_Riga_, which then belong’d to the _Swedes_. This Conduct of the King of _Poland_, was, Madame, as the fatal Signal and the _Primum Mobile_ of that tragical War, which tho’ so glorious for the King of _Sweden_ in the beginning, ended in the ruin not only of his Kingdom, but also of _Poland_ and _Saxony_. And the greatest Gainer by it was the _Czar_. The _Danes_ while they waited for the Succours they had demanded from _Poland_, besieg’d the Fortress of _Tonningen_ in the Duchy of _Sleswic_. The King of _Sweden_ and the Duke of _Holstein_, before they oppos’d this Enterprize, preferr’d their Complaints to the Dyet of the Empire, and then prepar’d for driving the _Danes_ out of the Country. The Elector of _Hanover_ and the Duke of _Zell_ join’d those two Princes, and the latter marching to the Relief of _Tonningen_ had the Honor of obliging the Besiegers to abandon it, upon the report only of his Approach. This Prince therefore having nothing to do towards _Tonningen_, went with his Troops and rejoin’d the Elector of _Hanover_. They met the four thousand Men whom the King of _Poland_ was sending to the Assistance of the _Danes_, but only took their Baggage and Arms, and then left them at liberty to return home. The King of _Sweden_, on his part, push’d on the War against the _Poles_. That great Prince whom extraordinary Undertakings never startled, having already ravag’d a part of _Poland_, design’d a bold stroke, which was no less than dethroning the lawful King of that Country, and setting up another in his room. He had cast his eyes upon _James_ of _Poland_, Son of King _John Sobieski_; but the King of _Poland_ parry’d this blow, by causing the Prince _James_ and his Brother Prince _Constantine_, to be carried away from an Estate of theirs near _Breslau_ to _Saxony_, where they were strictly guarded like Prisoners at the Castle of _Leipsic_. The Confinement of these Princes did indeed hinder either of them from being elected King; but the King of _Sweden_ still persisted in his design of dethroning the King of _Poland_, on purpose to be reveng’d of that Prince for being so rash as to be the first that declar’d War against him. He caused the Election to fall upon _Stanislaus Leczinski_ the Palatine of _Posen_. The Bishop of _Posen_ officiated as Cardinal Primate in this Ceremony, and proclaim’d the new King. The King of _Sweden_ wrote to all the Princes with whom he was at peace, to acquaint them of this new Election, and to exhort them to recognize it. The Letter he wrote to our King had no Influence over him; for he made answer, that he had recogniz’d one King of _Poland_ already, and that as long as he liv’d he would acknowledge no other. He wrote at the same time to the King of _Poland_, to demand the Liberty of the two Princes. The Emperor, to whom the eldest had the Honour of being Brother-in-law, seconded the King’s Demand; but the Solicitations of both had no consequence, and the Princes were not releas’d till a long time after.