The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-05 00:00:00

THE STATE OF POLAND.

Mr. DENMAN then rote to all the attention of the
house to the state of Poland, and to move for certain papers
relating thereto. The hon. and learned gentleman said be
thought this was the time and opportunity for briagiog
before the house facts in connexion with the condition of
Poland. If he wanted any justification for adopting this
course it would be found in the numerous petitions which
had that day been presented to the house from all parts of
the kingdom, and which were signed by s who were
curious that the British parliament eh have the sub-
ject brought coder its notice, and also that the
government of Boogie should have its attention called to
the performance of their dubs, towards Poland.
. .

The motion having been put,
Lord PALMERSTON io the course of his reply mid—
i think, with great deference, the Poles would
have far better consulted their own interest if they
had applied their energies to the improvement
of agriculture, so as to promote the prosperity of
their ooeutry. Lod if they bad borne as well as they could
the evils they unhappily endured, and not gone out of the
way to provoke the Russian authorities by doing things
which were not likely to produce any good result. But ea
the other hand, I think it was totally unworthy of the
Russian authorities in Poland to have recourse to thong este
of severity with which they visited, io themselves, those
harmless demonstrations of the people of Warsaw. Nothing
can justify the cruelties and persecutions of which my hoe.
and learned friend complains. (Cheers.) ft is not, how-
ever, for us to judge between these parties, except upon those
common principles of humanity which are applicable to all
nations sod governments, and which, I think, have been
greatly violated by the proceedings of the Russian autho-
rities. As I said before, there is a great feeliag of antagonism
between the Russians and the Poles, and therefore I hope
and believe that the acts of the Russian authorities at
Warsaw and 313 the rest of the kingdom of Poland have not
bees sanctioned, and possibly have not even been known of,
by the Emperor of Russia I had the honour some years
ago of seeing something of his Imperial Majesty when
be was in this country, where be remained for
some weeks, and I must say he appeared to be
a most kind-hearted and benevolent man. - Now we know
that natures do not alter with fleeting years, though
opinions may ; and those who have kind hearts are not
likely to become men of different character when they grow
older in life. lam therefore persuaded that the Emperor
of Russia peraosally would infinitely prefer • kind and
liberal conduct towards the Polish nation. But as I mid

before, there are parties who surround a monarch who
represent things their own way, and who from the love of
authority and national feeling are frequently disposed to
abuse the powers entrusted to them for good sou to apply
them for evil. Now with regard to the future, if I had
an
r..r.tr to t
hsbt to give anztureadvice to the Poles I would say,
i. don t go out of your
way to draw upon you inflictions which you
mama prevent and which are intolerable to hear.*
Recollect that a great political and axial change
le taking phase in Russia, • change that cannot be sin-
gular. A great alteration—one of the greatest perhaps
ever performed within • short time and in any country—
the eniaocipation of the serfs is now taking place. (Hear,
hear.) Dom anyone believe that that emaociption will not
sooner or later lead to wow extension of political privileges,
power, and liberty to the Russian nation ? I would say to
the Poles., "Wait for that. Depend opal this that, although
the Russian' may not wish you to have political liberties
beyond what they themselves enjoy, they will be disposed
to extend to you everything granted to them ;" and there-
fore I should say the Poles would best consult their own
Sheerest by endeavouring to conciliate the Russian authorities,
and by waiting and taking advantage of what I must con-
sider the kind and humaue feelings of the Emperor of Russia.
(Hear. hear.) At all events it is not a matter in which the
government of this country could wisely or usefully inter.
fere. No doubt the recital of the facts here, which may
sat have ISM to the knowledge of the Russian Emperor,
may be useful by bringing to his cognizance things done in
his sin» to which he was not a party ; and on the other
hand. our expression of sympathy for the Poles moat be con-
geui.,l to the feelings of that nation. It is quite appeases/ay
for them to make any demonstration to satiety Europe that
their aspirations for natioudity remain undiminished.
(Hear, hoar.) But so far as the expression of sympathy on
the part of this house may tend to infuse the spirit of coo-
ciliation and to induce the Russian government to mitigate
the system of rule that now prevails at Warsaw, and may
Woo, the Pkdai to abstain from bringing on themselves the
infliction of evils hard to bear. I think my honour-
able and learned fneod may have accomplished
the object of the motion he has made. With
regard to the paper., I cannot offhand say whether there
an any that could be produced. but I will look through
them, aad at a future day say how that matter stands.
Mr. HENNESSY said it was true conservative policy,
is • Rarepean see" to promote the restoration
et ea easiest kingdom, which had been placed in its present
mifortunate position by the violation of treaties, and until
that was accomplished the Polish question would out be
set at rest. (Hear. hear.)
BM H. YUNEY said it was for the interest of this
=and the whole of Europe that the treaty of Vagina
be abided by. and the members of the British Home
ed Cosmos' had not only a right to rain their voices on
behalf el Poland, but bud a responsibility cast upon them
to do so.

Mr. H. )111LNES believed that such debates as the present
wool I et lout have the effect of showing that there wee •
usauisuous feeling amongst all classes in this country. arising
floes the oppression under which Poland had suffered at
the hands of her powerful ruler.
TM 1001i012 was withdrawn.
THE FORTS AT SPITHEAD. -

Mr. B. OtiiiiißkibenleM to move, that it was
expedient to suspend the construction of the pro-
posed forte at Spithead until the value of iron-
roofed gunboats for the defence of our forts
and roadsteads should have been fully considered. The
report of the committee which eat on this subject made •
mar/ curious selmisaion. They said that the mode of WU-
liestio• nand advance with the development of the mane of
attack, but experience showed that forts were lam liable to
Iluctuatkin than almost env other modes of defence. When
that report was written, the commissioners could not foresee
the:events of the other day. They could not foresee that
a ship would be built like the Merrimac, and he must say
that the oonetractioa of a vessel of that deecrinnifol
3.080 tons and plated with railway iron told a I tale
of the *nervy and the eflciasey of the
(Hear, hoer.) But, then, look at the way la whisk file
Merrimac dealt with the forts. She came oat of Norfolk,
steamed up guider Fort Monroe, which was one of the ascot
powerful fortresses in America, and armed, he believed,
with two enormous guns. They fired at her, but whether