Viewing page 20 of 285

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

28] ANNUAL REGISTER
[[2 Columns]]

giftracy to perjury, by obliging them to take oaths contrary to their allegiance. At the salt-works, they proceeded no father than to oblige the officers to sign an act, by which they engaged to fulfil the duties of their places, not to send the salt elsewhere without order, to obey no orders but those given by the commander in chief, and to keep the money arising from the works till they received farther instructions.
 At length the time arrived, when the actors in this state farce, had attained confidence enough to throw by their masks, and to appear in their proper forms without any disguise. The King of Prussia, who was less attentive to appearances, had for some time made no secret of his intention, and had dignified his acquisitions, as if they had been countries lately discovered, by the title of New Prussia. [["Sept. 18th" is wrapped in line with the text]] A manifesto was delivered at Warsaw, by the Russian and Prussian ministers, in the name of their respective sovereigns, which was seconded a few days after by the minister from the Empress-queen in which the three powers openly avowed their intentions. [["26th." is wrapped in line with the sentence]] this declaration was soon after succeeded by specifications from the different powers, of the countries which they had agreed respectively to appropriate.
 It would afford little use or entertainment, to enter into a long or particular discussion of those state formula's, which are published in compliance with established customs, and to blindfold the vulgar, without its being intended that they should convey either truth or argument. The manifesto sets out with a detail of the laudable intentions and friendly offices of the Empress of Russia, in all of which the [[?]] said, to have been either openly or tacitly seconded by the other two powers; general complaints are made, of losses sustained, and expences incurred, in consequence of the frequent troubles in Poland [[?]] the spirit of discord which has seized the nation, is greatly lamented, and a moving description given of the miseries it has undergone and of its present deplorable situation, [[?]] the fame time, that the total dissolution of the state is foretold to be the consequence of the present anarchy and disorder, if not timely prevented.  It is acknowledged that this event would probably destroy the harmony and friendship at present subsisting between the three great powers, which put them under a necessity of taking a decisive part in such critical circumstances, and with one accord to take take such effectual measures, it would re-establish tranquillity and good order in Poland, and put the ancient constitution of that kingdom, and the liberties of the people, on a sure and solid foundation.
 thus far, nothing can appear more generous or laudable, than the conduct and intentions of the great allied powers.  We are however soon informed, that as Poland is to be so highly benefited by the mutual friendship and harmony which now so happily subsists between them, it is also right, that they should derive some advantage themselves from this fortunate concord, while it lasts, the uncertainty of its continuance being most emphatically acknowledged. Thus circumstanced, as they have respectively very considerable claims on the possessions of the Republic, they will not

[["3" at the end of the first column]]

For the YEAR 1772.   [29

[[2 Columns]]

not expose them to the hazard of future possible contingencies, and have therefore determined among themselves, to assert those rights and claims, which each of them, will hereafter be ready to justify in time and place, by authentic records, and solid reasons.
 That having reciprocally communicated their respective rights and claims, and being mutually convinced of their justice, they have determined to secure to themselves a proportionable equivalent, by taking immediate and effectual possession, of such parts of the territories of the republic, as may serve to fix more natural, and sure bounds, between her and the three powers. They also promise, that they will, hereafter, give an exact specification of what they intend respectively to seize upon as an equivalent; and most generously discharge the Poles from all other debts, dues, demands, and claims, of whatever nature, whether on the possessions, or subjects of the republic; at the same time inviting all ranks and orders of them, to banish, or at least suspend, the spirit of discord and delusion; in order, that a diet being legally assembled, they might co-operate with their said majesties, in establishing on a firm and solid foundation, the good order and tranquillity of the nation, and may at the same time ratify by public acts the exchange of the titles, pretensions, and claims of the three powers, against the equivalents of which they have taken possession. 
 It seemed by the delay in presenting the specifications, as well as by their subsequent conduct, that the usurping powers had not been able in all this time to agree among themselves, upon the shares which they should respectively seize of the spoil, in the division of this miserable country.  We accordingly find the same studied obscurity in these notifications, that are observable in the manifesto; the limits are uncertainly traced, and places and rivers marked as boundaries, which are not to be found in the maps, or are not generally known by the names assigned to them.
 In the specifications delivered by the court of Vienna, the Empress-queen takes the countries, contained within the following limits, as a portion equivalent to her rights: all that lies on the right side of the Vistula, from the duchy of Silesia above Sandomir, to the mouth of the river San: and from thence along Tarnopol to Zamoise and Rubieszow, up to the river Bog; and crossing the Bog, and going along the proper frontiers of Red Russia, to where the frontiers of Volhynia and Podolia meet at Zabraz; from thence in a strait line to the river Niester, taking in that small part of Podolia which is cut by the little river Podhorze, to its influx into the Niester: and so on to the bounds which separate Pocutia from Moldavia. 
 The causes which excited an equivocal description of limits, did not, however, continue long to operate; the declarations themselves being no longer considered as binding, than till the three powers could agree upon an arrangement more advantageous to themselves. The Empress-queen accordingly possessed herself of the remainder of the Palatinate of Cracovia, and of the whole of that of Sandomir, on the left side of the Vistula, and extended her usurpation on the side of Podolia, to within a few miles.

Transcription Notes:
The right side of the first page is partially blocked from view. While many rows are unaffected or easily deduced, there are still multiple instances where the word cannot be guessed, as indicated with [[?]]. I assume that a new picture of the text will be needed.