72 FORESTRY IN POLAND. 



It is bounded on the south by Moldavia and the moun- 

 tains of Krapacj and its western limits are Moravia, 

 Silesia, and the territories of the Elector of Brandenburg. 

 It extends 260 leagues in length from west to east, and 

 comprehends 200 leagues in breadth from south to north. 



' Gnesna, which is a city in Great Poland, was formerly 

 the capital of the kingdom, and is still the metropolitan 

 city. Its archbishop is the head of the republic during 

 the continuance of any interregnum, and his power is so 

 great that he has frequently caused kings themselves to 

 be dethroned. 



1 Cracow, which is situated on the Weissel, is now con- 

 sidered as the capital of the kingdom, since the sovereigns 

 have fixed their residence in that city. The royal orna- 

 ments are deposited there, and it is now the place where 

 the kings are crowned. 



' The Weissel, the Boristhenes, and the Dneister, are its 

 principal rivers. Commerce might easily flourish in that 

 country, since nature has supplied the inhabitants 

 with every provision capable of facilitating navigation and 

 traffic with Europe and Asia ; but these advantages are 

 disregarded by them. The gentry are devoted to arms 

 alone, and the peasants are a race of miserable and unin- 

 dustrious people, who are crushed under the yoke of their 

 lords, and have no property which they can call their own. 



' Poland is not strengthened by any fortified cities, and 

 every place is entirely open and free. The Poles consider 

 castles and fortresses as so many rocks on which their 

 independency would be wrecked, and as the tyrannical 

 instruments of some ambitious person, who would be 

 desirous to load them with chains. Kaminieck, on the fron- 

 tiers of Moldavia, is not considerable either for its extent 

 or fortifications ; and Dantzig, which is the strongest 

 city in Poland, is but moderately fortified. 



' The king, who is considered as the first magistrate in 

 the Republic, derives all his authority from that of the 

 nation, and if he should happen to abuse the power con- 

 fided to him, and should refuse to conform to the compact 



