Wawel. But the people of Cracow wished besides to create some perennial monument of its patriotic gratitude to Poland's hero, and this was, by a happy thought, accomplished in the ancient Slavonic manner by raising a high tumulus on the broad ridge of Sikornik Hill, dominating the town and its surroundings. The "Mound of Kosciuszko" is one of the proudest landmarks of Cracow.
Political freedom, though limited, naturally gave new vigour to intellectual life; the community set to work on its organization. New societies were founded for humanitarian and scientific purposes. Thus, in 1816 the "Scientific Society" arose, later to be changed into the present Academy; its first president was the then Bishop of Cracow, John Paul Woronicz, himself a poet and lover of the arts; the Charity (1816), Musical (1818), Agricultural (1819), and other societies followed. Learning is chiefly represented by admirably industrious historians, such as Michael Wiszniewski, Joseph Kremer, A. S. Helcel, Joseph Muczkowski. New periodicals were started. A group of Cracow poets arise, whose enthusiasm is chiefly inspired by the beauties of the town and its surroundings: B. E. Wasilewski, Fr. Wezyk, and others. Important political events were not long in coming to change the face of things. When aspirations for national liberty and revolutionary currents were rising to their highest in their Polish dominions, the three Powers resolved to put an end to the independence of Cracow. On November 16, 1846, Imperial troops entered the town, and the free state was annexed to the possessions of the Austrian Crown under the name of the Grand Duchy of Cracow.
The first few years of Austrian rule are a tale of woe in the annals of the city; it was not till the political changes leading to representative government had taken place that things grew better. The Constitutional Articles of 1867 created new and more favourable conditions for the development of arts and sciences. Art will be dealt with in the next chapter. The new municipal regulations, based on the principle of autonomy (granted in 1866), made it possible for the sometime Rector of
