Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-10


ness; and the cattle, tits said, cannot fire.
quently be seen in consequence of their cx-
treme luxuriance. 1t has mines of silver,
iron, copper, salt and Goals; the interior
plrts contain large forests, which furnish
timber IN abundance fruits, herbs, and
grapes arc produced there, but the wine
seldom ornever comes to perfection {; the
chief rivers are the Vistula, tine Neister,
the Boristhenes, the Bog, and Dwina it
contains also few lakes; the country a.
bounds with wild animals, among which
are horses, wolves, bears, elk, deer, asses,
and wild oxen. Poland Including Lithu-
ania) has been supposed to contain 1900
oG0 of inhabitants IN their persons the
Poles make noble appearance, their COM
pleXions are fair, and their shapes are well
proportioncd they are brave, honest, and
hospitable; and their women sprightly, yet
modest, and Su6MissiUc 10 their husbands.
Their diversions are warlike and manly:
They usually travel on horseback, and are
extremely hardy. The mode of living of the
mobiles is very fastidious, ceremonious, ex-
pensve, and shewy. The Poles are divi>
ded into mobiles. clergy, citizens or bur-
ghers; and the peasants are divided into
two sorts, those Of the crown and those be-
longing to individuals. Their dress is sim
guar; they shave their heads, leaving on
ly circle of hair on the crown, and men
of all ranks generally wear large whiskers /:
they wear vest which reaches down to
the middle of the leg. and kind OF gown
over 1t lined with fu-, and girdcd with 4
sash, but the sleeves lit as close TO their arms
as = waiscoat. Their brceches are wide,
and make but ono piece with their stock
ings; they wear = fur cap or bonnet their
shirts are without collar or wristband, and
they wear neither stock or neckcloth. In
stead of shoes they wear Turkey leather
boots, with thin soles, and deep iron heels
bent like half moon. The habit of the
women is a simple Polonase or long robe
edged with fur. The peasants in winter
wear sheep-skins, with the wool inwards,
and 10 summer thick coarse cloth, but
no lnnen. Copernicus was native of
Poland but chat country is not celebrated
for learned men. 1t contains three Univer-
sites one at Cracow, one at wilma, and
one at Posen. Warsaw is the real capital,
and is computed 20 contain 10000 inhabi-
tants. Poland was once a formidable king
dom, to which Prussia was in state of
vassalage, * the title Of king of Prussia was
never acknowledged until the year 1864.
Russia also. in the beginning of the seven
tcenth century, saw its capital and throne
possessed by the Poles, while Austria in
1858, was indebted to king OF Poland for
the preservation of its metropolis, and al
most for its very existence. These three
powers, however, in 1772, entered into an
alliance to divide and lismeTnher the king
dom of Poland. This partition was proiec-
ted by the king of Prussia and, although
they would gladly have divided the whole
Of that unfortunate country, Poland poll
cy taught them TO rest for a while conten-
ted with only a third of this republic, in
stead or the whole, as they at first contem-
plated The partitioning powers forciblv
effected great change in the constitution.
But in l791, the king and the nation in UNI
son, and without foreign intervention, esta-
biiShcd another constitution. BY this the
throne was declared hereditary in the house
of SaXony. Many of the mobiles, however.
reSretting Tie sacrifice ofsome of their pri-
viieges, had recourse to the court of Russia :;
their declarations agreeing with the ambi-
tious views of Catherine, she sent an army
into Poland under preteStt OF guaranteeing
the constitution OF l772; in consequence Of
which the last was oyerthrown. The real
object OF the empress was to make second
division OF this country, which took place
IN 1898. The unreasonable severity of the
opprcsSors, excited the people to resent
such accumulated wrongs Fired with in
dignaton, they loudly complained of such
unhcard Of injustice. They claimed the
protection of those powers who had become
guarantees 10 the treaty Of Olivia, a treaty
that had assured to them the indiVisibility
of their territory, and which had long been
regarded as the graBd charter OF the north
Seine OF these powers made circumstances
with as little effect as the Poles themselves.
The Pclonese displaying that enthusiasm,
which the ardor Of seh-defence inspires, u
unanimously agreed to rescue their country
or perish in the attempt. IN army was
HASTILY levied, and the command given to
Prince Joseph Poniatowskv, whose inexDe-
ricnce and premature notions, rendered him
very unit for such an important underta.
KING. The nation ccnld oppose $50 600 men
TO The designs of the Empress; but under
such frivolous leader they could never
be brought TO act in that frm and decided
manner which was necessary to the saliva
tioa OF their totteTug country. 1t was then
The nation demanded the abilities of the
gallant EoSciusko; though n Lieutenant
under Prince Joseph, lac displayed talents
which procured him the love Of his country,
the resentment of Russia, and the esteem
ofall the rest Of Europe. 10000 Russians
arrived IN Poland, and on the 10th of Oc-
tobcT dreadful battle took place with the
Russians under FeTsen and the troops I'M
( der kosciusko. The Russians we're at FIRST
rcpulsed by the Poles who, not content with
the advantages they had gained, abandoned
M