than, according to our opinion, it deserved. The
Polish public is however indebted to it for more than one valuable
work on history, to which it gave birth. Naruszewicz had collected for
his undertaking a library of materials, in 360 folio volumes. He wrote
also a history of the Tartars, a biography of the Lithuanian captain
Chodkiewicz, and was admired as a poet. He died in 1796, it is said of
grief at the fate of his unhappy country.

Naruszewicz was educated by the Jesuits, and was himself of that order
until its dissolution. He died as bishop of Luck. In respect to time
he stands as the first eminent writer of a new period, just on the
verge of the past; and even his warmest admirers do not deny that he
participated, in some slight degree, in the character of that past, by
a certain inclination to panegyric and a flowery style. But in energy
and richness of thought, he far surpasses all his predecessors, and
has not yet been reached by any who have written after him.[52]

Another historical work of value on Poland, was edited by Joachim
Lelewel. The history of Poland by Waga, in the want of any thing more
suitable, had been in use as a class book in the Polish schools for
more than fifty years. Lelewel, in order to improve its popularity,
took this book as a foundation, but completely recast it, divided the
history of Poland according to a plan perfectly new, completed the
work, and published it under Waga's name. His rich additions regard
chiefly the legislature, statistics, and the cultivation of the
country. His very division of the history of Poland, into Poland
conquering, Poland divided, Poland flourishing, and Poland on the
decline, seems to indicate the political tendency of his work, and his
desire to impress upon the Polish youth the great moral lessons which
history presents.[53]

Another history of Poland of more extent was published by G.S.
Bantkie. Lelewel said of the second edition of this book, which
appeared in 1820, that "a more perfect work in this department did not
exist."

One of the most remarkable writers of his time, on history and
bibliography, was the Jesuit Albertrandy; who, besides being the
author of several historical works and treatises, was indefatigable in
collecting materials for the history of his country. He went to Italy,
and here gathered during a stay of three years a hundred and ten folio
volumes of extracts, entirely written with his own hand. He then went
to Stockholm