the King, who endeavoured by every argument he was able to allege, to prevent their giving so marked an offence to the court of Petersburg. In lieu of this council, they proposed to establish a permanent diet, similar to that of the Germanic empire, the members of which should continue their sessions till the meeting of another. Thus the power, as well as the government of the nation, would remain in the hands of its representatives; by which means it would be rendered highly difficult for any foreign court to influence the internal affairs of the kingdom. The disapprobation expressed by the King at this conduct of the diet, arose from his apprehensions that the ardour with which the majority was at present animated, might lead them to still more precipitate measures, before the various plans that had been resolved upon had been carried into a sufficient degree of trial, to warrant the hopes that had been formed from them, and to encourage their prosecution. The year 1789 was consumed in a variety of discussions by the diet, on the means of obtaining those ends which the patriotic party had now more earnestly in view than ever, and of which the situation of Europe, especially of the belligerent powers, seemed to countenance their sanguine expectation. Russia and Austria, the two powers of which only they stood now in dread, were too deeply engaged in their Turkish schemes, to think of any other. This appeared, therefore, the most auspicious season to enforce their demands, that the Russian troops should evacuate Poland, and the Emperor indemnify the inhabitants of the Polish dis tricts, occupied by his soldiery. Both of these demands were punctually complied with, to the great satisfaction of the Poles, who now began to feel a consequence, to which they had many years been utter strangers, and no less to the astonishment of their neighbours, who had so long been used to behold them as a nation subdued both in spirit and the means of commanding respect. Various motives concurred, in the mean time, to render them as expeditious as their finances would pernit, in augmenting their military strength, upon which they daily became more conscious their ultimate reliance must be placed. One hundred thousand men was the necessary compliment insisted on by the patriotic party; nor did this appear to the clear sighted more than a bare sufficiency to cooperate with their Prussian ally, on a presumption that he would continue unshaken in his new connexion with Poland. The two im.. perial courts would, it was not doubted, rather sacrifice their projects of aggrandizement on the side of Turkey, than give up the possession of those large and valuable provinces they had acquired in Poland, and the loss of which they looked upon as inevitable, were the Poles to establish a more orderly government in their country and retain their connexion with Prussia. The Porte was no less apprized of these apprehensions on the part of those hostile courts than the other European powers seemed also to be at this period, and derived from thence the strongest motives to bear up un dauntedly against the pressure of those formidable enemies. It had recourse commons, had entirely secured them in his interest. Denmark too, it was well understood, would gladly embrace an opportunity to throw off its dependence on Russia. Thus it appeared that, with a proper degree of policy and good management, many enemies might be opposed to Russia in the north, while occupied in the south with the Turks; who, though frequently defeated, still maintained the contest with both the Austrians and the Russians with unabated courage and vigour. In the diet that opened in October 1788, the preponderance of the Prussian over the Russian party, had been so strong and manifest, that the court of Petersburg had been compelled explicitly to give way to the resolutions of the Poles as well as that of Vienna. These powers had been requested to withdraw their troops from the Polish territories, and to indemnify the inhabitants of the districts where they had been stationed, for the damages they had suffered. They promised compliance in a style of conciliation and regard to which they had been long disused. What doubtless contributed to this condescendence in those two haughty courts, was the remonstrances to that of Petersburg by the King of Prussia, in behalf of the Poles, and the apprehension of his hostile intentions if they were not duly attendedto. Encouraged by the part which he had so ostensibly taken, the diet and the whole nation felt a renovation of that ancient spirit which had once so strikingly characterized the Polish nation. They took a step on this occasion, which proved how earnestly they were determined to pursue the 'most vi gorous measures. They resolved that their sittings should continue till the military plans that were for the public defence had been completed; they instituted a new department for the organization of the army, from which every one was excluded that lay under suspicion of partiality to Russia; and a scheme of taxation was framed, to provide for the maintenance of the numerous forces that had been voted. These different resolutions were carried with a vigour and decision that overwhelmed every species of opposition. The few partizans of Russia remaining in the diet, whether they acted from sordid motives, from the dread of offending Russia, and of not being able finally to resist her vengeance, or whether they suspected the sincerity of the Prussian declarations in favour of Poland, notwithstanding their warmth and frequency, or from whatever cause their opposition might proceed, they were constantly overpowered by a vast majority. There still existed, however, a powerful impediment to the patriotic zeal of the diet; namely, the permanent council, instituted in 1775. This council was invested with the whole power of the state during the intervals between the sittings of the diet; which, meeting only once in two years, and sitting only six weeks, could exercise but little control on this council. It owed its institution to Russian policy; and its members at this period were not considered as sufficiently inclined to support the measures of the popular party. For this reason the diet came to a determination to suppress it, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the the King, who endeavoured by every argument he was able to allege, to prevent their giving so marked an offence to the court of Petersburg. In lieu of this council, they proposed to establish a permanent diet, similar to that of the Germanic empire, the members of which should continue their sessions till the meeting of another. Thus the power, as well as the government of the nation, would remain in the hands of its representatives; by which means it would be rendered highly difficult for any foreign court to influence the internal affairs of the kingdom. The disapprobation expressed by the King at this conduct of the diet, arose from his apprehensions that the ardour with which the majority was at present animated, might lead them to still more precipitate measures, before the various plans that had been resolved upon had been carried into a sufficient degree of trial, to warrant the hopes that had been formed from them, and to encourage their prosecution. The year 1789 was consumed in a variety of discussions by the diet, on the means of obtaining those ends which the patriotic party had now more earnestly in view than ever, and of which the situation of Europe, especially of the belligerent powers, seemed to countenance their sanguine expectation. Russia and Austria, the two powers of which only they stood now in dread, were too deeply engaged in their Turkish schemes, to think of any other. This appeared, therefore, the most auspicious season to enforce their demands, that the Russian troops should evacuate Poland, and the Emperor indemnify the inhabitants of the Polish dis tricts, occupied by his soldiery. Both of these demands were punctually complied with, to the great satisfaction of the Poles, who now began to feel a consequence, to which they had many years been utter strangers, and no less to the astonishment of their neighbours, who had so long been used to behold them as a nation subdued both in spirit and the means of commanding respect. Various motives concurred, in the mean time, to render them as expeditious as their finances would pernit, in augmenting their military strength, upon which they daily became more conscious their ultimate reliance must be placed. One hundred thousand men was the necessary compliment insisted on by the patriotic party; nor did this appear to the clear sighted more than a bare sufficiency to cooperate with their Prussian ally, on a presumption that he would continue unshaken in his new connexion with Poland. The two im.. perial courts would, it was not doubted, rather sacrifice their projects of aggrandizement on the side of Turkey, than give up the possession of those large and valuable provinces they had acquired in Poland, and the loss of which they looked upon as inevitable, were the Poles to establish a more orderly government in their country and retain their connexion with Prussia. The Porte was no less apprized of these apprehensions on the part of those hostile courts than the other European powers seemed also to be at this period, and derived from thence the strongest motives to bear up un dauntedly against the pressure of those formidable enemies. It had recourse commons, had entirely secured them in his interest. Denmark too, it was well understood, would gladly embrace an opportunity to throw off its dependence on Russia. Thus it appeared that, with a proper degree of policy and good management, many enemies might be opposed to Russia in the north, while occupied in the south with the Turks; who, though frequently defeated, still maintained the contest with both the Austrians and the Russians with unabated courage and vigour. In the diet that opened in October 1788, the preponderance of the Prussian over the Russian party, had been so strong and manifest, that the court of Petersburg had been compelled explicitly to give way to the resolutions of the Poles as well as that of Vienna. These powers had been requested to withdraw their troops from the Polish territories, and to indemnify the inhabitants of the districts where they had been stationed, for the damages they had suffered. They promised compliance in a style of conciliation and regard to which they had been long disused. What doubtless contributed to this condescendence in those two haughty courts, was the remonstrances to that of Petersburg by the King of Prussia, in behalf of the Poles, and the apprehension of his hostile intentions if they were not duly attended to. Encouraged by the part which he had so ostensibly taken, the diet and the whole nation felt a renovation of that ancient spirit which had once so strikingly characterized the Polish nation. They took a step on this occasion, which proved how earnestly they were determined to pursue the 'most vi gorous measures. They resolved that their sittings should continue till the military plans that were for the public defence had been completed; they instituted a new department for the organization of the army, from which every one was excluded that lay under suspicion of partiality to Russia; and a scheme of taxation was framed, to provide for the maintenance of the numerous forces that had been voted. These different resolutions were carried with a vigour and decision that overwhelmed every species of opposition. The few partizans of Russia remaining in the diet, whether they acted from sordid motives, from the dread of offending Russia, and of not being able finally to resist her vengeance, or whether they suspected the sincerity of the Prussian declarations in favour of Poland, notwithstanding their warmth and frequency, or from whatever cause their opposition might proceed, they were constantly overpowered by a vast majority. There still existed, however, a powerful impediment to the patriotic zeal of the diet; namely, the permanent council, instituted in 1775. This council was invested with the whole power of the state. during the intervals between the sittings of the diet; which, meeting only once in two years, and sitting only six weeks, could exercise but little control on this council. It owed its institution to Russian policy; and its members at this period were not considered as sufficiently inclined to support the measures of the popular party. For this reason the diet came to a determination to suppress it, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the the King, who endeavoured by every argument he was able to allege, to prevent their giving so marked an offence to the court of Petersburg. In lieu of this council, they proposed to establish a permanent diet, similar to that of the Germanic empire, the members of which should continue their sessions till the meeting of another. Thus the power, as well as the government of the nation, would remain in the hands of its representatives; by which means it would be rendered highly difficult for any foreign court to influence the internal affairs of the kingdom. The disapprobation expressed by the King at this conduct of the diet, arose from his apprehensions that the ardour with which the majority was at present animated, might lead them to still more precipitate measures, before the various plans that had been resolved upon had been carried into a sufficient degree of trial, to warrant the hopes that had been formed from them, and to encourage their prosecution. The year 1789 was consumed in a variety of discussions by the diet, on the means of obtaining those ends which the patriotic party had now more earnestly in view than ever, and of which the situation of Europe, especially of the belligerent powers, seemed to countenance their sanguine expectation. Russia and Austria, the two powers of which only they stood now in dread, were too deeply engaged in their Turkish schemes, to think of any other. This appeared, therefore, the most auspicious season to enforce their demands, that the Russian troops should evacuate Poland, and the Emperor indemnify the inhabitants of the Polish dis tricts, occupied by his soldiery. Both of these demands were punctually complied with, to the great satisfaction of the Poles, who now began to feel a consequence, to which they had many years been utter strangers, and no less to the astonishment of their neighbours, who had so long been used to behold them as a nation subdued both in spirit and the means of commanding respect. Various motives concurred, in the mean time, to render them as expeditious as their finances would pernit, in augmenting their military strength, upon which they daily became more conscious their ultimate reliance must be placed. One hundred thousand men was the necessary compliment insisted on by the patriotic party; nor did this appear to the clear sighted more than a bare sufficiency to cooperate with their Prussian ally, on a presumption that he would continue unshaken in his new connexion with Poland. The two im.. perial courts would, it was not doubted, rather sacrifice their projects of aggrandizement on the side of Turkey, than give up the possession of those large and valuable provinces they had acquired in Poland, and the loss of which they looked upon as inevitable, were the Poles to establish a more orderly government in their country and retain their connexion with Prussia. The Porte was no less apprized of these apprehensions on the part of those hostile courts than the other European powers seemed also to be at this period, and derived from thence the strongest motives to bear up un dauntedly against the pressure of those formidable enemies. It had recourse |