b o o k i n t h e plain of Wola. The fovereign authority reiides in
■ X' , this aflembly, in the fame manner as in thofe which are fum-
moned while the throne is filled. The primate prefides like
the king, with this difference, that he does not place him-
felf upon the throne, but fits in an armed chair ftationed in
the middle of the fenate-houfe. The diet ifiues out afts or
ordinances, arranges or changes the form of government,
fettles the PaBa Conventa, and appoints the meeting of the
diet of election. The interval between the death of the
king and the nomination of his fucceffor is uncertain; its
longer or ihorter duration depending upon the intrigues and
cabals of the candidates, or the pleafure o f thofe foreign
powers, who give law to Poland. It is always a ftate of
turbulence and licentioufnefs ; the kingdom is divided into
endlefs parties and factions; juftice is in a manner fuf-
pended ; and the nobles commit every diforder with impunity.
Unanimity * being requifite in all matters of ftate, it is
eafy to conceive the delays and cabals, the influence and corruption,
employed to gain the members in the diet of convocation.
As foon as all the points are adjufted, whether
the afts have pafled unanimoufly or otherwife, the members,
previous to their feparation, enter into a general confederacy
to fupport and maintain the refolutions o f the diet.
A t the appointed day the diet of election is afiembled,
during which Warfaw and its environs is a fcene of confu-
fion, and frequently of bloodihed. The chief nobility have
large bodies of troops in their fervice, and repair to the diet
attended by their numerous vaflals and a large retinue of
* This unanimity, in fdfl, does not exiit j cation ftate queftions could only be carried
fo,r.the ilr'pngeft fide forces the weaker ti> ac- unaniroouily. Several diets o f convocation
cede or to retire. Y e t in the diet o f 1768 have been frequently aflembled before all
it was enafled, that in the diets o f convo- the affairs could be finally arranged.
4 domeftics;
domeftics; while each petty baron, who can afford to main-
tain them, parades about with his retainers and {laves. <— ,— >
On the day in which the diet of eleftion is opened, the
primate, fenate, and nobility, repair to the cathedral of Warfaw,
to hear mafs and a fermon; from whence they proceed
in due order to the plain of Wola. The fenators enter the
fzopa, and the nuntios take their places within the kola;
while the other nobles are ftationed in the plain. The fenate
and the nuntios, after having pafled their refpeftive refolutions,
as in the ordinary diets, aflemble together in the kolat
when the primate, feated in the middle, lays before them
the objefts to be taken into confideration; the PaSla Conventa,
fettled at the diet of convocation, are read and approved,
all neceflary arrangements made, and the day of
el eft ion appointed. The diet then gives audience to the
foreign minifters, who are permitted by recommendation to
interfere in the choice of a king, and to the advocates of the
feveral candidates. All thefe affairs take up feveral days;
and would perhaps never be terminated, as unanimity is
requifite, i f the aflembly was not overawed by the foreign
troops, who are always quartered near the plain of eleft'ion.
Upon the day appointed for the eleftion, the fenate and
nuntios aflemble, as before, in the kola, while the nobles are
ranged in the open field in feparate bodies, according to their
feveral palatinates, with ftandards borne before them, and
the principal officers of each diftrift bn horfeback.
The primate, having declared the names of the candidates,
kneels down and chants a hymn ; after which the
fenators and nuntios join the gentry of their refpeftive palatinates
: then the primate, on horfeback, or in a carriage,
goes round the plain to the different bodies of the gentry
as they are ftationed according to their palatinates; and,
P a having