by increafing its numbers, and bringing it under the ftricteft difcipline. But a measure no lefs effectual at the present juncture, was a precaution taken at the calling of the diet now fitting. Forefeeing that if the long ufed privilege of breaking up its feffions by a fingle diffentient voice were still allowed, all their defigns might in one moment be defeated, they had previously taken care to change this meeting of the ftates into a diet of confederation, and to agree at the fame time to decide all questions by a majority. This alone was fo material an alteration in the form of the Polish government, and fo clearly evinced a refolution to make further changes, that the alarm was inftantly taken by the three partitioning courts. They fully comprehended the meaning of this meafure, which was obvioufly calculated to defeat all their intrigues. Actuated by that refentment which arifes from offended pride and difappointed ambition, they immediately fufpended their reciprocal animofities, and employed themfelves in concerting measures for oppofing the defigns obviously in contemplation. But the patriotic party had fo well guarded against their machinations, that they found themselves arrested at once in the career formerly fo fuccefsful, and leading fo directly to the object at which they aimed: a few, and often a fingle individual, had fufficed to defeat the best and most national purposes, and even to put a stop to all proceedings of the diet: but they were now constrained to adopt a new plan, and to extend their bribes and promifes wherever they hoped to procure their acceptance. But, to the great honour of the

Polish character, they fell much fhort of their expectations; and at a confiderable colt obtained but very few partizans. This was a circumftance of which the public in every part of Europe took much notice at the time. It proved, unanfwerably, that to the liberum veto all the calamities that had fo long afflicted Poland were to be imputed, and that the only prevention to their return, was to abolish it for ever. But it alfo admonished the partitioning powers, that nothing was now left them to execute their projects on Poland, but a fpeedy and united exertion of their force.

A pacification was fettled between the Porte and Austria; and the near profpect of the reduction of the Netherlands to their former obedience to this family, had enabled it to refume its ambitious spirit. Ruffia too was on the point of terminating its profperous war against the Turks, with the additional fplendor of having fuccefffully refifted the mediation in their behalf, of the greatest maritime power in the universe. Pruffia, with finances improved by a long duration of peace, and an army formed under the difcipline of the great Frederic, was, after his example, meditating new acquifitions. This was certainly a perilous feafon for a people diminished in numbers and extent of territory, to enter on fo bold an attempt as that of cafting off the yoke of that interfering influence over them, which, though manifeftly an ufurpation, ftill had been established by treaties; and thefe, however compelled by the fword, would always be pleaded by thofe who had thus enforced them.

It required, therefore, very un

common

common fortitude to venture on refiftance against three fuch powers combined, every one of which was fufficiently formidable to require the whole ftrength of Poland to encounter it. But, as defperate cafes authorize defperate remedies, the Poles were fo thoroughly convinced that refolute measures, however hazardous, were the only refource remaining to them in their prefent fituation, that it was the univerfal with of the nation to commit their fortunes to a trial, whenever their leaders might be of opinion that an aufpicious opportunity was offered. The heads of the patriotic party, though men of the moft daring difpofition, united nevertheless fo much coolnefs to the impatience and indignation with which they perceived the certain though difguifed preparations intended against them, that they kept in the deepest filence the project they were forming, until they were convinced that the moment had arrived when it ought to be brought forward, without any fartber delay.

The people, they were confcious, were unanimoufly with them. This, in fo bold and venturous an undertaking, was an indifpenfable encouragement. They knew alfo, that in the caufe for which they were going to contend, foldierfhip and difcipline were on the fide of their enemies: but thefe they doubted not fpeedily to acquire; nor were they without hopes that caufes of difcord might produce fuch effects as to embroil their neighbours with each other, and fo retard their operations, as to give time to other powers to reflect on the impolicy of permitting three fuch overgrown potentates ftill far

ther to augment their dominions. Were fentiments of this fort to fucceed to that ignominious apathy with which Europe had fo unaccountably beheld the iniquitous proceedings of the three partitioning powers, it was more than probable that a stop would be put to their encroachments, and that Poland would be preferved from their projected depredations. Confiderations of this nature gave additional fpirit to the resolution they had now taken to enter immediately upon the execution of the plan; which after affiduous deliberation, they had at length brought to maturity.

Among thofe who were chiefly concerned in framing it, it has been faid, none acquitted himfelf with more diligence and capacity than the King himself, who, in the courfe of his travels into various parts of Europe, had acquired an intimate knowledge of their different fyltems of government. What is more certain, there was not any one who had a greater fhare in the formation of this system than Abbatte Piatotti, formerly his Majesty's pris vate fecretary.

When the King and his affociates in this great work, had completed the fcheme of government that was to be prefented to the public, they reciprocally agreed to ftand by each other to the laft, in procuring its acceptance on the very day of its prefentation. Cogent motives of every kind induced them to form this refolution. The capital

fwarmed with the emiffaries of thofe powers that were inimical to the undertaking. Were the diet, once met, to be prevailed upon to poftpone the matter to another fitting, the patriotic party well

knew

knew that every effort would in the interval be made to obftruct it. Bribes, promises, threats, entreaties, in fhort, every endeavour, friendly or hoftile, would be used, in order to diffuade or to deter the members of the diet from giving their concurrence. Though the majority might remain inflexible, yet fome might be intimidated, or yield from other motives. This, by diminishing the majority, would detract from the weight of the decifion. The only method, therefore, to obviate this difficulty, was evidently to bring the bufinefs to a conclufion in a fingle fitting. The third of May was fixed upon for this purpofe. Early in the morning, a large company of thofe members, whose courage and determination in the cause were well known, affembled in the King's palace, where, in his prefence, they folemnly fwore to carry the bufinefs through on that very day; and pledged themselves to each other not to feparate till it fhould be completely effected.

The meeting of fuch numbers in the royal palace at three o'clock in the morning, naturally excited uniyerfal curiofity. The public had been fome time in expectation of a great event, which they now looked upon as at hand. Without being able to afcertain precifely what that event would be, they rightly conjectured it to be of the highest importance to the nation. The inhabitants of Warfaw crowded, in confequence, to the hall where the diet was held. Inftead of the ufual ceremony of the marshals opening the feffion, the King on this great occafion thought proper to open it in perfon. He laid before the Affembly the critical state

of the nation. He obferved, that notwithstanding the friendly affurances of foreign powers, he was well informed that a refolution had been taken to make a final partition of Poland. The only way to prevent fuch a calamity and difgrace to the nation, and to fecure it from future attempts of this kind, was without delay to eftablifh fuch a form of government as fhould produce an union of the whole ftrength and energy of the Polish nation, and thereby enable it to refift the interference of foreigners in its domeftic affairs, and preferve its natu ral independence and dignity. In. order to effect this falutary purpose, he had confulted the English and the American conftitutions; and avoiding what he thought erroneous, extracted from thefe fuch parts as he judged beft adapted to the prefent circumftances of Poland. The plan being read, a fpirited and long debate enfued: hut, through the King's prudent management, was conducted without violence or reftraint of the fulleft liberty of fpeech. One member in particular, whether excited by foreign influence, or moved by his own propenfities, feemed by his be haviour determined to provoke harsh treatment, On his rifing to fpeak, many voices endeavoured to drown him; but he was protected by the King, and permitted to declare his fentiments with the ut moft freedom and fafety to his perfon.

After many hours deliberation, a great number of the members fupplicated the King to accept and fwear to the conftitution propofed. But he judicioufly reminded them of the oath he had taken at his acceffion to the crown, to maintain

the

oppofition amounted, declining their attendance. After the renewal of the oath, with folemn thanks and addreffes to Heaven for the profperity of the new conftitution, it was announced to the public by a difcharge of all the artillery in the metropolis. The minority in the mean time, though unable to oppofe thefe proceedings, refolved to discountenance them to the utmoft of their power. They drew up a protest against them, which they published in the form of a manifefto. But their conduct excited univerfal diffatisfaction; and though, through the moderation of the patriotic party, no infult was offered to their perfons, yet the people could not forbear to view them with an eye of indignation.

Great and unfeigned was the joy expreffed by all orders of men at this change in the conftitution. It evidently tended to meliorate the condition of all claffes indifcriminately, and to place the nation on fuch a profperous footing, as in a fhort time to command the refpect of their neighbours, and to bid defiance to their fecret machinations to disturb the internal peace of the kingdom, as well as to their open attempts to tyrannize over it. It was not therefore, without the most inceffant and indefatigable ftruggles to prevent this alteration in the Polifh fyftem, that those who had fo much benefited by the divifions they had fomented in that country, beheld its deliverance from their ruinous interference. So keen and perfevering had their efforts been to obftruct the plans of the patriotic party, that on the very eve of the memorable third of May, a foreign minifter at the court of Warsaw had, it was reported, and firmly be

lieved, diftributed 50,000 ducats among thofe whom he imagined of fufficient weight and influence to impede the measures in agitation. But the patriotic party were too vigilant to be taken by furprize. It difcovered his intrigues, and obviated them, to his great difappointment, and mortification.

A confirmation took place on the 5th of May, of what had been. tranfacted on the third. The con-" ftitution was again read over to the diet, and received the fignatures of all the members prefent, after every fentence had been folemnly revifed and examined with the strictest attention. By this conftitution, the fovereignty was formally recognized to refide in the nation, acting by its fupreme will, expreffed by its reprefentatives.

The government confifted of three diftinct powers, the legiflative, the judicial, and the executive. The first exercised by the diet, which was to be elected every two years out of the order of nobles, and divided into two houfes, the one of Nuncios, or deputies, and the other of Senators. The former of thefe houfes to poffefs, the pre-eminent prerogative of framing laws, which, when accepted by the latter, became valid and binding: but if negatived, re-, mained fufpended till re-enacted by the houfe of nuncios at the next diet; when, without confent of the fenate, they became of force.

The crown was declared hereditary refpecting individuals, but elective as to families. That of Saxony was elected to the fucceffion, at the demife of the reigning monarch. The execution of the laws was affigned to the King and his council. The roval erfon to be inviolable. He was veftea with

the