Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/248

220 sovereign, who never went to see the first seigneurs of his empire, lowered himself so much as to visit rebels! The Russians were alarmed, and the Polish traitors trembling with fear, put their ladies into the field to intrigue and calumniate. But George Wielhorski, lately created Court-Marshal, a cunning and crafty man, the same that, in 1792, deserted his country, and participated in the plots formed against it, served them with more address. Much more jealous of the glory which our attempts to save Poland, and our very misfortunes had acquired us, than afraid of the distinctions conferred upon us, loaded with favours at the court, but dishonoured in the public opinion, Wielhorski could not wipe away his disgrace, except by making us in some way participate in it. He consequently persuaded the Emperor to bestow estates on Kosciuszko and Potocki, the principal leaders of the revolution, and thus to oblige all other Polish prisoners to take the oath of fealty as Russian subjects. Paul I. was pleased with the idea. Potocki and