a6
S K E T C H OF T H E
book t e n d i n g t o p e r p e t u a t e t h e d e f e f t s o f t h e c o n f t i tu t i o n , a n d
w h i c h h a d n o o t h e r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n e x c e p t t h e i r f u b f e r v i -
ency to the R u f f i a n d e f ig n s u p o n P o l a n d .
The nation at large feemed at this juncture to have caught
the fubmiffive fpirit of the diet; and received the new ediffs
with every fymptom of cordiality. Poland feemed to enjoy
for a moment ah univerfal tranquillity; but it was that
fullen tranquillity which precedes a tempeft, and announces
to the intelligent obferver the moft violent commotions.
.
During thefe tranfailions, the king, without influence,
a n d confequently without a ffiadow of authority, was one
while hurried down the popular current; and the next moment
forced by the mediating powers to accede to all the
conditions which they laid before him : a wretched fituation
for a prince of his fpirit and magnanimity,: and below which
it is fcarcely poffible for any fovereign to be reduced. But
more grievous fcenes yet awaited the unfortunate monarch ;
he was doomed to behold his country torn to pieces by the
moft dreadful of all calamities, a religious war; to be frequently
deprived almoft of common heceffaries; and to be
indebted for his very fubfiftence to the voluntary contributions
of his friends: to be little better than a ftate prifoner in
his capital; to be carried off and nearly affaffinated ; to fee
his faireft provinces vvrefted from h im ; and, finally, to depend,
for his own fecurity and that of his fubje£ts, upon the
protection of thofe very powers, who had difmembered his
empire.
The Poliffi malecontents could certainly alledge fome very
plaufible caufes of diffatisfa£tion. The laws palfed at the laft
diet bore a greater refemblance to the abfolute mandates of a
Ruffian viceroy, than to the refolutions of a free affembly.T
he
P R E S E N T R'E I G N. 27
The outrage committed upon the bifhop of Cracow and ghai.
his adherents entirely fubverted all liberty of debate. Whi le! ,—
the authoritative manner, in which the mediating powers
of Berlin and Peteriburg ftill continued to interfere in the
affairs of Poland, threatened a more grievous fubjeilion.
Thefe fpecious grounds of difguft, joined to an ill-timed fpirit
o f difcontent which had gone forth throughout the nation
again® the king, occafioned the inteftine commotions that
foon reduced Poland to the moft dreadful ftate of defolation.
The diet had not long been diflolved, before the indulgences
granted to the diffidents firft excited a general difcontent
among the Roman catholic party : feveral confederacies
made their appearance towards the frontiers of the
Turkifh empire in defence of the facred catholic faith ; they
carried ftandards before them highly calculated to inflame
the zeal of the populace; upon fome of thefe ftandards
images of the Virgin Mary and the infant Jefus were delineated
; upon others the fpread eagle of Poland, with the
mottos “ Conqueft or Death,” “ For religion and liberty
Some banners bore as a device a red crofs, under which was
infcribed “ the fymbol of victory,” The private foldiers of
the confederacy, like the crufaders of old, wore a crofs interwoven
in their clothes. One party o f thefe infurgents
feized upon the fortrefs o f Bar in Podolia, and another got
poffeffion of Cracow. The royal troops, who were fe-nt
againft them, were either routed or prevailed upon to join
them. In this dreadful crilis of affairs the fenate petitioned
the embaffador from the court of Peteriburg not to withdraw
the Ruffian troops from the kingdom, as they afforded
the only fecurity againft the confederates : the requeft was
* A u i vincere ant mori.— Pro religione et liberiate.
E 2 readily