The Death of _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_, which happen’d on the 17th of _June_ 1696, was another Inducement to the Emperor to pursue the same Politics. The Elector of _Brandenburg_ by having _Prussia_ in his Neighbourhood, might be of great Weight in the Election of a new King of _Poland_; and the Emperor who had a Design to advance the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_ to the Throne, pretended to enter into the Views of the Elector, that this Prince might afterwards fall in with his at the Dyet of Election. For this end the Emperor’s Ministers gave _Dankelman_ to understand, that the first thing to be done was to clear the Difficulties which the several Powers of _Europe_ might raise against the Elector’s Project; and that the Congress of _Ryswic_, at which all the Ministers were to be present, was the most favourable Opportunity. Hereupon _Dankelman_ was recall’d from the Court of _Vienna_, and sent to _Ryswic_ as Plenipotentiary from the Elector, jointly with M. _de Schmettau_. The Elector for his part set out for _Konigsberg_, the Capital of _Prussia_, that he might be nearer at hand to favor the Election of the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_. Mean time he was strenuously sollicited in favor of _Alexander_ and _Constantine_ Princes of _Poland_, who for that reason came themselves to _Berlin_; but the Elector was far from breaking the secret Engagements which he had made with the Emperor: Therefore he answer’d the Solicitations of those two Princes in a very ambiguous manner, by engaging himself to nothing, and only telling them that he was going into _Prussia_ that he might be the better inform’d of every thing that pass’d at the Dyet of Election. The Necessity which the Elector stood in of _Poland_ to succeed in his Views, laid him under an indispensible Obligation to concern himself in that Election. He fully expected that the Right which the said Republic claim’d to _Prussia_ wou’d induce it to oppose his Designs with Vigor; and besides, under the Pretext of interesting himself in the Election of a King, he might form a Party that hereafter would be capable to serve him; therefore, as soon as he arriv’d at _Konigsberg_, he dispatch’d a Messenger to the Cardinal _Radziowsky_ Primate of _Poland_, to acquaint him of his Arrival, and sent M. _Dorerbeck_ Great Cup-bearer of _Prussia_ as his Ambassador to the Dyet of Election, with Orders to support the Interests of the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_, but in the mean time to do nothing that might disoblige the _Poles_. The Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_ was soon out of the Question; for the two strongest Parties oblig’d him to retire, as well as the other Competitors for the Crown. These two Parties were the one for _Frederic-Augustus_ Elector of _Saxony_, and the other for the Prince of _Conti_. The Cardinal Primate favor’d the latter, and _France_ seem’d to have his Election very much at heart; yet _Frederic-Augustus_’s Party carried it, and he was proclaim’d King.