POLISH HISTORY. 67 



to comply with the solicititations of the people; in conse- 

 quence of which they established a republic, the adminis- 

 tration whereof was intrusted to twelve palatines; but 

 the unsteady people were soon dissatisfied with this new 

 mode of government ; an anarchy full of disorder and 

 confusion inspired them with an aversion to their state of 

 independence, and a set of enemies, who were always 

 ready to derive advantages from the troubles of the State, 

 and the conjunctures of those times, ravaged the provinces 

 with impunity, and made this nation pay dear for the 

 liberty they had acquired. 



1 The eyes of the people were at last opened to their 

 real interest, and they judged it would be most advan- 

 tageous to them to have but one master. This considera- 

 tion induced them to turn their thoughts to the election 

 of a king ; but a choice of this kind was attended with 

 great difficulties. The state of their affairs required 

 some martial spirit to repel the invasions of the neigh- 

 bouring people, as well as to re-conquer the territories 

 which had been wrested from them by usurpations, and to 

 re-establish the honour of the nation. It was likewise 

 necessary for this hero to temper an intrepidity of mind, 

 with the softness of a prudent charity, in order to gain 

 upon those dispositions, which had been rendered intract- 

 able by a long state of independence ; and it was also 

 thought requisite, that the virtue of the future prince 

 should afford them a sufficient security for the proper use 

 of the supreme power with which they were disposed 

 to entrust him. 



' Such qualities are seldom united in one man ; the 

 Poles, however, found one of their countrymen who 

 possessed them in an eminent degree. Grack was the name 

 of this virtuous person who brought the calamities of 

 Poland to a happy period. As he was always victorious 

 in the wars he undertook, and as he likewise guided the 

 reins of Government with a consummate prudence, he 

 continuoustly rendered himself dear to his people, and 

 formidable to his enemies. He built the city of Cracow 



