Copy 1, Volume 1

Travels in Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. Illustrated with charts and engravings / By William Coxe.

  • Coxe, William, 1747-1828.
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels in Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark. Illustrated with charts and engravings / By William Coxe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/448 (page 23)
    if i s t o it r. merits, raffed Iiirn in 1704 to the throne. Five thonfaiid Ruffian troops Rationed near the plain of Voia, at the diet of election, fecureci good order, and over-awed the oppefite party. The practice of cantoning a body of fokliers near the plain of election, has been adopted by different foreign powers for near a century; a mode of proceed- ing, which, however galling it may appear to the licentious nobility, prevents the effufion of blood that formerly deluged thefe tumultuous aflemfalies. Staniflaus was in the 32d year of his age when he afeended the throne, and feemed calculated by his abilities and virtues to raife Poland from its deplorable Rate, bad not the defects of the con- futation fettered his exertions for the public good. The faireft hopes were conceived, of his future reign; but thefe flattering prefages were difappointed by the factions of a turbulent people, fomented by the intrigues of the neighbouring powers ; and the moll amiable among the Polift fovereigns was doomed to experience the dreadful effects of that exceffive liberty, which is me on- fiftent acceffion of Catharine the Second, when his hopes revived. Though her affections were fixed on Or]off, yet Catharine fdll retained a high degree of efteem for her former lover, and raifedhim, on the. death of Auguftus the Third, to the throne of Poland. This account is principally drawn from the king of Poland’s letters to the family of Yorke in the peffeffion of the Farl of Hard- wicke, and from the papers of fir Charles Hanbury Williams, pre - feived at C. H. Leigh s, Lfq. at Pontypool Park, Monmouthfliire* See Tour in Monmou.bfhire, chap. 25 and 29. Sigifh>on4,