The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-22

her mother; and then kosIciuszko with tears and
kneeling at her fathers feet, confessed his pure but
unconquerable passion. The parents, blinded by
hereditary pride of ancestry and exasperated at The
idea that the spiendor of their ancient house should
be dimmed with their daughters marriage with an
officer Of rank inferior, prohibited all intercourse
between the lmpassioned lovers and TO insure the
observance of their prohibition, placed spies upon all
their steps. But love found means TO deceive tile
Argus-eyes placed over them, and knit two young
hearts closer to each other.
! Kosciuszko, now driven to despair proposes an
elopement. The lady agrees all is arranged, and
the happest result promise TO crown their hopes.
Under the shade of dark night they effect their
cape from the castle, attain, seemingly unpursued to
some distance, and embrace speaks their
mutual congratulations, and to the bright hopes of
union that are dawning upon their hearts. But
sudden noise startles the lovers from dream of bliss;
the marshaPs people surround and attempt to seize
them. Kosciuszko draws his sword and desperately
strives to defend his beloved A sangunary conflict
ensues, but the issue could not be doubtful. Kos
clnszko, wounded, exhausted senseess, sunk TO the
ground, and the Lady Louisa dragged back to
her paternal home,
"W hen, after a three hours swoon KosciusZko
regained his consciousness he crawled feebly and
ldespairingly to the nearest village where one of his
friends quartered carrying with him no relic of
his vision of happiness but its recollection and
white handkerchief, which his idol had dropped in
her agony. This treasure never afterwards Quilted
his bosom not in the hottest battle, and death
only could part him from it.
kosciuszko formed no second attachment and
although, In after years, several advantageous match
es were proposed to him, both Ill Poland and in
France, he never could be prevailed upon to marry
Even to an advanced age he remained faithful to the
love of his youth and spoke of the object of his only
passion with all the fire of early life"
The friend with whom the broken hearted and
wounded lover sought refuge was Julian Ursyn
Niemcewicz, the most celebrated of Polands living
authors. we might perhaps say, of her authors dead
or living, and one of her ardent and constant
patriots.
And that this man should be Kosciuszko's most
intimate friend Is remarkable point in both their
lives Nlemcewicz carefully concealed his unhappy
comrade from any search that might be made for
him, whilst Kosciuszko, with an mpetuosity of feel
ing, which we confess appears to more consonant
with the age of two and twenty than of two and thir-
ty, Immediately, wrote to the king requesting his
royal leave to resign his commission, The king
granted his request and the detected lover repaired
with all possible despatch to America, where as we
scarcely may remind our readers, the revolutionary
war then raging Kosciuszko reached the New
World utterly unprovided with letters ofrecommen-
daton introduction, and nearly penniless he
however asked an audience of Washington to whom
he boldly presented himself.
"What do you seek here 7" inquired the Gene
raj with his accustomed brevity. " | come to fight
as volunteer for American independence" was then
equally brief and fearless reply, "What can you
do 2" was Washington's next question; to which
Kosciuszko with his characteristic simplicity, only
rejoned, "try me-" This was done occasions
soon offered in which his talents, science and valor
were evnced and above all his great character
duly appreciated. He speedily made an officer,
and further distinguished himself.
n
"ITe had not been long in America, when he had
occasion to display his undauntcd courage cap
tain of company of volunteers. Generals Wayne
and Lafayette, Notwithstanding the heat of the bat
tie in which they themselves were fully engaged,
observed with satisfaction the exertions of that
pany, which advanced beyond all the rest and made
its attacks in the best order.
"Who led the first company!' - asked Lafayette of
his comrades, the evening of that memorable day,
the 3Oth of September.)
"The answer was, " 1t is a young Pole of noble
birth, but very poor his name, fI am not mistaken,
is Kosciuszko." The sound of this unusual name,
which he could hardly pronounce, filled the French
hero with eager desire for the brave strangers
acquaintance, that he ordered his horse to be inn
medately saddled, and rode to the village about
couple of miles off, where the volunteers were quar-
tered for the night.
"Who shall describe the pleasure of the one, or
the surprise Oft the other, when the general entering
the tent (would it not rather be room or hut y
in village, the captain, still covered from head
to foot, with blood, dust and sweat seated at table,
his head resting upon his hand, map of the coun-
try spread out before him, and per- and ink by his
side. A cordial grasp of the hand impaired to the
modest hero his commanders satisfaction ana the
object of a visit paid at so unusual an hour"
The friendship thus and then begun continued
through life.