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44] ANNUAL REGISTER For the YEAR 1772. [45

year 1767 ; but none. could be expected now. The King of Prussia has already laid waste the provinces that supplied the capital with provisions, and has even forbidden their supplying in with any pittance, which the temptation of an exorbitant price, might induce them to spare from their own necessities. In such circumstances can it then be imagined, that any nobleman who is now at large, and has possibility still of escaping to any other part of the world, will voluntarily encounter the complicated horrors of famine, Siberia, and a most licentious and barbarious soldiery, who have been long sleshed in every species of rapine and cruelty.
During these transactions, the king and the senate made unavailing applications to the courts of London, Versailles, Madrid, and the States-General, to fulfil their ancient treaties, and by their powerful mediation, or interference, to prevent the final destruction of one of the most ancient nations in the world. They shewed the long, unclaimed, and peaceable possession which tey have held of their territories ; that the present seizure of them, was a violation of the laws of nature, and of the rights of all nations ; they set forth the inviolable fidelity, with which they had themselves at all times fulfilled their engagements with their neighbours and allies ; that it appeared evidently upon the face of the declarations of the partitioning powers, that force on the one side, and weakness on the other, were the only causes that led to the dismemberment of Poland ; that this was a dangerous doctrine, and might hereafter be applied with equal ef-|
|fect to other states ; and that it behoved them to prevent the establishment of so fatal a system. These arguments, with othes, were made use of, which would have had great weight in other seasons ; but there are times for all things.
Such is the present deplorable state of Poland; and if any thing ludicrous should be admitted in so melancholy a representation, nothing could be more so than the language held by the partitioning powers, who have invariably declared, that all their views are directed to the good of the Republic Confiscations have already taken place in a considerable degree. The estates of the princes Czartoriki, amounting to more than 20,000l. sterling a year, have been confiscated by the Empress of Russia; though these two princes are uncles to the king, are possessed of the highest offices under the state, and were not acquainted time enough with the necessity of their personal attendance, to have complied, if they had been even disposed to forfeit their allegiance. All the estates of Count Kicki, the Starost of Lemburg, have been also forfeited, for nobly refusing to betray his country, by swearing allegiance to the Empress-queen.
Prince Radzivil, who enjoyed such immense possessions in Lithuania, that they exceeded those of many sovereign princes, and whose ancestors had raised and supported considerable armies at their private expence, was one of the many, who at the beginning of their troubles became a dupe to the designs of Russia ; but having been at length too fatally convinced of his error, he retired to Germany. The Russians offered to restore him every thing but his plate and his library, if he would return and take the oaths; but he bravely answered, "That he was born free: his ancestors were free, and he would die so!" It happened fortunately for this prince, (as it is reported) that the zeal of his ancestors had provided a resource for his misfortunes, which looked almost, as if they had foreseen them. They had deposited some ages ago, in one of their churches, twelve statues of the Apostles, composed of massy gold, and each a foot and a half in heighth; which the dean and chapter were obliged to produced once a year to the reigning prince. By the fame good fortune these statues escaped the rapacity of the spoilers of Poland, and the prince brought them safe to Germany. Some of the apostles are already melted down, and the rest will probably undergo the same fate; they will however preserve their owner from many of those distresses, which too many of the unhappy nobility of his country must undoubtedly experience.
The patriotism and misfortunes of the Marchioness Wielopolka, should not be forgotten. This illustrious lady, in the beginning of the troubles, not only supported the Confederates with her money, but fold her plate and jewels for the same purpose. As their misfortunes, and the miseries of her country increased, her affection to it arose in proportion to the greatness of the danger, and the by degrees mortgaged her vast estates, and it is said, raised upon them the amazing sum of 1,200,000 ducats. However this sum may be exaggerated, the disposed of the whole amount, whatever it was, in the defence of her country. The union of the partitioning powers, having frustrated the generous hopes which she has conceived, she still bore up against the misfortune, till the Austrians seized the country where her estates lay, and they of course became liable to confiscation, and she would not submit to the terms that were necessary for their preservation. Unable to bear a load of distress, which would have been a trial to the most temperate and firm philosophy, the woman, now, got the better of the herion, and the unhappy marchioness in a fit of despair threw herself into a deep well. The care of her attendants, however, prevented that fate which she was seeking, and she was preserved from any worse consequence, than that of breaking her arm.
CHAP.

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