SET, SOMERSET
weeks after t
of showing the full value of every favor he confers! Can I then relinquish the
nderstand English, they were admiring it, and paying many compliments to the graces of my delivery, when the palatine presented himself, and told me, if I had any commands for St. Petersburg, I
from your son! I must confess this romantic kind of fancy-sketching makes me feel rather oddly: very unlike what I felt a few months ago, when I was a mere coxcomb-indifferent, unreflecting, unappreciating, and fit for nothing better than to hold pins at my lady's toilet. Well, it is now made evident to me that we never know the blessings bestowed on us until we are separated from the possession of them.
or with his private character. Tell her 'he is a bright and particular star,' neither in her sphere nor in any other woman's. In this way he is as cold as 'Dian's Crescent;' and to my great amazement too, for when
to some amiable individuals, he is as awake as in the other case he is still asleep. The fact is, he has no idea of appropriation; he never casts one thought upon himself; kindness is spontaneous in his nature; his sunny eyes beam on all with modest benignity, and his frank and glowing conversation is dir
etail of his bravery and uncommon talents in the field, have made him an object of universal regard, and, in consequence, wherever he is seen he meets with applause and acclamation: nay, even at the appearance
house from the crowds that followed him; 'it is this, my dear friend, which shields your heart agains
other. For her I would die; for her only would I wish to live.' Wh
nthusiast, Tha
d he, in a surprised
laughing; 'but there are many in my country, who, heari
taste supreme happiness. My grandfather educated me at the feet of patriotism;
ow I envy you your destiny! to live as you do, in the lap o
. Your king, in happy security, reigns in the confidence of his people, whilst our anointed Stanislaus is baited and insulted by oppression from without and ingratitude within. Do not envy me; I would rather live in obscurity all my days than have the means
rdent, and pious Sobieski taught me, how to discriminate between animal courage and true valor-between the defender of his country and the ravager of other states. In short, I see in Thaddeus Sobieski all that my fancy hath ever pictured of the heroic character. Whilst
ski. At the termination of the foregoing sentence in the letter to his mother, Pembroke was interrupted by the entrance of a servant, who presented him a pac
OKE SOMER
dear
must pardon me that I have detained it, and will continue to do so until I
fered you sufficient credentials respecting my knowledge of the world, and the honorable manner in which I treat my pupils. Sir Robert Somerset and your lady mother were ampl
ter, et
tenet copul
s qu?ri
tius solve
isfortune that I
. The count's accomplished kinswoman, the amiable and learned widow of Baron Surowkoff, even then took particular notice of
onsolidating cause of sovereignty, and in hatred of that levelling power which pervades all Europe. Many have been the long and
uld never marry any man unless he were not only well-looking, but of the profoundest erudition, united with an acquaintance with men and manners which none can dispute. 'Besides,' added she, 'he must not differ with me one tittle in politics, for on that head I hold myself second to no man or woman in Europe.' And then she has complimented me, by declaring that I possessed more judicious sentiments on government than any man in St. Petersburg, and that she should consider herself happy
s needed no explanation which my judgment could not pronounce. Though I am aware that I do not possess that lumen purpureum juveni? which attracts very young, uneducated women, yet I am not
nception of the people amongst whom I was to conduct you. When I brought you into this extensive empire, I left no means unexerted to heighten your respect not only for its amiable sovereign, but for all powers in amity with her. It is the characteristic of genius to be zealous. I was so
e called forth, and I confessed that I thought every friend to the Tzaritza ought to take up arms against that ungrateful people. The Count Brinicki was then appointed to command the Russian forces preparing to join the formidable allies; and her ladyship, ver
nting for such a line of conduct to the father of my pupil? The baroness ridiculed all these arguments as mere excuses, and ended with saying, 'Do as you please, Mr. Loftus. I have been deceived in your character; the frien
approval confirmed your wish to turn soldier. I was not then acquainted, Mr. Somerset (for you did not tell me of it until we were far advanced into Poland), with Sir Robert's and my lady's dislike of the army. This has been a prime source of my error
of sickness), the baroness founded a contempt which has disconcerted all my schemes. Besides, when I attempted to remonstrate with her ladyship on the promise which, if not directly given, was imp
sired that I would not suffer you to go either into Hungary or Poland. In the last instance I have permitted you to disobey him. And my Lady Somerset (who, alas! I now rem
I shall not only forfeit the good opinion of your noble father and mother, but lose all prospect of the living of Somerset, which Sir Robert was so gracious as to promise should be mine on the demise of the present incumben
er which you did me the honor to enclose for my Lady Somerset till I receive your decision; and ever, whilst I live, will I henceforth remain firm t
prope res es
ossit facere et
the hono
ar
t obedien
EW LO
BURG, Septe
ch he desires us to quit Russia, and to make the best of our way to England, where you are wanted on a most urgent occasion. H
of his parents were far from groundless; and therefore, as there was no doubt, from the extreme age of Dr. Manners, that the rectory of Somerset would soon become vacant, he thought it better to oblige his poor governor, and preserve their secret for a month or two, than to give him up to the indignation of Sir Robert
D ANDREW LOFTUS
moment's notice? Faith, I am so mad at the summons, and at his not deigning to
ward to my mother! You offer far-fetched and precious excuses for having betrayed your own wisdom, and your pupil's innocence, into so mortal an offence.
gree with them, and, coalescing together under the name of freedom, were introducing anarchy throughout a country which Catharine would graciously have protected. All this I find to be in error. But both of you may have been misled: the count by
ithhold my letters to my mother, and when I arrive in England shall lock up my lips from mentioning Poland,-that positively, I will not be mute one day longer than that in which m
rouche 'over brake and through briar!' Well, patience! Another such upset to your friends of the Neva, and with 'victory perched like an eagle on their la
st not bring the foreign servants with you; they might blab. Discharge them at
he honor
ar
t obedien
KE SOM
, Septemb
ladies and the murmurs of the young men, the countess tried to dispel the effects of the information by addressing Pembroke with a smile, and saying, "But we hope that you have seen enou
re a very distant period, to see those two kind mothers un
l the hilarities of youth flushed in his soul; his features continually glowed with animation, whilst the gay beaming of his eyes ever answered to the smile on his lips. Hence the slightest veering of his mind wa
that anticipation of evil is the death of happiness; and it will be a kind of suicide should we de
hich she imprinted on his cheek, restored him to cheerfulness
awaiting with firmness the approach of the earthquake which threatened to ingulf it in the neighboring nations. He saw the storm lowering; but he determined, whilst there remained one spot of vantage ground
ying from his treaties, marched to bid her colors a conqueror's welcome; and the Emperor of Germany, f
at neither age, sex, nor situation shielded the unfortunate i
debates agitated with the anxiety of men who were met to decide on their dearest interests. The bosom of the benevolent Stanislaus bled at the dreadful picture of his peo
naciously oppose their small numbers to the accumulated array of two empires, and of a king almost as powerful as either. What is my kingdom but the comfort of my people? What will it avail me to see them fall
claring it could only be temporary. In vain he told his majesty that he would purchase safety for the
ation. They disgrace honor; they trample upon justice. They transform the legions of Rome into a band of singers. They prostrate the sons of Athens and of Sparta at the feet of cowards. They make man abjure his birth right,
latine, but with streaming eyes bent over the table, and annulled the glorious constitution of 1791. Then with emotions hardly short of agony, he signed an order p
ously withstood each decision, started from his chair, bowed to his sov
n the kingdom assembled themselves in the park of Villanow, and with tumultuous eagerness declared their resolution to resist the invaders of their country to their last gasp. The Prince Sapieha, Kosciusko, and Sobi
Somerset bade adieu to his Polish friends, and s