[KOSCIUSZKO TADEUSZ]: (1746-1817) Polish Statesman, military Officer and Engineer. Supreme Commander of the Polish ...

[KOSCIUSZKO TADEUSZ]: (1746-1817) Polish Statesman, military Officer and Engineer. Supreme Commander of the Polish National Armed Forces., and national Hero of Poland. He led the 1794 uprising known by his own name. A very interesting A.L.S., `Charles Sienkiewicz´, Polish Librarian and Writer, three pages, 4to, n.p., December 1817, to Pierre Zeltner, in French. The present letter is written in December 1817, only two months after Kosciuszko´s death and, referring to the Polish hero, is addressed to Pierre Zeltner, a close friend of Kosciuszko. Sienkiewicz first reports on a duel that Zeltner was intrigued of, and announces that according to the newspapers it was finally sorted out and there would be no duel, and continues reporting on the death of Kosciuszko, stating in part `In all the churches of Poland the funeral service was celebrated for General Kosciuszko, and Warsaw have given a good example to the rest of the country; the Grand Duke attended these funerals and the government asked the Emperor for authorization to bring back the General's body to Poland´. Sienkiewicz further thanks his correspondent for the personal belongings and clothes of Kosciuszko that Zeltner sent to him, to be noted that Kosciuszko spent his last days in France in Zeltner´s home, and states in part `I must give you an account of the precious memories that you were kind enough to share with me. I hope you won't blame me for the too much meticulous details. Fate decided the division in this way: the trousers for Mr. Constantin, the boots for Mr. André, the waistcoat and the belt for Mr. Ladislas, a hat for Mr. Jean and the other for Mr. Leski, the tie for Prince Lubomirski. I have put together the hair, the nightcap, the box and the ring for the Princess of Württemberg. Mr. Constantin must have reported to you that she is very satisfied with it. She will send this treasure as she rightly calls it to her mother Princess Czartoryska to have it deposited at the Sybille temple where sacred memories are kept for Poland with a truly patriotic respect´ Sienkiewicz, further again, asks his correspondent for any information, letters, or anything related to Kosciuszko that could even seem to him insignificant, but which could be very important for the Polish, stating in part `You talked to me about those verses just started… started to never be finished. Send them to me; send to me such a painful souvenir of friendship so cruelly frustrated´ and before concluding says `In this chain that will always unite Kosciuszko´s name with the recognition of the Polish, in this golden chain, the most beautiful ring of devoted friendship will always recall your name alongside the one of this Hero´ A letter of very good content. Remnants of former affixing to the last blank page. Small creasing to edges, otherwise G