cauſe of all were the foreign powers, intereſted to foment confuſions in the Poliſh councils. Before this, they were obliged to ſecure a majority, afterwards, they might put an end to any diet, unfriendly to their views, by corrupting a ſingle member. This veto broke up ſeven diets in the reign of John Caſimir, four under Michael, ſeven under John Sobieſki, and thirty during the reigns of the two Auguſti. In conſequence of this neceſſity of unanimity, which they call the deareſt palladium of Poliſh liberty, Poland has continued above a hundred years almoſt without laws.
But as the king ſtill beſtowed the ſtaroſties, or royal fiefs, which are held for life, and conferred the principal dignities and great offices of ſtate, he was ſtill the fountain of honour, and maintained great influence in the councils of the nation but this laſt branch of the royal prerogative was lately wreſted from the crown at the eſtabliſhment of the permanent council.
Thus it appears in the hiſtory of Poland, as in that of Venice, Genoa, Berne, Soleure, and all others, that the nobles have continued without interruption to ſcramble for diminutions of the regal authority, to graſp the whole executive power, and augment their own privileges; and have attained a direct ariſtocracy, under a monarchical name, where a few are above the controul of the laws, while the many are deprived of their protection.
The preſent wretched ſtate of the towns, compared with their former flouriſhing condition; the poverty of the peaſants, whoſe oppreſſions have increaſed in proportion to the power of the nobles, having loſt a protector when the king
