To my trusted Toris,
My first partition did not directly threaten the viability of our state. I must admit, it was rather convenient and well. I retained extensive territory that included the heartland. King Stanislaw August supported the progressive elements in my government and promoted the ideas of foreign political figures such as Edmund Burke and George Washington. At the same time, Polish intellectuals discussed Enlightenment philosophers such as Montesquieu and Rousseau. I was taught the concept of democratic institutions and had to accept it. Landholders emancipated large numbers of peasants, although there was no official government decree for it. My cities, in decline for many decades, were revived by the influence of the Industrial Revolution, especially in mining and textiles.
Stanislaw August recast Poland-Lithuania as a hereditary monarchy and abolished many of the eccentricities and antiquated features of the old system of which we were so fond of. The new constitution abolishes the individual veto in parliament; provides a separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and established "people's sovereignty". Is this the change that we have been waiting for, dear friend?
F. Łukasiewicz, 17-
