The  manner  of  the  Austrian  minister  was
more  gracious  and  cordial  than  formerly;
and,  after  the  usual  discussions  about  the
difficulties  of  the  terms  of  peace.  GaJitzin  at
last  asked  him^— "What  equivalent  do  you
propose  for  all  that  you  refuse  to  allow  us?
ft  seems  to  me  tliat  there  can  be  none.''
Kaunitz,  suddenly  assuming  an  air  of  cheer-
fuhieBs,  pressed  his  hand,  and  said  ''Sir,
since  ^ou  point  out  the  road,  I  will  tell  you,
— but  in  such  strict  confidence,  that*  it  must
be  kept  a  profound  secret  at  your  Court ;  for
if  it  were  to  transpire  and  6e  known  even
to  the  ally  and  friend  of  Russia,  my  pourt
would  solemnly  retract  and  disavow  this
communication.''  He  then  proposed  a  mo-
derate plan  of  peace,  but  added,  that  the
Court  ot  Vienna  could  not  use  its  good  offices
to  cause  it  to  be  adopted,  unless  the  Court
of  Petersburgh  would  give  the  most  positive
assurances  that  she  would  not  subject  Poland
to  dismemberment  for  her  own  advantage,
or  for  that  of  any  other ;  provided  always,
that  their  Imperial  Majesties  were  to  retain
the  county  of  Zipps,  but  to  evacoate  every,
other  part  of  the  Polish  territory  which  the
Austrian  troops  might  have  occupied.  Galit-
zin  observed,  that  the  occupation  of  ZippB
had  much  the  air  of  a  dismemberment.  This
Kaunrtz  denied;  but  said,  that  his  Court
would  co-operate  with  Russia  in  forcing  the
Poles  to  put  an  end  to  their  dissensions.  The
former  observed,  that  thd  plan  of  pacification
showed'  the  perfect  disinterestedness  of  her
Imperial  Majesty  towards  Poland,  and  that
no  idea  of  dismemberment  had  ever  entered
into  her  mind,  or  into  that  of  her  ministers.
