XXVI. 1830. the partition were taking precautions against it. It was CHAP. resolved, accordingly, to delay no longer, and the insurrection was fixed for the 29th November, when the Polish Guards were to be on service at the palace and in the city. On that day, at seven o'clock in the evening, a messenger from the conspirators came to the gate of the barrack military school, where he was anxiously expected, and announced that the "hour of liberty had struck." Instantly the guard turned out, and were joined by the whole scholars, armed to the teeth, who proceeded at a rapid pace, without saying a word, by the bridge Sobieski, from whence they came to the Belvidère Palace, inhabited by the Grand-duke, without experiencing any resistance. The guards at the palace, in part in the secret of the conspiracy, in part intimidated by the sight of so many young men whom they knew to be of the first families in Warsaw, made scarcely any resistance; those who attempted it were instantly cut down. The victorious conspirators in a few minutes inundated every part of the palace; and while part of them despatched Ludowicski, the chief of the police, and General Legendre, the first aide-de-camp on service, the main body, containing the most determined, made straight for the private apartments of the Grand-duke. So rapid was their approach that 1 Rom. Solt. Constantine had the utmost difficulty in making his escape i. 56, 59; by a back way; and the Princess Lowicz, his wife, for xiii. 655, whom he had renounced the throne of Russia, had only time iv. 50, 51. to carry with her a casket of diamonds and three shifts.1 Ann. Hist. 656; Cap. insurrec tion, and Masters of the palace, the insurgents, whose numbers 17. rapidly increased, spread themselves over the streets, Rapid procalling out, "To arms! to arms!" The agitation in the reas of the barracks was soon extreme. The officers did not ven- retreat of ture to lead out the men for fear of their joining the Constaninsurgents, and in many cases they were in the secret, and Warsaw. favoured their cause. Soon the 4th regiment of the line, an especial favourite of the Grand-duke's, and one of the finest in the service, issued from its barracks, and joined tine from Nov. 30. CHAP. the insurrection. The greater part of the regiment of XXVI. 1830. 1 Rom. Solt. i. 60, 64; Ann. Hist. xiii. 656, 657; Cap. iv. 52, 54. 18. ment of a gre nadiers, the horse artillery, and the sappers of the Guard, The insurgents had gained an immense advantage by Appoint- obtaining command of the capital, and of the banks, provisional arsenal, and seat of government; but they were withgovern- out rulers, and the worst dangers might be appre ment. hended if the people, now wrought up to the highest pitch, were not speedily subjected to some sort of government. Already conflagrations had broken out in several quarters, which were with difficulty arrested, and pillage had begun, and many murders been committed. XXVI. 1830. There existed at Warsaw, at this time, a council of govern- CHAP. ment, which, in the absence of the Viceroy, was intrusted with the executive power, and to it the leaders of the insurrection turned to establish order in the mean time, and form the skeleton of a future government. This council, which consisted of seven members, including Prince Lubecki, who afterwards became distinguished, met during the frightful tumult of the night of the 29th, and resolved to continue its functions, in the hope of obtaining the direction of the movement; but in order to appease the people, and induce them to submit to their authority, they associated several of the most respected and popular of the nobles with them in the government. These were Prince Adam Czartoryski, Prince Michael Radziwil, the Senator Kochanowski, General Lewis Pac, M. Julian Niemcewicz, a celebrated writer, and companion of Kosciusko, and GENERAL CHLOPICKI. The known patriotic spirit and high character of these distinguished men gave 1 Rom. Solt. a consideration to the government which it could never i. 65, 68; otherwise have obtained, and enabled it to acquire a xiii. 657; degree of authority even over the stormy elements of a 53, 57. revolution.1 Ann. Hist. Cap. iv. of the new tiation with It could hardly be said, though Constantine had been 19. driven from the capital, that the country was in a state First act of insurrection. The enlarged government still adminis- government, tered in the name of the Czar. A proclamation, issued and nego by it on the day of its installation, earnestly counselled Constanorder, and abstinence from blood; and its first care was Nov. 30. to despatch a deputation to Constantine with proposals for an accommodation. The declared objects of the * "Polonais! Les événemens aussi attristans qu'inopinés, qui ont eu lieu hier au soir, et pendant la dernière nuit, ont déterminé le Gouvernement supérieur à se compléter par des personnes de mérite, et à vous adresser la proclamation suivante. Son Altesse Impériale le Grand Duc et Czarowitz vient de défendre aux soldats Russes toute opération ultérieure; car il ne faut charger que les Polonais de la réconciliation entre les esprits divisés de leur compatriotes. Le Polonais ne doit pas teindre sa main du sang de son frère; et ce ne peut étre votre intention de donner au monde le spectacle d'une guerre civile. C'est la modération seule qui peut détourner de vos têtes les malheurs tine. XXVI. 1830. CHAP. insurgents, as stated by the deputation, which had Prince Czartoryski at its head, was to obtain the faithful establishment of the constitution as it had been established in 1815, and, in particular, the fulfilment of the promises of Alexander, that Lithuania, Volhynia, and Podolia should be incorporated with the kingdom of Poland, and detached from the empire of Russia. The deputation was instructed also to sound Constantine on his designs, and, in particular, to inquire whether the army of Lithuania, stationed on the Polish frontier, had received orders to advance towards Warsaw. He assured them, on his honour, that none such had been given, and evinced the 1 Rom. Solt. utmost courtesy and respect towards the deputation. Ann. Hist. He even went so far as to assure them of his favour to xiii. 658, i. 73, 74; 659. 20. sends back troops, and Russia. the "culpable." "There are none such," proudly replied Ostrowski, one of the deputation.1 It rested with the Emperor Nicholas, not Constantine, Constantine to say what terms were to be granted to the insurgents; the Polish but the latter, seeing the temper of the Polish troops which remained with him daily declaring itself more strongly in favour of the Revolution, had the generosity to issue a proclamation, granting permission to such of them as still adhered to his standard, to withdraw and join their comrades in Warsaw.* They set out one and all immediately for the capital, which they entered the same day amidst transports of joy such as had never before been witnessed within its walls. The nation qui sont prêts à fondre sur vous. Revenez donc à l'ordre et à la tranquillité; que la nuit qui vient de se passer couvre de son voile toute l'effervescence qu'elle a vue naître. Réfléchissez à l'avenir et à votre patrie menacée de tous les côtés: Eloignez tout ce qui peut mettre son existence en question. Quant à nous, notre devoir nous prescrit de maintenir la tranquillité publique, les lois, et les libertés assurées au pays par la constitution."- Warsaw, 30th Nov., 1830; CAPEFIGUE, vol. iv. pp. 54, 55. * "Je permets aux troupes Polonaises qui sont restées fidèles jusqu'au dernier moment auprès de moi, de rejoindre les leurs. Je me mets en marche avec les troupes Impériales pour m'éloigner de la capitale, et j'espère de la loyauté Polonaise, qu'elles ne seront pas inquiétées dans leurs mouvemens pour rejoindre l'empire. Je recommande de même tous les établissemens, les propriétés, et les individus à la protection de la nation Polonaise, et les mets sous la sauve-garde de la foi la plus sacrée.-CONSTANTINE. Warsaw, Dec. 3, 1830." XXVI. 1830. seemed invincible, now that the whole of its gallant CHAP. defenders were engaged in its cause. Meanwhile Constantine, with the Russian troops, now not more than six thousand strong, retired by slow marches towards the frontier of Volhynia, without being molested in his retreat. He seemed more anxious about his adored princess, who fell dangerously ill on the road, fatigue, hardship, and anxiety, than the loss of a regal throne, second to none in the world for importance 660. and splendour.1 1 from Rom. Solt. i. 75, 80; vice- Ann. Hist. xiii. 659, on the ar Polish troops in Meanwhile the provisional government, though still 21. keeping up a negotiation with the Emperor Nicholas and Enthusiasm his brother Constantine, were making considerable pre- rival of the parations for an appeal to arms. The enthusiasm of the people, which had been strongly excited by the arrival Warsaw. of the Polish corps from the Russian camp, commanded by Generals Szembek and SKRZYNECKI, on the 2d December, was roused to the highest pitch on the following day by the entrance of additional Polish troops from the camp of Mokotow. The soldiers broke from their ranks and embraced the citizens as they passed through the streets; the windows were all filled with elegantly-dressed ladies waving their handkerchiefs in the highest state of rapture; and every steeple rung forth a merry chime to usher in the approaching deliverance of their country. Yet, even in this moment of universal joy, symptoms of danger appeared, and it was too evident how nearly allied are overthrow of government and license to crime. General Krasinski, who had alone voted for the death of the prisoners implicated in the conspiracy of 1826 2 in 2 Ante, c. Poland, marched in at the head of his regiment of Polish grenadiers of the Guard. He was immediately recognised; hisses and murmurs were heard; the mob fell upon him, and would have murdered him on the spot but for the efforts of Chlopicki and Szembek. The same 3 Rom. Solt. fate awaited General Kurnatwski,3 who had ordered the i. 83, 85. troops to fire on the people during the insurrection of the VOL. IV. 2 R viii. § 136. |