The general diets, which are uſually held at Warſaw or Grodno, are preceded by particular aſſemblies of palatinates, in which the deputies are choſen for the general aſſembly, and inſtructed: the deputies aſſembled in general diet, proceed to the election of a marſhal, who has a very extraordinary power, that of impoſing ſilence on whom he pleaſes; he is the chief or ſpeaker of the aſſembly.
At the death, abdication, or depoſition of a king, the primate calls the aſſembly of the electors to an open field near Warſaw. Here the electors take an oath, not to ſeparate until they ſhall have unanimouſly elected a king, nor to render him when elected any obedience, until he has ſworn to obſerve the Pacta Conventa, and the laws.
The candidates muſt let their gold glitter, and give ſplendid entertainments, which muſt be carried into debauch: the nobility are captivated, with the attractions of magnificence and Hungarian wine, and infallibly declare in favour of the candidate who cauſes it to flow in the greateſt profuſion. The ambaſſadors enter upon intrigues, even in public: the nobility receive their preſents, fell their ſuffrages with impunity, and render the throne venal, but often behave with little fidelity to the candidate in whole intereſt they pretend to be engaged, and, forgetting the preſents they have received, eſpouſe the cauſe of a more wealthy competitor without heſitation. When the candidate has gained all the ſuffrages, he is declared king, and worn to obſerve the Pacta Conventa, and the laws, and then crowned. The Poles are polite and friendly, but magnificence is the foible of the nobility, and they ſacrifice all things to luxury: as they ſeldom ſee any perſon ſuperior to
