COURLAND. 



303 



tfuurlawc'. Libau, Groldengen, and Mittan. The last is the capital 

 S """Y"""'' of the duchy. There are besides many neat villages, and 

 the scattered cottages, and gentlemen's seats, prettily si- 

 tuated amid clumps of trees, give to several parts of the 

 countiy a very agreeable and picturesque appearance. 



The chief rivers of this duchy are the Duna, or Dwi- 

 na, which taking its rise in Russia, after running a long 

 course, finally falls into the gulf of Livonia at Riga; the 

 Windaw, which has its source in Samagitia, and joins 

 the Baltic Sea near to the city of Windaw ; and the Aa, 

 which taking that name where the Muss and the Memel 

 unite their streams, passes by Mittau, and discharges it- 

 self into the gulf of Livonia. These two last rivers, 

 which are navigable, divide the country from east to 

 west. There are besides several smaller rivers, such as 

 the Abau, Bersc, Bartau, Mussa, Anger, and some 

 brooks and canals, by which it is intersected in every di- 

 rection. 



In the duchy of Courland there are mines of copper 

 and iron. There are also quarries of stone and of chalk, 

 and mineral springs. Its riches, in this department, 

 are, of course, chiefly to be looked for in the more moun- 

 tainous parts of the territory. 



The constitution of the goverment of Courland is ra- 

 ther of a complicated nature. The crown of Poland, the 

 duke, and the diet, have their respective rights, which are 

 so much interwoven, that a somewhat accurate inspec- 

 tion is necessary towards ascertaining precisely the just 

 boundaries of each of those divisions of the authority 

 exercised in it. Courland is a male fief, dependent on 

 and conferred by the crown of Poland. The territorial 

 superiority of that sovereignty is settled by the Pacta sub- 

 jectionis, or acts of vassalage, which are ratified severally 

 by the king of Poland and the duke of Courland, at the 

 time that the duke receives his investiture. In conse- 

 quence of this territorial right, the king is empowered to 

 invest each duke with the duchies of Courland and Se- 

 migallia, as fiefs of Poland, and to receive in return his 

 homage, as from a vassal to his liege-lord. 



When Poland is engaged in war, the duke is bound to 

 furnish 200 horse, or 500 infantry ; and the nobles 200 

 horse, or 30,000 dollars, in the first year of the war, 

 provided no Polish or enemy's troops are quartered in 

 the duchy j in each succeeding year 10,000 dollars. 

 The money of Courland must be struck on the same 

 standard as the coin of Poland ; it is also to bear on one 

 side the head of the king, or the arms of Poland and 

 Lithuania : likewise the Polish money must pass cur- 

 rent in Courland, and the Courlandish in Poland. All 

 disputes between the duke and his subjects are to be 

 settled by the king, who receives remonstrances from 

 the diet of Courland against any infringement of privi- 

 leges by the duke, and can order the redress of grievan- 

 ces. Laws tending to alter or new-model the constitu- 

 tion of Courland, after liaving been passed by the duke 

 and diet, with a reference to the king and republic of 

 Poland, must be finally ratified by the diet of Poland. 

 The same diet confirms the creation of nobles, and the 

 indigenal recht, or right of naturalization, recommended 

 by the duke and diet of Courland. This is likewise the 

 supreme court of judicature, to which any noble may 

 appeal from the decision of the Courlandish courts of 

 justice. In all civil causes above the value of 500 Po- 

 lish florins, and in the specified criminal cases, the final 

 decision belongs to the king and the republic of Poland. 



On the other hand, the Polish king binds himself to sup. CotiiiautJr 

 port the constitution of Courland, to maintain the duke ""^ "V**"* 1 

 in all his prerogatives, and the nobles and burghers in 

 all their privileges. 



In any circumstances distinct from those enumerated, 

 and where no contradiction is involved to a feudal de- 

 pendance on Poland, or no departure from the acts of 

 subjection, the supreme authority in the duchy of Cour- 

 land is vested in its own duke and diet. To the duke 

 belongs the executive power, with the general administra- 

 tion of affairs ; but though strictly speaking, he has the 

 right to declare war, make peace, and contract allian- 

 ces, he does not usually proceed on such occasions with- 

 out consulting tlie diet. He has a negative on all the 

 measures of the diet, confers the principal charges, both 

 civil and military, has the power of pardoning criminals, 

 and where there is no particular exception, is judge with- 

 out appeal, both in civil and criminal cases. The re- 

 venues of the duke are very ample, amounting to not less 

 than j£ 160,000 per annum, derived from the ducal de- 

 mesnes, in which are comprehended not less than a third 

 of the duchy, from tolls and customs, manorial and feu- 

 dal rights, fines, and confiscations. He is not permitted 

 by the laws of the country to keep on foot more than 

 500 troops. 



Of the diets, some are ordinary, others extraordinary, 

 both being convoked by the duke, either at his own sug- 

 gestion, or at the request of the nobles. With the cir- 

 cular letters transmitted to the different parishes for the 

 election of the deputies, there are sent the propositions, 

 called deliberations, which are to be laid before the diet. 

 The deputies must be noble, and are elected by the 

 nobles in their respective parishes. The president is 

 chosen, after the meeting, by a majority of votes. In, 

 conjunction with the duke, the diet imposes taxes, and 

 passes all laws and regulations, not of a fundamental 

 kind, those themselves too being still subject to the plea- 

 sure of the Polish diet. Questions in the diets are carried 

 or rejected by the majority ; and each deputy is obliged 

 to vote according to the instructions he has received 

 from his constituents. At the dissolution of the diet, the 

 deputies are bound to acquaint their constituents in per- 

 son with the transactions of that assembly. 



The privileges of the nobles are very great. The 

 highest and most important officers of state are drawn 

 from their body. They are exempted from all taxes and. 

 imposts ; and any goods or merchandise imported or ex- 

 ported for their use pay do duty. A noble cannot be 

 arrested for the most flagrant act but for 24 hours after 

 the commission of the crime, unless by an order from the 

 king and republic of Poland ; he cannot be imprisoned 

 till he is found guilty; nor can he be executed without 

 the permission of the king and republic of Poland. The 

 power of the nobles over the peasantry is extreme, in- 

 cluding even what, if not altogether in appearance, is 

 yet certainly in effect, a criminal jurisdiction over them, 

 without appeal. 



By the constitution of Courland, the duke is assisted 

 in the administration of affairs, by what is called the 

 Supreme Council, consisting of the four high counsellors, 

 the high steward, the chancellor, the burgrave, ana the 

 marshal. This council advises the duke as to all mat- 

 ters of state, guards against any infringement of the 

 rights and privileges of the subject, and remonstrates, 

 against grievances. In conjunction also with the duke. 



