Thaddeus of Warsaw | Page 4

he had learned the art of war, and the science of a noble, unselfish
independence, from the marvel of modern times, General
Washington,--Kosciusko returned to Europe, and abode a while in
France, but not in its capital. He lived deeply retired, gradually
restoring his shattered frame to some degree of health by the peace of a
resigned mind and the occupation of rural employments. Circumstances
led him to Switzerland; and the country of William Tell, and of simple
Christian fellowship, could not but soon be found peculiarly congenial
to his spirit, long turned away from the pageants and the pomp of this
world. In his span he had had all, either in his grasp or proffered to him.
For when nothing remained of all his military glory and his patriotic
sacrifices but a yet existing fame, and a conscious sense within him of
duty performed, he was content to "eat his crust," with that inheritance
alone; and he refused, though with an answering magnanimity of
acknowledgment, a valuable property offered to him by the Emperor of
Russia, as a free gift from a generous enemy, esteeming his proved,
disinterested virtues. He also declined the yet more dazzling present of
a crown from the then master of the continent, who would have set him
on the throne of Poland--but, of a truth, under the vassalage of the
Emperor of the French! Kosciusko was not to be consoled for Poland
by riches bestowed on himself, nor betrayed into compromising her

birthright of national independence by the casuistry that would have
made his parental sceptre the instrument of a foreign domination.
Having such a theme as his name, and the heroes his co-patriots, the
romance of "Thaddeus of Warsaw" was no sooner published than it
overcame the novelty of its construction, and became universally
popular. Nor was it very long before it fell into General Kosciusko's
hands, though then in a distant land; and he kindly and promptly lost no
time in letting the author know his approbation of the narrative, though
qualified with several modest expressions respecting himself. From that
period she enjoyed many treasured marks of his esteem; and she will
add, though with a sad satisfaction, that amongst her several relics of
the Great Departed who have honored her with regard, she possesses,
most dearly prized, a medal of Kosciusko and a lock of his hair. About
the same time she received a most incontestable proof of the accuracy
of her story from the lips of General Gardiner, the last British minister
to the court of Stanislaus Augustus. On his reading the book, he was so
sure that the facts it represented could only have been learned on the
spot, that he expressed his surprise to several persons that the author of
the work, an English lady, could have been at Warsaw during all the
troubles there and he not know it. On his repeating this observation to
the late Duke of Roxburgh, his grace's sister-in-law, who happened to
overhear what was said, and knew the writer, answered him by saying,
"The author has never been in Poland." "Impossible!" replied the
general; "no one could describe the scenes and occurrences there, in the
manner it is done in that book, without having been an eyewitness."
The lady, however, convinced the general of the fact being otherwise,
by assuring him, from her own personal knowledge, that the author of
"Thaddeus of Warsaw" was a mere school-girl in England at the time
of the events of the story.
How, then, it has often been asked, did she obtain such accurate
information with regard to those events? and how acquire her familiar
acquaintance with the palaces and persons she represents in the work?
The answer is short. By close questioning every person that came in her
way that knew anything about the object of her interest; and there were
many brave hearts and indignant lips ready to open with the sad yet

noble tale. Thus every illustrious individual she wished to bring into
her narrative gradually grew upon her knowledge, till she became as
well acquainted with all her desired personages as if they were actually
present with her; for she knew their minds and their actions; and these
compose the man. The features of the country, also, were learned from
persons who had trodden the spots she describes: and that they were
indeed correct pictures of their homes and war-fields, the tears and
bursting enthusiasm of many of Poland's long expatriated sons have
more than once borne testimony to her.
As one instance, out of the number I might repeat, of the
inextinguishable love of those noble wanderers from their native
country, I shall subjoin the copy of a letter addressed to me by one of
those gallant men, then holding a high military