r measures to be taken in the present
conjuncture. The king of Poland was on this occasion likewise
disappointed in his views of providing for his son, prince Charles, in
the duchy of Courland. He had been recommended by the court of Russia,
and even approved by the states of that country; but two difficulties
occurred. The states declared, they could not proceed to a new election
during the life of their former duke, count Biron, who was still alive,
though a prisoner in Siberia, unless their duchy should be declared
vacant by the king and republic of Poland; and, according to the laws of
that country, no prince could be elected until he should have declared
himself of the Augsburgh confession. His Polish majesty, however, being
determined to surmount all obstacles to his son's interest, ordered
count Malachowski, high chancellor of Poland, to deliver to prince
Charles a diploma, by which the king granted permission to the states of
Courland to elect that prince for their duke, and appointed the day for
his election and instalment; which accordingly took place in the month
of January, notwithstanding the clamour of many Polish grandees,
who persisted in affirming that the king had no power to grant such
permission without the consent of the diet. The vicissitudes of the
campaign had produced no revolutions in the several systems adopted by
the different powers in Europe. The czarina, who in the month of June
had signified her sentiments and designs against the king of Prussia,
in a declaration delivered to all the foreign ministers at Petersburgh,
seemed now, more than ever, determined to act vigorously in behalf of
the empress-queen of Hungary, and the unfortunate king of Poland, who
still resided at Warsaw. The court of Vienna distributed among the
imperial ministers at the several courts of the empire, copies of a
rescript explaining the conduct of her generals since the beginning of
the campaign, and concluded with expressions of self-approbation to
this effect: "Though the issue of the campaign be not as yet entirely
satisfactory, and such as might be desired, the imperial court enjoys,
at least, the sincere satisfaction of reflecting, that, according to
the change of circumstances, it instantly took the most vigorous
resolutions; that it was never deficient in any thing that might
contribute to the good of the common cause, and is now employed in
making preparations, from which the most happy consequences may be
e