Error or variant? On the editorial techniques of Adam Naruszewicz

The article is an introduction to the issues of Adam Naruszewicz’s editorial techniques, revealed in the preserved autographs of his literary prose and scientific works. These manuscripts are divided into texts written by Naruszewicz and those dictated and edited by him. Initial research shows that the bishop’s editorial work was done in line with the following criteria: clarity and credibility of the argument, substantive correctness, and shaping the content, the aim of which was to create a positive image of the king, Stanisław August. This often determined intervening in areas, which are difficult to be accused of being incorrect today. This is why the article attempts to indicate those editorial activities of the bishop, which could now be perceived as variants of the text, while, according to the author, they required amending. As an editor, Naruszewicz interfered with various aspects: factual errors, style, structure, punctuation, making clarifying additions, as well as self-censoring. All these editorial efforts show the literary skills of one of the most outstanding minds of Polish Enlightenment.