ndeed present, during the Russian
administration, one of the most revolting pictures which history
exhibits. And the idea, that it owes its darkest shades principally to
the reckless despotism of one individual, serves only to make them
appear still darker.

The war, which called into exercise all the mental faculties of the
nation, put a stop of course to all literary activity; but even during
the more quiet period which immediately succeeded it--the quietness of
a cemetery--the dejected spirits of the nation, whose noblest sons an
interval of two years had rendered prisoners, exiles, or corpses, are
easily to be perceived in the results of their intellectual pursuits.
A small volume, containing three poems by Niemcewiecz and Mickiewicz
was printed in 1833 at Leipzig. It is the swan-like melody of the aged
poet; whilst the younger celebrates the exploits of his valiant
brethren. To the poems of the latter, (three volumes, Paris 1828.) a
fourth volume was added, containing the riper productions of his
manhood. The late vice president of Warsaw, Xavier Bronikowski,
published at the same time _Polnische Miscellen_ in the German
language at Nuremberg. A number of Polish literati were gathered at
Paris. A work, intended to contain about twelve volumes, with the
title _Souvenirs de la Pologne, historique, statistique, et
literaire_, was announced in that city; for the printing offices at
home were of course closed against the expression of all patriotic
feelings. The fifteen printing establishments at Warsaw issued in the
year 1832, from March to December, only sixty-three works.

The universities of Warsaw and Wilna were broken up; and the rich
libraries of these institutions were carried to St. Petersburgh. The
emperor declared openly, that it should be his aim to annihilate all
traces of _Polish_ nationality, and to metamorphose it into a Russian
people. Even the lower schools were in great part deprived of their
funds, and changed to Russian government schools. After some years of
utter privation as to all means of higher instruction, a new
university for the Poles was founded at Kief; of course on a Russian
model and in a Russian spirit. In a most consistent and energetic
manner the language and the national peculiarities of the country were
every where checked and persecuted; and attempts of every kind were
made to replace them by Russian customs and the Russian language. The
union of the Greek and Catholic churches