ctor of
Brandenburg raised himself to the throne in 1701 by the power of his own
will. Our republic has not yet recognized his new title as king, and now
the elector's successor is able to confer crowns upon the heads of other
states. He resists Austria, Saxony, Muscovy, and by means of forces
raised within his little kingdom, daily extends his possessions. All say
that his political capacity and knowledge of the military art are
extraordinary; besides which, he is quite learned, a philosopher, and a
great character. Many think that Poland should be ruled by a man of the
stamp of Frederic the Great, but as we are not his subjects, and as his
present position is contrary to our interests, strong fears are
entertained that he may in the future become the cause of our ruin. God
grant that Prussia, which is really but a fraction of Poland, do not one
day swallow her up!...

The men occupied in public affairs scarcely venture to speak above their
breath when they bewail the critical position of their beloved country.
One circumstance especially seems to deprive us of all hope for the
future, and that is, the apparent gradual extinction of those lofty
virtues of the olden time which formerly contributed so much to the
glory and prosperity of our country. Selfish interests seem now to have
destroyed them nearly all; the wants of the common mother are entirely
forgotten, no one thinks now except of his own personal benefit--the
general cause is nothing. The diets assemble and disperse without having
accomplished anything. The voice of Konarski and of his honorable
friends is heard in vain; they preach in a desert; the vile passions of
the wicked weigh heavily in the balance of our destinies. However, all
means of safety are not yet lost: the throne of Poland is elective; the
reigning monarch is aged; if his successor should be endowed with a
great character, if his virtues accord with the elevation of his
station, he may yet save the republic and restore it to its ancient
preponderance among nations. Our frontiers are still unbroken, and I
place all my hope in the mercy of God.

All good men and true patriots desire a king capable of commanding the
Poles. Several candidates have already been proposed, but the two who
seem to have the fairest prospects of success are Stanislaus
Poniatowski, son of the castellan of Cracow, and Charles, prince royal,
son of the reigning king. Poniatowski's father was the favorite of
Charles XII,