„Let’s look for things, not words” – with this motto a prominent nineteenth-century Polish intellectual, a participant of the November Uprising, a researcher and educator of the youth had inscribed his treatise on perpetual peace in Europe. In this treatise, somewhat forgotten today, Wojciech Bogumił Jastrzębowski described his ideas - all the nations and individual people have the same inalienable right to freedom, peace and preservation of their own identity. Those formulated 180 years ago thoughts seem to sound amazingly up-to-date. .

Youth

Wojciech Jastrzębowski was born on April 15th, 1799 in Gierwaty village on the Zawkrzeńska Land (around Mława). His childhood was not easy. He came from an impoverished noble family, and early lost both parents. As the youngest of the siblings he grew up under the guidance of his elder brother. Thanks to the brother he went to a parochial school in Janów (area Przasnysz), and then to a provincial school in Płock. The next stage of his education was a high school in Warsaw. In 1820, Wojciech Jastrzębowski began studying biology at the Warsaw University. Initially, he studied architecture and surveying, then moved to the natural history department at the Faculty of Philosophy.

During his studies Jastrzębowski made ends meet by giving lessons to other students, worked as an assistant in the physics laboratory (under the guidance of Professor Karol Skrodzki). In 1825, he earned Master’s degree in Philosophy. Interests of this young graduate were very broad from the very beginning; in addition to botany, meteorology became one of the first of his passions. Jastrzębowski constructed a device for plotting sundials. Several years later, he described this device in the work Polish Compass, a tool used as a universal compass, instrument for plotting sundials, portable observatory and tool for plotting conic sections, invented and described by WJ (one of the clocks struck out by Wojciech Jastrzębowski survived at the Warsaw Botanical Garden). In two other works, that turned out to be important for the scientific development of the researcher, he included analysis of meteorological observations from the years 1779-1828: Results of the Meteorological Experiences made from ancient times until 1828, and The Climatological Card. The high level of scientific and cognitive qualities of these and other works of Jastrzębowski made that their author was invited to become a member of the Society of Friends of Science.

The Friend of Science

Membership of the Society of Friends of Science created opportunity for the young researcher to present his achievements – ie. scientific papers and reports on inventions. Over the years Jastrzębowski gave his works and inventions in the field of natural sciences, especially botany, astronomy, meteorology, mathematics and physics to be evaluated by the members of the Department of Skills of the Association with astonishing frequency. His works were characterized by reliable research, a broad perspective on analyzed issue and always present conclusions for practice.

A particular expression of this was activity of Jastrzębowski as a botanist. He did not limit himself only to a thorough exploration of knowledge. As an assistant-naturalist at the side of Professor Michał Szubert, one of the greatest Polish botanists, Jastrzębowski gathered and described many hitherto unknown native plants, that then found their way to a herbarium which collected 1151 of specimens. It was the first such collection in Poland. The most needed, and indeed indispensable factor in educating and raising was according to Jastrzębowski awakening people’s love for nature. Along with teachers and students of the Warsaw schools he organized and conducted numerous scientific natural history tours, from which brought plants to the Botanical Garden in Warsaw. .

November Uprising

During the November Uprising Jastrzębowski joined the National Guard in Warsaw. Then became famous as a patriot and a great speaker, delivering a fiery speech calling for a fight. This took place on February 13th, 1831 during the grand parade of the Guard at the Saxon Square in the presence of the President of the National Government, Commander Adam Czartoryski and Armed Forces general Ludwik Kicki. Speech was met with an enthusiastic reception, and its author received the thanks of the guard commander, general Antoni Ostrowski. Jastrzębowski with his troop participated in the battles of Wawer and Olszynka Grochowska. Wartime experiences led him to think about the immensity of suffering caused by wars. He wrote about it in his treaty. The manuscript entitled “Spare Moments of the Polish Soldier, or the Thoughts on the Eternal Covenant between Civilized Nations“ was given to the Secretary of the Warsaw Royal Society of Sciences. Today, it is stored at the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw. Excerpts from the Jastrzębowski treaty were published on March 21st , 1831 in “Mercury” under the title: Draft for the European Constitution, or the Eternal Covenant between Nations.

The manuscript consisted of a preface, dated on February 21st, 1831, in Grochów, the initial, historiosophical and political part, dated April 30th , 1831, in Warsaw. The introductory part of the project included the pan-European constitution (section was entitled by the author „Some thoughts over the law providing for the eternal peace in Europe”), which adoption should guarantee the end of all wars in Europe. Jastrzębowski, whose views can now be called pacifistic, has formulated a political vision of repairing war-torn Europe. He postulated creation of the covenant between nations, which was to give the eternal peace in Europe and was based on fair legal standards (contained in the draft constitution). Major sources of evil he saw in the abuse of power by the rulers, insubordination of subordinates, envy, pride, or greed among nations and their rulers. „Some thoughts...” are the author’s appeal to the nations of Europe and the monarchs for giving up „ the mutual and unsuccessful murder.” The author saw two ways to resolve this situation “or to be free and miserable or to be slaves and take advantage of the eternal happiness.” Lord of the slaves had to be God alone, and the legislator had to be a nation. The fate of nations and ways of life were to decide not only by the rulers and monarchs, but all people, and the aim of the nation was to improve the human nature and “start love between nations.” He also advocated the abolition of national borders and freedom of movement. This is one of the most important humanistic ideas that arose during the Polish struggle for freedom and independence. This text was not devoid of allusions to political situation of that time and after the failure of the uprising caused the author many problems.

Tsar’s censors banned the distribution of work and prevented Jastrzębowski from scientific activities at the state post. So he worked for several years in the courts of the landowners as a private teacher, at the same time working as editor of “The Systematic Encyclopedia in Picture”. In 1831 Wojciech Jastrzębowski married Aniela d `Cherów. He had five daughters and two sons, the elder Ludomił, was a noted agronomist, and the younger Władysław ‒ illustrator of the news papers published in Warsaw.

The Marymont Institute of Agriculture and Forestry

In the years 1836‒1858 Jastrzębowski was professor at the Marymont Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, where he taught physics, zoology, botany, natural history and gardening. At the university Jastrzębowski continued his research and teaching work. Sightseeing trips around the country that were organized by him for the wards of the Institute, passed even into legend. Although Jastrzębowski was widely respected and beloved by students, he had to give up work due to a conflict with the management of the Institute. After a two-year stay in Warsaw and work in education he set up a school with an experimental agricultural settlement in the forest near Brok town, and called it Feliksówka. He worked there until his retirement in 1874.

Due to the age Jastrzębowski took no active part in the January Uprising. Fighting took place among others in areas of Czerwony Bór and Puszcza Biała where Jastrzębowski along with his disciples had put huge contribution in afforestation and protection. Most students from Feliksówka joined insurgents, many of them were killed or wounded. Jastrzębowski alone was arrested by the Tsarist military police, but through the intercession of different people he was released. He could not continue to teach and was authorized only to complete afforestation. His sons took part in the uprising too; one of them was detained in prison in the Warsaw Citadel.

Scientific and educational activities of Jastrzębowski were appreciated. The professor was appointed a member of the Cracow Scientific Society (1850), the Imperial Economic Society in St. Petersburg (1852), Societies for Farm in Lviv and Kraków, the Warsaw Agricultural Society (1858). Among the numerous scientific papers that he wrote in different periods of his live, special attention deserve, as follows: The System of the World Used for General Purposes (1848), The General Natural History Applied to the Needs of Active and Useful Life, with the aim of Making Useful Things and People (1848, 1851, 1854, 1856), Stychiologia1, or Learning about the Origins of the Universe, Applied to the Active Life and the Domestic Matters (1856), Sketch of Ergonomics, the Work Science Based on the Laws taken from Observation of Nature (1857), Sketch of Bionomics, ie. Life Science (1858), Sketch of Active or Practical Life Science (1853), On measures of multiplying the Benefits of the Existing Domestic Sources of Salt (1841), On the Vital Forces in General, and Particularly on the Vital Forces of Man and Their Importance in One’s Production Life, Namely in Agriculture (1855), and Mineralogy or the Study of Rocks, Used to Meet the Needs of Practical Life and Domestic Life (1851).

Jastrzębowski, a man sensitive to the problems of others, a great patriot and as we say today, an ecologist and a pacifist, was held in high regard during his life. For his pupils he was a model man and scholar. He died on December 30th, 1882. His disciples founded a tombstone at The Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery, where he was buried, and a marble memorial plaque sculpted by Andrzej Pruszynski in the Church of the Holy Cross.

Bibliography:

• Ramotowska F., Jastrzębowski Wojciech Bogumił. Traktat o wiecznym przymierzu między narodami ucywilizowanymi. Konstytucja dla Europy / [The Treaty on the Eternal Covenant between Civilized Nations. Constitution for Europe,, Warszawa-Łódź 1985 (opracowanie i publikacja źródła / elaboration and publication of the source). Drugie wydanie / Second edition 2021
• Hryniewiecki B., Wojciech Jastrzębowski (1799-1882), w: „Rocznik Nauk Ogrodniczych”, t. 3, 1936
• Chmiel-Żyłka S., Projekt Konstytucji dla Europy Wojciecha Bogumiła Jastrzębowskiego i jego aktualność / [A Draft Constitution for Europe by Wojciech Bogumił Jastrzębowski and Its Topicality], w: „Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Rzeszowskiej”, nr 237, Zarządzanie i Marketing, z. 8, 2007, s. 5-14
• Dymek B., Wizja przymierza między narodami Europy z 1831 r. według Wojciecha Bogumiła Jastrzębowskiego / [Vision of the Covenant between the Nations of Europe of 1831, according to Wojciech Bogumił Jastrzębowski,], Mazowieckie Towarzystwo Naukowe, Warszawa 2003
• Szenic S., Cmentarz Powązkowski 1851-1890. Zmarli i ich rodziny / [The Powązki Cemetery 1851‒1890. Deceased and their families], Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1981
• Album biograficzne zasłużonych Polaków i Polek wieku XIX / [Biographical Album of distinguished Polish men and women of the 19th century.], tom. I, Wyd. Marii Chełmońskiej, Warszawa 1901

Source:

• Original manuscript, in Polish, notebook with dimensions 215 x 185 mm, 32 sheets; in the holdings of the Central Archives of Historical Records, Warsaw; archival fonds: Królewskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk / [Royal Society of Friends of Science], reference code 78, pp. 7-44, 45-67

*[The words describing Wojciech Bogumił Jastrzębowski placed on a commemorative plaque on the house where he died, at ul. Krucza in Warsaw. Za: F. Ramotowska Jastrzębowski Wojciech Bogumił. Traktat o wiecznym przymierzu między narodami ucywilizowanymi. Konstytucja dla Europy / [The Treaty on the Eternal Covenant between Civilized Nations. Constitution for Europe,], Warszawa-Łódź 1985, s. 111; Wyd. II 2021, s. 118.]