Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/82

54 to throw terror among the patriots, and discourage them, had substituted for him another prisoner, with whom they were parading through the country, leading him under an escort of two thousand men. In order to silence this rumour, and undeceive the public, as soon as we stopped at a town or village, Chruszczew sent for the Lord of the place, or its principal inhabitants, took them into Kosciuszko's room, to show him, and assure them of his existence, and the hopeless condition in which he was. These interviews were on both sides very painful, often even accompanied with tears. We could say nothing in the presence of our guard but what was allowed us. Men have been seen before this time exhibiting ferocious animals, now it was a ferocious animal that was exhibiting a man.

At Ostrog, one of the principal towns of Volhynia, we met a strong Russian garrison, commanded by General Razumowski, the brother of the gentleman whom I knew as an ambassador at Naples and Vienna, and who was sent from Russia, for having allowed