repeatedly defeated; and Pugatscheff at length obliged to fly for Refuge to the Bafkirs. The Rebellion ftill continues, and the most horrible Cruelties are exercifed by the Impoftor. He attacks the City of Cafan; but is defeated and clofely pursued by a Ruffian Detachment. The Rebels are at length finally defeated and ruined, and Pugatscheff having croffed the Wolga, is obliged to kill his Horfe for fubfiftence. Some Coffack PriJoners, to fave their lives, difcover his Retreat, and deliver him up to Count Panın. He is brought in an iron Cage to Mofcow, Poland. Great Debates upon the Subject of the permanent Council. Continual Encroachments by the Auftrians and Pruffians on the remaining Polish Territories. Engagements between the Pruffians and Poles. The permanent Council, with the Syftem of future Government, and all Matters relative to the King, the Revenues and the Military, are at length finally concluded upon by the Delegation. Affair ́of the Limits fill unfettled. Condition of Dantzick. T HE rebellion of Pugatscheff was of longer continuance than could have been expected, confidering the numberlefs defeats which his party received. Over thofe wafte and wide regions, whofe exact boundaries are fcarcely known, and in whofe general difplay, the extenfive kingdoms of Cafan and Aftracan appear only as provinces, are fcattered a number of fmall nations, frequently diftinct in religion, manners, or language, and fo feparated by defarts, and other natural impediments, that though in general, and in fome degree, they are under one controuling government, it frequently happens, that they have very little knowledge of each other. Such fituations, fuch a difference of people, all extremely ignorant, with fuch boundless scenes of action, afford opportunities for adventure, impofture, escapes from purfuit, and a renewal of rebellion or war, which are unknown in confined countries and among civilized nations. We have fhewn in our laft volume, that foon after the commencement of Pugatscheff's rebellion, the court of Peterfburgh had published a manifeito, to caution the people against the artifices and pretences of that impoftor. At the fame time, a reward of 100,000 rubles, together with the decorations of all the Ruffian orders of knighthood, was offered to any perfon who would fecure him, whe ther alive or dead. Though this was an immenfe fum of money in fuch remote countries, and the favour of the court,with the proposed honours, would have been temptations, almoft, refiftless in any; yet fo high are certain principles of honour held among rude nations, that of the many thousand barbarians to whofe cuftody he was of neceffity obliged at all times to intruft his person, and in the various fituations and opportunities which misfortune, defeat, flight, folitude and darkness, prefented during the course of his adventures, not one could be found bafe enough to accept of thofe rewards at the price of the propofed treachery. The rebels were attended with confiderable fuccefs in the beginning of the troubles, and by their great fuperiority in number, cut off fome detachments of the regular forces which were affembled haftily to oppofe them. Some Ruffian officers of name perifhed in thefe encounters, and the rebels cruelly maffacred all those who had the misfortune to fall into their hands. They poffeffed themselves of feveral places which were of fome note in those countries, and for a long time befieged Orenburgh, the capital of the province of that name. We find by the fubfequent detail, that they were poffeffed of a conûderable train of artillery, though no notice is taken of the means by which it was obtained. does not appear upon the whole, that Putfcheff, though artful and bold in his defigns, had any great talents as a foldier, nor was endued with thofe heroic qualities, which however favage in the exertion, have wonderful effects upon mankind, and had often been productive of extraordinary revolutions in that part of the world. It Pugatfcheff, befides affuming the name and character of Peter the third, did not want difcernment to fee how much it might advance his defigns, to blend religious pretences, or prejudices, with the political motives that might operate, towards the bringing on of a revolution. A herefy, or what was fo called, which broke out in Ruffia many years before, afforded ample scope for this defign. It feems that a prìeft named Foma, had been burnt alive at Mofcow in the year 1715, for attempting to introduce, what he called, a reformation in the Ruffian religion. It happened in this, as it ufually does in fimilar cafes, that the flames. which confumed the Martyr, had a very different effect with respect to his opini ons, which furvived him, and still do, with great vigour. The adherents to thefe doctrines are in fome of the provinces numerous, and it is with the greateft reluctance, that they fubmit to an outward compliance with the established forms of the national church. To allure these people, and all others who found themselves moved with a fpirit of reformation, to espouse his caufe, Pugatfcheff iffued a manifefto, in which he declared himself, not only a supporter and protector of the doctrines of Foma; but alfo of religious liberty in general. To fascinate the imaginations of an ignorant people, a portrait of the fuppofed martyr, with an axe by which his hands were chopped off before he was burnt, were carried at the head of the army. An impoftor, who called himself Foma, was alfo procured, who preached daily to the people, laying before them the doctrines of his predeceffor, and expatiating in the most pathetic terms, upon the iniquity of the punishment which he fuffered, and the cruelty of the torments which he endured. After thus working upon the paffions of the people, he proceeded to explain to them the illegality of the prefent government, and to expatiate on the enormities of the court, particularly fhewing the iniquity of the prefent war with the Porte, by which, befides its injuftice, the empire was defolated, and thousands of men every day flaughtered. These fermons inflamed the minds of the hearers to fuch a degree, that they departed from them with violent outcries, declaring themselves for God, Peter the third, and Foma. The court was so much alarmed at this rebellion, that though fo remote from its feat, it was thought neceffary to draw feveral regiments to the vicinity of the capital. In the mean time, General Bibikow was fent at the head of 15,000 men to reduce the rebels; and as the feafon of the year admitted it, they were moftly, with their artillery and baggage, conveyed by fledges. Several fmall engagements, of which we know nothing, but that the rebels were generally, if not always, worsted, took place in the beginning of the year. The fiege of Orenburgh, however, ftill continued, until the fpring was far advanced, when Prince Gallitzin, who commanded under General Bibikow, having marched to its relief, Pugatfcheff placed himself with the bulk of his forces, at a fortified poft called Tatifczewa, which he poffeffed, about 24 miles from that town, and full in the way which the prince must pass to its relief. This advantageous pofition did not deter the prince from attacking the rebels. A bloody engagement accordingly enfued, March 25th. in which they were totally defeated, with the lofs of 2000 men killed, 3000 taken prisoners, and 36 pieces of cannon. The lofs on the prince's fide was comparatively inconfiderable, not amounting to above 200 men killed, and 600 wounded. Pugatfcheff himself efcaped with difficulty. In confequence of this victory, the inhabitants of Orenburgh were freed from the hardships they had undergone, during a long blockade and fiege of five months, which, however unskilfully conducted, must have been to them fufficiently diftreffing. Nothing could give greater joy, than the news of this victory did at Petersburgh; where it was looked upon as decifive, and the rebellion to be totally extinguifhed. The rewards which were conferred upon the governor of Orenburgh, and upon every other perfon who had diftinguished himfelf against the rebels, fufficiently spoke the fenfe in which this matter was confidered by the court. Putgatscheff, though overthrown, was not yet totally ruined. We find him again in a few days at the head of a confiderable body of men on the borders of the Yaick; where he was again engaged by Prince Gallitzin, and fo entirely defeated, that he was accompanied only by 14 men in his flight. In this action moft of his principal adherents were taken, including the members of a kind of chancery which he had established. A third action was, however, faid to have happened foon after, and to have been attended with fimilar confequences. In one of thefe defeats, the impoftor is faid to have efcaped only by the fwiftnefs of his horse, and to have fled alone towards the country of the Bafkirs, who being Mahometan Tartars, and but little influenced by the rights of fucceffion to the throne, and ftill lefs by the religious principles or prejudices which united Pugatfcheff's people, it was expected would have delivered him up. In the mean time, General Bibikow having died near Orenburgh, the command in chief of the forces devolved upon Prince Gallitzin, who continued with great diligence his purfuit of the Infurgents and their chief. We scarcely hear any thing of the operations on either fide for a long time after, and the route which the purfuers or the purfued followed in thofe tracklefs regions is equally unknown. Some Some of the rebels had retired into the interior parts of Siberia, where they excited fresh troubles, and alarmed government, on account of the mines. Their chief was alternately heard of on the borders of thofe vaft rivers, the Wolga, the Yaick, and the Ilik, and was faid at times, to have gained fome advantages over the imperial troops. His misfortunes operating upon the natural barbarity of his temper, the impoftor grew dreadfully cruel. His rage was principally directed to the nobility, whom he flaughtered without mercy, or refpect to age or condition. It was said, that above a thousand of that order, including both fexes, and all ages, became victinis to his implacable vengeance. Among thofe the most pitied and lamented, was a fine venerable old gentleman, of 110 years of age, and a near relation of Field Marshal Count Panin's, who. had long retired from the world, and lived privately upon his eftate near Cafan. The clergy partook of the cruelties exercifed upon the noblesse, and the eliates of both were totally destroyed wherever he came. The ravages were fo cruel, that the lofles fuftained by the Counts Soltikow, and Schuwalow, were eftimated at near 200,000 rubles each; and feveral proprietors of mines fuffered much greater loffes. In the mean time, the command of the army employed against the rebels devolved upon Count Panin, and Pugatfcheff having appeared fuddenly before the city of Calan, the garrifon, under the command of Colonel Brandt, and the Commandant Potemkin, had fcarcely time to retire into the fort, where they were immediately attacked by the rebels. The attack continued for eight hours with great fury, nor could the fort have held Gut much longer, when fortunately Colonel Mihellon, and Major Dure, who commanded a detachment of Count Panin's army, having heard of the march of the rebels, had purf them with great expedition, and arrived juft at this interefting crisis to its relief. Thefe officers attacked the rebel army July 15th. without hesitation, and the garrifon having made a vigorous fally at the fame time, this double attack foon threw it into diforder, and a general rout enfued. Though thefe officers kept the rebels in constant purfuit, fuch was the nature of the country and the fervice, that it was confiderably more than a month before they could again come up with them. At length, after a toilfome march September, 1775. through the defarts of Saratoff, they overtook them between Cariezyn and Aftracan, where the rebels were totally defeated, with the lofs of their artillery, ammunition Aug. 25th, and baggage, Pugatfcheff himself hardly elcaping, with a fmall train of about a hundred men, who feemed ftill willing to perfevere in sharing his desperate fortunes, This engagement was, however, final: and the rebels were now fo totally broken and difperfed, that though the neighbouring countries were generally in their intereft, they were not able after to allemble or make any head. Pugatscheff himfelf fwam across the Wolga, and wandered for feveral days in the neighbouring defarts, enduring every mifery, that a want of food, and of all the other neceffaries of life, are capable of producing. In this fituation, after living for fone time upon roots, and other spontaneous productions of the earth, he was reduced to the neceffity of killing his hotfe to support nature. That virtue, which had hitherto baffled the hopes of reward, was not proof again the fears of death. Some of the Coffacks of Yaick, who were taken prifoners, offered on condition of obtaining a pardon, to find out their chief, and deliver him up alive. This offer was moft willingly accepted, and the Coffacks having fet out with a Ruffian officer and fome huffars, they in a few days brought Pugatfcheff, bound hand and foot, to Count Panin's head quarters. This wretched man, in his prefent deplorable fate, preferved a melancholy but unconquerable file.ce. He was con veyed to Moscow in an iron cage, and fuch measures used, as prevented the poffibility of defroying himself. He for fome days refused all fuftenance; but nis keepers found means to compel him to eat. In his fubfequent examinations at Mofcow, he is faid, either to have counterfeited madness, or to have been in reality a wretched enthusiast, he ftili perfevering in his pretenfions to the empire, and refting thereon his whole plea of defence. It is, however, to be remembered, that facts tranfpire with great difficulty through the walls in which tuch examinations are taken, and that the reports given out for the gratification of the people, only wear the momentary colour, which at the time, it is thought necefiary to give them. In a letter written by the emprefs, upon this occafion, to the French king, after informing him that the author of the Y y y rever revolt was in her power, the fays, "I fhall keep his depofitions fecret, that they may not aggravate the difgrace of thofe who fet him on." This refolution undoubtedly argues both good fenfe and magnanimity, but fhews at the fame time, that Pugatfcheff was only an inftrument, and that the fources of the rebellion were to be traced elsewhere. The Infurgents now returned every where to their duty. The revolted provinces were already compleatly ruined, so that the inhabitants required little further punifliment than they had brought upon themselves. Some examples were neceffarily made, in thofe places which were molt remarkable for their diffaffection; but we do not find, that the feverities were exceffive, or the victims to juftice numerous. In the mean time, a general famine prevailed in those desolated countries, and government was at great expence and trouble in fending corn and meal, from its magazines at Moscow and other places, to prevent the people from immediately perifhing. As thefe refources were unequal to the fupplying of whole countries, for any length of time, with provifion, other methods have been fince devifed to prevent the progrefs of the fa mine.. Thus has the empress Catherine conducted and concluded a dangerous and moft extenfive war, which involved a great part of Europe and Afia in its operations, with the highest honour to herfelf, and the greatest glory and advantage to her country; while at the fame time, that the was fo deeply engaged with an enemy who for many ages had been deemed invincible, and had fo long continued the fcourge and terror of the Chriftian world, fhe was alfo equal to the oppofing and furmounting of an obftinate and alarming rebellion, which preyed upon the very vitals of the empire., In the former inftance, fhe has out- ftripped the glory of Peter the Great, by wiping off the difgrace which he met with upon the Pruth, and fucceeding in the only point in which he was foiled. The ancient country called Poland, under whatever modern names it is now placed, or in whatever new divifions arranged, has had the negative good fortune, for fome time, not to excite the follicitude of mankind, by the reprefentation of any particular or ftriking calamities. However irretrievably ruined it may be confidered as a state, this ceflation from blood and rapine, after the long feries of miferies it has undergone, muft be regarded, exclufive of all other con fequences, as a great prefent bleffing to the individuals of which it is compofed. Under whatever rulers they are now oppreft, they will be covered under fome form of government, if not of law, from violent and difcretionary outrage, and relieved from that conftant weight of mifery and terror, which attends a state of insecurity in life, property, and ho→ nour. We have fhewn last year, that the eftablishment of a new government, under the name of a Permanent Council, was one of the great objects in view with the partitioning powers; and it was confequently much urged, and clofely attended to, by their minifters at Warfaw. The delegation, who fupplied the place of the diet, were greatly averfe to this novel fyftem of government, and neither the general threats of the whole, nor the perfonal violence of the Pruffian minifter, could carry it into execution in its original form, nor render it acceptable in any. Various modifications were propofed on both fides, and various means used on one, to gain over a majority of the delegation in its favour: upon thofe hinges turned all the negotiation and intrigues at Warfaw. It is not easy to comprehend, at this diftance, what part the king, and those who were particularly attached to his interests, took in the courfe of this business; nor is it clear, by the accounts which have been tranfmitted, that their conduct was uniform in that refpect. They feem, however, latterly, to have at least acquiefced in the views of the interfering powers. The debates ran fo high upon this fubjet in the delegation, and altercations were carried on with such heat and bitternefs between some of the members and the foreign minifters, that the latter, more than once, quitted the assembly in a rage; and the Pruffian envoy made a declaration, that April 23d. if the affair of the Permanent Council was not finally determined by a very near day, which he then specified, his matter would confider the delay or refufal as a declaration of war. This threat, however, produced no effect for the prefent, and the debates were as violent, and the refults as fruitless, as before. In the course of these difcuffions, fome of the delegates, after lamenting in the most pathetic terms the deplorable fituation of their country, difplayed, with great eloquence and ftrength of reafoning, the fatal tendency of this establishment, in any of its propofed forms; and fhewed, fhewed, that the evils, which were its natural and inevitable confequences, muft be as ruinous in the event as thofe with which they were immediately threatened in cafe of non-compliance. To evade, however, that power which they could not refift, other defigns were sketched out, and other schemes of government propofed, fome of which it was hoped, without being fo inimical to the ftate, might give fatisfaction to the three courts, by anfwering in a certain degree their general purposes. Among thefe, the moft feasible feems to have been the propofal of a Permanent Diet, in the place of the Permanent Council. This diet was to be composed of members elected every two years by the different palatinates; was to be fuppofed always exifting, except during the times of election; and was to regulate its fittings from time to time by adjournment, as the nature of public affairs fhould render it expedient or neceffary. This accommodation fcheme was totally rejected by the minifters of the partitioning powers, and the fame menaces were thrown out as before. In the mean time, the continual eneroachments which, in contempt of the late treaties, were made by the Auftrians and Pruffians upon the remainder of the Polish territories, not only increased the ill blood between the delegates and the minifters of those powers, but rendered the former defperate as to every hope, that any treaty or accommodation could procure quiet or fafety to their country. Thefe powers, indeed, wreited the sense of the treaties to every purpose, which cupidity, power, and injuftice, could fuggeft. They not only claimed the whole of all those rivers which had been affigned as boundaries, together with their oppofite banks, but they alfo insisted, that strait lines fhould be drawn from the heads of thofe rivers to their determination as boundaries, and that all the country, included in their curves and deviations from those strait lines, fhould be confidered as their property. In the fame manner they laid claim to all towns, places, and diftricts, which had at all been specified in the lines of divifion, and to thefe affigned fuch limits as they found convenient. As the weakness which fubmits to one act of oppreffion is always fure to bring on numberless others, fo these encroachments, carried on under fome colour or claim of right, were fucceeded by the feizure of whole diftricts, without the appearance or even pretence of any. The Pruffian officers, early in the fpring, took down the Polish arms in the city of Pofna, (fituated upon the river Warta, and the capital of a palatinate of the fame name, in the province of Great Poland,) and placed the arms of their mafter in their place. This infult and encroachment was quickly followed by others. A confiderable district was feized in Great Poland; the peasants of Samagitia, who were ready for any change of matters, were encouraged to rife against their lords, and to declare for a foreign government; and in Cujavia, a written mandate was iffued, forbidding the inhabitants of the districts of Kalifch, and Inowroclaw, from paying any obedience to their fovereign, or any money into his treasury; for both of which they were promifed full indemnification and protection, and ordered to keep the money, until Pruffian commiffaries fhould be fent to receive it. The regimentary Krazewski, who commanded in Great Poland, opposed these encroachments with great refolution, and not only refused to quit his ftation, according to the peremptory orders which he received from the Pruffian officers ; but had the courage to take down their eagles in feveral places, and to restore the Polish arms. This hardinefs was productive of fome fmall engagements; but the Pruffian officers feemed uncertain how to proceed till the arrival of new orders. Thefe being at length arrived, general Loffow marched at the head of a confiderable detachment, and fummoned Krazewski to deliver the cities of Kompiela and Slupza to the Pruflian troops. This order being as peremptorily refused as it was iffued, brought on a very warm engagement, in which the Pruffians loft two June 27th. officers of rank, and general Loffow narrowly efcaped being killed. The Poles fought defperately; but, being in no degree of equality as to ftrength or number, the whole party was either killed or taken. Krazewski is faid to have died of his wounds. These violences, which feemed fo contrary to the late treaties, threw every thing afresh into confufion, and excited the greatett difmay among the people, as well as grief and defpondency in all thofe, who were capable of feeling for the miseries of their country. They alfo afforded an opportunity to the delegates to refuse proceeding upon the affair of the Permanent Council, or any other business, till fome fecurity was obtained, and it was known what farther claims were to be made, and when violence was to cease. Y y y 2 The |