Star.
London, England, 1831-06-18 00:00:00

,Trnr, AND Cerpscr.

rei ANECDOTES OF POLAND.
From Fickhcr's History of Po'nnel.)
THE FIRST PARTITION.
relations of the three courts, at the com-
'tent of the war between Russia and Turkey,
portend any thing like a coalition; Fred°.
leed was in alliance with Russia, but also
favoured the Sultan; Austria was all but
enemy of both Russia and Prussia. Cir-
ices, however, obliged Austria to forget her
o Prussia, and Frederick thus became the
er between the courts of Vienna and Peters-
Frederick had every reason to wish to lull
ipicions and jealousies of Austria, that he
be left in undisputed possession of Silesia ;
' power, moreover, was no longer an object
or jealousy to him, for the seven years'
reduced its sources to the lowest ebb.
!rick availed himself cf circumstances to
tee an amicable correspondence with Aus-
_ he thus became the medium of communi-
between the hostile courts of Vienna and
wrgh. No more direct intelligence, how-
;isted between these two states than before,
It as was Theresa's hatred against Ceiba-
itharine's was no less violent ; and even
Austria made friendly overtures, through
.ck, concerning mediation between Turkey
.ussia, she desired Frederick to desist, and
' the interference.
,hannel of communication, however, was
between the three conspiring powers ; and
t step was for one of the triumvirate to
the iniquitous partition plot. It is made a
4' much dispute which of them started the
and they all equally disclaim the infamy of
, author.
__ cannot be imagined that the scheme of parti-
tion originated with Catharine; she had long been
the real mistress of Poland, the king was nothing
more than her tenant at will, and it required only a
little time for the whole kingdom to sink into a
Russian province. The intentions of the other
powers began to evince themselves more plainly in
1770. Frederick began to throw out hints of
claims on certain Polish distticts ; he obliged the
Polish Prussians to furnish his troops with horses
and corn, in exchange for debased money, which
was either forged Polish silver coin, only one-third
of its nominal value, or false Dutch ducats, 17 per
cent. under the proper value.
The three powers could readily understand each
other's designs; but the first communication which%
took place between them on the subject cccurred
in December 1770, and January, 1771. In the
former month Catharine invited Prince Henry, Fre-
derick's brother, who had before been a personal
acquaintance, to her court, and the wily despot of
Prussia urged him earnestly to accept the invita-
tion. Hes reached. Petersburg,ll in the midst of the
public festivities *and rejoicings for the victories
over the Turks ; and having, like his brother, abun-
dant. flattery at will, he seized the opportetuity of
loading Catharine with compliments. It was in
these conferences that the fate of Poland was de-
cided; while Catharine was hesitating about ac-
cepting the terms Austria proposed, which were,
that she should renounce her design upon Moldavia
and Walachia, the news arrived at Petersburg that
the Austrian troops had taken possession of Zips.
Catharine was much astonished at the proceeding,
and remarked, that if Austria seized the Polish ter-
ritory, the two other neighbouring powers must
imitate her example until she desisted. This hint
suggested to Henry a mode of removing those ob-
jections of A ustria.which impeded the negociation.
He knew that the court of Vienna was as eager for
aggrandizement as Russia, and that all her jea-
lousies would be allayed by a similar accession of
territory ; that at the same time she would never
consent to have the Russians as her neighbours in
Moldavia and Walachia, but would have no objec-
tion to their making an equal increase to that im-
mense empire elsewhere. Frederick's consent,
also, must be purchased by an equal allotment ;
where then, he thought, were there three such
portions to be found but where Austria pointed out.
Catharine approved of the plan after a few mo-
ments' reflection, but mentioned two impediments,
first, that when her troops had entered Poland she
had solemnly declared that she would maintain the
integrity of the kingdom, and next that Austria
would not receive such a proposal from her without
suspicion. These difficulties were readily removed,
the first by breaking the engagement, and the
second by making Frederick the negotiator with the',
Court of Vienna.
It now remained to persuade Austria to join the
coalition. Joseph and Kaunitz were soon won over,
but Maria Theresa's conscience made a long resist-
ance. The fear of hell, she said, restrained her from
seizing, another's possessions. It was represented
to her, however, that her resistance could not pre-
vent the other two powers from portioning out
Poland, but might occasion a war which would cost
the valuable lives of many, whereas the peaceable
partition would not spill a drop of blood. She was
thus, she imagined, placed in a dilemma between
two sins; and forgetting the command, " do not
sail that good may come," she endeavoured to per-
suade herself that she was doing her duty in
choosing the least. She yielded at length with the
air of some religious devotee, who exclaims to tier
artful seducer, "may God forgive you !" and at the
same time sinks into his arms. The contract was
signed between Prussia and Austria on the 4th of
March, and the definite treaty of partition which
regulated the three portions was concluded on the
sth of August, 1772.
Russia was to have, by this first partition, the pa-
latinates of Polock, Witebsk and Mscislaw, as far
as the rivers Dzwina and Dnieper, more than 3000
square leagues; Austria had for her share Red
Russia, (Gallicia,) and a portion of Podolia and
Little Poland as far as the Vistula, about 2500
square leagues ; and Prussia uas to be contented
with Polish Prussia, (excepting Dantzig and Thorn
with their territory,) and part of Great Poland as
far. as the river Notec (or Netze,) comprising
about 900 square leagues. All the rest of the
kingdom was to be ensured to Stanialas under the
old constitution.
The three powers fixed on the 19th of April 1773
for the opening of a diet at Warsaw to ratify their
claims, Their troops were in possession of all Po.
capital in particular was strongly in-.
Rewiski, Benoit, and Stakeiberg, the
and Russian ministers Were' on
' and direct all the debates:. They 4
deputy who opposed their pro.
tted as an enemy of his country,

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