The head quarters of the Polish troops is still at
Praga. On the 1st instant DIEBITSCH had not advanced beyond Ostrolenka ; this was five days after the battle. It does not speak highly for the victory which he so confidently claimed. The Poles have been greatly successful in Lithuania. On the 26th of May, the same day on which the Commander-in-chief was compelled to retire on Praga, General CHLAPOWSKI, after having formed a junction with the patriots of l3yalystock, attacked the enemy at Narewka ; and besides capturing five pieces of cannon and a great many stands of arms, totally defeated him, killing 800 men, and taking the rest of the column, which consisted of three regiments, prisoners. In addition to this successful affair, the peasantry have on various oc- casions fallen on the Russian detachments, in the course of which attacks 120 waggons have been taken. In Volhynia, the fort of Haman has fallen into the hands of the people of the surrounding district, led on by Count EMIR EZEWUSKI. The leaders and their bands have sworn to support the Poles to the utmost; and it is not doubted that they will effect an important diversion in their favour. Twelve hundred Russians are said to have fallen in this battle.
It was some time ago rumoured, that the Hungarians, the only subjects of Austria who possess any thing like freedom, had ma- nifested a strong sympathy with the Polish struggle. The have lately sent to the patriots a present of wine ; which the Eltperor has not, imprudently, suffered to proceed to its destination. It is worthy of notice, that in the midst of all their difficulties, the Poles have succeeded in establishing a manufactory of arms in the capital. The muskets fabricated there have already begun to be served out to the troops. The Government has circulated an address to the inhabitants of Lithuania, Volhynia, Podolia, and the Ukraine, invoking their sympathy and assistance. It is a noble and affecting document. The following are the concluding paragraphs. "God hath already wrought prodigies for us. God, and not the Em- peror of Russia, will be our judge I He will deride.
He will decide who hath committed perjury, who has been the victim of oppression, and who ought to obtain the victory. We have already fought with success in the name of the God of our fathers, and we will fight till at length we accomplish the ends of justice. All the nations of Europe possessed of feelings of humanity tremble for our fate, and exult with joy at our successes. These only wait your general rising to hail you as members of the free and independent nations of Europe. "Brethren and fellow-citizens ! when we shall have finished this ter- rible and unequal contest, we will invite the Powers of Europe to form themselves into a tribunal of justice ; we will appear before them covered with our blood, lay open the book of our annals, unrol the chart of Eu- rope, and say—' Behold our cause and yours I The injustice done to Po- land is known to you you behold her despair ; for her courage and gene- rosity appeal to her enemies !"
It has been finely observed, that "a virtuous man struggling with adversity, and rising above it, is an object which the Gods may look down upon with pleasure "—and if on a virtuous indivi- dual, surely on a virtuous nation. Sorely has Poland been tried— toilsome has been her struggle ; she is now rising above her diffi- culties; one effort more, and she stands erect. Yet that effort will be no light one. Her enemies are numerous, strong, and de- termined. Justly, however, does she say—and not more piously than philosophically—God, and not the Emperor, will be her• judge. In the warfare of freedom against tyranny, it is not the horses and the chariots of war, the captains and the shouting, that prevail. He that holdeth in his hands the destinies of individuals and of states—he will decide.
Previous page
