b o o k j t Was ftipulated, that the rights of the diffidents ihould be
* i maintained in their full latitude *■.
Such was the fituation of the diffidents at the acceffion of
his prelent majeftv ; who, though himfelf ftrongly inclined
to toleration, was yet obliged to concur with the general fenfie
of the diet; and to confirm in their full extent all the laws
which had been promulgated againft them1. The diffidents
applied to the courts of London, Peterlburg, Berlin, and Copenhagen,
as the mediating powers in the treaty of Oliva ;
who warmly fupported their caufe, and prefented memorials
to the enfuing diet, demanding a reftoration not only of their
religious eftablifhments, but alfo of all their ancient privileges
fecured to them by the abovementioned treaty. The
diet of 1766, however, was not of a temper to accede to thefe
propofals.
The enemies of toleration contended, that the privileges
alluded to were become obfolete, having been repeatedly
aboliffied in various diets; and that the diffidents had no
well-founded claim either to the reftitution of their civil immunities,
or to the toleration of their worffiip: the biffiop of
Cracow, the moft bigotted of the catholics, even propofed a
law againft all who ihould abet the oppoiite party. Violent
altercations arofe in the affembly, when the Pruffian and
Ruffian memorials were read ; and as an immediate tumult
was apprehended, the king retired from the diet without
proroguing it, as ufual, to the following day. The primate
likewife refufed to continue, the fitting, and the members fe-
parated in great diforder. Gn the fubfequent day the fpirit
of intolerance was in no degree abated; the moderate party
* For the account o f the Diffidents, fee Lengnich, Pac. Con. A u g . III. 16— 30. and
Jus Publ. fparfim.
was
was over-ruled, and the adts againft the diffidents were con- CI^ P-
firmed without referve. "but, in order to conciliate the me- >— .— >
diating powers, the bench of biffiops, by command of the
diet, drew up nine articles in favour o f the diffidents, relative
to the free exercife of their worffiip. Thefe conceffions not
being thought fufficiently favourable, while the exceptionable
laws remained unrepealed, the Emprefs of Ruffia re-
monftrated againft the proceedings of the diet; and the diffidents
began to form confederacies in different parts of the
kingdom. They were joined by many difcontented catholics,
and affifted by a large body of Ruffian troops, who entered
Thorn, where the firft and principal confederacy took
its rife. All the mediating powers, Great-Britain, Denmark,
Pruffia, and Sweden, teftified their approbation of thefe confederacies.
Thedifputes foon began to embrace other objedts
befide religion ; political grievances were likewife brought
forward; and feveral confederacies ftarted up in different
parts of the kingdom among the catholic nobles; all of
whom affedted to be advocates for toleration, and declared
their intentions of fupporting the caufe of the diffidents.
Prince Radzivill, who had fignalized himfelf in oppofing the
king’s eledtion, was appointed marihal to all the catholic confederacies,
united in one formidable aflociation under the appellation
of malecontents. 1 he coalition of this catholic
confederacy, with that of the diffidents, foon after took place
in the palace of prince Radzivil at Warfaw. Mean while the
king convoked an extraordinary diet, as the only probable
means to prevent a civil war, and to appeafe the Emprefs of
Ruffia, whofe troops were advanced within a fmall diftance
of Warfaw. The diet, however, which was fummoned for
the purpofe of reconciling the oppoiite parties, failed in producing
the intended effedt: the biffiop of Cracow and his
4 partil'ans