ssembled over the
border, in Silesia, 'to protect the freedom of election;' Czarina has
30,000 under Marshal Lacy, lying on the edge of Lithuania, bent on a
like object; will increase them to 50,000, as the plot thickens.

"So that Emanuel of Portugal is not heard of; and French interference
is, with a vengeance,--and Stanislaus, a born Piast, is overwhelmingly
the favorite. Intolerable to Austria, to Russia; the reverse to
Friedrich Wilhelm, who privately thinks him the right man. And Kurfurst
August of Saxony is the other Candidate,--with troops of his own in the
distance, but without support in Poland; and depending wholly on the
Kaiser and Czarina for his chance. And our 'three settled points' are
gone to water in this manner!

"August seeing there was not the least hope in Poland's own vote,
judiciously went to the Kaiser first of all: 'Imperial Majesty, I will
accept your Pragmatic Sanction root and branch, swallow it whole; make
me King of Poland!'--'Done!' answers Imperial Majesty; [16th July, 1733;
Treaty in Scholl, ii. 224-231.] brings the Czarina over, by good offers
of August's and his;--and now there is an effective Opposition Candidate
in the field, with strength of his own, and good backing close at hand.
Austrian, Russian Ambassadors at Warsaw lift up their voice, like the
French one; open their purse, and bestir themselves; but with no success
in the Field of Wola, except to the stirring up of noise and tumult
there. They must look to other fields for success. The voice of Wola and
of Poland, if it had now a voice, is enthusiastic for Stanislaus.

"SEPTEMBER 7th. A couple of quiet-looking Merchants arrive in
Warsaw,--one of whom is Stanislaus in person. Newspapers say he is in
the French Fleet of War, which is sailing minatory towards these Coasts:
and there is in truth a Gentleman in Stanislaus's clothes on board
there;--to make the Newspapers believe. Stanislaus himself drove through
Berlin, a day or two ago; gave the sentry a ducat at the Gate, to be
speedy with the Passports,--whom Friedrich Wilhelm affected to put
under arrest for such negligent speed. And so, on the 10th of the month,
Stanislaus being now rested and trimmed; makes his appearance on the
Field of Wola itself; and captivates all hearts by the kind look of him.
So that, on the second day after, 12th September, 1733, he is, as it
were, unanimously elected; with acclamation, with enthusiasm; and
sees himself actual King of Poland,--if