it more honour than all the scholars I have conversed with here, barring one or two exceptions from the general rule, can do it by their excellence in any one sort of academical erudition.

Having just parted with their two universities, that may, without impropriety of expression, be called sisters, from their affinity in ignorance, it is but natural to particularize in their studies, the chief of which is to speak good Latin; for as to all parts of polite learning, the Poles are not so curious as in other countries, yet have they a great many that will write tolerably good verses, for their genius is mightily bent that way; and besides, they are very apt to quote classic authors in their discourse; and this particularly when they get drunk, (a vice they are too frequently addicted to,) and are elevated up to a conceited pitch. Their poet Sarbievus Casimir is no small ornament to his country, who in his Odes has endeavoured to imitate Hoand the purity of his language is not contemptible.

race;

I learned that Latin came so much in vogue with them from this accident. King Casimir the second and the king of Sweden had an interview at Dantzick, wherein the latter, with all his court, spoke that language fluently, but neither Casimir nor any of his attendants could do any thing like it, but were forced to make use of a poor monk, whom for that service his Polish majesty advanced to a bishopric, to explain their sentiments. Of which being heartily ashamed, the king caused great encouragement to be given to such as would make Latin their study, which began thenceforward to be much in practice: so that when king Sigismund sent the bishop of Varmia his ambassador to Vienna, his imperial majesty was surprised to hear the very Polish coachmen and postillions very dexterously and fluently explain themselves in that tongue, which was mightily encouraged also by king Stephen Bathori, who is reported often to have said to the sons of his attendants, Discite Latine, nam unum ex vobis aliquando faciam Moschi Pan, (a great lord ;) which contributed very much to the increase of arts and sciences. As for learned men, though the Poles have mightily de

generated in this present age, they have had several Latin historians among them, such as Cromerus, Sturavolsius, &c. who have all written the annals and constitutions of their country. They have likewise been furnished with some historians who have written in their own language. They also have not wanted learned divines, great philosophers, famous astronomers, logicians, &c. And it is to be remembered to the honour of Poland, that the great astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was a native of Thorn in Regal Prussia. And the reason why those learned men have not transmitted more of their works to posterity is, that while they lived, there was but little or no printing in this kingdom, that art having been but lately received here.

Yet though the Poles are so extremely expert in making and writing Latin, they are not curious in any of the oriental tongues. As to other languages, as the inhabitants of this country have the same origin with the Muscovites, Bohemians, Croatians, Moravians, Silesians, Cassabians, Bulgarians, Rascians, Servians, Illyrians, &c. so they have likewise the same language with them, notwithstanding they differ in dialects, and are scarce to be understood by each other. Their terms of mechanic arts are chiefly borrowed from the ancient Germans, who formerly had, as they still have, frequent intercourses with this country. Nay, there are at present whole towns and villages that make use of the German tongue; that nation having formerly planted several colonies in this kingdom. There are also several of the noble families here purely German, as may appear both by their names and their coats of arms.

The Polish language, as their chief historian Cromerus allows, is neither so copious nor so easy to pronounce, as those of other nations; but as the French, Italian, &c. consists chiefly of vowels, that of Poland is made up in great measure with consonants; insomuch that you shall sometimes meet with Polish words that have seven or eight consonants together, without any vowel, or at most but one or two interposed; an example of which, sir, you may have in the word Chrzeszes, (scarabæus, a gadfly:) this, with others in the

Polish tongue, scarce the natives themselves are able to pronounce; yet they have always a sort of lisping sound of vowels in their pronunciation, though they do not write them.

To return to the Latin tongue; it must not be understood, how universally soever it is spoken here, that the Poles have it from their mothers, as the common people have in some parts of Hungary; for they take pains to learn it from masters, as other nations do. The chief reason why they generally affect it is, first, from their natural dispositions to learn it. Secondly, by reason of the syntax of their mother tongue, the Sclavonian, which has great affinity with that language; for they both decline their nouns, and conjugate their verbs, as the Romans did. Thirdly, because in all the villages throughout the nation they have schoolmasters for that purpose, who are either rectors of parishes, or some other qualified persons appointed by them or by the bishop of the diocese. And fourthly, because in all towns of note the Jesuits have colleges set apart to instruct youth in that language.

As to the study of divinity in Poland, those of that profession make all their learning consist in adapting Aristotle's logic and metaphysics to their school divinity; so that you may everywhere hear them talk much of entities, modes, quiddities, essences of things, and the like; for they value themselves more in the signification of logical terms than in the nature of things themselves which they reason about. Albertus Magnus is in great esteem here, and is perpetually quoted to attest the truth of any assertion, with as much vehemence as Aristotle by the Italians and Spaniards; though, as it has been said before, the natives of this kingdom have not less respect for this last philosopher than other nations have. Yet notwithstanding, they seldom take his meaning right, more especially in matters that are ambiguous; for they have published several large commentaries upon him, which besides contradicting each other, like our Dutch annotators, stand in need of explanations themselves. The Polish divines likewise are seldom well versed in prac

tical divinity. They look very little into the Old and New Testament, and make few inquiries into the practice of primitive Christianity, having but a small insight into church history. In a word, they trouble their heads but seldom about convincing their reason of the sublimity and goodness of the Christian doctrine; implicit faith, and passive obedience to council and church decisions being entirely their guides. So that they will allow of nobody's search into the reasonableness of things, as if they should imagine, that a law or a doctrine given by God should not be consistent with reason. They have also a more than ordinary respect for Thomas Aquinas and Duns Scotus; their principal erudition consisting in being well read in the school points controverted by those two great men, how ill soever they are understood.

I could instance in other arts and sciences; but those not being of so near a concern to your own studies, as that of divinity, I make it my choice to return to the description of the towns I have undertaken to give an account of. The next of which, in the third place, is Posen, situated on the river Varta. It lies in the midst of several hills, environed with a strong double wall and a very deep ditch. The city itself, it must be confessed, is but small, yet nevertheless exceeding beautiful, and well built, its edifices for the most part being of stone. Among the public structures, the most considerable is the castle, raised upon a small eminence between the rivers Varta and Prosna. It is generally provided with all sorts of ammunition, and wants for neither strength nor beauty. The rest of the public buildings may justly claim the like character, though the most stately lie on the other side of the river Varta in the suburbs, which are very large. The cathedral church, with a college of prebendaries, and the bishop's palace, are situated among the marshes, and form a pile of buildings that is called Valilovia, and built so strong, that, like the town, it is able to withstand a siege. John Lubransius, a bishop of this see, founded a college here, to be visited by that of Cracow, and which was afterwards very much augmented and beautified by Adam Co

narius, his successor, and farther enriched by one Rosrasevius with several noble gifts. So that though the Jesuits have a college in the city, where several sorts of literature are taught with great encouragement, this also in the suburbs does not want for noble youth, who daily flock thither to be instructed by the lectures of mathematics and law. These suburbs are all surrounded by a morass and a great lake. They are frequently laid under water by the overflowing of the Varta, insomuch that sometimes, with the neighbouring villages for several miles together, the tops of the houses are only to be seen. This inundation likewise often extends to the town itself, notwithstanding its high walls, in such a manner that boats have been known to swim about the streets. But this lasts not long, for the waters commonly retire in two or three days at farthest.

The inhabitants of this city are generally Roman Catholics, though vast numbers of Jews live also among them. The government is executed by a starost, chosen yearly out of the schipens, or aldermen, who, as long as this office lasts, enjoys also the title of general of Great Poland.

Seven miles from hence lies Gnesna, from the Sclavonian word gniazdo, which signifies a nest; which, in the fourth place, has its situation (as most of the towns in these parts have) amongst bogs and hills. It is an archbishop's see, and gives title to the primate of all Poland. This was formerly the metropolis of the whole kingdom, having been built by Lechus, the first founder thereof. In the cathedral is reposited a great quantity of inestimable treasure, most of which is owing to the tomb of St. Adelbert, raised in the middle of the church, cased about with silver, by Sigismund III. and the gifts of Henry Firlesus, late archbishop of that diocese, who, among other rarities, gave his mitre, valued at 20007. sterling. The gates opening to this church are all of Corinthian brass curiously wrought, which were first taken from the monastery of Corsuna in Taurica Chersonesus, afterwards removed to Kiow, and this brought hither by order of king Boleslaus II.

Amongst other things worthy of remark, I observed here,