382 STUDIES OF NATURE, 



Were I to publifh the memoirs of my own life*,' 

 I could wifh for no ftronger proof of the contempt 

 which the glory of this World merits, than to hold 



up 



* It would be, I acknowledge, after all, a matter of very 

 fmall importance ; but however retired, at this day, my condi- 

 tion of life may be, it has been interwoven with revolutions of 

 high moment. I prefented, on the fubjeft of Poland, a veiy 

 circumftantial memoir to the Office for Foreign Affairs, in which 

 I prediéled it's partition by the neighbouring Powers, feveral 

 years before it was aftually accomplifhed. The only miftake I 

 committed was in going on the fuppofition, that the partitioning 

 Powers would lay hold of it entirely ; and I am aftonifhed to 

 this hour that they did not. This memoir, however, has been 

 of no utility either to that country or to myfelf, though I had 

 expofed myfelf to very great rifks in it, by throwing myfelf, 

 when I quitted the Ruffian fervice, into the party of the Polifli Re- 

 publicans, then under the protection of France and Auftria. I was 

 there taken prifoner in 1 765, as I was going, with the approba- 

 tion of the AmbafTador of the Empire, and of the French Mini- 

 fter at Warfaw, to join the army commanded by Prince Radji'viL 

 This misfortune befel me about three miles from Warfaw, 

 through the indifcretion of my guide. I was carried back to 

 that city, put in prifon, and threatened with being delivered up 

 to the Ruffians, whofe fervice I had jufl quitted, unlefs I ac- 

 knowledged that the AmbafTador of the Court of Vienna, and 

 the Minifter of France, had concurred in recommending this 

 ftep to me. Though I had every thing to fear on the part of 

 Ruffia, and had it in my power to involve in my difgrace, two 

 perfonages in illuflrious iituntions, and confequently, to render 

 it more confpicuous, I perfiiled in taking the whole upon myfelf. 

 I likewife did my utmofl to exculpate the guide, to whom I had 

 given time to burn the difpatches with which he was entrufted, 



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