lygi. LITERARY INTELLIGENCER. II7 



fure by violent means, or to eflefl it by tbe machinations of 

 her party within the realm. The king of Pruflia, with a well 

 appointed army, was at hand to vindicate their rights againfl 

 the one in the field ; and his party was in fuch full pofleflion 

 of power, as efTeiftually to drown the voice of the other in 

 the fenate. This muft have proved a mortifying circum- 

 ftance to the Emprefs of RulFia ; and fome attempts have 

 been fincc made by her, in conjundtion with the prefent 

 Emperor, to obtain an influence in Poland. How far they 

 will fucceed, time only will difcover. In the mean while, the 

 new Emperor feems to feel that he has a very delicate part to 

 aft, between the Emprefs of Ruflia on tlie one hand, and the 

 King of Pruflia on the other; neither of whom, he fees, it is 

 his interelt at prefent to break with. Hitherto he has afted, 

 in this trying fituation, with fuch addrefs, as gives a favour- 

 able prefage of his political fagacity. 



Some overtures have been made of late, for a change of 

 the conftitution of Poland; but whether thefe will be effeft- 

 ed at all, or if it be, whether that will be carried into effeft 

 by calmnefs or violence, cannot at prefent be furefeen. Noi- 

 is it pofllble, till the modifications they Ihall adopt be fully 

 known, to form an idea of the tendency which this change 

 will be naturally fitted to produce. Time alone can bring 

 ihefc things to light. 



Turkey. 



It is impofflble for any liberal minded perfon, to caft an 

 eye over the map of the Turkifli dominions, and not to feel 

 a kind of melancholy regret, at contemplating the fad changes 

 that a barbarous and defpotic government has produced on 

 the finefl countries in the world. Ruin and defolation 

 mark the boundaries of her dominion. Thofe countries, 

 which the claflic page has rendered dear to every man 

 of letters ; and which were remarkable for tlie extent of 

 their commerce, the judicioufnefs of their legillators, the 

 wifdom of their phllofophers, the elegance of their arts, and 

 ilie power of their arms, are now, by the chilling influence of 

 defpotifm, reduced to one undiilinguiflied mafs of rude bar- 

 barifm and indolence. The cities in ruins, the harboHrs 

 choakcd up, the people difpirited, and their once fertile 

 fields converted into moraflis or extenfive defcrts. It is 

 i'TinojTible to cor.tcmplate thef; things, without feeling an 



