was to be a soldier by 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, to repel invasion, and to establish peace. The first energy of his mind was a desire to assert the rights of his country: it had been inculcated into him when an infant; it had been the subject of his morning thoughts and nightly dreams; it was now the passion which beat in every artery of his heart; yet he knew no honour in slaughter; his glory lay in defence; and, when that was accomplished, his sword would return to its scabbard, unstained by the blood of a vanquished or an invaded people. On these principles, he was at this hour full of enthusiasm: a glow of triumph flitted 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 enjoyA noble satisfaction rose in his mind; and with all the 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 shall this sword leave my arm, but at the command of mercy, or when death deprives my nerves of their strength."

ment.

Morning was tinging the hills which bound the eastern horizon of Winnica, before Thaddeus found that his pelisse was wet with dew, and that he ought to return to his tent. Hardly had he laid his head upon the pillow, and lulled his senses in forgetfulness,' when he was disturbed by the drum beating to arms. He opened his eyes; and seeing the palatine out of bed, he sprung from his own, and eagerly enquired the cause of the alarm.

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

Whilst Thaddeus was putting on his clothes, and buckling on his arms with a trembling eagerness which almost defeated his haste, an aid-de-camp of the prince entered. He brought information that an advanced guard of the Russians had attacked a Polish out-post, under the command of Co

lonel Lomza; and that his highness had ordered a detachment from the palatine's brigade to march to its relief. Before Thaddeus could reply, Sobieski sent to apprise his grandson, that the prince had appointed him to accompany the troops which were turning out to assist the colonel.

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

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 possession, caught a glimpse of this welcome reinforcement, rallied his few remaining men, and by the time that Kosciuszko came up, contrived to join him in the van. The fight re-commenced. Thaddeus at the head of his hussars, in full gallop, bore down upon the enemy. They received the charge with firmness; but their young adversary, 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

The flanks

already slain the commander of the attack. next gave ground; and after holding a short stand at intervals, at length fairly 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, until they were lost amidst the trees of a distant wood. Kosciuszko called on his men to stop; but he called in vain: they continued their career, animating each other, and with redoubled shouts drowned the voice of Thaddeus, who was galloping forwards, repeating the command. At the entrance of the wood they were stopped by a few stragglers, who had formed themselves into a body. These men withstood the first onset of the Poles with considerable steadiness; but, after a short skirmish, they 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 closing in with a band of arquebusiers, who, having kept up a quick running fire as they retreated, had drawn their pursuers thus far into the thickets. 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 chasseurs, and in front of fourteen pieces of cannon, which this dreadful ambuscade opened upon them.

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 musketry, and a cannonade, which carried death in every round. For himself he had no care; how to relieve the brave Poles from the dilemma into which they had plunged themselves, was the only thought that occupied his mind.

In a few minutes the scattered soldiers were consolidated into a close body, flanked and reared with pikemen, who stood, like a grove of pines in a day of tempest, only moving their heads and arms. Many of the Russian horse impaled themselves on the sides of this little phalanx, which they vainly attempted to shake, although the ordnance was rapidly weakening its strength. File after file the men were swept down, their bodies making a horrid rampart for their brave comrades, who, rendered desperate, at last threw away their most cumbrous accoutrements, and crying to their leader, "Escape or death!" followed him sword in hand; and bearing like a torrent upon the enemy's ranks, cut their

way 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 musketry, whilst they (like a wounded lion hardly pressed by the hunters, who retreats, and yet stands proudly at bay,) gradually retired towards the camp with a backward step, their faces towards the foe.

Meanwhile Sobieski, anxious for the fate of the day, 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 approach of firing, and the clashing of arms, he was led to fear that his friends had been defeated, and were retreating towards the camp. He instantly quitted the lines to call out a reinforcement; but before he could advance, Kosciuszko and his squadron on the full charge appeared in flank of the enemy, who suddenly halted, and, wheeling round, left the harassed Polanders to enter the trenches unmolested.

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. Aware that loss of blood might disable him from further service, at the moment it happened he bound it up in his sash, and had thought no more of the accident until the palatine remarked blood on his cloak.

"My injury is slight, my dear sir;" said he, "I wish to

heaven that it were all the evil which has befallen us today! Look at the remnant of our brave comrades.”

Sobieski turned his eyes on the panting soldiers, and on Kosciuszko, who was inspecting them. Some of them, no longer upheld by desperation, were sinking with wounds and fatigues; these the good general sent off in litters to the medical department; and others, who had sustained unharmed the conflict of the day, after having received the praise and admonition of their commander, were dismissed to their quarters.

Before this inspection was over, the palatine had to assist Thaddeus to his tent, who, in spite of his exertions to the contrary, became so faint that it was necessary to lead him off the ground.

A short time restored him. With his arm in a sling, he joined his brother officers on the fourth day. After the duty of the morning, he heard with concern that, during his confinement, the Russians had augmented their force to so tremendous a strength, it was impossible for the comparatively slender force of the Poles to remain longer at Winnica. In consequence of this report, the prince had convened a council late the preceding night, in which it was determined that the camp should immediately be razed, and removed towards Zieleme.

This information displeased Thaddeus, who in his fairy dreams of war had always made conquest the sure end of his battles ; —and many were the sighs he drew, when, at an hour before dawn on the following day, he witnessed the striking of the tents, which, he thought, was only the prelude to a shameful flight from the enemy. While he was standing by the busy people, and musing on the nice line which divides prudence from pusillanimity, his grandfather He desired him to mount his horse; and told him, that, owing to the unhealed state of his wound, he was removed from the van guard, and ordered to march in the centre, along with the prince. Thaddeus remonstrated against this arrangement, and almost reproached the palatine for forfeiting his promise, that he should always be stationed near his person. Sobieski would not be moved, either by argument or entreaty; and Thaddeus, finding that

came up.