»ORA POLONICA* 355 



revolution, more to the hatred felt by the Poles towards the late 

 Grand Duke than to the intolerance of the Russian sway. It was 

 true, he observed, that Nicholas had violated the treaty of Vienna, 

 and had destroyed even the shadow of our ancient and dearly 

 beloved representative government j it is also true that a deep 

 and invincible hatred was entertained by even the lowest class 

 towards the Russians 3 nor was that feeling confined to the 

 civiHans, it reigrted paramount in the breasts of the military, and 

 even the expedient of making the Russian and Polish private 

 soldiers consort together and sleep in the same bed, failed to allay 

 the animosity— but, notwithstanding, the personal character of the 

 emperor was universally beloved, and the enlightened inhabitants 

 were fully aware of the advantages accruing to their country from 

 the wise and politic measures adopted by Nicholas and Alexander. 

 Had the Grand Duke Michael or any other vice-ruler been ap- 

 pointed to govern Poland, the improvements in that country might 

 have gone on ; but the wretch Constantine, too ferocious to be 

 allowed to remain in Russia, had been let loose upon unhappy 

 Poland. The anecdotes of this mad tiger fully equalled the cruel and 

 insane pranks related of his father Paul. Members of the first 

 families in Warsaw were daily sentenced to the knout, and fed 

 upon bread and water, whose crime perhaps merely consisted in 

 having inadvertently omitted to pull off their hats as the cortege 

 of this monster rolled along the street j and woe to the officer, 

 whatever his rank or station in society, of whose uniform one 

 button was undone. In listening to this recital, I could scarcely 

 convince my senses that I was not hearing a chapter read from 

 Clarke's travels descriptive of his residence in Petersburgh. Con- 

 stantine differed from Paul in one respect, viz. the marked attention 

 and respect he invariably paid to Englishmen, to whom he always 

 bowed, and never ordered to prison, or the lash, for omitting to 

 uncover their heads in his presence. 

 Deeply mourning as they did 



-" The loss of all 



That can ennoble man, and make frail life 

 Short as it is, supportable," 



the plan of a violent separation from Russia by means of the 

 awful and stormy whirlpool of revolution, would long have 

 remained in embryo in the romantic imagination of the Polish 

 youths and military students, in whose minds hopes of their 

 country's political regeneration never for a moment lay dormant ; 

 but their senior patriots were aware how much their country 

 stood in need of repose, and labouring under torturing 



" Thoughts too deep for tears'* 



had exerted the whole weight of their influence in keeping down 

 the impetuosity of these youthful patriots. The tide of events 



NO. IV. ^ L 



