GALLICIA AND LODOMERIA, 471 



berg, fifteen bishops, and 130 laymen, consisting of the great officers 

 01 suae, tne palatines, and castellans. The palatines were the gover- 

 nors of the piovinces, who held their offices for life. The offices of 

 tne castellans in time of peace were almost nominal ; but when the 

 military or feudal services were required, they were the lieutenants 

 of the palatines, and commanded the troops of their several dis- 

 tricts. 



The diets of Poland were ordinary and extraordinary : the former 

 met once in two, and sometimes three years ; the latter was sum- 

 moned by the king, upon critical emergencies, and continued no 

 longer than a fortnight; but one dissenting voice rendered all their 

 deliberations ineffectual. Previous to a general diet, either ordinary 

 or extraordinary, which could sit but six weeks, there were dietines, 

 or provincial diets, held in different districts. The king, with the 

 advice of the permanent council, sent them letters, containing the 

 heads of the business that was to be treated of in the general diet. 

 The gentry of each palatinate might sit in the dietine, and choose 

 nuncios or deputies to carry their resolutions to the grand diet. The 

 great diet consisted of the king, senators, and deputies from pro- 

 vinces and towns, viz. 178 for Poland and Lithuania, and 70 for 

 Prussia : it met twice at Warsaw, and once at Grodno, by turns, for 

 the convenience of the Lithuanians, who made it one of the articles 

 of their union with Poland ; but in the late reign they were always 

 summoned to Warsaw. 



Revenue.... Austria derives from Gallicia a revenue of from ten 

 to twelve millions of florins, or about 1,200,000/. sterling. The whole 

 revenue of the late kingdom of Poland was estimated at only 440,000/. 

 sterling. 



Polish orders of knighthood. ..The " Order of the White Eagle" 

 was first instituted by Uladislaus, in the year 1325, but revived by 

 Augustus I, in the year 1705, to attach to him some of the Polish 

 nobles, who, he feared, were inclined to Stanislaus, his competitor : 

 it was conferred also on the czar, Peter the Great, of Russia. Its 

 ensign is a cross of gold enamelled with red, and appendant to a blue 

 ribband : the motto, Pro jide, rege et lege. The late king instituted 

 the " Order of St. Stanislaus," soon after his election to the crown in 

 1765. The badge is a gold cross enamelled red, and on the centre 

 of it is a medailion, with the image of St. Stanislaus, enamelled in 

 proper colours. It is worn pendent to a red ribband edged with 

 white. The star of the order is silver, and in the centre is a cypher 

 of S. A. R. (Stanislaus Augustus Rex) encircled with the motto 

 " Pr (Smiando incitat." 



Religion.. ..The established religion of this country is the Roman- 

 catholic : but Lutherans, Calvinists and Greeks are tolerated ; and 

 the Jews, who are very numerous, enjoy considerable privileges, as 

 they do in the rest of the Austrian states. 



The principles of Socinianism made a very early and considerable 

 progress in Poland. A translation of the bible into the Polish lan- 

 guage was published in 1572 ; and two years after, under the direc- 

 tion of the same persons, the catechism, or confession, of the Uni- 

 tarians was published at Cracow. The abilities and writings of 

 Socinus greatly contributed to the extensive propagation of his opin- 

 ions ; but though the Socinians in Poland have been very numerous, 

 ^iey have at different times been greatly persecuted. At present a 

 ■moic liberal toleration prevails. 



