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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.)]