to rest his hopes of the independence of Poland solely on the national troops, until some brilliant victory should tempt the European cabinets to interfere. But as the thaw suspended for a time all offensive operations, Skrzynecki, wishing to relieve his men from the fatigue of

incessantly watching so many different points, determined to try whether he could not amuse Diebitch by negociation, so as to induce him to suspend his preparations for passing the Vistula. For this purpose he sent Colonel Mycielski, under pretext of an exchange of prisoners, to the Russian camp, where, in an interview he had with Diebitch, the latter observed," that the Poles had entered on a hope"less struggle; that their army having set the ex

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ample of insurrection, ought to be the first to set "that of submission, after which things might be "restored to their former state; and that he desired "this on account of the sincere esteem he felt for "the nation." To this communication, which, under the mask of humanity, was designed to disunite the army and the people, Skrzynecki answered by letter, that "before submission could be thought of, "the Emperor must give positive guarantees for the "observance of the treaty of Vienna;-as for the

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army, it would never separate its interests from "those of the people; but would perish, if necessary, to preserve that legal state of things for which all had united." Diebitch replied, “that "Russia would listen to no proposal until the act "of dethronement should be abrogated, and the "Diet which proclaimed it dissolved." Upon this demand the National Government would have broken off the negociations; but Skrzynecki opposing, as he said, humanity to arrogance, wrote once more: "Before we can enter into the question of dethrone