Appendix. 66 (Appendix A.) In most of the memoirs of Kosciuszko, and histories of the battles in which he played so distinguished a part, it is asserted that when he fell in the battle of Macieiowice, he exclaimed, "Finis-Poloniæ." This is a great error, those words were put in his mouth by the enemies of Poland. Kosciuszko was a modest man, and did not believe that all of Poland was wrapped up in his existence. The Poles are a living fact to-day, in spite of massacres, confiscations, banishments and torture inflicted on them to destroy their nationality; they are as much united in feeling, and as thoroughly national as they ever were. Kosciuszko in a letter to Count-de-Ségur, author of "La Décade Historique," says: 'Ignorance or bad faith persists in putting in my mouth the words "Finis-Poloniæ,' which I am said to have pronounced on the fatal day of Macieiowice. In the first place, before the end of the battle, I was all but mortally wounded and only recovered my senses two days afterwards, when I found myself in the hands of my enemies; moreover, if such an expression would be foolish and criminal in the mouth of any Pole, it would be a great deal more so in mine. The Polish nation in calling on me to defend the country's integrity, independence, glory and liberty, knew very well that I was not the last Pole, and that with my death on the field of battle or otherwise, Poland could not and would not end. All the Poles have done since then, in the glorious Polish legions, and all they will yet do in the future to recover their country, must * * 6 be regarded as proofs, that we, though the devoted soldiers of this country, are mortal, Poland is immortal, and no one has the right to say or report the outrageous expression, Finis-Poloniæ.' What would the French have said, if at the fatal battle of Rosbach in 1757, Marshal Charles de Rohan, Prince of Soubise, had cried out, Finis-Galliæ,' or if such cruel words had been attributed to him by his biographers?" (Appendix B.) Bristol was in those days, and before the discovery of Liverpool, the chief port of the west of England, and a city of much importance. It contains a fine old cathedral, in which pious and devout Britons were wont to offer up fervent prayers of thankfulness to the Supreme Being for the safe arrival of their well laden slaveships from the Guinea coast, and it was here that the young and rich planters of Virginia and Carolina were received with the greatest attentions on landing, and shown the prime articles of trade that these devout merchants dealt in. (Appendix C.) Dr. Warner in his Literary Recollections speaks of seeing Kosciuszko at the house of Mr. Vanderhorst, and says: "I never contemplated a more interesting human figure than Kosciuszko stretched on his couch; his wounds were still unhealed, he was unable to sit upright, a black silk handkerchief crossed his fair and high forehead, beneath it his dark eagle eye sent forth a stream of light that indicated the steady flame of patriotism which still burned within his soul, unquenched by disaster, wounds, weakness, poverty and exile; his conversation replete with fine sense, lively remarks, sagacious answers, evinced a noble understanding and a cultivated mind." * (Appendix D.) Facsimile Letter of Roscuiszko to Mrs. Gen. A. W. White, Jam your trouble house not at rest Madame befor jou and force, Pardon infull extend and jgave you during my stay The un casinesse hangs or my feelings suffer grea of deprivin mind, and Iwas perhaps the cause tion of never was out on ди a ind me wa A sed to inquires every day, what ; a every wyske was comptine Dislike thought was prevented, more comfortable and prevented, to make read in } me and I j beg your my my dy ensiver agreable Elisa to sobriti for me |