Seite 771 von 788

161 The Yellow Book, so called from its binding, is the barbarous

book of Russian martial law. Frequently in time of peace the

government proclaims whole provinces as being in a state of war,

and on the authority of the Yellow Book confers on the military

commander complete power over the estates and lives of the

citizens. It is a well-known fact that from the year 1812 to the

revolution [of 1831] all Lithuania was subject to the Yellow

Book, of which the executor was the Grand Duke the Tsarevich

[Constantine].]

162 [Joseph Baka (1707-80), a Jesuit, wrote _Reflections on

Inevitable Death, Common to All_. His short doggerel rimes, which

breathe a jovial gaiety, were long extremely popular. In recent

times suspicion has been cast on Baka's authorship of the work.

(Adapted from Jaroszynski.)]