Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
0 "N the nth of February , at Petersburg , aged 65 , Stanislaus Augustus , late King of Poland and Great Duke of Lithuania . This amiable and unfortunate monarch was elected to the crown of Poland in 1764 . under the immediate influence of Catharine , late Empress of Russia ; and his election
was recognized by all the courts of Europe . His family name was Poniatowski , and he was of noble birth , his father , Count Ponialowski , being the friend and companion of ChaiTes XII . At the time of hi ? election , Poland was rent with party divisions . Those who differed from the Catholic persuasion
were called Dissidents , and they contended earnestl y , and with justice , for a full toleration . The bigotry , however , of their opponents was 100 strong to admit of these fair claims . The Catholics resisted their pretensions with rigid perseverance . In-consequence of this intolerance , the Empress of
Russia , who sided with the Dissidents , sent a body of troops into Poland , which was threatened with all the horrors of a civil war . To prevent this evil , the
King convened an extraordinary diet , which ended without producing the desired effect . But in another , which was convened in 17 ( 18 , various reso-Jutions were passed in favour of the Dissidents , more from fear of the Russian troops than from any enlarged principle of justice . Tranquillity seemed then
to be restored ; but this calm was only the prelude to a fiercer storm . The powers of the King in these disputes became insignificant , and he was left almost without Ihe shadow of authority . The overbearing insolence of the Russian soldiers , and the arrogance of the Co ut of St . Petersburg , in meddling
wilh the internal affairs of an independent kingdom , no doubt afforded just ground for disaffection . And as Stanislaus was evidently in the Russian interest , no smalt jealousy was enierlained of his patriotism . Piols were formed against , him ; and a most hold and daring atte ' mpt was made to carry him off from the capital , for the purpose of assassinating him , Sept . 3 . 1771 . His deliverance op . that occasion was teavlv
miraculous ; and in the ages of extreme superstition this event would have been sufficient to have brought upon him the name of a saint . The year following the Sovereigns of Russia , Austria , and Prussia , entered into an alliance to divide ihe territories of this unhappy Prince between then ? . Frederick the
Great , the pretended philosopher , was the first who devised this equitable project , which was managed with such address that the other European states had no conception of what was going on till the gopd -work was completed . The Courts of London , Versailles , 'Stockholm , and Copenhagen , remonstrated
indeed against the usurpation , but these remonstrances were of no service to the plundered Poles . This bold step was but the prelude to the absolute reduction of Poland to the will of the confederates . In 1791 meetings were held for the purpose of reforming the constitution of Poland , and these meetings were held in the King's presence , and with his sanction . A new constitution was formed , which was
wisely calculated for the happiness of the people , provided the framers-ofit had possessed strength sufficient to carryit into effict . This constitution established an hereditary succession ill the crown , a measure little likely to be acceptable to the neighbouring potentates , who derived no small advantage from
the disorders occasioned by the interregna . The Empress of Russia expressed her resentment at this proceeding in very harsh and threatening terms , and accompanied her declaration by sending a military force into Poland . To oppose these troop-Prince Poniatowski
, headed ihe Polish army , and encamped at Tyurew . After several skirmishes , and finding his country abandoned by all ' who were in alliance with it , Stanislaus was obliged to annul the new constitution , andSo deliver up his army to the Russian Gefteral . From that even ; the total ruin of
Poland was inevitable . There were not wanting , indeed , many noble spirits who disdained the slavish and foreign yoke which was prepared for them . These
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
OBITUARY .
0 "N the nth of February , at Petersburg , aged 65 , Stanislaus Augustus , late King of Poland and Great Duke of Lithuania . This amiable and unfortunate monarch was elected to the crown of Poland in 1764 . under the immediate influence of Catharine , late Empress of Russia ; and his election
was recognized by all the courts of Europe . His family name was Poniatowski , and he was of noble birth , his father , Count Ponialowski , being the friend and companion of ChaiTes XII . At the time of hi ? election , Poland was rent with party divisions . Those who differed from the Catholic persuasion
were called Dissidents , and they contended earnestl y , and with justice , for a full toleration . The bigotry , however , of their opponents was 100 strong to admit of these fair claims . The Catholics resisted their pretensions with rigid perseverance . In-consequence of this intolerance , the Empress of
Russia , who sided with the Dissidents , sent a body of troops into Poland , which was threatened with all the horrors of a civil war . To prevent this evil , the
King convened an extraordinary diet , which ended without producing the desired effect . But in another , which was convened in 17 ( 18 , various reso-Jutions were passed in favour of the Dissidents , more from fear of the Russian troops than from any enlarged principle of justice . Tranquillity seemed then
to be restored ; but this calm was only the prelude to a fiercer storm . The powers of the King in these disputes became insignificant , and he was left almost without Ihe shadow of authority . The overbearing insolence of the Russian soldiers , and the arrogance of the Co ut of St . Petersburg , in meddling
wilh the internal affairs of an independent kingdom , no doubt afforded just ground for disaffection . And as Stanislaus was evidently in the Russian interest , no smalt jealousy was enierlained of his patriotism . Piols were formed against , him ; and a most hold and daring atte ' mpt was made to carry him off from the capital , for the purpose of assassinating him , Sept . 3 . 1771 . His deliverance op . that occasion was teavlv
miraculous ; and in the ages of extreme superstition this event would have been sufficient to have brought upon him the name of a saint . The year following the Sovereigns of Russia , Austria , and Prussia , entered into an alliance to divide ihe territories of this unhappy Prince between then ? . Frederick the
Great , the pretended philosopher , was the first who devised this equitable project , which was managed with such address that the other European states had no conception of what was going on till the gopd -work was completed . The Courts of London , Versailles , 'Stockholm , and Copenhagen , remonstrated
indeed against the usurpation , but these remonstrances were of no service to the plundered Poles . This bold step was but the prelude to the absolute reduction of Poland to the will of the confederates . In 1791 meetings were held for the purpose of reforming the constitution of Poland , and these meetings were held in the King's presence , and with his sanction . A new constitution was formed , which was
wisely calculated for the happiness of the people , provided the framers-ofit had possessed strength sufficient to carryit into effict . This constitution established an hereditary succession ill the crown , a measure little likely to be acceptable to the neighbouring potentates , who derived no small advantage from
the disorders occasioned by the interregna . The Empress of Russia expressed her resentment at this proceeding in very harsh and threatening terms , and accompanied her declaration by sending a military force into Poland . To oppose these troop-Prince Poniatowski
, headed ihe Polish army , and encamped at Tyurew . After several skirmishes , and finding his country abandoned by all ' who were in alliance with it , Stanislaus was obliged to annul the new constitution , andSo deliver up his army to the Russian Gefteral . From that even ; the total ruin of
Poland was inevitable . There were not wanting , indeed , many noble spirits who disdained the slavish and foreign yoke which was prepared for them . These