HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
liberty in that nation to fear its fu- 
ture consequences, should the ar- 
sangements that had taken place in 
that country be permitted to en- 
dure any length of time. They 
were persuaded that a short space 
would suffice to produce effects of 
great importance. The Poles, it 
was notorious, had resol ved to sacri- 
fice every consideration to that of 
establishing their independence on 
the most solid foundation. All 
classes unanimously concurred in 
this determination: that indepen- 
dence once firmly secured, they 
might gradually proceed in those 
improvements of their country, 
which, from its natural “goodness 
and feftility in productions of the 
first use and consequence, would, 
in a few years, raise it to a state of 
great power. Notwithstanding its 
dismemberment, it still consisted of 
Spacious provinces, and contained 
upwards of eight millions of inha- 
bitants—a population which, under 
skilful management, mjght be ren. 
dered amply sufficient for the pur- 
poses of national industry and de- 
fence ; especially as all descriptions 
‘of people were firmly prepared to 
undergo all domestic hardships, and 
to deny themselves all superfluities, 
in order to set on feot and maintain 
such an army as might repel the ag- 
gressions of their neighbours, 
Such, indeed, was the fixed reso. 
lutions of all the people of Poland. 
There was no distriét, no town ef 
the least note, of which the inhabi- 
tants did net form themselves into 
associations, for the purpose of for- 
warding every patriotic scheme of 
which they were capable. The 
rich contributed their money, and 
the poor their personal exertions, 
Nothing, in short, was wanting in 
this general combination of the pub- 
+. 
licand private energiesof thenation, 
but to have resorted to them at an 
earlier date.—The powers inimical 
to Poland kept so watchful an eye 
upon all its proceedings, that not the 
least transa¢tion escaped them, 
wherein they could be concerned. 
They were particularly attentivein 
preventing the importation of arms 
and warlike stores into Poland. 
Previously to the revolution, the 
king, aided by the patriotic party, 
had endeavoured to establish manu- 
factories of arms, and foundaries of 
cannon; but these were objects so 
entirely new, that they proceeded 
very slowly. Expeéting shortly t¢ 
need them iu a very extensive de- 
gree, the government directed large 
purchases to be made, wherever 
they could be found, But it was 
daily more difficult to procure them 
upon any terms, Germany, the 
great mart for all works in iron 
and steel, was in possession of their 
enemies. ~The armourers of Bran. 
denburg, and of Saxony, were for- 
mally prohibited from supplying the 
Polish agents. The fabricks of 
other parts were almost exhausted, 
or toozemete. The trade of Dant- 
zic was under the contron] of Prus- 
sia ; and little, or rather nothing, 
could be-transmitted through its 
territories into Poland, without the 
inspeétion and permit of the Prussian 
toll-gatherers, who were uncom- 
monly stri€t in the execution of 
their official duties, and suffered no 
article to pass that appeared of a 
suspicious nature, or which they 
deemed contrary tothe intentions of 
their government. 
In this state of pressure and per. 
plexity, the Poles were compelled 
to have recourse to every medium 
that ingenuity could devise. The 
old fire-arms, long laid aside as 
es a Oa useless, 
