86 FORESTRY IN POLAND. 



The partition may be traced to measures adopted by the 

 dominant party to curtail the religious liberty of dissenters 

 from the Church of the State and the Church of Rome. 

 'The reformed religion, though early introduced into Poland, 

 was not for two centuries very generally adopted. The 

 Protestants, called Dissidents (a term which also comprise^ 

 those of the Greek church), were tolerated, though they 

 were obliged to labour under many civil disabilities. 

 During the interregnum that preceded the election of 

 Poniatowsky, a decree had bjen made by the diet, by 

 which the dissidents were, in a great measure, forbidden 

 the free exercise of their worship, and totally excluded 

 from all civil and political privileges. 



* The dissidents could not submit without a struggle to the 

 deprivation of their most valuable privileges. They com- 

 bined unanimously to endeavour to accomplish the repeal 

 of this decree, and, for this purpose, applied for advice and 

 assistance to some of the most eminent powers of Europe. 

 And accordingly Russia, Prussia, Great Britain, and 

 Denmark, made remonstrances to the Government of 

 Poland on this subject. These remonstrances, however, 

 were without effect ; for the decree was confirmed by the 

 coronation diet held after the king's election. The dis- 

 sidents in the meantime presented to the government 

 petitions and memorials, and the decision of the question 

 was at last referred by the diet to the bishops and 

 senators. And upon a report from them, the diet made 

 some concessions, which, however, were far from satisfying 

 the dissidents, who thought it absurd that the redress of 

 their grievances should be entrusted to those very persons 

 who were the authors of them. The dissidents, whose 

 cause was now openly espoused by Russia, Prussia, and 

 Austria, were not to be flattered by the concessions of 

 these persecutors, nor overawed by their power. They 

 formed confederacies for their defence in every province, 

 and were determined to resist unto blood in support of 

 their rights and privileges. Nor were the Popish clergy 



