Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/55

ourselves brought together by this common misfortune. The report of General Kosciuszko's death rendered the grief of all still deeper, especially mine. The Russian generals, Chruszczew, Tormansow, Denisow, Engelhard, who knew all my relations, came to comfort me, making protestations of interest, and offers of their services to me. They vied with one another in repeating, “We are not barbarians.” The eagerness with which they endeavoured to persuade me that they were not barbarians, shewed how much their own consciences reproached them with being so; as far, however, as respects their conduct towards me, they were very courteous. We are not malicious when we are happy, and they were all happy. They left the battle field victorious, after a cruel and obstinate struggle, having conquered an adversary, with whose fall they believed the war was finished for ever; in short, the fatigues of the campaign, the dangers of combats, disappeared before them, and a brilliant future, rewards of all kinds, ribbands, roubles, diamonds, gifts of estates, in fine,