DISSIDENTS. 
pelos, determined ona reciprocal indulgence of their re- 
{pedtive tenets. ‘lo avoid invidious diftinctions, they called 
at eatives ind) — » — in religion,’? a phrafe 
tions, feparatifts from 
intimating, not, according t 
an eltablifhed cai but on holding different opinions 
in religious matters was at the fa ime enacted, that 
this difference of religious fentim fhou'd create no dif. 
erence in civil rights; and accordingly in Pada con- 
venta formed by the diet, a claufe was inferted as part of 
the coronation oath ill keep peace among the diffi- 
dents.’ Henry, who objefted to this aval “toleration, 
withheld his confent, till one of the Polifh envoys exclaim- 
n Ca tholivs, — acquired a 
Sapa iene ventured to a the appellation 
f diffidents to all thofe aio “difented re the catholic re- 
is reftri€tion was at firft attended with no en- 
privileges of the other fects; and the 
term diffidents was not regarded in an obnoxious light. The 
d:ffidents indeed ftiil ie ee in {uch unqueftioned pofleflion 
of ail rights, civil and relig when it was agreed 
by both catholics and prune to perfecute the Arians, it 
Cafimir, were firft rendered 
was a pre 
e Me ennonites, ‘Anabay tilts, Quakers, “Arians, now 
being included among the diffidents,) and that of the Greek 
pa , became of a lels inoffenfive import, and conveyed 
éa of nonsconformity ‘he feQaries, accordingly, 
ae were nill ditingithe by the appellation of diflidents, 
perceiving the intention of the Catholics to undermine their 
privileges, obtained a declaration, that they fhould not be 
blended with, and be obnoxious to the penal laws enaéted 
again{t the Arians. But thefe promifes were infenfibly eluded; 
their oie pals were gradually diminifhed , in the courfe of 
a nie cles ere ae ed to a variety of aiqualiiicas 
remo 
ulated, that the rights of the diffidents 
fhould be maintained in their full latitude. 
ne h was na oo of the diflidents at the acceflion of 
ftoration of their religious eftablifhments, aud of ail the pri- 
vileges fecured to them by that treaty. ‘The diet of 1766, 
he 
were ee aving -een repeatedly abolithed in varioug 
claim eij« 
to the reftitution of their civil omnes. or to . e 
worfhip : the bifhop of Ae the m 
ther t 
toleration of their 
acts again 
mediating powers, the bench of bifhops 
n eden, thele 
essed nies which gradually ae a eee political griev- 
ned by other confederacies 
P 
king convoked a 
pofite en om it failed in producing the intended effeét. 
This dic ery intimidated and tumultuous ftate, ap- 
pointed a ca aml committee, to adjuft, in conjunfion with 
the mediating powers, the affairs of the diffidents, and then 
broke up. is committee propofed to repeal all the laws 
enacted againft the diffidents, and to reftore their ancient 
privileges ; and, mae pacific refolutions were ratified eae an 
convened in the beginning of the 
excited general diffatisfation amon 
med feveral confederacies in dcfence of the facred 
sibel ie faith, From this time, Poland became a fcene of 
bloodfhed and devaftation ; and hoftilities were protracted 
from A diffoluticn of the diet in 1768 to the divifion of 
Polandin 1772. At the laft meeting of the delegates, wha 
were appointed to said ar terms of the difmemberment in 
1773, the pretenfions of the diflidests were finally fettled 
eo the republic and the mediating powers. The cae 
tholic party violently oppofing the reftoration of their an- 
cient privileges, by the confent of the foreign courts, they 
Senne ee ae from the diet, the fenate, and the per- 
manent c ie in return, the diffidents enjoyed the free 
exercife of ae religion, were permitted to have churches 
without bells, fchools, and feminaries, were capable of fit. 
ting in the inferior courts of juftice, and in the tribunal ap- 
nointed to try appeals in matters of religion, three of their 
communion sere admitted as effeffore. In confequence of 
this toleration, the diffidents conftru€ted churches in dif. 
ferent parts of the kingdom; asd one built upon this oc- 
catioa oh e Lutherans at Warlaw, has the following in- 
{cription 
“6 Flag 
