The last paper in this book will be found, without doubt, to be the most interesting. A moment’s reflection will convince its readers that there is no European country in which so great a change is being effected, and of which they hear so little, as Russian Poland. Yet the events which have recently agitated Poland are events of historical interest, and they are not in themselves unimportant to Western Europe. An outline of their nature and extent is given here. This history of ‘twelve months of agitation’ makes us spectators of a struggle which the Poles have maintained against the Czar, and in which they have proved themselves to be still full of that high, haughty, and stubborn spirit of liberty which Edmund Burke discerned in them of yore. Their recent efforts towards civilization and self-improvement will not fail to ensure for them the sympathy of all who can discern in its energy and its self-control the true greatness of a nation. Sketches of some of the leading men of Poland will be found here: and, at this crisis, it has been thought that an account of the career of Count Andrew Zamoyski could hardly fail of being acceptable. If the destiny of Poland, as a nation, be eventful and yet obscure, the destiny of individuals has often proved under the Muscovite rule to be more tragic and even more obscure. The Polish party in emigration, who now welcome Count Zamoyski, have great cause to congratulate themselves that their ‘civic hero’--the best and worthiest of their patriots--has not been sent to expiate a life devoted to his country’s good in the fortress of Akatouïa, or in some of the desolate wastes of the Russian Empire in the East. The translator is in no wise responsible for any of the sentiments to be found in this book. His task has been simply that of rendering into English the thoughts and words of other men. In the story of M. Rufin Pietrowski he has felt the disadvantages that attend upon the translation of a translation; but he has striven to preserve the integrity of the narrative, even in the smallest particulars. It is with a view to this end that he has adopted all those Russian and Polish phrases, idioms, and words which occur in the text of M. Klackso. LONDON: _November 1862_. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Page 1-9 Siberia--Adventures of Beniowski--Madame Felinska--M. Rufin Pietrowski CHAPTER I. OF A MISSION INTO POLAND. A passport--The journey--The Russian frontier--Kaminieç--A teacher of languages--Annoyances of disguise--M. Abaza--Suspicions of the Police 10-24 CHAPTER II. OF MY ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT AT BRAÇLAW. 25-40 Arrest--Examination--Major Poloutkovskï--Journey to Braçlaw--An accident--The prison--A Russian scene--Kiow CHAPTER III. OF MY IMPRISONMENT AT KIOW, AND MY DEPARTURE FOR SIBERIA. 41-59