Wars between Poland and Russia on account of the Cossacks have been incessant. The continual emigration of the Cossacks to both countries became an apple of discord between Poland and Russia till the complete suppression of the Zaporogues before the partition of Poland: though some of the Polish Cossacks were still to be found in the Ukraine. If, on one side, during the beginning of their political existence the Cossacks were useful to Poland; on the other, their piratical expeditions and rapine in Turkey were chiefly the cause of many wars with the Ottomans; while their numerous rebellions cost rivers of blood. The persecution of their religious creed, chiefly attributed to the bigotry of the Jesuits who governed the weak Sigismund III., and the oppression to which they were subjected by the Polish grandees, sapped the political existence of Poland. As there was a time when all the Cossacks were inclined to be incorporated completely with Poland, it was as necessary to invest them cau- tiously with the privileges of the Polish nobles as to exterminate them completely.
The general characteristics of the Cossacks appear to be their predilection for a wandering life, love of rapine, a wild passion for democracy, and a liberty they know not how to use. A Cossack will endure any climate, and is remarkable for the instinct by which he finds his way in the wildest tracts. With noisy demonstrations of joy in successes, they combine sudden depression of spirits in reverses, and their passions ai'e easily excited, being governed rather by impulse than by reason. The generality of the Cossacks are of middle size but of robust constitution, enduring hunger, thirst, fatigue, and want of sleep, with astonishing hardihood. They have mostly auburn or red hair, blue sunken eyes, and Asiatic features: cunning and patient in stratagem, they are at the same time proud and hospitable. They are rather a peculiar race than a distinct nation, whose ultimate destiny, assigned them by Providence, is, probably, not yet fulfilled.
See Lessur's Histoire des Cosaques; Chevalier's Guerre des Cosaques; Pastorius; Niemcevitch; Beau-plan; Sherer Annales de le Petite Russie; Pologne Pittoresque; Brown on the Cossacks; Pamietniki; Hetmana Zulkiewskiego, &c., &c.
See on Pazin, L'Eveque; Lessur; Kelation of the rebellion of Razin, British Museum, &c., &c.
See on Mazeppa, Life of Peter the Great, Charles XII., Nurymberg, &c. &c.