Notes

Page 106. (a) — Schismatic. The Russians of the Greek church not united, were so called because they seceded from the metropolitan of Constantinople and acknowleged the czar as their patriarch. By the Synod of Brzesc Litewski, in 1594, under the reign of Sigismimd ni.. King of Poland, a voluntary union between the Polish subjects of the Greek Church and the Roman Catholic, was partly accomplished, by which the Polish Unitarians acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope, retained however the Sclavonian language in the cele* bration of divine service, and were not subjected to the inconveniences of celibacy; they were, however, not allowed to marry more than once, and not with a widow, and were obliged to shave their beards. The metropolitan of Kiow, with several Bishops, publicly assented to that union with great pomp. This wise and important political event happened under the papacy of Clement VIII., and was accomplished chiefly by the exertions of Adam Pociey, Bishop of Vladimir, and Terlecki, Bishop of Lutzk. From that time the followers of that creed were called Unici, Unitarians, or Unistes; sometimes Greek Catholics. Six millions of them were formerly under the Polish domination. They were always subjected to annoyances and persecutions by the Russian Government, especially during the present reign. The Emperor Nicholas ordered their suppression. The celebrated nun, Svientoslawska, (the Abbess of Minsk), whose name was so familiar to the British and French newspapers not long since, is of that creed. From two hundred Greek Catholic nuns, above one hundred and eighty died in torments, which are too shocking to be mentioned. In vain the Russian Ambassador attempted to contradict these cruelties, they were corroborated and satisfactorily proved. The apostate villain, who became, by sordid and selfish motives, the infamous and principal tormentor of the nuns of Minsk, came to an untimely end. He did even terrible harm to the Emperor Nicholas' and increased his unpopularity everywhere. In spite of all this, there are some miserable authors connected with Petersburgh, who dare to mention, for sordid motives, under the beards of the Poles in a foreign country, things contrary to historical facts and their own conviction. They preach, indirectly, the Greek creed in Poland, and other ideas tending to increase visibly the Kussian power; in doing so, the above authors will injure only their open protectors, but not the sacred cause of Poland. Two millions of Unistes are yet to be found in Gallicia. It is to be remarked that two descendants, in direct line, from the illustrious families of Pociey and Terlecki, are among the Polish emigrants. The worthy Count Pociey is at Paris, and John Terlecki (pronounced Terletski) in London. The latter? for years, was copying in the British archives, documents connected with Polish history. He went recently to Posen, believing in the probability of a War with Russia, and having received a wound, came back to England and resumed his laudable occupation. He is a native of the same province as myself, and though we may differ in opinion on some branches of Polish politics, I consider his conduct with me, as well as with everyone who knows him well, perfectly in accordance with an honourable man. Among the real Polish emigrants in England, no one possesses more superior knowledge of history and geography than Baszczewicz, (pronounced Bashtchevitch): more fortunate than most other Poles, he formed an accidental acquaintance with an influential clergyman, who procured him a situation, with a fixed salary, at Leamington, where he became professor of universal history. Sheltered completely from want, and being of a quiet disposition, he devoted his time to sedentary occupation and study, and acquired a stock of information difficult to describe. His pupils presented him with a splendid watch as a testimonial of their good wishes and regard. It is a well-known fact, that the protestant clergy, at all times liberal and eager in promoting knowledge, were the tried and most valuable friends of the Poles.