SPECIMENS OF PUBLIC VIRTUE. 289 



accompany you to Warsaw. I will hail their return with more 

 grateful feelings, if they bring me your head, than if they tell 

 me that you did not oppose, with all your power, the shameful 

 designs plotted against your country. 



Reyton was a young man possessing a vigorous mind, an iron 

 will, and a courage of which he gave many brilliant proofs in the re- 

 cent war. His appearance in the hall of the diet was hailed by 

 the independent members as that of their leader. Actually, he was 

 to play a conspicuous part from the first hour of the sitting. 



When the moment of the opening arrived, a notorious traitor, 

 an intriguer; paid by the three courts, is proposed to the Marshal's 

 dignity. No sooner is it done, than he seizes the staff, and im- 

 pudently steps forward to fill the chair. While the well-meaning 

 members quit their seats to protest against that self-appointment, 

 Reyten snatches a staff from the hands of an usher and exclaims 



fe The Marshal of the Diet is not made by a mere nomination ; 

 he ought to be elected by the whole house; I protest against 

 Poninski's arbitrary act. Gentlemen, it is to you to point out 

 the man whom you choose to honour with the dignity of your 

 leader !" 



These words are answered by numerous cries : " Long live the 

 true son of his country ! Long live Marshal Reyton !" 



The emotion produced by that manly conduct of the opposition 

 throws the assembly into a complete state of confusion. Poninski 

 adjourns the sitting till nine o'clock next morning, and leaving 

 the chair, escapes with his partisans into the adjoining royal apart- 

 ments. Reyton, and his few followers, had only to watch and 

 to oppose the scheme of the traitors. Their number is too small to 

 constitute a legal legislative body. He appoints, therefore, the same 

 hour for the next day's meeting. But, before they separate, he amply 

 exposes the treachery of the foreign party; he animates the zeal of his 

 companions, and stirs up their courage. They are few, but they will 

 be at all their posts to-morrow. 



The foreign ambassadors spent the whole night in intrigues, 

 and different contrivances to ensure the majority for the next day. 

 Streams of gold flowed from those three impure fountains into the 

 pockets of the waverers. As soon as the sun rose crowds of the 

 people, desiring to know the secrets of the night, besieged the royal 

 castle. Reyton, and six other nuncios, began the day by protesting 

 against the shameful practices and interference of the alien influence. 

 Poninski appears again with the sign of his assumed dignity ; but 

 scarcely has he pronounced the words, " the sitting adjourned 

 till this morning," than he leaves the hall, and goes again to hide 

 himself in the apartments of a king, who had neither the will to de- 

 fend his own and his country's rights, nor the determination boldly 

 to destroy them. 



This cowardly conduct of the Marshal excites surprise and indig- 

 nation in every part of the house. Nothing less than his immediate 

 indictment for treason and breach of privilege will satisfy the public, 

 and those members who sympathise with them. Reyton, availing 

 M.M. No. 3, 2P 



