24] 
and other countries abandon us to 
our fate. While they reprobate 
the violations which one country is 
said to have committed against |i- 
berty, they can view, not only with : 
apathy, but with approbation, the 
outrages that have been perpetrated 
against Poland.’* alae 
~~ It isensuch sad occasions as these, 
when whole nations of men are over- 
whelmed by irresistible injustice, 
oppression, and slavery, that the hu- 
man mind rises to the greatest height, 
above every selfish and low desire, 
is softened by the most comprehen- 
sive as well as generous sympathy, 
‘and fortified by the most animating 
sense of duty and virtue: when the 
captive Israelites, hanging their 
harps on the willows, by thestreams 
of Babel, are melted into tears at 
the recolleétion of Zion; when the 
Moors are compelled, by the unre. 
lenting bigotry and overbearing 
force of the Spaniards, to leave the 
land possessed by them and their fore- 
fathers, during the lapse of so many 
ages; when the Dutch nation, in 
the period of simple manners, and a 
love of their country, pressed by 
the same bigotry and power, medi- 
tated the design of embarking on 
board their vessels, and seeking li- 
berty in distant and dangerous 
climes; and the Vendeans, with 
their whole families, wander from 
region to region, fighting, as they 
go, for subsistence and tor lite,— 
‘Lhe fate of Poland, in the, present 
meeting of the diet, was deplored 
by the pathetic eloquence of the 
nuncioKimbar; ‘‘ My advice,”’ said 
he, ‘‘ is, that we cede not to the 
instances of the Russian ambassador; 
that we raise ourselves superior to 
his menaces. Sufferings are incon- 
siderable to virtue: it is her essence 
to contemn, and, if inevitable, to 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1795. 
endure ‘them. Why, therefore, sire, 
(addressing himself to the king) are 
we to be thus alarmed? They me. 
nace with exile all those who dare 
defend their country: those who 
refuse to put the seal to its annihi. 
Jation. Let us go, then, into Si. 
beria: she will have charms for us : 
her deserts will become our para. 
dise; for every thing, even our 
ashes, shall proclaim the inflexibi- 
lity of our virtue, its devotion to 
our country. You, sire, whgse 
reign is marked by a lengthened 
chain of misfortunes, if, in the midst. 
of these disasters, you have been a 
thousand times in circumstances 
which might have secured immor- 
tality to your name, and happi- 
ness to your country, alas all frus- 
trated! now seize with more suc- 
cess those which present themselves 
thisday. Efface the faults of your 
early years, and, if the want of ex- 
perience has given this reproach 
to your youth, that we needed a 
sovereign more active and determined, 
reply to this reproach, by evincing, 
under grey hairs, the courage and 
vigour denied toyour youth. Par. 
don me, sire, that I here become 
your censor; but whocan be other- 
wise, that boasts his attachment to 
you and the nation, and who re, 
members your sacred pledge, that 
they should be for ever indivisible ; 
that, © rather than set your hand 
to the partition of the country, it 
should wither to the bone.’ He 
who recolleéts this will justify my 
sentiments, and their language. He 
will be compelled to confess, that it 
is the pure and simple truth which 
issues from my lips, ed, 
‘© Sire, we loveyou. You may 
reckon upon our entire affection, 
The nation loves you: the country, 
which served you for a cradle in in- 
fancy, 
