Page:Constitutional Charter of the Kingdom of Poland, In the Year 1815.pdf/68

 the Poles with much confidence; ''they foresee, not without apprehension, that in time the Polish name will fall into contempt, and the Russians will treat us as their subjects. How indeed should such a limited population resist their preponderance?'' Then how can we forget our brethren who are under the Russian sceptre? Is it possible that our hearts should not suffer from their not being united with us? We had the emperor’s sacred word that this union should take place. The Kingdom of Poland would then have consisted of 10 or 11 millions of souls, and like the Kingdom of Hungary, it would have had its own constitution and its own laws, though united with the empire of Russia. I must here draw a line between the humane and generous intentions of the emperor himself, and the policy of his cabinet. I shall justly be grateful to the emperor to the day of my death, for having revived the Polish name, under any limits and with any restrictions. May Providence be your guide! For my own part, as I can no longer be of any service to my country, I shall take refuge in Switzerland. You know whether I have laboured as much as it was in my power for the public welfare. I conclude, my dear Prince, With sincere affection,

(Signed)”

Empty promises were still held out as long as there was any chance of their serving to tranquillize the spirit of the people.

The Emperor, on his return from Congress received at Warsaw a deputation from the provinces incorporated with the empire. We shall quote the very words which he addressed to Mr. Oginski, the president of this deputation, in a private audience to which he was admitted, that he might receive his instructions as to the form in which the wishes of the deputation were to be presented at the public audience. “I cannot consent to your requesting the reunion of your provinces with the Kingdom of Poland because I do not wish it to be supposed that this was your request, I wish it to be considered as my own suggestion and wish.I am aware that the relation in which these provinces have hitherto been placed as to Russia cannot be agreeable to youThere is no reasonable person who is not aware of itNobody can suppose that I wish to detach these provinces from Russiaon the contrary, I mean to strengthen the bond of union by taking