It is also a great mistake to think that even friendship, which is based on esteem, is formed only with years; particular circumstances, and our first impression of the man whom we choose for our friend, have a good deal to do with it. "We may live for half a century with a man, and even esteem him, yet we do not feel for that man the same friendship as for another whose countenance pleased us; and, therefore, in love and friendship there is a mesmeric influence which guides us indirectly, is felt and cannot be described. For my part, I never could conquer my first impression of any one under the most trying circumstances.
The " Castle of Kaniof, by Goszczynski," is founded on the following fact, which happened during the time of the rebellion of Gonta. A powerful Polish grandee, Staroste, and governor of Kaniof, who was residing in that town on the banks of the Dnieper, had a favourite Cossack, known by his valour and strength, called Nebabo, who fell in love with a beautiful Ukrainian girl, Orlika, strongly attached to him, and courted at the same time by the governor, whose advances she rejected. The marriage, however, between the two lovers did not take place, though the day for the nuptial ceremony was settled. The governor of Kaniof, having been informed of the intended marriage, summoned the girl Orlika and her brother before him, and peremptorily ordered the former either immediately to become his wife, or to be the eye witness of her brother's death on the gibbet for an imaginary crime. Orlika saved her brother, and married the governor. Nebabo, in despair, joined the bands of Gonta, and came with them at midnight to sack the castle, and to kill its inhabitants, but was prevented in his project by Schvatchka. Orlika, when the governor was sleeping on his splendid couch, cautiously took a sharp knife, and plunged it in the heart of her husband. When the gates of the castle were broken by the Haidamaques, and when they entered with lighted torches, Id quest of the governor, Orlika, out of her senses, in her night dress, and with a knife stained with warm blood in one hand, and a lamp in the other, with a sneering smile, talked of her vengeance, and killed herself. Soon afterwards, however, Nebabo was woimded, and died in the arms of another girl whom he had previously seduced. These two poems are translated, but the translations are as inferior to the original as a candle to the sim.
Page 269. (d.) — Alexander Ilowicki (pronounced Ilovitski), the present lloman Catholic clergyman at Home, with his brother Edward Ilowicki, had thirteen squadrons of cavalry, which was formed in a fortnight in the Ukrakie, in the last Polish insurrection in 1831; they had vigorous men and excellent horses, but no officers to direct them. Alexander Ilowicki was one of my seconds in a duel which I fought, the 29th of September, 1833, with Count Vladislas Plater, at Paris. Edward Ilowicki, commonly called Marszalek (a title in Russian Poland corresponding to the title of a high sheriff of the county in England) has a peculiar taste for mechanics, studied the art of artillery for several years in France, and had a practical knowledge of it, and indeed is one of the best artUlery marksmen I ever saw. He was for some time residing at Algiers, where he distinguished himself by his gallantry, and was decorated with the French order of legion d' honneur, while his hospitality, attachment to Poland, and cheerfulness of mind, made him a general favourite. There is also in the Polish emigration their namesake Nicholas Ilowicki a good linguist, and clever writer.
COUNT KORWIN KRASlNSia'S FAMILY.
As in my pamphlet on the Polish aristocracy, published in 1842, I did sufficient justice to the principal Polish families, but committed some errors respecting the origin of my own family, I promised a person acquainted with my relatives to correct such errors in any new work that I might subsequently publish. I think it proper to fulfil my promise now in a note; and to describe faithfully, not only the origin of Corvin (Korwin in Polish) Ka-asinski's family according to the most authentic information which I have since gleaned from several authors; but also to mention all those who belong to it, to_ name the seats of which they are the owners, and to describe more or less, their features and character, according to my disinterested observation, though I know very well that it may expose me to annoyances.