b o o k f o m e m o n u m e n t to h i s m e m o r y , w i t h a n e l e g a n t i n f c r i p t i o n
s— y— i e x p r e f l i v e o f t h e m a n ’s f id e l i ty a n d o f h i s o w n g r a t i tu d e .
I faw the monument: it is a pyramid Handing upon a
farcophagus, with a Latin and Poliih infcription; the forilter
I copied, and it is as follows.
“ Hie jacet Georgius Henricus Butzau, qui regem Stani-
“ flaum Auguftum nefariis parricidorum telis impeditum,
“ d i e m Nov. 1771, proprii pectoris clypeo defendens,
“ geminatis iCtibus confoflus, gloriofé occubuit. Fidelis
“ fubditi necem lugens, Rex pofuit hocce monumentum il-
“ lius in laudem, aliis exemplo
* “ Here lies George Henry Butzau, who, *4 wounds, and glorioufly expired. T h e
on the 3d o f November, 17 71, oppofing ** king, lamenting the death o f a faithful
“ his own breait to íhield Staniflaus A u - “ fubjedt, ereñed this monument, as a tri-
** guftus from the weapons o f nefarious “ bute to him, and an incentive to others,”
“ parricides, was pierced with repeated
CHA P .
C H A P . IV.
Account of the plan andprogrefs of the partition o f Poland.—
Projected by the king o f Pruflia.— Adopted by the emf>eror
e/Germany, and finally acceded to by the emprefs o f Ruffia.
— fibe confent o f the king and diet o f Poland extorted after
great oppofition.— Changes in the government introduced by
the partitioning powers.— Spirited,, but fruitlefs, refifiance
o f the Poliih delegates.— Fate o f the diffident s.
rE are now arrived at that remarkable event of the c h a p .
prefent reign, the partition of Poland; which was . n'' .
planned with fuch profound fecrecy, that it was fcarcely fuf-
pected before it was carried into execution. Poland had long
derived its principal fecurity from its peculiar fituation between
three great powers, each equally interefted to prevent
the others from acquiring any increafe of ftrength, or addition
of territory : the union o f thefe rival potentates was
confidered as a circumftance nearly impoffible; and ihould
fuch an unexpected union take place, it was thought incredible
that the other princes of Europe would pafiively iub-
mit to a material alteration in the balance o f power.
Treaties upon treaties, and negotiations upon negotiations
had guarantied to Poland the poffeffion of her territory ; and
the very three powers who difmembered her provinces, had,
at the prefent king’s acceffion, folemnly renounced all right
and title to any part of the Poliih dominions. But treaties
and guaranties are in general only adhered to until they can be
broken with fafety : the only effectual method for any flate
G 2 to