This daring and desperate enterprise gradually rekindled the energy of the Polish nation, and menaced Russia with no inconsiderable danger. The initiatory acts of hostility were confined to a desultory warfare, which, unimportant as it first appeared, harassed the Russians greatly, allowing them no rest either by night or by day, and altogether demoralizing their soldiery. The regular troops of Poland, with their king, at first took no part in this war, appearing to favour it the more, in proportion as the alarm which it gave to the Russians, increased. Battles were fought in rapid succession, and scarcely a day passed without some bloody conflict; the combatants on both sides contending with the most savage fury. The Polish insurgents, disciplined by daily experience, became, with every new conflict, more formidable to Russia; and Poland might have been delivered from the Moscovite yoke, if more decisive measures had been taken in regard to the king, who formed one of the greatest obstacles to the success of this glorious struggle for independence. Repnin was commanded to employ every possible means for suppressing the insurrection; and was enjoined to neglect no measures, open or underhand, for crushing it. The plans he adopted for accomplishing this object were indeed very extraordinary; and they were successful to a certain extent, through one of those contingencies which bid defiance to all preconcerted schemes and previous calculations. It was known that many females of the higher orders of society were favourable to the insurgents; and, accordingly, he sent for twenty-eight young and handsome citizens of Moscow and St. Peters-burgh, and many other foreigners, all men in the bloom of life, whose elegance of person, pleasing manners, and splendid attire, could not fail to captivate the softer sex and thus to gain possession of family secrets. A bevy also of syren Pompadours came into Poland with similar intentions. Such attractive personages, surrounded with Asiatic magnificence, easily gained admission into the highest circles; while their numerous retinue, acting as inferior agents, endeavoured, according to the instructions they had received, to gain the good graces of the domestic menials by every art of captivation.
Kewards and distinctions were not wanting to crown the fortunate. Those, indeed, of the male sex, who were commissioned thus to use their influence, were ordered likewise in secret, to tarnish the reputation of virtuous females, to turn them into ridicule, to disseminate discord, to foment disunion, and to excite the Polish aristocracy to a violation of all sumptuary restrictions. It was not long before Repnin was apprised that the insurgents were supplied with money and provisions by certain of the nobles. The Russian generals, however, acted with unceasing vigilance, and their consequent proceedings inflicted a greater amount of injury upon the confederates, than the often doubtful results of actual conflict.