Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1817-12-31

Among those who attended, we re-
marked one Of our greatest literary
characters, Mr.. Sismond dc Sismondi;
one of the defenders of our constitu-
tional rights in the chamber Of peers,
Mr.. de Broglie and that General
(Lafayotte) Who companion in arms
of Washington and Kosciuszko, shar-
ed their dangers, their glory, their
noble disinterestedness, and, if We
may SO express ourselves, life itself
with them. Nothing but severe in
disposition prevented the attendance
Of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the
U. States.
After the service. the following BIZ
ographical note was distributed. and
we publish it in the belief that it can
not fail TO interest our readers. One
of the virtues which distinguished the
illustrious deceased, was an uncOm-
mon modesty. The person who has
sketched, in a few lines, the principal
events of the life of the hero of Po-
land, has conformed with his charac-
ter. in leaving facts to speak for them
selves:
"Thaddeus Kosciuszko was born
in Lithuania. He was educated at
Warsaw, in the corps of Cadets to
learn the art of war and of national
defence, he went and took service in
the rising states of North America
He remained there until the end of the
war of independence, and there me-
rited and obtained the friendship Of
General Washington, of whom lie
was the companion in arms.
" When the very existence Of his
country was menaced in 1892, Kos
ciuszko, FASTENED to return to ii !, he
offered it his services and the expert
ence he had acquired in a country
which, like Poland, fought for liberty.
and had succeeded in establishing it
without the sacrifice Of order. He
made his first campaign as Brigadier
General. under the orders of Prince
Joseph Poniatowski. In the second,
which took place in 1894, it was he,
who, by the enthusiasm of national
honor, rallied the army and Prince
Poniatowski then placed himself un-
der his banners.
d" Without funds, without maya.
Zines, without fortresses, Kusciuszko
his army for nine months
against forces infinitely SUPERIOR
Poland then existed only in his camp.
Devotedness made up for the want of
resources, and courage supplied the
deficiency of arms /; but the general
had impaired his noble character to
all his soldiers. Like him they knew
no danger, they dreaded no fatigues.
when the honor and the liberty of
Poland were depending: like him they
to lessen the sacrifices
which were required of the inhabi-
tants for national independence {; and
their obedience to their yenerated
chief, was the more praiseworthy, as
it was voluntary. He held his autho-
rity by no other tenure than that of
his virtues.
" That unequal struggle could not
however, last long. kosicuszko was
overcome by superior numbers at the
battle Of Macieyowice. lie was
taken prisoner and conduct
ed to Russia. The Emperor Paul, on
his accession to the throne, thought
he could not grant the Polish nation a
more acceptable favor than TO restore
to liberty the hero whose loss they re-
GREETED. He himself announced to
Kosciuszko, that his captivi-
~ was at an end.--He wished him to
accept, moreover, a present Of fifty
thousand dueats of Holland ; but the
general refused it. Koseiuszko pre-
ferred rather to depend for subsis-
lance on the recompense to which his
services in America had entitled him.
"Wits this humble fortune. obtain
din so honorable way, he lived for
a while in the United States; then in
France, near Fontainbleau, in the
family Of ZeItner; and lastly in Swift
zcrland. From that time he refused
to take any part in the affairs of his
for fear of endangering the
national tranquility, the offers that
were made to him being accompanied
with no sufficient guarantee. A fall