Page 120. — Zelezniak promised to spare every one at Lysianka if the gates of the town were opened to him. Its governor was suoh a fool that he complied with this proposition j but no sooner did he do so, than a general massacre ensued.
Page 126. (6). —Levelel says, that when the inhabitants of Houmagne were slaughtered, some young females of great beauty were spared, holy water was thrown on them on account of their changing their creed, and they were given to the Haidaraaques. The rebellious peasants were called Haidamaques. Only three boys were spared by accident; they secured themselves on the top of the church, and reNOTES.
mained three days without food; among them was the brother of Colonel Lagowski, who became a clergyman.
CHAPTER IX.-PRINCESS TARAKHANOF.
Page 175. (a). — In an old novel, entitled "Les Annales de Leghorn," it is aflirmed that the Princess Tarakhanof inspired a real passion in an Italian youth at Pisa, who having been introduced to her at a party, accidentally discovered the fatal snare so artfully prepared for her de-Btruction. On the sadden departure of the princess from Pisa, her southern lover followed her to Leghorn, resolved on saving her, or perishing himself in the attempt; but by a strange fatality, which sometimes mars human purposes, he arrived too late, and as she was just embarking on board the Russian man-of-war. Had he arrived but a few minutes sooner, he would in all probability have preserved her from her fate. He waS seen running with extraordinary speed towards the sea shore, crying and gesticulating, and was taken for a madman. Polled in this attempt to save the princess, he fell senseless to the ground, overwhelmed by excitement and despair. This anecdote, slightly varied in detail only, was further narrated to me by several persons; consequently I am induced to believe it based on fact.
By the way, speaking of love at first sight, her Imperial Highness the present Grand Duchess Michel of Russia is most likely unconscious, and may always remain so, that she also excited such a passion in the bosom of a private Polish soldier, attached to the first division of infantry, and who was hence nicknamed by his comrades Wielki Xiaze Michal, that is. Grand Due Michel. Previous to the war of 1831 the Grand Duchess made frequent visits to Warsaw, and was then seen by her humble Pohsh admirer, whose peace of mind she then unintentionally destroyed. How I became the confidant of this poor fellow's hopeless love may perhaps amuse the reader. One day previous to the insurrection of 1831 I sallied forth on a shooting excursion in the neighbourhood of Warsaw, and meeting with my brother oflBcer, Chmielinski, who was enjoying a ramble, induced him to accompany me. Scarcely had we entered the forest of Bielany, when, in a secluded part of it we perceived a private Polish soldier reclining despondingly, on the brink of a rivulet, while big tears were trickling down his sorrow-stricken cheeks. Having observed him at first in silence, we called to him, but received no answer. Lieut. Chmielinski then touched him slightly on the shoulder, when he turned quickly round, and recognizing his superiors, made his obeisance. We then inquired the reason of his grief, promising, if possible, to alleviate it. He answered that he wanted not money, nor had he to complain of any ill treatment, but that death alone could terminate sufferings for which there was no remedy whatever. After some entreaty, he frankly confessed his unconquerable passion for her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Helene of Russia, consort of the Grand Duke Michel, youngest brother of the Emperor Nicholas. This confession was corroborated by these words carved on the trees— Cudowna, piekna, hloga, Wielka, Xiezna, Michalowa. (Wonderful, beautiful, sweet, Grand Duchess Michel!) We advised him to be chary in talking of his love, as there was no telling what effect such a tale, if known, might have on the mind of the Grand Due Michel, and especially on that of the Grand Due Constantine his brother, then commanding the Polish army. The latter, if apprised of his malady, would probably have prescribed a twitch dance on his skin, as the most effectual means of cure. His comrades, however, frequently teazed him, and even reproached him, that he was enamoured of a Russian lady. This always put him in a passion, and he answered that the Grand Duchess was a German, and not a Russian lady.