The Gospodars had also a strong faction in the town; and were altogether in a position to undertake something serious. But already was their unity destroyed and their power lessened by several losses. Milan, on whom they could reckon unconditionally, had fallen ill at Bucharest, not long after Lasar Woinowitsch had returned to him, and he died on the last day of the year 1810. It was asserted by some that he had been removed by poison.
But what to them was of greater importance, Jacob Nenadowitscli had now other views : he determined to fill his place in the Senate. Having married his son Efrem to the daughter of Mladen, and joined himself entirely to the party of Kara George ; instead of coming with a numerous troop, he appeared at Belgrade in his sledge, accompanied only by two Momkes. Thus Peter and Milenko alone remained with Weliko.
The opposite party also contrived to separate AVcliko from his faction. Kara George not only made him large presents of money, but re
The Gospodars had also a strong faction in the town; and were altogether in a position to undertake something serious. But already was their unity destroyed and their power lessened by several losses. Milan, on whom they could reckon unconditionally, had fallen ill at Bucharest, not long after Lasar Woinowitsch had returned to him, and he died on the last day of the year 1810. It was asserted by some that he had been removed by poison.
But what to them was of greater importance, Jacob Nenadowitscli had now other views : he determined to fill his place in the Senate. Having married his son Efrem to the daughter of Mladen, and joined himself entirely to the party of Kara George ; instead of coming with a numerous troop, he appeared at Belgrade in his sledge, accompanied only by two Momkes. Thus Peter and Milenko alone remained with Weliko.
The opposite party also contrived to separate AVcliko from his faction. Kara George not only made him large presents of money, but restored to him his position as AVoiwode of Bania, which he had nearly forfeited by his departure the }Tear before: he often called him “Son;” saying, “Alcxa, his first born son, was not dearer to him,” and thus contrived to win him over entirely to his interests. But, that AVeliko might not waver between his old and new engagements, care vras taken to remove him to some distance.
A letter was fabricated, in which it was stated that the Turks had made an irruption into the country from Niscli, and had already advanced as far as l’ania; and the letter was delivered by a Tartar, streaming with perspiration. Nothing further was required to stimulate the Heyduc: to save his AVoiwodeship, he set out with all his Bekjares without a moment’s delay.
Milenko and Peter had no longer the courage to attempt any thing. Stephen Schiwkowitsch, the richest man in Belgrade, and an old enemy of Mladen’s, pressed the two chiefs once more to try their fortune: he would have had them commence immediately by an assault upon Mladen’s house. Peter and Milenko answered, “ We are short of men.”
“ Are we not three of us,” replied Schiwkowitsch ; “ and have we not our Momkcs ? Upon the first shot the inhabitants of the town will rise: for they hate Mladen; and the country people, who are greedy after booty, will rush in to our support.” But the chiefs further objected that “ they were without ammunition even to begin with; ” whereupon Schiwkowitsch directly procured several sacksful, which he brought to the inn. But as has already been stated, both Milenko and Peter were so discouraged by their previous ill success, that, whilst Schiwkowitsch was making these proposals, they remained sitting by the fireside, without answering, and merely stirring the coals.
To be fully assured how matters stood, Kara George had now only to ascertain what lie was to expect from the Russian regiment, (the regiment Neuschlot,) and how its Colonel, Balia, was disposed towards him. If he had at any time shown himself disaffected towards the Bus sians, it was because lie had suffered himself to be persuaded and indeed by the assertions of his adversaries themselves that his enemies and rivals had found in them a help and support. At length, he determined to learn the real state of affairs. One day when he, Peter Dobrinjaz, and Milenko, together with the Colonel, had been dining at Mladen’s, and afterwards, to honour the Foreigner, had accompanied him towards his home, Kara George perhaps designedly just as they arrived at the colonel’s abode, entered into a violent dispute with Milenko. Already he had ordered his Momkcs to take Milenko’s sword from him, when Balia, who lived in the same house, pleaded for him.
This was the critical moment which Kara George had expected, lie took off his cap and implored Balia, “by the bread of his Emperor,” to tell him whether he had come to support Milenko’s faction. Balia replied, that, he had come to render assistance to the nation under the command of Kara George. “ Then,” cried the latter, “let me take and kiss thy hand in lieu of that of the Emperor.” lie required no further assurance: he no longer thought of his dispute with Milenko, but was satisfied with knowing himself secure on this side also.
The next day, however, he took measures for terminating the whole affair. He sent to Milenko and Peter the appointments which removed them from their supreme command to their seats inthe Senate. Should they accept them ? It was only too evident, since Jacob had gone over to their opponent, that, in the Senate also, where they would find themselves in the minority, they would possess but little influence. “ Should they refuse?” If they did, exile awaited them. Nevertheless, they determined to refuse, hoping that their request to live as private individuals in their respective districts might be granted. As their power, however, depended less on their legal rights than on their personal influence, their request, was refused.