CH. III.] CATHARINE THROWS A SOP TO ENGLAND. 397 King of Prussia; that in any case she would gladly enter into a treaty of alliance and commerce with England, and awaited the proposals of the English Ministry on this head.1 At this period General Dumouriez was eagerly pressing forward towards the Dutch frontiers, and France was equipping new fleets in all her arsenals for the struggle with England: in such a position no English Minister could reject the Russian offers for the purpose of maintaining an impotent protest against the Polish partition. On the contrary, Pitt desired to transport a Russian corps by sea from Dantzic to Flanders, and he would have sacrificed more precious things than Poland for the immediate renewal of the commercial treaty. His answer, therefore, was completely affirmative, and offered the immediate conclusion of a formal treaty of alliance. But in this case too Catharine adhered to her tactics of reserve. She had as little intention of entrusting troops against France to Pitt, as to the German Powers: she considered England's silence about Poland was sufficiently paid for by Russia's resignation of the maritime neutrality, and she would only grant an effectual alliance against France, if England would surrender Turkey to the Russian arms. They therefore contented themselves, on the 25th of March, with a preliminary treaty-in which they mutually promised friendship, good offices, curtailment of intercourse with France, and promotion of English commerce-and the announcement of a new negotiation concerning a treaty of alliance. In this manner Poland lost all prospect of English intercession; in no direction did any obstacle appear to the projected partition. Let us see in what condition the unhappy country now found itself. 1 Hogguer, Feb. 25th. CHAPTER IV. PARTITION OF POLAND. THE EXECUTION. EXCITEMENT IN POLAND CAUSED BY THE ENTRANCE OF PRUSSIAN TROOPS.- INTRIGUES WHILST the Powers at St. Petersburg were coming to a decision in diplomatic silence, Poland was being agitated by the first shock of the Prussian invasion. Intelligence of the coming event arrived during the last days of the year 1792 from the Polish Ambassador in Berlin, and fell like a thunderbolt upon the Generality at Grodno. Great was the terror and excitement produced. But Catharine had so thorougly kneaded the Confederation, that its leaders hastened in a body to the Russian commander Igelström, begging that he would help them, place himself at their head, and lead them against those odious Prussians. Igelström, usually no pliant man but proud and domineering in his character, feared by all his subordinates and animated by a thorough contempt for the Poles, entered on this occasion rather deeply into their intrigues. He advised them however to be cautions, since, considering the alliance between Prussia and Russia, Möllendorf would certainly not have made his appearance without the knowledge of the Empress. Potocki then flew into a rage, saying that he would attack the Prussians alone; but he drew upon himself such a sharp rebuke from CH. IV.] PRUSSIANS ENTER POLAND. Igelström, that he went home and fell ill. 399 Immediately afterwards, the Prussian declaration of the 6th of January, arrived, and the Generality was somewhat calmed by finding in it nothing but their own sentiments of antipathy against the patriotic party of the May Constitution. General Byszewski accordingly, who was stationed in Great Poland, with 5,000 Polish troops, received the nugatory order, to defend his country, but to consider the Prussians as friends. But this state of calm did not last long. On the 26th of January, the "Second General of the Crown," General Rzewuski, returned from St. Petersburg-whither he had gone to present the above-mentioned vote of thanks to Catharine-full of the flattering promises of the Empress, and of indignation at the interference of the Prussians. He had always been a hotheaded and unstable man, and in 1772 had so violently opposed the first Partition, that Catharine sent him off to Siberia; he now raved with no less zeal for the deliverance of his country by the high protection of the Russians. He soon succeeded in rousing the Generality to action; protested that Catharine neither knew nor approved of the proceedings of Prussia, and persuaded them to send off two couriers, on the 28th, to St. Petersburg with urgent prayers for help, and orders to Byszewski to hold himself in readiness for war. The storm was redoubled on the following day when the news arrived of Möllendorf's actual entrance into Poland, which had been followed by a few cavalry skirmishes. The Generality in the midst of violent declamations drew up a strong protest, and issued a manifesto to the people, which called on all the nobles to mount. At the same time Rzewuski assigned a regiment of infantry and 26 guns from the Warsaw arsenal as a reinforcement. for General Byszewski. But Igelström immediately interposed with the greatest energy. He blocked up the Posen road by two Russian battalions, took possession of the ar 1 Buchholz to the King, Jan. 23d. CH. IV.] PRUSSIANS ENTER POLAND. 399 Igelström, that he went home and fell ill. Immediately afterwards, the Prussian declaration of the 6th of January, arrived, and the Generality was somewhat calmed by finding in it nothing but their own sentiments of antipathy against the patriotic party of the May Constitution. General Byszewski accordingly, who was stationed in Great Poland, with 5,000 Polish troops, received the nugatory order, to defend his country, but to consider the Prussians as friends. But this state of calm did not last long. On the 26th of January, the "Second General of the Crown," General Rzewuski, returned from St. Petersburg-whither he had gone to present the above-mentioned vote of thanks to Catharine-full of the flattering promises of the Empress, of indignation at the interference of the Prussians. He always been a hotheaded and unstable man, and in 1772 o violently opposed the first Partition, that Catharine m off to Siberia; he now raved with no less zeal for verance of his country by the high protection of the He soon succeeded in rousing the Generality to otested that Catharine neither knew nor approved eedings of Prussia, and persuaded them to send ers, on the 28th, to St. Petersburg with urgent elp, and orders to Byszewski to hold himself For war. The storm was redoubled on the folhen the news arrived of Möllendorf's actual Poland, which had been followed by a few es. The Generality in the midst of violent v up a strong protest, and issued a maniwhich called on all the nobles to mount. zewuski assigned a regiment of infantry e Warsaw arsenal as a reinforcement But Igelström immediately interenergy. He blocked up the Posen talions, took possession of the ar |