Retrospect of French Literature—History. 
to give a king to Poland, during the feeble 
reign of Louis XV., was actuated for a 
while with a similar ambition, in conse- 
‘quence of which the Prince of Conti ac- 
tually aspited to the throne. It was ac- 
cordingly proposed to rescue the repub- 
lic from the thraldom’ of Russia, by 
means of the union of the discontented 
nobles with Sweden, Turkey, and the 
court of Versailles. ‘The Count de 
Broglie, who enjoyed the secret, rather 
than the open protection of his sovereign, 
was dispatched to Warsaw, expressly for 
this purpose; but all ‘his efforts were 
counteracted by the ministers and’ mis- 
tresses of a weak and debauched mo- 
narch. 
Mean, while the Empress Catharine 
was not idle. She communicated her 
intention to the’ Baron de Breteuil, on 
the vacancy of the throne, to “ bestow” a 
king on Poland, and being supported by 
Frederick the Great, actually accom- 
plished her purpose, notwithstanding 
the opposition of Radzivil, Mokranow- 
ski, and Branicki, three distinguished 
leaders, who, in a free country, might 
have achieved every thing im such a 
cause as that in which they embarked. 
Their struggle appeared glorious, but it 
was short and unfortunate, so that~the 
three partitioning courts finally succeed- 
ed in their unprincipled contest. 
Perhaps the biographical sketches 
@ontained: in this history, will be consi- 
dered, if uot the most important, at 
least the most interesting portion of the 
whole work. Keyserling, a Courlander, 
and oné of the empréss’s chief agents in 
Poland, is described as possessing one of 
the qualities attributed to Augustus, the 
diabolical art “ of combiaing tyranny 
with an apparent respect tor liberty and 
republican forms.” fle was originally a 
professor in the university of Konigsburg, 
and ‘ possessed the reputation of being 
one of the most learned diplomatists in 
Europe. But it is hinted, that he had 
acquired a love of tyranny from his pro- 
fession as a pedant, and we are present- 
ed with a key to his hypocrisy and ‘his 
baseness, for he is described as a noto- 
riots debauchee, deeply involved im 
debt, and ready at any time to sacrifice 
his character and his honour, to his love 
of groveling pleasures. He ‘had met 
with Poniatowski when he was a boy, 
had voluntarily commenced his instructor, 
and when on tee throne of Poland, still 
considered him as his pupil. chi 
Count, “or rather Prince “Branichi, 
prand-pederal of the~kingdom; is Tepre- 
; 
685 
sented as a man fo less high in honour 
than in rank; in short, one who possess- 
ed the love and the confidence of’ his 
fellow subjects. In his palace the ponip 
of Asia was combined with all the: ele- 
gance of Europe, and’ he seeméd*to ap- 
pertain in some respects, to both 
continents, for in strict conformity to the 
fashions of the one, he kept a seraglio, 
while, in sBinphitiee with ‘that of the 
other, he determined at the same time 
to choose a wife. The Princess Czar- 
torinski, one of the loveliest women in- 
Poland, readily became his consort, and 
presided in’ the palace of Biliastok, 
where the confederate nobles assembled, 
and in the midst of festivals, concerted 
on the best means of supporting the for- 
tunes, and preserving the independence 
of their native country. | 
Mokranowski was of a lofty and com- 
manding stature, aid’had obtained great 
reputation in the service of foreign states. 
He possessed but -a smutl’fortune, arid 
yet enjoyed no common share of: in- 
fluence. This proceeded from his bra- 
very, from his knowledge of the world, 
and above all, from his eloquence, which 
was natural and unaffected. To the 
stern virtues of an ancient republican, — 
he united all the gallantry of modern 
times: he entertained ur the latter capa- 
city, a secret affection for the Princess 
Branicki, and ‘wished to forward” his 
suit, by encircling the brows of her illus- 
trious husband with a diadem. © . 
The house of Czartorinski was ‘also, im 
secret, attached to the liberties and in- 
dependence of their “country.” * The 
princes of this family ‘possessed ‘not only 
patriotism, but talents and ambition; 
and thé scheme ‘séeretly planned “by 
them, must be’ allowed to have béén at 
least promising: Although their nephew, 
Poniatowski, had’ been elevated “by thé 
intriguesrand the arms of Catharine, they 
were yet hostilé'to the views of Russia. 
They wished, ~ ‘ahd endeavotred t6 
strengthen ‘the feeble power of thé king, 
by adding to it the mfluence arising out 
of-all the great offices of state, the army, 
and. the finarices: © Moreover, it was 
their fixed resolve to improve the con- 
dition of the peasants, and consequently, 
to lessen’ the atthority of a tumultudus 
and disorderly nobility: but this‘project 
had ‘been meditated ‘at least half # cen- 
tury too late, and in the ‘struggle ‘that 
ensued, they found it necessary to side 
with Russia. - eM a TR 
The seizure by a military force, of 
she: Bishops of Craeow’ anid Kiow, and 
ofthis their 
