elves to
the body of their countrymen, in language which could hardly fail to
draw eager and enthusiastic recruits to the French standard, and
increase mightily the perplexities of the Russian counsels. Nor did
Napoleon scruple to authorise the circulation of an appeal of like
tendency, bearing _falsely_[56] the venerated signature of Kosciusko.
"Dear countrymen and friends," said the forgery, "arise! the Great
Nation is before you--Napoleon expects, and Kosciusko calls on you. We
are under the AEgis of the Monarch who vanquishes difficulties as if by
miracles, and the re-animation of Poland is too glorious an achievement
not to have been reserved for him by the Eternal." Dombrowski and
Wibichi, two Polish officers in Buonaparte's own army, sent forward from
Berlin, on the 8th of the same month, a proclamation, which commenced in
these words:--"Poles! Napoleon, the Great, the Invincible, enters Poland
with an army of 300,000 men. Without wishing to fathom the mystery of
his views, let us strive to merit his magnanimity. _I will see_ (he has
said to us) _whether you deserve to be a nation._ Poles! it depends then
on yourselves to exert a national spirit, and possess a country. Your
avenger, your restorer is here. Crowd from all quarters to his presence,
as children in tears hasten to behold a succouring father. Present to
him your hearts, your arms. Rise to a man, and prove that you do not
grudge your blood to your country!" Lastly, in one of Napoleon's own
bulletins, the following ominous sentences were permitted to
appear:--"Shall the Polish throne be re-established, and shall the Great
Nation secure for it respect and independence? Shall she recall it to
life from the grave? God only, who directs all human affairs, can
resolve this great mystery!" These appeals produced various eager
addresses from Poland--and Buonaparte prepared to visit that country,
though not as her liberator.

Before re-opening the great campaign, Buonaparte received the submission
and explanation of the Elector of Saxony, who truly stated that Prussia
had forced him to take part in the war. The apology was accepted, and
from this time the Elector adhered to the League of the Rhine, and was a
faithful ally of Napoleon. The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel had worse
fortune. The answer to all his applications was, that he had ceased to
reign. What use the Conqueror designed to make of the territories thus
confiscated, we shall presently see. The Saxon ar