penfion of 100,000 roubles per annum ; nor could he be prevailed
upon by Peter the Third to abdicate in favour of the
duke of Holftein ; nobly adding, that nothing ffiould induce him
to do fuch an injury to his family j but that he would prefer
even a fécond imprifonment.
Catharine, foon after the revolution which placed her on the
throne of Peter the Great, took compaffion on his misfortunes,
and reftored him to his former dignity.
Biron repaired to Mittau in 1763, twenty-eight years after he
had been elefted duke of Courland, and for the firft time iince
he had been raifed to that dignity. Prince Charles of Saxony,
although fupported by a large party in Courland, yet receiving
no affiftance from his father Auguftus the Third, was compelled
to retire before the Ruffian forces ; and Biron received the oaths
o f allegiance and fidelity from the whole nation.
In 1764, he obtained from the king and republic of Poland
the inveftiture of Courland for his eldeft fon Peter, the prefent
duke; in 1769, abdicated in his favour; and; in 1772, clofed at
Mittau, in the eighty-third year of his age, a life -of almoft unparalleled
viciffitude.
The conftitution * of Courland is of fo complicated a nature,
and the rights o f Poland, o f the duke, and of the diet, fo inter*
F o r the hiftory and conftitution o f Ziegennorn’ s Staats -Recht der H e r tzo g -
Courland,feeLgenngnich, J u f.P u b l.R e g . thuemer Courland and Setnegallen.
Polojii. lib, I . c . x, fee, v . to v ii. and
woven,
woven, that in order to form a diftindl and accurate relation,
it will be neceifary to feparate and explain them with fome degree
of minutenefs.
From the hiftorical iketch of the fucceffion to the ducal throne
<>f Courland, it will appear that Courland is a male-fief, dependent
on and conferred by the crown of Poland.
The territorial fuperiprity of Poland is fettled by the PaBa
SubjeBionis, or adfcs of vaffalage, ratified by the king of Poland
and duke of Courland, when the duke receives his invefti-
ture.
This territorial right confifts principally in the following articles
: The king invefts each duke with the dutchies of Courland
and Semigallia as fiefs of Poland; and receives his homage
as from a vaffal to his liege lord.
I f Poland is engaged in war, the duke is bound to furnilh 200
horfe, or 500 infantry; and the nobles are likewife bound to
fupply, as their quota, 200 horfe, or 30,000 dollars in the firft
year of the war, provided no Poliih or enemy’s troops are quartered
in Courland, and 10,000 dollars in each of the fucceeding
years.
The money of Courland is to bear on one fide, the head of
the king, or the arms of Poland and Lithuania; it muft alfo be
ftruck upon the fame ftandard as the coin of Poland.. The
Poliffi money muft pafs current in Courland, and the Courlandifh
in Poland.
The king fettles all difputes between the duke and his Tub--
I jefts,. H