and without being animated by a fingle fpark of heroifm or patriotifm, declared himfelf head of the confederation. Addreffes of congratulation were now prefented from all quarters, and every-where appeared fymptoms of martial ardor-near 70,000 men, exclufive of peasantry, being, as was calculated, in arms before the end of May. But this force was difperfed in different bodies throughout the wide extent of Poland and Lithuania; and the vaft armies of the powers allied for their deftruction were advancing upon them with rapid fteps on either fide. In this emergency no chance of ultimate fuccefs could poffibly remain but in the adoption of the daring and decifive measure of fummoning a national convention, and of establishing a new constitution founded upon the broadeft bafis of democracy,-a conftitution in the prefervation of which every individual would have felt himself deeply and permanently interested-a conftitution which, as in France, would have excited the genuine spirit of republican enthusiasm, which would have converted Poland, like France, into an armed nation, and have infused into the breafts of all the heroic the determined refolution to conquer or to die. But to a grand and glorious effort like this the genius and talents of Kofciusko did not appear equal: on the contrary, a proclamation was published, ftating, "That as the Polish infurrection took place upon principles effentially different from those prevailing in France, it should be differently conducted; and that the king," whose timidity and duplicity had rendered him juftly defpicable in the eyes of all," should be treated with the deference and regard due to his rank." It is difficult to conceive whofe favour Kofciufko could hope to conciliate by this tame and disgusting declaration. Had America, France, and it may be added England, hesitated in fimilar circumftances to proceed to the depofition of their refpective fovereigns, the revolutions effected in thefe feveral countries would have borne for ever the appellation of treafon and rebellion. The original principles

principles of the French revolution were no other than the genuine and immutable principles of liberty; and although thefe principles were doubtlefs more liable to abuse under a democratic than a mixed form of government, it was by the establishment of a pure democracy only that, in Poland, the mafs of the people, ftupified by oppreffion, could be awakened to a juft fense of their inherent rights, or infpired with the invincible refolution effential to the defence of them. From the publication of the proclamation in queftion, perfons of difcernment augured the fpeedy and melancholy termination of this unequal conteft.

A Pruffian army, under general Elfner, marched to the attack of Cracow, which furrendered at difcretion on the 15th of June. Nearly at the fame time his Pruffian majesty advanced towards the city of Warsaw, defended by Kofciufko in perfon with fuch skill and courage that the Pruffians were compelled, after a blockade and fiege of two months, to retreat with lofs and difgrace to the frontiers of Silefia. The Ruffians, in the mean time, were gradually making progrefs on the fide of Lithuania; and on the 18th of September, in a general engagement near Brzesc, defeated the infurgents, whom they obliged to retreat across the Bug. The invaders, now under the command of general Suwarrow, the bloody and barbarous conqueror of Ifmail, marched forwards in full confidence of victory to Warfaw, defigning in their way to form a junction with the detached corps of general Ferfen. With a view to prevent this junction, Kofciufko, at the head of his brave Poles, on the 10th of October attacked Ferfen with undaunted intrepidity. The courage displayed by the Ruffians was not inferior, and they had the advantages of fuperior numbers and difcipline. After a conflict of five hours the Poles were totally overpowered; and Kofciufko himself, having received a dangerous wound, was obliged to furrender. The fate of Poland was inflantly decided. The generals Ferfen and Suwarrow, after effecting their pro

pofcd

pofed junction, proceeded to Warfaw, defended by Madalinski and other brave officers-a formidable line of batteries being opposed to the enemy. But the ferocious Su

warrow was not to be intimidated by any obstacles, and he immediately ordered his foldiers to mount to the affault in the fame manner as at Ifmail, ufing only the fabre and bayonet. After a fevere conteft of eight hours all refiftance on the part of the Poles ceased, and the carnage was con

verted into a maffacre. But the most remarkable circumftance in the conduct of this horrid business is, that nearly ten hours after the Ruffians, apparently fatiated with blood and flaughter, had refted upon their arms, the carnage and pillage of this devoted city commenced anew. The beautiful fuburb of Praga was fet on fire, and vaft numbers not only of men, but of women and children, perished in the flames or by the sword. One of the chiefs of the infurrection remaining, count Potocki, was now deputed to general Suwarrow, to implore the mercy of that merciless barbarian, who received his application with extreme haughtinefs, obferving that a treaty was unnecessary, that the empress was not at war with the republic, and that his commiffion was merely to reduce the rebellious subjects of Poland to obedience. He however deigned at length to grant to the prayer of Potocki the lives and properties of the wretched remainder of the inhabitants. But even in this extreme exigency fome high-minded patriots refused to take any part in this capitulation; amongst the rest general Wawrzecki, governor of the city, whom Suwarrow nevertheless received with unexpected marks of civility, ordering his fword to be returned to him; but the haughty Pole refused to accept the proffered boon, faying, "That his fword was become useless, fince he had no longer a country to defend."

On the 9th of November, the Ruffian commander made his triumphal entry into Warfaw, traverfing that dreadful fcene of defolation and deftruction in profound and terrific filence. Having made a folitude, he called it peace. That

the

the impiety of this tranfaction might keep pace with the barbarity of it, a folemn Te Deum was celebrated on the ift of December, for the fuccefs of the imperial arms of Ruffia, and the offerings of guilt were presented on altars polluted by profaneness, and red with human gore. The Polish chiefs, Kofciufko, Potocki, &c. were fent, under a strong military escort, to Petersburgh, and thrown into dungeons ; and the unhappy monarch himself was ordered to repair first to Grodno, and then to Petersburgh, where, in a fhort time, he died, without exciting, after the high hopes on very slender grounds conceived of him in the commencement of his reign, the flightest either of esteem or regret.* A third and final partition of the unfortunate kingdom of Poland, after a fhort interval, took place, conformably to a new convention between the crowns of Ruffia and Pruffia, to which Auftria acceded; and the very name of Poland was from this time blotted out from the map of Europe. Such were the exploits performed on the eastern fide of Christendom by the high and very dear allies of England, jointly engaged with her in a confederacy which had for its profeffed object the restoration of religion, of focial order, and regular government-exploits which infinitely exceeded in atrocity and barbarity any crimes which, furrounded as fhe was with enemies, and irritated by every species of provocation, had been in the very crisis of her revolution perpetrated by the atheists and anarchists of France.

The crowns of Sweden and Denmark ftill perfevered in their wife determination of obferving a perfect impartiality during the prefent war; and in the course of this year, (March 27, 1794,) a convention was concluded between them, by which they agreed to protect the freedom of commerce in the Baltic on the principles of the armed neutrality

Stanislaus Poniatowski, late king of Poland and grand-duke of Lithua

nia, died at Petersburgh, February 12, 1798.

neutrality of 1780, by equipping jointly a fleet of fixteen ships of the line, in equal proportions, for that service; and by the tenth article the Baltic is declared to be a neutral fea, abfolutely and altogether inacceffible to the armed ships of the different and diftant powers at war.

The prudence and circumfpection of the American government could not prevent thofe distant states from being involved in the troubles which fo violently agitated the European kingdoms. General Washington, president of the Union, in his fpeech to both houfes of congrefs, December 3, 1793, urged upon them the neceffity of placing the country in a condition of complete felf-defence. "The United States," faid this truly great man, "ought not to indulge a perfuafion that, contrary to the order of human events, they will for ever keep at a distance those painful appeals to arms with which the hiftory of every other nation abounds. There is a rank due to the United States among nations, which will be withheld, if not abfolutely loft, by the reputation of weakness. If we defire to avoid infult we must be able to repel it. If we defire to secure peace, one of the most powerful inftruments of our rifing profperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."

Thefe expreffions, though they bore relation alfo to England and Spain, were understood to be chiefly pointed against the government of France, whofe ambassador, citizen Genet, à hot-headed zealot of Jacobinifm, and one Duplaine, received in the capacity of vice-conful of France, had conducted themselves with extreme disrespect and indecorum to the executive power; infomuch, that the prefident had thought it neceffary to publish letters-patent, declaring, that he no longer recognised Duplaine as fuftaining any official character. Upon which Genet wrote in a most infolent ftyle to Mr. Jefferson, fecretary of state, protesting against the validity of this difmiffion, and al

leging