BOOK « of literature, and the encouragement given to genius and
— i— 1 “ abilities. The academy at Vilna is more the image of
“ what it was, and of what it ought to be, than an objeit of
“ a traveller’s curioiity.” He then gracioufly exprefled his
regret at our departing fo foon from Warfaw, and, wiihing
us a good journey, retired.
I flatter myfelf, that I ihall not appear too minute in relating
all thefe circumftances; the familiar incidents of do-
meftic life place the character of a lovereign in a truer point
of view than the more iplendid occurrences of public grandeur,
where the real difpofition is often diiguifed by form,
or facrificed to policy.
C H A P .
C H A P. IV.
Villanow the favourite palace o f John Sobieiki.— Account o f
that monarch.— Circumftances o f his death.— Intrigues o f
bis queen.— Divijion and cabals o f bis family.— Fortunes o f
his children.— FxtinSlion o f his name.— Genealogical table
of his defcendants.
AUGUST 6. We pafled the day at Villanow, where we c h a p .
dined with prince Zartoriiki. He is a fine old man,. iy~
near fourfcore, and lives in the true ftyle of ancient hofpi-
iality : he is conftantly attended by his own guards, which
I mention, not as.being peculiar to him, who enjoys the firft
offices of the republic, but becaufe it leads me to remark
that every Polilh nobleman may have as many guards as
he can afford .to maintain.
The prince keeps an open table, at which there are fel-
dom lefs than twenty .or thirty covers. His revenues are
large, amounting to near .£100,000 fferling per annum;
and his ffyle of living correfponds to this great income. ■
Villanow was built by John Sobieiki the conqueror of the
Turks.and deliverer of Vienna z it was-the favourite reii-
dence of that great monarch, where he moftly lived when
not in arms, and where he clofed his days. The palace, he-
ing fold after his death, came by marriage-into the family
of Zartoriiki; it was lent to Auguftus U. who confiderably
enlarged it. The outfide is ornamented with feveral baflo
relievos, reprefenting the principal viftories of John Sobieiki,
■which were probably added by Auguftus.; for the former
V ol. I. B b was