but it has been with this difference, that in the contempt which great men show for death it is the love of glory which hides it from their view; and in common people, it is an effect of their want of intelligence which prevents their being acquainted with the greatness of their loss, and leaves them at liberty to think of other things.

APPENDIX.

MAXIMS AND REFLECTIONS.

BY

STANISLAUS,

KING OF POLAND.

THE LIFE OF STANISLAUS.

STANISLAUS was born at Leopold, October 20, 1677. His family name was Seczinski, and his father held the important post of grand treasurer to the Crown. He very early displayed indication of an amiable and estimable character, and at the age of twenty-two was intrusted with an embassy to the Ottoman court. In 1704, being then palatine of Posnania, and general of Great Poland, he was deputed, by the Assembly of the States at Warsaw, to wait upon Charles XII. of Sweden, who had invaded the kingdom, with a view of dethroning Augustus of Saxony. In a conference with the Swedish monarch, he so rapidly acN*

quired his esteem, that Charles immediately resolved to raise him to the throne of Poland, which he effected at an election, held in the presence of the Swedish generals, on the 27th of July, 1704, Stanislaus being then in his twentyseventh year. He was, however, soon after driven from Warsaw, by his rival, Augustus; but another change brought him back to that capital, where he was crowned, with his wife, in October, 1705, and the next year, Augus tus was compelled solemnly to abdicate. The fatal defeat of his patron, Charles XII. at Pultowa, in 1709, again obliged him to retreat into Sweden, where he endeavored to join Charles XII. at Bender, in disguise, but being detected, he was held captive in that town until 1714. Being then suffered to depart, he repaired to Deux Ponts, where he was joined by his family, and remained until the death of Charles XII. in 1719, when the court of France afforded him a retreat at Weissembourgh, in Alsace.

He remained in obscurity until 1725, when his daughter, the princess Mary, was unexpectedly selected as a wife, by Louis XV., king of France. On the death of Augustus in 1733, an attempt was made by the French court, to replace Stanislaus on the throne of Poland; but although he had a party who supported him and proclaimed him king, his competitor, the electoral prince of Saxony, being aided by the emperors of Germany and Russia, he was obliged to retire. He endured this like every other reverse of fortune, with great resignation, and at the peace of 1736, formally abdicated his claim to the kingdom of Poland,* on condition of retaining the title of king, and being put in

*The following are copies of the letters to the Polish Lords and the City of Dantzic, on his resignation of the sovereign power of Poland:

possession for life of the duchies of Lorraine and Bar. Thenceforward he lived as the sovereign of a small country, which he rendered happy by the exercise of virtues which acquired him the appellation of Stanislaus the Beneficent. He not only relieved his people from the excessive imposts, but by strict economy was enabled to found many useful charitable establishments, and to patronize the arts and

"To my dear Primate, and the Polish Lords.

"My grief in separating from you, my dear and true friends, speaks sufficiently to give you a sense of all I feel in this cruel moment. The forced resolution I take is only founded on the inutility of my sacrifice, as you have so judged yourselves. I embrace you all very tenderly, beginning by my Lord the Primate; and I beseech you by yourselves, and consequently by what is dearest to me, to unite more than ever for supporting, as much as possible, the interests of my dear country, which has no support but in you only.

"The tears that spread upon the words I write oblige me to leave off. May you at least read in the bottom of my heart the sentiments which your love for me has placed and graved in it for

ever.

"I am, from my heart and soul,

"STANISLAUS, King."

"Advice to my good City of Dantzic.

"I depart when I can no longer remain with you, nor enjoy longer the testimonies of so unexampled a love and fidelity. I take along with me, with the regret for your sufferings, the grateful acknowledgments which I owe you, and of which I shall acquit myself at all times by all the means that may convince you of them. I wish you all the happiness you deserve; it will be my consolation amidst the distress that forces me from you.

"I am, and shall always be, and everywhere, your most affectionate,

"STANISLAUS, King."

sciences. He was himself attached to literature, and wrote various treatises on philosophy, morals, and politics, which were published under the title of "Euvres du Philosophe Bienfaisant," 4 vols. 8vo., 1765. He died, much lamented, February 23, 1766, in consequence of the injury which he sustained from his night-gown being accidentally set on fire.