25f> Bonm polonic*. 



however hastened the fatal catastrophe. Revolutionized France, 

 fearing the interposition of Russia in her internal domestic changes, 

 sent emissaries to Poland, who but too well executed their task, 

 and a premature effort to obtain her freedom, was, after a noble 

 struggle, ultimately crushed. Independent of the promises so 

 liberally offered by Sebastiani, then premier of France, the manner 

 in which the forces of Nicholas were disposed, seemed to favour 

 the attempt. By the most extraordinary oversight and infatuation 

 the Polish army was concentrated in their own country, and on 

 this force the anti-Russian party knew they could most implicitly 

 rely, nor did events deceive their calculations. It appears para- 

 doxical that in addition to the spies by profession, every servant 

 acted also in that capacity, upon their masters' actions, — it being 

 a heavy crime, punishable by transportation to Siberia, to engage 

 even the lowest menials without applying to the police office, — yet 

 the conspirators carried their plans into maturity without the 

 slightest suspicion on the part of the executive government. — Our 

 conversation was here interrupted by a general movement along 

 the whole line, and the thunder of the artillery. The Russians, 

 in addition to the same demonstration they had made the day 

 before, were now pushing their infantry into the wood from which 

 the day previous, I had seen the Cossacks dislodged. The out- 

 posts, however, were scarcely drawn in before it was evident that 

 no general engagement would immediately take place -, the physi- 

 cian-in-chief, therefore, having given me my regular appointment, 

 as surgeon-major to the ambulance attached to the 3rd division of 

 infantry, under General Malachowski, advised me, whilst time 

 permitted, to repair to my post, as it was impossible to say how 

 soon the Russians might seriously attempt to turn the position of 

 the Poles. The 3rd division was posted in the centre of the wood 

 through which our road lay when in search of the army. I was 

 escorted and introduced to my comrades of the ambulance, by one 

 of the physician-in-chief's staff, by whom I was most cordially 

 received, and my situation was rendered more comfortable by 

 finding that most of them could speak English fluently. There we 

 found every one on the qui vive, the horses were harnessed to the 

 ambulance, by the side of which we arranged ourselves, having 

 first seen that the instruments and surgical paraphernalia were 

 properly disposed, ready to gallop to whatever part of the field of 

 battle our services might be most required. Evening, how- 

 ever, approached, and nothing decisive seemed likely to take 

 place, and the day at length closed over a mere paltry affair of 

 out-posts. We now joined a party of officers disappointed in 

 their ardent expectation of something to do, (for soldiers in the 

 field, and in presence of the enemy, soon tire of being idle,) who 

 "Were solacing themselves by dancing to the inspiring sounds of the 

 military band, the music from which, resounding through the 

 forest, had a most pleasing and romantic effect j others were 

 conversing in groups over the bivouack-fires, whilst the studious 

 visages of the chess-players completed the picture, and nothing 



