Ladiſlaus the third, the ſon of the former, purchaſed his right to the ſucceſſion, during the life of his father, by a confirmation of all the conceſſions before granted, which he ſolemnly ratified at his acceſſion. Caſſimir the third, brother of Ladiſlaus the third, conſented to ſeveral further innovations, all unfavourable to regal prerogative.—One was the convention of a national diet, inveſted with the ſole power of granting ſupplies. Each palatinate or province was allowed to ſend to the general diet, beſides the Palatines and other principal barons, a certain number of nuncios or repreſentatives, choſen by the nobles and burghers. Is it not ridiculous, that this reign ſhould be conſidered by the popular party, as the æra, at which the freedom of the conſtitution was permanently eſtabliſhed? This freedom, which conſiſts in a king without authority; a body of nobles in a ſtate of uncontrouled anarchy; and a peaſantry groaning under the yoke of feudal deſpotiſm: the greateſt inequality of fortune in the world; the extremes of riches and poverty, of luxury and miſery, in the neighbourhood of each other; a univerſal corruption and venality pervading all ranks; even the firſt nobles not bluſhing to be penſioners of foreign courts; one proſeſſing himſelf publicly an Auſtrian, another a Pruſſian, a third a Frenchman, and a fourth a Ruſſian; a country without manufactures, without commerce, and in every view the moſt diſtreſſed in the world.—But to proceed, with an enumeration of the meaſures by which they have involved themſelves in theſe pitiable circumſtances:
Caſſimir was involved in ſeveral unſucceſsful wars, which exhauſted his treaſures: he applied to the diet for ſubſidies.
