the same existed in Russia. In 1765, Koninski,
the Bishop of the Greek Church presented to the King a petition asking
redress for a number of grievances which he enumerated. The King
promised relief and submitted the matter to the Diet of 1766. The
majority would not hear of any tolerance, although Russia had on the
frontier an army of 80,000 men ready to invade Poland. The Diet of
1767 showed the same foolish spirit, but it was broken when two of its
members, both Catholic bishops, were arrested under Russian orders,
and carried into Russian territory. The Diet did not appear to resent
this violation of a friendly territory but entered in 1768 into a
treaty with Russia, in which it was agreed that Poland would make no
change in its constitution without Russia's consent. The Russian army
was withdrawn from Warsaw, and a deputation from the Diet was sent to
St. Petersburg to thank Catherine.

Two hostile parties soon appeared in arms. The Catholics raised (p. 188)
the banner "Pro religione et libertate!"--as if they understood what
liberty meant! France helped with money, and urged the Sultan of
Turkey to declare war against Russia, so that Catherine would be
compelled to withdraw her troops. Russia was inciting those of the
Greek and Protestant religions to whom assistance was promised.

In the winter of 1768, the Tartars of the Crimea, aided by the Turks,
invaded Russia, and Catherine dispatched an army of 30,000 men,--all
she could spare. In the following year, the Russians attacked and
defeated the enemy 100,000 strong at Khotin on the Dnieper, and in
1770 the Khan of the Crimea met the same fate. In the same year at the
battle of Kagul, 17,000 Russians defeated 150,000 Turks commanded by
the Grand Vizier. In the same year the Russians destroyed the Turkish
fleet in the port of Chesme. In 1771, the Tartars of the Crimea were
put to rout, and the Russians took Bessarabia and some forts on the
Danube. They were, however, too late to take possession of the
Dardanelles, which the Turks had put into a state of defense.

Austria was becoming alarmed at Russia's victories, and lent a willing
ear to the suggestion of Frederick the Great that it would be safer to
permit Russia to gain territory belonging to Poland, provided Austria
and Prussia should receive their share. On February 17, 1771, a treaty
was concluded between Russia and Prussia, and accepted by Austria in
April, whereby Poland was deprived of a good part o