In 1831, during the war with the Eussians, Kiow yearned to be united to Poland, its long-lost mother country. This happiness it was not destined to enjoy; and now, sad and solitary, seated in Moscovite darkness, sullied by acts of infamy, it groans as an unfortunate heroine in chains, directing its straining gaze towards regions whence the adored hero, the life of its life, is expected to arrive, to release it from its bondage, and to fill with the thrillings of rapture, the heart now rent by despair. It is worthy of remark, that though the government of Kiow is composed of a population professing the religion of the Greek church, yet, in 1831, the insurrection here was much more formidable to Russia, than it was in any other government forming a part of Russian Poland.
We will now take a view of other places formerly belonging to this palatinate. Loiovygrod, on the right bank of the Dnieper, is at the north of Kiow. Near this borough,- on the 31st July, 1640, Prince Janus Radzivill, grand hetman of Lithuania, gained a complete victory over 38,000 rebellious Cossacks. Vasilkof and Montvidovka were, in the olden time, fortresses on the ancient frontier of Polesia. Ovrucz, a small town on the Naryna, formerly, as well as at the present time, the chief town of the district; it now belongs to the government of Volhynia. Trylisc and E-omanof, on the Kamiencza, Staviski fortified against the incursions of the barbarians; it has also been rendered famous by an act of heroic courage on the part of a Pole named Zglobitski. This heroic man was the first to leap upon the walls, and plant thereon the Polish standard; his hands were struck off* in succession, and he seized the standard with his teeth, and held it so firmly, that no force could wrest it from him. He died with the consolation of preserving the standard from the hands of the enemy, and beholding his countrymen victorious. This noble act of devotedness took place under Czarniecki, in the wars against the Cossacks.
Korsun, a borough, situated upon the Ros: it was founded by Stephen Batory, in 1581; it was here that Khmielnitski, with the Cossacks that revolted in 1648, surprised and defeated the Poles under Martin Kalinowski and Nicholas Pototski.
Zytomii'z, with a population of 6,000, is at present the chief town of the government of Volhynia, after having formerly stood in the same relation with regard to the district of the palatinate of Kiow. There is here a school, as also a small theatre, in which Polish pieces are sometimes acted.
Bialotcerkief, a borough, of 3,000 souls, with an immense castle, belongingto the wealthy family of Branetski. Trehtymirow, a borough, which was formerly assigned by Stephen Batory as a residence for the attaman of the Cossacks.
Kaniof, upon the Dnieper, an ancient starosty that belonged to the nephew of King Stanislaus Poniatowski, who had an interview, in 1787, with Catherine II. in this town.
Berdyczef, with a population of 10,000, principally Jews. This town belonged, and probably still belongs to the illustrious family of the princes Kadzivill; it is incorporated in the government of Yolhynia. It is remarkable for the horse-fairs which are held there twice in a year. The most considerable is that which is held in the month of August; it lasts three or four weeks. It may be stated, without exaggeration, that there are often to be seen in the fair 100,000 horses of every kind, from all parts of Russia, Poland, Austria, and Turkey; and even at times, a few from Persia. In my boyhood, I twice visited this fair; and I remember having seen in it, a Persian stallion, as white as snow, with the exception of his mane and tail, which were as black as coal, exciting the admiration of 11 beholders; he was purchased at a high price. There are also many wild horses, which are sold at a ducat each; sometimes six shillings each.
Jahorlik, a borough, situated at the confluence of the Jahorlik and the Dniester. There was, here, a kind of obelisk, which marked the boundaries between Poland and Turkey, after the treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. With regard to the towns and boroughs situated in Transdnieperian Ukraine, and which belonged to the ancient palatinate of Kiow, before the treaty of Grzymultov, by which they were ceded, in 1686, to Muscovy, we will follow the Polish geographer, Swieki (Sviantski.)
Hadziacz, upon the Pszczola, memorable for a treaty concluded here between Poland and the Cossacks, on the 16th of September, 1658.
Pultawa, upon the Vorskla, at the present day the chief town of the government of this name, and remarkably associated with the defeat of Charles XII. on the 8th of July, 1709.