IO o K time, tranfmit any grievances, which are complained of by thè
X I.
. : ■ body of nobles, for the confideration of that affembly.
The deputies muft be noble, and are elected by the nobles in
their refpeitive pariihes. The number of deputies returned is uncertain,
becaufe fometimes one pariih choofes one or two deputies,
and not unufually three pariihes join in appointing only one,
but may be eftimated at not more than twenty-feven, the number
of pariihes.
The diet affembles generally at Mittau, and immediately
choofes, by a majority of votes, a marihal Or prefident. The
deputies then, with the marihal at their head, repair to the palace,
are received by the duke in ftate, kifs his hand, and are
entertained at dinner.
The diet, conjointly with the duke, impofes taxes, and paiîès
all laws and regulations which do not infringe on the féodal
rights of Poland, or alter the conftitution of the country; as
all fuch propoiitions, after having been approved by the duke
and diet, muft be tranfmitted to the Poliih diet for its approbation
or rejection.
In all grievances, the diet firft fubmits them to the duke ;
and if he confiders them as nugatory, and refufes to redrefs
them, the deputies enjoy the privilege of laying their remonftrances
before the diet of Poland, as the fupreme court of legif-
lature.
All queftions are carried or rejected by the majority; and each
deputy muft vote according to the inftruCtions he has received
from
from his conftituents: but in all inftances wherein the con- C H A P .
ftituents have not fully inftruCted their deputy, his vote is null, < ,i
and the fentiments of the majority prevail.
From this abfurd method of giving previous inftruCtions, and
the attempts of the deputies to elude them, many inftances occur
in the hiftory of Courland, in which the minority have prevailed
over the majority: this cuftom has alfo given rife to leve-
ral attempts which, not without fuccefs, have been made for a
flngle deputy to affume to himfelf the right of the liberum veto *
in Poland, though under another name, and to be the means of
diffolving the diet from his foie oppofition.
At the diffolution of the diet, the deputies are bound to acquaint
their conftituents in perfon with the tranfaCtions of that
affembly, a circumftance which necefiarily gives rife to factions,
and has not unfrequently occafioned civil commotions.
Many of the privileges of the nobles are enormous, and incon-
fiftent with every principle of found policy. A noble cannot be
arrefted, by order of the duke, for the moil flagrant aCt, except
within twenty-four hours after the commiflion of the crime;
if he efcapes during that time, he cannot be arrefted without an
order from the king and republic of Poland; he cannot be im-
prifoned till he is found guilty; and cannot be executed, but by
the permiflion of the king and republic of Poland.
The higheft and moil important officers of ftate muft be drawn
from their body.
* See Book I. ch. vi.
Qjq 2 Nobles