Warsaw must be much more splendid than those at our castle. Oh! how I
long to see the magnificent array of a great court!...

But I hear the midday bell, and must say my Angelus, smooth my hair, and
go down to dinner. I will write to-morrow all that I had no time to say
to-day.

Tuesday, _January 2d_.

I was too much occupied yesterday with merely private affairs, and now I
must dilate a little upon public matters. I should be unworthy of the
Polish name, if the interests of our dear country did not occupy my
thoughts in preference to all other subjects. I hear much conversation
upon politics, and I am very attentive to all that is said; since I have
commenced to write my journal, I find my desire to follow closely the
course of events much increased.

Augustus III, elector of Saxony, reigns at the present time over Poland
and Lithuania. He was crowned by the archbishop of Cracow on the
seventeenth of this month, twenty-five years ago. The party opposed to
his election wished to raise Stanislaus Leszczynski to the throne, but
Augustus was so powerfully supported that he triumphed over his
competitor. The virtuous Leszczynski, possessing neither money nor
soldiers, was forced to return to his good people in Lorraine, who are
very happy under his beneficent rule. It is said that the queen, who had
so strongly encouraged the king in the struggles through which he won
his throne, was truly worthy of being queen of the Poles, for she really
loved them. Mary Josephine always hated intrigue; she was mild,
charitable, and pious; she was indulgent toward her husband and
children, but most severely stern toward herself in all matters of
morals. She was in truth a model of all feminine virtues. She died in
Dresden, about two years ago. She had had fourteen children, eleven of
whom are still living, seven daughters, and four sons. I remember well
the sorrow which her death caused the Poles. Funeral services were
celebrated for her in every church in the kingdom. In our church at
Piotrowice there was a mass at which all the poor assisted, and they
wept bitter tears while praying for their queen.

It is said that the king is of an easy temper, and leaves all to his
minister Bruhl, the minister really ruling both Poland and Saxony. The
last-mentioned country is at the present moment exposed to great
miseries. Prussia, which is in fact but a new-born state, makes the
whole of Europe tremble. A great man rules her fate. The ele