HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
. It had indeed, shortly after the 
revolution, been suggested; by some 
of the soundest politicians, and 
truest friends of Poland, to follow 
up the decisive step that had been 
taken first, by every domestic exer- 
tion that could possibly bemade, to 
invigorate and strengthen the nation 
internally; and next, by forming 
connexions with those powers that 
_would naturally be glad of an op. 
portunity to secure themselves from 
the domineering influence of Russia. 
Denmark and Sweden were pointe 
out as powers with whomanalliance 
might be fermed, highly beneficial 
to both the contra¢ting parties; the 
latter, especially, was governed by 
a prince'who, though driven by ne- 
cessity intoa pacification with Rus- 
sia, had incessant provocations to 
plead against it, from its continual 
machinations in Sweden to excite 
or foster variance between him and 
the Swedish nobles. Nor was Tur- 
key forgotten in this plan of opposi- 
tion to Russia. Peace, it was true, 
was restored between these powers; 
but the ambitious views of the court 
of Petersburgh were well known; 
and the undeniable necessity of self. 
defence would have amply justi- 
fied the Porte in forming a league. 
with Poland, reciprocally defensive 
oftheirdominions. It was obvious, 
that were this country added to that 
immense empire, so formidable an 
increase of power would enable it 
to give the law toall its neighbours, 
and extend its influence through all 
Europe. 
_ These admonitions were founded 
on the discernment of all sensible 
— in Europe. Support from 
russia could not, with any pru- 
dence, be depended on. Engaged 
with Austria in the invasion of 
France, its attention was too deeply 
{9 
taken up with their joint projeétsin 
that kingdom, to be employed in 
any others; and they were both 
justly considered as willing to ac. 
cede to whatever Russia might pro_ 
pose respecting Poland. It was, 
therefore, with much disapproba. 
tion, that the judicious viewed the 
readiness of the Polish goverament 
tocontinue its negotiations with the 
courts of Berlin. and Dresden; from 
neither of which any positive deter. 
mination could be procured. As 
to the court of Vienna, it retained 
too much of its charaCeristica} 
haughtiness to assume dissimulation; 
and the Poles were at no loss, after 
the uncordial treatment of their am- 
bassador at Vienna, to conjecture 
its real intentions. 
In the mean time, the Russian 
army, destined for the invasion of 
Poland, had entered its territories, 
It consisted of sixty thousand men, 
and near one hundred thousand more 
were in readiness to support it, if 
necessary. This army was aceom. 
panied by a few Polish noblemen, 
personal enemies to the king, and 
to all his measures. The principal 
among these were, the counts Bra. 
niki, Potocki, and Rezewuski, with 
a small number of their respe@tive 
dependents. The presence of these 
noblemen in the Russian army was 
intended asa san@tion to its proceed. 
ings in Poland, The court of Pe. 
tersburgh affected to consider them 
as the representatives of the majority 
of the Polish nation. Itwas on that 
pretence the empress founded the 
right ofinterferingin the settlement 
of its affairs, But the falsity of 
these pretensions was of universal 
notoriety; ‘hese noblemen were 
held in little estimation in their 
country ; and their adherents were 
extremely inconsjderable, both in 
Tegard 
s 
