After forming a

property to this noble purpose. princely collection of more than 200,000 volumes, he made a present of it to the public.

The exertions of Konarski were not less praiseworthy. He was of the society of the Piarists, an order which had been introduced into Poland in 1642, on precisely opposite principles to the Jesuits. He established a college at Warsaw (Collegium Nobilium Scholarum Piarum) at his own expense. His publications on learning, politics, and religion, were written in the boldest spirit of reform; he introduced the legitimate drama, and freed education from the conventual shackles of the Jesuits. His exertions were at first" as the small pebble" that "stirs the peaceful lake," but they soon spread wider and wider throughout Poland; and all the glorious attempts since made at enlightened, reform in literature and policy, be said to have owed their existence to him.

may

CHAPTER VII.

Forced election of Stanislas-Poniatowski.-Bold resistance of Mokranowski.-Confederation.-The Confederates offer the Crown to Henry, brother of Frederick the Great.Coronation of Stanislas.-Anecdote of Stanislas.-Claims of the Dissidents; supported by Russia; rejected by the Diet.-Confederacy of the Dissidents.-Confederacy of the Constitutionalists.-Repnin's Treachery.-Polish Bishops banished to Siberia.-Dissidents confirmed in their rights. -Confederacy of Bar.-Attempt to seize Repnin.-Bar taken by the Russians. Rupture between Russia and Turkey.-Defeat of the Turks.-State of the Confederates. -The Confederates transfer their Council to Eperies.Visited by Joseph II.

NOTHING perhaps awakens more passions, bad and good, than competition, and few things have been sought with more eagerness than a crown. In addition to the stimulus which Poniatowski felt in common with other aspirants to the Polish diadem, his long expectations, which must have almost grown into claim in his own mind, spurred him on to the contest. His cousin, whose name Catharine had put as a candidate with his, had entirely abandoned the field, and even sent his written determination to the empress to that purport. But the deceitful count, either from the idea of adding effect to his situation, or in conformity with his habit of hypocrisy, affected the greatest sensibility at the thought of the important

charge he was about to take on himself, and this too at the very time when he was forging new chains for his country. "I foresee," said he, " that I shall have a difficult reign; I shall find only the thorns while I leave to others the flowers. Perhaps, like Charles I. of England, I shall suffer a long imprisonment." The amusements which this sentimentalist marked out for himself to while away the tedium of this prophesied confinement, were the care of his toilet, the study of his curls, and the folds of his cravat.

The Poles in general, or at least all those who did not expect any advantage from the enslavement of their country, would not allow themselves to imagine that Poniatowski, one of Catharine's kept men, could ever wear the Polish crown, and wished their hero Branicki to accept it, in full confidence that he would restore its tarnished lustre. But although age had not chilled Branicki's patriotism, it had curbed his spirit of enterprise, and he felt that even were he elected he should be king only of half his people.

Count Oginski, who had married Michael Czartoryski's daughter, was another and powerful rival to Poniatowski. He went to Petersburg in the hope of subverting his relative's interest with Catharine, and even Orloff exclaimed in full court when he saw him, This is the man who ought to not a poor player like Poniatowski."

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press was resolute, and when she was

be king, and But the em

told one day

that her lover's grandfather had been a dependant of

the Sapiehas, she coloured at the word, but exclaimed imperiously," Had he been so himself, I wish him to be king, and he shall be!"

Nor did Catharine confine herself to mere protestations, she kept 60,000 troops on the frontiers ready to enforce her will, and sent Prince Repnin to Warsaw to urge on the tardy Keyserling. He was a fit agent for such a mistress and such a mission. He said before his departure, that "his sovereign should give Poland whatever king she thought fit, the meanest gentleman, Polish or foreign, and that no power on earth could hinder her." He had been one of Poniatowski's boon companions at Petersburg, and felt a pleasure in renewing his acquaintance. He brought him 100,000 ducats, and assured him of further support.

Frederick wished to conciliate Catharine; he seemed to enter into all her views, and signed a treaty to prevent all change in the Polish government, and to confer the crown on a Piast. He also sent her lover the ribbon of the order of the Black Eagle, as a testimony of his favour. Forty thousand Prussians were on the frontiers, and ten thousand Russians were on their march to Warsaw.

Branicki and Radziwill were still firm to their duty: the latter arrived at Warsaw with a considerable number of troops, which, with the other forces of the republicans amounted to 3000 men.

On the 7th of May, 1764, which was the stated

avenues.

time for opening the diet of election, the Russians were drawn up without the city, and guarded all the Poniatowski was strongly guarded, and the whole of the senate-house was filled with soldiers. But only eight senators out of fifty appeared; and Malachowski, whose duty it was to open the session, as marshal of the last diet, did not for some time make his appearance. Mokranowski was engaged during this interval in registering, in the very building which was invested by his enemies, a manifesto against the legality of the diet, held under the awe of foreign arms.

When this was done, Mokranowski entered the house, leading the old marshal, who held his staff reversed, which was a sign that the diet was not yet opened. Mokranowski exclaimed, with a high voice, "Since the Russian troops hem us in, I suspend the authority of the diet." Immediately, the host of soldiers who were present drew their swords, and rushed at the bold patriot. This first outrage was prevented, and Mokranowski, sheathing his sword, which he had drawn in his defence, and looking round at the deputies, who wore cockades of the Czartoryski family colours, said to them, "What, gentlemen, are you deputies of your country, and assume the livery of a family?"

The old marshal then spoke: "Gentlemen, since liberty no longer exists among us, I carry away this staff, and I will never raise it till the public is de