THE END OF THE RUSSIAN PROTECTORATE 407Insurrectionary Court, summarily sentenced, and on 9 May publicly hanged. In
June, the mob took justice into its own hands. Bishop Massalski together with
Prince Adam Czetwertynski, Ambassador Karol Boscamp-Lasopolski, and an
assortment of other policemen, priests, lawyers, courtiers, and suspected spies
were dragged from their cells and lynched in the streets. Archbishop Michal
Poniatowski (1736-94), the Primate and King's brother, committed suicide. In
the Lithuanian capital, similar scenes occurred. The Polish garrison under
Colonel Jakob Jasinski (1761-94) struck one hour after midnight, and by dawn
the city was in their control. Hetman Kossakowski was caught trying to escape
in a boat, and was hanged under the inscription, 'He who swings will not
drown.' An Act of Insurrection of the Lithuanian Nation was produced, and
duly signed. For a few brief months through the summer, the two parts of the
old Republic were reunited. An Insurrectionary Government obtained the bless-
ing of the King, took control of Warsaw from the local Jacobins, and ruled in
the name of the whole country from 28 May to 4 November. Tadeusz
Kosciuszko, the Naczelnik (Commander), in the company of his adjutant,
Julian Niemcewicz, busied himself for the coming showdown with the
Russians. His orders called for 'a war to the death against Muscovite tyranny'.
News came from France of the fate of Archbishop Podoski, whom death could
not save from his deserts. Having fled to France, and having died in exile in
Marseilles, he still did not escape retribution. His body was disinterred, torn to
pieces, and cast into the sea.
The suppression of the Rising was taken in hand by the Empress Catherine in
conjuction with the Prussians under the personal command of Frederick-William
III. In the summer, the situation remained extremely fluid. The defeat of Zajaczek
at Chelm on 8 June, the recapture by the Russians of Cracow on 15 June and of
Wilno on 12 August, were offset by the breakout of Polish forces in Prussian
Poznania under General Dabrowski. The siege of Warsaw had to be abandoned
on 9 September. But by the end of the month, it was renewed. The Prussians to the
west and north were faced by Poniatowski and Jasinski. The Russians to the south
under Fersen were waiting to be joined by Suvorov marching out of the Ukraine
with a new army. The Poles' last chance was to strike at the point of junction
before the ring was completely sealed. Accordingly, on 10 October, Kosciuszko
attacked Fersen at Maciejowice, forty miles to the south-east of Warsaw on the
right bank of the Vistula. For some hours, it seemed that he would win the day.
But the Russians, counting on a fourfold numerical superiority, re-formed ranks,
and, regardless of their terrible losses, advanced to a complete victory.
Kosciuszko, wounded in three places and unhorsed, was taken into captivity,
together with Niemcewicz and most of his surviving staff. Suvorov's road was
open. He joined with Fersen at Minsk Mazowiecki, and on 2.6 October broke the
Polish rearguard at Kobylka. On 4 November, his Cossacks stormed the defences
of the capital's eastern suburb, Praga, enlivened by the promise of unlimited plun-
der. The defenders were overwhelmed. Jasinski was killed. The population was
put to the sword. Warsaw capitulated. All resistance was broken.^31