b o o k u fCarcely find a fingle example of a free election An-
w v —j other Poliih hiftorian of great note, the celebrated Staniflaus
Lubieniki billiop of Plotiko, juftly contends that the Poles,
free as they pretend to be, are abfolutely in a ftate of flavery,
to which they have been reduced by an inconfiderate palfion
for liberty +.
In a word, it is evident beyond the poifibility of doubt,
from the hiftory of this country, that the Poles were more
free at home, and more independent and flouriihing abroad,
when the fovereign had more authority, when the nobles
aflifted at the diets without the privilege of diffolving them;
and when they fubmitted themfelves and their peafants to
the jurifdidtion of the king. The proof of this aflertion is
founded on the following fails.
I. The prefent wretched ftate of the towns compared
with their former flouriihing condition, during the reigns of
the Jaghellon family, when the burghers even poffeffed a
right of fending nuntios to the diets J, forms a ftrong contrail
to their former profperity; and attefts the melancholy
effects of ariftocratical defpotifm.
II. The wretched condition and poverty of the peafants,
whofe increafe of oppreflion has kept pace in an equal proportion
with the increafe of the power of the nobles; for
when the king loft his weight in the conftitution, this moft
numerous and ufeful order of fociety loft a patron and protestor*
* Revolvite annales veftros vix ullum ex-
-emplum liberae ele&ionis invenietis.
f Expendamus paululum ftatum reipub-
lica»: inconfultus libertatis amor dum iidem
leges ferunt, qui pcenis obnoxii funt, et im-
punitatis defiderio, juris, quo tot fseculis
patria íletit, convellunt fundamenta, nos eo
redegit ut lìberi pejjìmo cuique ferviam u s.
Nulla legum reverentia, nulla poteílatis
verecundia ; tantum quifque audet, quantum
habet virium. Dudum jam agricolas
miferos afpero fewitutis jugo preífímus, &c.
p. 194.
I See Chap. V I I I .
ma
III. A total confufion introduced into the adminiftration chap.
of public affairs ; and a ftate of anarchy, which prevents >— ..— /
deliberation, and delays the adoption o f neceffary meafures
even in times of the moft prefiing emergency.
IV. The declenfion of the importance, and contraction of
the territories of the republic. During the reigns of the kings
of the Jaghellon family, before the nobles had acquired a
decided preponderancy in the ftate, the kingdom of Poland
was far more powerful and extenfive than it is at prefent:
fince the changes in the conftitution, and the introduction of.
anarchy falfely called liberty, the Poles have not only made
no conqueft except what they have been forced to relinquiib
but have feen even their original territories gradually
mouldering away,, and at laft confiderably reduced by the
late partition. A kingdom with more than twelve millions
of inhabitants, i f well regulated, would never have fell fo eafy
a prey to the ambition of its neighbours: its internal
ftrength, aflifted by its natural alliances, would have been
fufficient to have protracted, i f not prevented, its difmem-
berment. Nor are the fatal effects of the evils inherent in
the conftitution yet fully exhaufted : the fame incapacity of
refilling the encroachments of neighbouring powers, which '
made the Poles fo tamely accede to the late divifion, will render
them equally fubmiflive, whenever any future claims
ihall be urged by a combination of the neighbouring ftates ;;
and compel them to acquiefce under any pretenfions, however
chimerical, or however unjuft.
Anarchy,' in ihort, and confufion are not only tolerated,
but are even fuppofed by the nobles, who reap the benefit of.
thofe evils, to be abfolutely neceffary for the fupport of the
conftitution ; fo that there is a proverb, which implies
that Poland fubfifts by anarchy. In oppofition to this abfurd
4 idea,.