BOOK. Pruffian eagle is marked with an S, to ihew that Albert held
'his lands as feudal and tributary to Sigifmond I. There was
a fine medal in honour of John Sobieiki’s raifing the fiege
of Vienna, with the following punning infcription : Urbem
fervajiis et orbem. I likewifeobferved a medal of his prefent
majefty, caft in the late turbulent times ;, it had a well-
executed likenefs of the king on one fide, and on the reverfe
an emblem of civil commotions, a ihip in a ftorm with the
claflical allufion, Ne cede malis.
The public library next engaged our attention. The col-
ledtion owes its beginning to the private bounty of two
bifhops of the family of Zalufki; the following infcription
is over the door; “ Civium ujui perpetuo Zaluficorum par il-
“ lujlre dicavit 17 14 .” It has fince received feveral large additions
from various benefactors; and, as the librarian informed
me,contains above 100,000 volumes. It is very rich
in books and manufcripts relating to the Polifh hiftory.
I have only a few obfervations to make upon the general
ftate of literature in Poland, my ftay in this country not being
long enough to collect a more circumftantial account.
There are two univerfities,one atCracow, and the other at
Vilna; the former was under the diredtion of priefts, called
Academicians; and the latter was fuperintended by the Je-
fuits ; but in both, the courfe of ftudies was chiefly confined
to theology. Since the fuppreflion of the Jefuits, the king
,has eftablifhed a committee of education, compofed of members
cliftinguifhed either by high ftation,’ or enlightened un-
derftandings. The committee has an abfolute power in
matters of education; appoints profeflors; regulates their
falary ; and directs their ftudies. The advantages of this
regulation have already been experienced.
Although
Although from the nature of the government learning
has nevpr been widely diffufed in Poland, yet there never <—
have been wanting men of genius and literature, who have,
been an ornament to tfeeic country : and perhaps no nation
can boaft a more regular fucceffion of excellent hiftorians ; or
a greater variety of writers deeply converfant -in the laws,
flatutes, and conftitution. Under Sigifmond I. and his fon
Sigifmond Auguftus,the arts and fciences began to be .greatly
diftinguifhed by royal patronage; they were cherifhed by
foiiie of the fucceeding monarchs, particularly John Sobiefki;
but no prince has paid them more attention than the prefent
king Staniflaus Auguftus. His munificence in this particular
has been attended with the happieft effects. T h e Po-
liflr literati have, within a few years, given to the public a
much greater variety of elegant performances than ever appeared
in any former period of the fame length. What is
more material, a tafte for fcience has fpread itfelf among
the nobles, and begins to be regarded as an accomplilhment.
The enlargement of mind, derived by thefe licentious fpirits
from this new purfuit, has already weaned feveral o.f them
from their habits o f barbarous turbulence, and greatly humanized
their civil deportment. It may, perhaps, in time
teach them thoroughly to comprehend the true intereft of
their country, and the expedience of due fubordination, hitherto
deemed incompatible with liberty : thefe petty defpots
will, perhaps, be induced to lay afide that contempt for their
vaffals; they will perceive that the burghers and peafants
are the true fupports of their country ; and that Poland
wants nothing but juftice and order to become as flouriihing
as the neighbouring ftates.
During my ftay at Warfaw I vifited the feveral prifons;
and made inquiries into the nature of the various tribunals,
Vol. I. D d and