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modern Gauls that the senators of a free nation were to deliberate 

 upon the election of their king. What patriot would not have felt 

 all his indignation rise at that insult offered to his nation's dignity ? 

 But party spirit silences sometimes the most sacred feelings ! Few 

 nuncios assembled in the hall, and those few wore the colours of 

 Czartoryski's party. Eight senators only yielded to the intimidation, 

 and sanctioned with their presence the act of their country's humi- 

 liation. 



The hour of the opening of the session has already struck. To 

 perform that solemn act was the incumbent duty of the marshal of 

 the former diet, who, by uplifting the staff or the mace, rendered the 

 proceedings legal. The arrival of the octogenary nobleman who 

 held then that dignity, was anxiously expected by the zealots, who, 

 in their impatience, as soon as the hour fixed for the opening passed, 

 called for the election of another leader. " He tarries away pur- 

 posely," exclaimed they ; " he is unworthy to hold longer the mace 

 of the Diet." But others recommend to them calmness and forbear- 

 ance, in order to exhibit at least a show of legality, and to spare the 

 feelings of an old man, who has worn out his life in the service of 

 the republic. 



At last the doors of the hall are thrown wide open. Count 

 Malachowski appears on the threshold, holding reversed the mar- 

 shal's staff, and leaning on the arm of General Mokronowski, 

 another tried republican already renowned for his patriotic actions. 

 The venerable countenance of the marshal, his bold forehead, his 

 impressive looks of authority, impose silence on the tumultuous 

 assembly. There was a dead suspense for a moment, foreboding 

 some great event. You might have read on every face the sullen 

 expression of an anxious expectation, while looking on the bright 

 calmness of the old man's countenance like that of an enchanter's, 

 who with his wand changes a scene of confusion into the silence of 

 death you would have guessed the meaning of his thoughts the 

 impavidum ferient rainae, which dawned in features of quiet but bold 

 determination. He walks between two ranks of the nuncios, and 

 slowly moves on towards that chair where so many longed to see 

 him already seated, and giving with the staff the signal to the fulfil- 

 ment of their wicked designs. Scarcely has he yet arrived in the 

 middle of the hall. There he stops at once. His companion rushes 

 into his senatorial seat. There, unrolling a long protest, he exclaims 

 to the marshal : 



" The wise foresight of twenty-two senators and forty-five nuncios 

 has taught us that we cannot deliberate on public affairs. There is 

 their manifesto. I beseech you, then, not to lift up your staff, 

 because the Russian troops are in the kingdom, and even surround 

 us. I stop the progress of the Diet!" 



Horrible yells and shouts, calling for revenge, answered the 

 patriot's words. The Russian soldiers, with naked swords, rush 

 towards him, and threaten his life. To them he opposes but the 

 calm of disdain. To the nuncios, who interpose their authority to 

 save him, he scornfully answers: " You, who are the representatives 

 of a great nation, you demean yourselves in wearing the livery of a 



