Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/179

 STATE PAPERS.

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the precife terras of the conftitu- tions of our government, the af- fembJy of the Itates cannot attempt any thing againll the invelUture of the duchies ; and that fo long as thekingand republicdo not declare the feat to be vacant, we itjuII, ac- cording to our laws, continue to pray for our unfortunate lord and his family.

4. But, whereas his royal highnefs piince Charles has gain- ed, the veneration of all hearts by his great qualities, and his gracious deportment, both in going to and returning from Peterfburgh, the deputy is to make known the inclination of the ftates for this prince io cafe the feat of the duchies be declared vacant, and intimate that they {hould deem themfelves very happy if his royal highnefs would make profellion of the confeffion of Augfburgh, and thereby impower them humbly to befeech his majefty to grarvt him the fovereignty of thefe duchies.

5. This being fuppofed, then, if his royal highnefs will be pleafed, according to cuftom, pre- vioufly to fecure to the country ^11 its civil and religious rights, the deputy Ihall declare that the Hates will not hefitate a moment to take advantage of the difpo- fnions of the emprefs of all the Pvuffias in favour of this prince, and v/ill entreat her to grant him the fovereigaty of thefe du- chies.

6. But fince, according to the compadts of fubjedion, the guaranties of religion, and other documents, thefe duchies muft have as heretofore a Teutonic ma- giftracy of the confeiTion of Augf- burgh ; as no change can be made in this rcfpeft, without failing in

the aiTurances given and confirmed upon oath ; and as Gothard, firft Duke of Courland, did keep to himfelf, in quality of grand maf- ter, the whole adminiitration of ecclefiaiHc affairs, which the pro- tellant princes have alfo done, in confequence of the compafts of fubjection, whofe authority ought to be immutable, according to the conllitutions of the government ; the deputy fhall conitantjy and moft ftrenuoufly innit on this ob- jevfl, molt humbly reprefcntlng the firm perfualion of the dates ihac his majeltv and the illuftrious re- public will take into confideratlon the faid aiTurances given to this country by his majefty's predccef- fors, and will prelerve the Teuto- nic magiilracy which it has had ever fince its fubjedion to the republic, viz. a prince of the confeffion of Augfburgh.

7. As for the reft, the flates will always continue with the moft inviolable loyalty to live under the gracious fupremacy of his majefty and the illuflrious republic of Poland, and never will they wifh for a duke that is not agreeable to their gracious lord paramount. This is what the deputy ihall de- clare ; and he is defired to conform exadlly :o bis inflruftions, without deviating therefrom in any one point. Whereupon we wifh him a good journey, and i happy ifTue to his negotiation."

[Thefe inflrudions arefigned by Chriftcpher Frederick Sacken, go- vernor ; Otho Chriilopher von der Hoon, chancellor; Henry Chrif- tian Oifenberg, burgrave ; Francis George Frank, marfhal ; all mem- bers of the great council ; and alfo by twenty-five deputies 9f the pa- rifhes of Courland,

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