a-year to the exclusive purchase of English books. His
revenues are enormous; but his liberality is unbounded; and, as
it is a rule in his munificent establishment to provide
liberally for the families of all his dependants, his means are
comparatively restricted, but his personal wants are few; and
that he is ready to accommodate himself to circumstances, was
well shown by his only observation on hearing of the
confiscation of his large property in Podolia by Nicholas.
"Instead of riding, I must walk, and instead of sumptuous fare,
I must dine on buck-wheat."[3] Such is a faint outline of this
illustrious man's character. Were it only for the admirable
example of such an individual guiding the reigns of the
government of a devoted people, it is most ardently to be hoped
that Poland may triumph over her enemies, and be raised to that
rank from which she was degraded only by the basest of
treasons.--_Fletcher's History of Poland._
[3] The common food of the poor.
As the pronunciation of the Polish language is attended with some
difficulty, the author of this work has, in his advertisement, subjoined
the following hints, taken principally from the "Letters Literary and
Political on Poland, Edinburgh, 1823.
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