The officers who supped with Sobieski, left him at an early hour, that he might retire to rest; but Thaddeus neither felt able nor inclined to benefit by their consider. ation. He laid himself down on the bed, shut his eyes and tried to sleep; but it was all in vain; in vain he turned from side to side, in vain he attempted to restrict his thoughts to one thing at once; his imagination was roused by anticipating the scenes in which he was to become an actor, that he found it impossible even to lie still. His spirits being quite awake, he determined to rise, and walk himself drowsy.

Seeing his grandfather sound asleep, he got up and, dressed himself quickly; then stealing gently from the marquee, he gave the word in a low whisper to the guard at the door, and proceeded down the lines. The pitying moon seemed to stand in the heavens, watching the awakening of those heroes, who the next day might sleep to ise no more. At another time and in another mood, such night have been his reflections; but now, he pursued his walk with far different thoughts; no sensations but those of joy moved his breast. He felt what he saw oply; the light of that beautiful planet,trailing its long stream of glory across the entrenchments and a solitary candle here and there, glimmering through the curtained entrance of the tents, and showing that their inmates were probably longing with the same anxiety as himself for the morning'sdawn. Thaddeus walked slowly on; sometimes pausing at the Lonely footfall of the centinel; or answering, with a start, to the sudden challenge of the patrole; then lingering at e door of some of the canvass dwellings, he offered up a prayer for the brave inhabitant, who quitted the endearments of home, to expose his life, and stand on this spot,

bulwark of liberty. Thaddeus knew not what it was to be a soldier from profession; he had no idea of making war a trade, by which a man is at any rate to acquire subsistence and wealth: he had but one motive for appearing in the field, and one for leaving it. The first enegy of his mind, was a desire to assert the rights of his country. It had been inculcated into him from an infant; it had been the subject of his morning thoughts and nightly dreams: it was now the passion which beat in every arte

ry of his neart: yet, he knew no honor in slaughter his glory lay in the defence; and when that was accomplish his sword should return to its scabbard unstained by blood of a vanquished or an invaded people. On these pr. ciples, he was at this hour full of enthusiasm, a glow of triumph fittered over his cheek, for he had left the indulgences of his mother's palace, had left her maternal arms to take upon him the toils of war, and risk an existence just blown into enjoyment. He felt a proud satisfaction, as this passed in his mind; and with all that animation which an inexperienced and raised fancy, imparts to that age when boyhood breaks into man, his soul grasped at every show of creation with the confidence of belief: pressing the sabre which he held in his hand, to his lips, he half uttered, "Never will I suffer this sword to leave my arm, but at the command of mercy; or when death shall deprive my nerves of their strength.

Morning was tinging the hills that bound the eastern horizon of Winnica, before Thaddeus found that his pelisse was wet with dew, and that he ought to return to his tents He had hardly laid his head upon his pillow, and "lulled his senses in forgetfulness," when he was disturbed by a confused noise, and the drum beating to arms. He opened his eyes; seeing that Sobieski was out of bed, he sprung from his own, and asked what was the matter?

Only follow me directly," answered his grandfather, as he quitted the tent.

Whilst Thaddeus was putting on his clothes, and buckling on his arms, with a trembling eagerness that almost defeated his haste, an aid-de-camp of the prince's entered. He informed him that an advance guard of the Russians, about three hundred piquets, had attacked one of the Polish outposts, to which lieutenant Lonza had been commarded the evening before; and that his highness had ordered a detachment from the palatine's brigade to march immediately to its relief. Before Thaddeus had time to reply, Sobieski sent in, to apprize his grandson the prince had appointed him to be second in command, over the troops which were turning out to assist the lieu

tenant.

Thaddeus heard this message with delight; yet fearful how the event might answer the expectations which this high distinction declared, he issued from his tent, like a youthful Mars, or rather like the young Isadas, trembling at the dazzling effects of his temerity, and hiding his valor and his blushes, beneath the waving plumes of his hemlet. Kosciuszko, who was to head the party, observed his modesty with pleasure, and shaking him warmly by the hand, "Go, Thaddeus," said he, "take your station on the le: flank ; I shall require your fresh spirits to lead the charge I intend to make, and to ensure its success. "Thaddeus bowed to these encouraging words, and took his place according to order.

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Every thing being ready, the detachment quitted the camp, and dashing through the dews of a sweet morning, for it was yet May, in a few hours arrived in view of the Russian battalions. Lomza who from the only redoubt now in his possessions, first caught a glimpse of the welcome reinforcement, rallied his few remaining men, and by the time that Kosciuszko came up, contrived to join him in the van. The fight recommenced. Thaddeus at the head of his hussars, in full gallop, bore down upon the enemy. They received the charge with firmness; but the young leader, perceiving that extraordinary means were necessary, exerted his voice to the utmost; calling on his men to follow him, he put spurs to his horse, and rushed into the thickest of the battle. His soldiers did not shrink; they pressed on, mowing down the foremost ranks whilst he, by a lucky stroke of his sabre disabled the sword-arm of the Russian standard-bearer, and seized the colours. His own troops seeing the standard in his hand, with one accord, in loud and repeated cries, shouted victory. The reserve of the enemy, alarmed at this outcry instantly gave way, and retreating with precipitation, was soon followed by the rear ranks of the centre, where Kosciuszko had already slain the commander of the attack. The flanks next gave ground; and after holding a short stand at intervals, at length turned about and fled, panic struck, across the country.

The conquerors, elated with so sudden a success, put their horses on full speed, and without order or attention,

pursued the fugitives with the noise of thunder, till they were lost amidst the trees of a distant wood. Kosciuszkó now called on his men to stop; but he called in vain; they. continued their career, animating each other, and with redoubled shouts, drowning the voice of their general, and Thaddeus, who galloped forwards, repeating the command till they were met in the entrance of the wood, by a few stragglers, who had formed themselves into a body. It with stood the first onset of the Poles with considerable steadiness but after a skirmish of ten minutes, it fled a second time; and took refuge in the bushes, where, still regardless of orders their enemies followed. Kosciuszko foreseeing the consequence of this rashness, ordered Thaddeus to dismount part of his squadron, and march after these headstrong men into the forest. He came up with them on the edge of a heathy tract of land, just as they were extending their lines to surround a band of arquebasers, who having kept up a quick running fire as they retreated, had drawn their pursuers thus far into the thicket. Heedless of any thing but giving their enemy a complete defeat, the Polanders went on, never looking to the left nor to the right till, all at once, they found themselves encompassed by two thousand Muscovite horse, several battalions of chassours, and in front of fourteen pieces of cannon, which this dreadful ambuscade fired upon them, with instant and unremitted violence.

Thaddeus threw himself into the midst of his countrymen, and taking the place of their unfortunate conductor, who had been killed in the first sweep of the artillery, prepared the men for a desperate stand. He gave his orders with intrepidity and coolness, though under a heavy shower of musquetry, and a cannonade, which carried death in every round: it was only how to relieve the unlucky Poles from the dilemma into which they had plunged themselves, that occupied his mind. In a few minutes, the scattered soldiers were consolidated into a close phalanx, flanked and reared with the pikemen; who stood like a grove of pines in a day of tempest, only moving their heads and arms.' Many of the Russian horse imwaled themselves on the sides of this little phalanx, which vainly attempted to shake, though the ordnance was

rapidly weakening its strength. File after file of men were swept down, their bodies making a horrid rampart for their brave comrades, who, rendered desperate by slaughter, threw away their most cumbrous accoutrements, and crying to their leader, "Let us escape or die!" followed him sword in hand; and bearing like a torrent upon the enemy's rank, who expected nothing less, cut their way right through the forest. The Russians, exasperated that their prey should not only escape, but escape by such dauntless valour, hung closely on their rear, goading them with musquetry, whilst they (like a wounded lion, hardly pressed by the hunters, who retreats, and yet stands proudly at bay) gradually retired towards the camp, moving with a backward step, their faces towards the foe.

Meanwhile, Sobieski, anxious for the fate of the day, had mounted the dyke, and looked eagerly around, for the arrival of some messenger from the little army. As the wind blew strongly from the south, a cloud of dust precluded his view; but from the nearer approach of the firing, and the clashing of arms, he was led to fear that his friends had been defeated, and were thus retreating towards the camp. He quitted the lines instantly, to call out a fresh reinforcement, when the enemy at the sight o. Kosciuszko and his squadron on the full charge, suddenly halted and wheeling round, left the harrassed Polanders to enter the trenches in quiet.

Thaddeus, covered with dust and blood, flung himself into his grandfather's arms. In the heat of action, his left arm had been wounded by a Cossac; fearful that the bleeding might disable him from further service, at the moment it happened, he bound it up in his sash, and had thought no more of it until the palatine, now remarked the stains upon his cloak and the bosom of his shirt.

"My hurt is slight, my dear sir:' said he, "wish to heaven, it were all the evil that has befallen us to-day! Look at the remnant of our brave comrades."

Sobieski turned his eyes on the panting soldiers, and on Kosciuszko who was inspecting them. Some, no longer upheld by desperation, were sinking with wounds and fatigue; these the good-general, ever mindful of the comfort of his men, was sending off in litters to the medical