book ¡e f t t p h e r f e l f , t h e f am e f u r y o f c o n t e n d i n g p a r t i e s , n o w
i ftnothered, b u t n o t a n n i h i l a t e d , w i l l p r o b a b l y b r e a k o u t w i t h
r e d o u b l e d f u r y ; a n d a g a in g e n e r a t e t h o f e d i f tu r b a n c e s
which have l o n g c o n v u l f e d t h i s u n h a p p y k i n g d o m : a n d to
w h a t a w r e t c h e d i l a t e is t h a t c o u n t r y r e d u c e d , w h i c h ow e s
i t s t r a n q u i l l i t y to t h e i n t e r p o f i t io n o f a f o r e i g n a rm y ?
C H A P . VIII.
Wretched Jlate o f Poland.-— Divijion of~ the inhabitants into
I . Nobles or Gentry, II. Clergy; III. Burghers', IF. Pea-
fan ts.— State of vaiffalage.-— •Its fa ta l effetis.— Injlances o f
a few nobles, who have given liberty to their peafants.— • Advantages
refulting from that practice.— V. Jews.— Population
o f Poland.
Confider Poliih liberty the fource of Poliih wretchednefs; c h a p .
and Poland appears to me, as far as I.can judge by the V1IL
I
fpecimens which fell under my obfervation, of all countries
the moft diftreifed. Nor indeed do the natives themfelves
attempt to palliate or deny this melancholy fail:. Upon ex-
preffing my-furprize at one inftance of the abufe of liberty,
to which I had been mvfelf a witnefs, to a perfon well verfed
in the laws o f the country, he returned for anfwer, “ I f you
“ knew the confufion and anarchy of our conftitution, you
“ would be furprifed at nothing : many grievances necef-
“ farily exift even in the beft regulated ftates ; what then
“ muft be the cafe in ours, which o f all governments is the
u moit deteftable ?” Another lamenting the dreadful fitua-
tion of his country, faid to me, “ The name of Poland ilill
x‘ remains, but the nation no longer exiits': an univerfal cor-
“ ruption and venality pervades all ranks of people. Many
oi the firft nobility do not blufh to receive penfions from
“ foreign courts. One profeffes himfelf publicly an Auftrian,
a fecond a Pruifian, a third a Frenchman, and a fourth a
M Ruffian.”
Vol. I. R 'The