. b o o k might enforce the treaty of commerce, which they were
authoriied to conclude. At all events, it was urged, the
propoial concerning the change of government is premature
; a revolution of fuch extreme importance demands
the moil deliberate examination, and ought not to be hurried
through, as if it was a circumftance of no concern to
the nation. One of the delegates, who was molt violent
in his oppofition, delivered his fentiments with a freedom
which aitonilhed the afiembly; and when the embafladors,
who did not underftand the Poliih idiom, applied to a Caf-
tellan for an explanation of what was faid, the latter ex-
cufed himfelf, under pretence of not being qualified for
the office of interpreter, as having but an imperfed knowledge
of the French language. When, at laft, one of the
Palatines, who was of the embaflador’s party', acquainted
them with the contents of the fpeech; the orator ventured
to thank him for explaining the purport of his
harangue in fo able a manner; while the praifes which,
in a fine tone of irony, he affedted to bellow upon the
Palatine for his readinefs to oblige, as well as for his independent
fpirit, occafioned much mirth in the afiembly.
T he undifguifed approbation given by the greateft part of
the members to this orator, convinced the embafladors that
this was no time to obtrude their refolutions upon the delegates
; they accordingly broke up the meeting, and poft-
poned the bufinefs to a future opportunity *. The next
feflion, however, was not more favourable to their wifhes,
nor did the patriotic zeal o f the delegates feem to abate.
* T h e Following paffage in one o f my “ continues to be read ; it itill excites con -
M S . letters, dated fo late as Nov. 13, 1774, “ tinual debates, and more will arife ; but
will (hew the .difficulty o f fettling with the “ all will be finiihed according to the will
•delegates. “ o f the miiufters.”
** The jilan for the permanent council
6 The
The oppofition of the delegates to this meafure conti- CIj£p
nued fo violent, that more than a year elapfed before the.— ,—
embafladors were able, by the influence of threats, bribery*
and promifes, to obtain a majority; at length, the delegates,
terrified or feduced into compliance, formally acceded
to the change of government. 1 his important point
being obtained, the delegation was diffolved on the 13th»
of April, 1775, and all the articles were confirmed by the
general diet.
The following note, delivered by the three embafladors to;
the delegates on the 1 3th of September, x 77 3, will give the
bell general idea of the changes made in the cbnflitution.
9 The courts are fo interefted in the pacification of Poland,
“ that, while the treaties are getting ready to be figned and
“ ratified, the minifters cannot lofe any of that valuable time, fo
0 neceflary for the re-eftabliihment of order, and the tran-
“ quillity of this kingdom. We now, therefore, deliver to
“ the delegation a part of thofe cardinal laws, to the ratifi—
“ cation of which our courts will not fuffer any contradiction.
I. “ The crown of Poland ihall be for ever elective, and
u all order of fucceffion profcribed: any perfon who ihalL
“ endeavour to break t h i s l a w , ihall h e declared an enemy
“ to h i s country, and l i a b l e to b e puniihed accordingly.
I I . “ F o r e ig n c a n d id a t e s t o t h e t h r o n e b e i n g t h e f r e q u e n t :
“ c a u f e o f t r o u b l e s a n d d iv i f io n , I h a l l b e e x c lu d e d ; a n d i t:
* ■ I h a l l b e e n a d e d , t h a t , f o r t h e f u t u r e , n o p e r í o n c a n b e c h o f e n
k i n g o f P o l a n d , a n d g r e a t d u k e o f L i t h u a n i a , e x c e p t i n g .
“ a n a t iv e P o le , o f n o b l e * o r i g in , a n d p o f l e f l in g l a n d w i t h i n .
“ the k i n g d o m . The f o n , o r g r a n d f o n , o f a king of Poland can-
“ not be eleded immediately upon the death of their fatheror
* Tiiat is, any gentleman*
“ grandfather,;: