Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/136

108 wrath of the Empress, and its most cruel consequences. “Sir,” replied I, “there has nothing happened in our revolution which is not already known, not only to your cabinet, but to the whole of Europe. Provoked by the partition of our finest provinces, by oppression, and insult offered to the inhabitants, our revolution was the work of despair and not of calculation. All our efforts abroad were directed to the procuring of soldiers, arms, and provisions; and at home, I ask yourself, could we intrigue, surrounded as we were by the provinces and armies of the three powers which have divided our territory, and which were at that time carrying on war with us? The communication between Poland and the rest of the world was entirely cut off.” “But you cannot deny,” answered Samoilow, “that France has assisted you in men and money? We know it; we know that General Kosciuszko was at Paris before the outbreak.” “Sir,” said I, “it is an old proverb, that a man who is drowning catches at a straw. Though we did not like either the principles