The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-07

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case war between the two empires should be
the consequence Of the Empress persisting in her
designs upon Turkey. Frederick declared 10 favor
Of Russia but sent his brother Prince Henry to the
Court of Catharine in order to endeavor TO persuade
her to consent 10 moderate the conditions Of peace
she required from the Porte Catherine communi-
Gated to Prince Henry the intelligence she had Just
received of the Austrian invasion of the Polish from
tier adding that " Poland seemed to be country
where it only necessary to soop in order to pick
up what would. If Austria chose TO take
piece of that country, the other neighborng States
had as good right to do the same" Upon this hint
Prince Henry spake, und developed plan for the
partition Of Poland by which Catharine might ag-
grandize her own empire without exciting the Jeal-
ousy of Austria, which power could not look with
the same indifference the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF Iur-
key; whilst Prussia might receive, in such an ar
rangement, compensation for the sacrifices she had
made to the Russian alliance.
| Kraunz, who wished to avoid the odium OF being
considered the author of the partition project and TO
quiet the scruples of conscience felt or Affected oy
| the Empress Maria Theresa, endeavored to get Rus
STA to make the first proposition. For ths purpose
he declared to Prince Gaizin, the Russian Ambas-
sador at Vienna, October, IT'LL that The Austrian
Court would not consent to mediate for peace be-
tween Russia and the Porte upon the terms which
had been proposed by the former and were finally
| stipulated at Kainard in l774, unless Russia would
give the most positive assurances that she had no IN
ention 10 disnember Poland either for her own ben
eft that Of others" it being, however, well un-
derstood that Austria intended TO reclaim thirteen
townships in the county Of lips, formerly belonging
to Hungary, and mortgaged to the Republic" Krau-
nitz enlarged upon the interminablc difficulties to
which any attempt at partition of Poland would
lead, and left Gallitzin firmly convinced that Aus
tria was impatient to concur in the views of Russia
and Prussia. The Russian ambassador was accord
ngly instructed to answer that both these powers
had also claims upon Poland, which might be adjust
ed in concert with AUSTRIA so 10 preserve that
equality which necessary to maintain the ba-
lance of power between the three monarchies. The
Austrian minister met this overture by observing
that any inequality in the respective shares of the
partitioning powers might be corrected by taking
portion of territory from another neighbor who had
something to spare On Gatzin remarking that
this could be no other than the Turkish empire,
Kraunitz replied it was that he meant at the same
time recommending the greatest despatch, secrecy,
and mutual confidence. This, he said, was alone all
necessary in order to prevent the interference of
France and England
In the mean time the British Cabinet had pro-
cured and communicated to the Empress Catharine a
copy of the secret convention concluded in July,
It'll, between Austria and the Porte, which natu-
rally had the effect of shaking the confidence of the
Russ an Court in Kraunitz. The two Cabinets of
Petersburg and Berlin therefore continued to nego-
| tiata hetu thems of
proposed partition. Exorbilant the preten-
sions of Russia, she still decidedly opposed the ac-
QUESTION of Dantzc and Thorn by Prussia. Frede-
rick ii finally desised from this pre- ension, being
doubtless convinced that master of the mouths
of the Vstua, he would easily be able to compel
these towns to submit to his dominion. convention
between the two Courts consequently concluded
= at ST. Petersburg the 18th Of February, l772 in
which it was stipulated that Austria should be nvi-
: ted to join in the proposed partition. That power
accordingly acceded the 10th of the same month,
but demanded for her share nearly onethird Of the
: whole territory of Poland She ultimately in
duced to desist from part of her pretensons, and
triple convention signed at st. Peter burg the
5th of August, 1772, by which all that part of Lithu-
MIA north Of the Dwina and east of the Nieper was
secured to Russia Gallica and Lodomiria to Aus
tria and Polish Russia, except Danzic and Thorn,
with Great Poland to the river Netze to Prussia.
"The three partitioning powers Immediately took
possession Of these territories and published each
separate manifesto setting forth the pretended claims
upon which they proessed to justify this of vio
lence In the answer to these manifestos, published
by the Polish Government, reference was made to
the long series of treaties by which the integrity of
the territory peaceaby possessed by Poland for
eral centuries had been solemnly guaranteed by
the very powers who sought TO DIES.
poll her. The answer also stated that if
the antquaied transactions of those remote
times were to be resorted to- when possessions were
lost and won with much facility by the sword Of
the conqueror, Poland herself mi ht claim just title
to vast provinces held by the partitioning ow-
ers, the right to which only secured by that sa-
cred and salutary principle Of prescription which
cured the lawful possessions Of every civilized nation
"The consent of the national diet assembled at
Warsaw in l773 TO the treaties of PARTITION was ex-
torted by the presence Of foreign force. The nun
clos Of Podolia and Vohynia protested against all
that might be done in order to sanction them but
joint commission named by the Senate and the eques-
TRAN order finally consented to sign the treaties of
l775 by which the partition confirmed; the ex-
istng vicious constitution of the Republic guaranteed
by the partitioning powers, not to be subject to
alteration without their consent; and pretext thus
furnished for their perpetual interference in the a(
fairs of Poland."-pp 2O1-205
After briefly noticing the war Of the BavaIian sue
ccsson in 1913, speedily terminated by the peace of
Teschen, on which occasion Russia as mediator and
guarantee, first ntruded herself into the internal af
fairs Of Germany; the controversy between the En-
peror Joseph II and Holland respecting the free nsvi-
cation Of the Schedt in 1881 and the various cases
of Intervention by the triple alliance Of Great Bri-
tain, Prussia and Holland, in the affairs of Belgium,
and in the war between Russia and the Porte, the
author proceeds TO examine the various questions of