The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

•
VaIWAIL
THE POLISH FETE AT CHISWICK-ROHM.
i,;;e4
th the shade oit magnificent cedar trees,
nolo the lawn of one of the most beautiful garden
our beautiful Iligiand,l in front of a mansion
wherein the Emperor Alexander was an honoured
guest some fifty years ago, a fashionable company
were assembled yesterday afternoon. Notabilities
in the world of polities or fashion, facer and forms
familiar, through portraiture, to thousands who will
never see their owners in the flesh, are momentarily
recognised ; while the printed lists of prices affixed
to the time-honoured trees, and the constant flitting
to and fro of waiters, who accept coin of the realm
for the refreshments they proffer to the gaily dressed
figural listening to the magnificent band, stamp the
scene as distinctive and peculiar. This is the Ate
given in behalf of Poland ; and the whole of the
company present are practically manifesting their
sympathy for the sons and daughters of that ill-
starred land. Beneath the dome of the white
villa yonder, are stalls whereat jewels and
objects of eirtg are laid out, and at
which the rank and beauty of England has
successfully exerted itself, on behalf of the sick
and wounded of an oppressed and down-trodden
nationality. The articles exposed for sale have not
been collected without difficulty and danger, and in
many instances represent the little all of the donor.
They are almost exclusively the personal ornaments
of Polish women of various ranks, and different
degrees of refinement, who, made equal for the
nonce by the intensity of their love of country,
have contributed these articles to afford succour to
those who have fought and suffered on that
country's behalf. Surely the poet's

- -
Wbeise'er our wonky alb,
Friends, sons, and Woo should yisld their treasure up,
Noe owe a moss beyond the public safety,

is more than realised here, for the very character
of many of these trinkets proves them to have been
the one cherished thing of their owner's heart, only
to be parted with under the pressure of a dire
necessity. Perhaps the most touching series in the
collection is a large tray of wedding-rings and love
tokens, the former having the customary Polish in-
scriptions engraved inside, together with a date
which shows them to have been worn in some
cases fifty, in others but two or three, years. The
gentleman who has the general superuitendenoe of
the room, and whose name we are requested, for
obvious reasons, to withhold, has, of course, at
the risk of his life, personally collected the great
bulk of these jewels and ornaments from his
Polish countrywomen, has kept them hidden
in Galicia for some months past, and has now,
by the kind permission of the Duchess-Dowager of
Sutherland, the gratification of seeing them
rapidly fulfilling the purpose for which they have
been so heroically given, and of knowing that the
pecuniary results of yesterday and to-day
will be such as to afford substantial relief
to the brave men who are lying sick and
wounded at home. And it should be mentioned
that a leading feature of this fancy fair is the excessive
cheapness of the things vended. Young England who
has been known to invest fabulously in old dancing
shoes, to exchange gold for a single strawberry, or
a delicately manipulated cigar, will be surprised at
finding that he may help the Poles and procure an
interesting relic for an absurdly moderate sum.
Although the total value of the articles originally
displayed on the six stalls was some five thousand
pounds, and though one very handsome necklet of
brilliants was ticketed 44.31., yet many of the most
interesting of the trinkets, the wedding-rings and
love-tokens for example, may be purchased for a
few shillings. Here, too, the fair vendors empha-
tically give what commercial people call
"value" for their customers' money. If
cigars are wanted, a small bundle is at band,
almost at the market price ; and if rosebuds for the
button-bole were occasionally quoted at a shilling
sterling, the charge was considered small, when
compared with that frequently obtained at similar
Ntes. Contributions from sympathising Russians—
from poor nuns, who had only their coral beads to
send—from somermore wealthy religionist, whose
massive silver crucifix was exposed for sale,
were among the more notable realizations
of the sacred " She path done what she
could " feeling which this collection conveys.
Some striking photographs, exhibited by a gentle-
man recently returned from Poland, and graphi-
-1 rally detailing the horrors of the war, were amongst
1 the most interesting objects in the rooms. This
line series is from pictures by M. It Arthur Grott-
ger. the Polish artist, and has teen just published
by Messrs. Miethkie and Wsura of Vienna. They
are of a large size, and are in themselves worth a
visit to the fete. Over and above the lady
patronesses present—foremost amongst whom
were the Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland,
Lady Constance Grosvenor, the Countess of Shaftes-
bury, the Ladies Jocelyn, and the Hon. Mrs.
Bateson, Sir John Hovering, Mr. Pope Hennessy,
and other well-known sympathisers were con-
spicuous; while the Princess Sulkowaka, Mesdames
Bischoffsheim, Prince Czartoryski, Major Szulc-
zewski, Baron Waligorski, Count Zamoyaki, and
the Messrs. Gielgud, represented the leading
Polish families at present in this country. The
instrumental concert was under the able direction of
M. Jullien ; that given the Grenadier Guards
under that of Mr. Go

OnnilWO OF THE ROTA!. BOUM° GAZDZNB.
(Tam DAL )—The first greed flower skew of the season
was held to-day in the grounds of the society, Regent's-
park. Although the weather was dull and wet there was
stills very large mustes of the aristocracy god of the
fakes of the society. In the principal tent the show
of rhododendrons, azaleas, calesolariss, pelargoniums, clam-
deedrons, and roses, was magnificent. Is the centre of the
teat was a splsudid display of cut roses and other flowers
which forked a large assemblage of admires. There was a
fins choice collection of melons sad grapes. The rains of
last night and this morning had imparted an additional
freshman and cocain to the grounds and promenades.
TRINITY SUNDAT.--General Ordination for the
diocese of Loudon will be held is St. Paul's Cathedral,
orrice committals; at a quarter before 10 o'clock
preacher, the Very Rev. the Dean of Westmiestsr.
The sermon at the Chapel Royal, St. Jamie's, at the
12 o'clock service, will be preached by the Rev. Edward
Banns, B.C.L, Canon of Gloucester, Canon of Bristol,
and Chaplain is Ordinary to the gesso. Tbe senors
at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, et the 11 o'clock
service, will be preached by the Lord Bishop of Cork, and
at the 3 p.m. service the Rev. Charles Merivale, D. D.,
Rector of Lawford, Fiat. and Chaplain to the Hone of
Cookson., will deliver ha fourth " Boyle Lecture " on the
Conversion of the Roman Empire. The semis at the
special evening service at 7 p.m. in the nave of Westminster
Abbey will be preached by the Rev. James Fraser. ILA.,
Enemy Canon of Salisbury, Rector of linen Nicest,
Berkshire. and Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Salisbury.
LITZILART AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINOS FOR TEE
ENSUING WlLL—llaiday—Geographical, at 1„ Anniver-
sary. Tuesday—Linosie, at 3, Anniversary; Ethnological,
at 4, Annivenary ; "Empirical and Scientific Pitying-
somy," Dr. Donovan ;eery Eagineers, at 8, " Machioery
employed in Sinking Artesian Wells on the Continent,"
Mr. Burnell ; Zoolonimiloit 9, " Oceans's° of a Species of
FS. Whale ou the Coast of Norfolk," Mr. W. H. Flower ;
"Species of the Cuckoo of the Genus Neomorphus," Dr.
Solent; Royal Institution, at 3, "Animal Life," Profaner
MarshalL Wednesday—Geological at 8, "Notes on
North•Westere Himalayas," °spine Godwin-Assts. ;
"Cetacean Fossils, termed Ziphins by Caviar," Pretence
Huxley; " Rhietic Beds sod White Lies of Somerset," Mr.
Dawkins; British Archeological, at 81. "Sepulchral Anti-
quities, Halmingham, Suffolk," Rev. Mr. Carder. ; '•Obi-
tuary Notices of Members deceased dosing Lffir3," Mr. Petti-
grew. Thursday —Antiquaries, at Bj, " A Mappsonside by
LeonardodeVisci," Mr.ll. H. Major; "Reliesfrocean
Saxon Cemetery. Oxon," Mr. Snobs.' Stone ; " Antiquities
from Saxon Graves, sear Bedford," Mr Penns] ; Royal
at 81 ; Royal restitution, at 3, " Music, 1600-175 Q," Pro-
fessor Balkh. Friday—Royal lestitutioo, at 8, "Greek
Art," Mr. Poole. Saturday—Royal Institution, at 3, "Fall-
ing Sten," Mr. A. Herschel.
Dice Ire TDB WAR Orion—lt is quite true
that the clerks in one of the branches of the Accouotant-
Genral's Department in the War Office were in the habit
of gambling with dice during office hours. instead of exam-
ining amounts, as was their duty ; but it is nut true that
toe dies were loaded, or that foul play of any kind took
plan. The former offence was, however, quite serious
enough, in an official sense, to justify the @esteem
protiouned. In the ease of the two seniors—
those entrusted with, and responsible for, the efficiency of
the branch—it was Instant and final dismissal ;is that of
the juniors it was less than this, but still severe. Preen
has been brought to bear upon Lord De Grey to alter his I
sentence, but he unlinthiegly Where. to it, and in dots( so
we thisk there on be but on opiates, that if he panned
any other course he would sot have shows himself earnest
in preserving the effideny and peeper nodes of the emit
department over which be presidia ray and Weep
Glazette.

MAY 21, IE4.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

PRIII3BLi AND =GLAND. '

A letter from Berlin of the 16th says :—"
de Biemark has announced to the English ambas-
sador at Berlin that he will henceforth only com-
municate with him officially. The relations of our
ministry with the ambassador will thus be confined
to the exchange of written notes. Mde Bismark
gives as a reason for this reserve, the practice
of English diplomatists and ministers to make
known the confidential interviews they have had
with foreign diplomatists, in official documents or is
parliament. This mark of distrust is the more felt
by Mr. Buchanan from the fact that his rank as
ambassador gives him direct access to the Ifing,
and that henceforth immediate relations with the
person of the Bing will become almost impos-
sible. This will end probably in the recall of
the respective ambassadors at London and Berlin,
who will not be replaced."
The Kreutz Zeitung says :—" Henceforth we are
bound by no obligations resulting from the treaty
of 1862. It would be contrary to all right and
all policy, if, after all that has passed, and after
so many arbitrary and unjust acts oonunitted by
the Danes, we were to believe ourselves still en-
gaged to take any trouble about the integrity of
Denmark. It was not we, it was Denmark who
tore up that treaty, and threw the fragments
in our face. Let it collect them now, and
try to paste them together—it is not for
us to do such a task. Thus, then, neither Prussia
nor Austria is any longer bound by the London
treaty. They have made this declaration in full
conference ; and the base of the right having been
broken by their adversary hinise:f, they can take
up such a position as their political convenience
may dictate."
We read in the Northern German Gazette:—" A
rumour was circulated yesterday in Berlin that the
German plenipotentiaries at the Conference had
quitted London. Although this rumour may not
be well-founded, it is noticed as an expression of
the sentiment of the Prussian people, that the
dignity of Germany will not allow it to leave its
representatives in a country where they are not
treated with all the respect due to the ambassadors
of a great and powerful state." "We do not
attach any importance," adds this journal, "to
the insults which the English press lavishes on
the German governments ; but when members
of parliament allow their judgments to be carried
away, and put with regard to the Conference ques-
tions which show that they completely misunder-
'tend the facts, without the English ministers
hastening to give explanations, and to instruct the
members of parliament upon their rights, we can-
not allow such things to pass without expressing
our indignation."