History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the CampaignHordynski, Joseph
History
History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign
Hordynski, Joseph
Poland -- History -- Revolution, 1830-1832
The patriots now proceeded to choose members of the provisional
government. Prince Adam Czartoriski,[15] Radzivil,[16] Niemcewicz, and
Lelewell were elected, and one of the old ministers, Lubecki, was
retained to assist them. This arrangement was made public about noon,
in order to tranquilize the people.
The first step taken by the new government was to send deputies to the
Grand Duke. They were instructed to demand whether he meant to depart
peaceably, or to attack the city. Among the deputies were Lubecki and
Lelewell. They found the Grand Duke encamped, with his army, in the
fields of Mokotow.
The deputies represented to Constantine the consequences that would
result from an attack on the city, as well in regard to himself as to
the nation. They informed him that the army had already joined the
people, and proposed to him that he should depart unmolested, on a
prescribed route. They promised that he should find every possible
accommodation provided on that route, for himself and his troops. The
Grand Duke demanded some time for reflection, and finally gave the
deputies the following answer in writing.
ART. I. The Grand Duke declares that it was never his intention to
attack Warsaw. In case he should find himself under the necessity of so
doing, he will give the authorities notice of his intention forty-eight
hours before the attack.
ART. II. The Grand Duke will entreat the Emperor to grant an amnesty
for the past.
ART. III. The Grand Duke declares that he has sent no orders to the
Russian forces in Lithuania to pass the frontier of the kingdom.
ART. IV. Prisoners will be exchanged.
The deputies returned to Warsaw with this answer, at three o'clock.
It was immediately published, but did not satisfy the people. They
demanded to know the day and hour of the Grand Duke's departure. If
he should refuse to obey, they declared that they would attack him.
It was finally concluded to allow him two days for his necessary
arrangements, and then to send a second deputation to insist on his
instant departure.[17]
The provisional government immediately set about restoring order to
every department of the administration. The Bureau of Police was
abolished, and a council of citizens was substituted in its place,
under the direction of the aged and worthy Wengrzecki. This man
had been president of Warsaw in the times of the grand duchy. He
was compelled to leave this office, by certain persecutions, which
he brought upon himself by not being sufficiently in the spirit of
the Russian government. At the same time the national guard was
established, and placed under the command of Count Lubinski. The guard
began their service on the very same day. They mounted guard at the
bank and the public treasury, and their patrols maintained order in
all parts of the city. Their duties were performed with the utmost
punctuality. All the shops were opened, and the city wore as peaceful
an aspect as if there had been no army before it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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