The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-20 00:00:00

TO TILE EDITOR OF THE EXPRESS.

Literary Auociatioa of the Friends of Poland,.
Sussex-chambers, Duke-street, St. James's,
October 19, 1853.

SIR,—It is perhaps unnecessary to contradict any
statement which appears respecting England or Poland, in
the New Gazette of Prussia ; but as a letter purporting to
be written by a correspondent in London, which appeared
in that paper on the Bth instant, has been trinalated aad
transferred to your column., and has even led to inquiries
being made at the chambers of this Association, on the part
of the commissioners of police, I may, perhaps, be excused
for alluding to the subject. The letter, amongst other
statements of a similar character, contains the following
You may readily form an idea of the fanaticism which
the declaration of war by Turkey has caused among the
emigrants, particularly the Poles and Hungarians. I am
also informed that the Polish Literary Seciety has at
its disposal six thousand muskets, which are now on
board two vessels at Southampton, intended to convey
the Magyar-Polish legion to Turkey. It is said that 000
Poles, completely armed, and commanded by Colonel
Oporski, will leave Southampton to-morrow. The Literary
Society displays the greatest activity, half the greet in
which it holds its meetings is blocked up by Polish re-
fugees."

In reply to this London correspondent, I beg to state
that this society (the only Polish Society which has assumed
the name of " Literary ••) so far from having at its disposal
6,000 muskets, has not, nor, to the best of my belief, ever
has had, at its disposal even a Biagio musket or arras of any
species whatever, unless it be the sword of the brave Ure-
mia' Bern, delivered here as a relic. The Society displays
no more than its usual activity. The meetings of the
council are held, as has been the practice ever since the
establishment of the Association in 1832, once a week
only; and their proceedings have, for several months,
been limited to the single object of affording relief to re-
fugees who are incapacitated by sickness from following
their usual employments. There has been no unusual at-
tendance of Polish refugees at the chambers of the &swig-
(ion ; on an average of many months certainly not more
than 20 daily. Duke-street, in which the asoxistion is
situated, has consequently not been half Wicked up by
Polish refugees, as you may possibly be aw: re from per-
sonal observation. Ido not refer to the Mtn r statements
contained in the letter, many of which are no less impro-
bable and ridiculous than those which I have quoted, be_
cause the latter alone concern the Literary Association, and
the falsehood of the others is not known to me of my per-
sonal knowledge.
May I be allowed to add that the Preussische Ifreus
Zeitung does not appear to be in advance of the Veso
Gazette of Prussia in the accuracy of itt foreign corres-
pondents. The former journal of the 4th inst. stated, as
appears by the Allgemoine Zeitung of the lath inst.—
With regard to the absence of the secretary of the Lite-
rary Society, Saulesew•ki, I am informed that he has
really been in Sheffield for arranging these purchasesof
arms, which are to be kept in readiness fer the enrolment of
the part of the legion to be armed here.•• I have never
been is Sheffield in my life : no purchases of arms have
been made, no orders for arms given by this society, and,
therefore, the purchases alluded to are probably no less
imaginary than the 6,000 muskets at the disposal of the
association.

It is difficult to say whether these statements have been
made with any political object, or with the view of defeat-
ing the appeal which this society is usually' constrained to
make at this period of the year to the humane and
generous feelings of the public, independently of political

I am directed by the council of this associati(n to make
this communication, and,
I have the honour to be, Air, your obedient servant,
C. SZ ULC Z EWSKI, Resident Secretary.

SWINDLING IN PARIS.—An account was given,
says Galismani,in August last, of the condemnation to three
years' imprisonment of a man named: Del..gileau, for
having committed namerous .cts of swindling by obtain-
ing subscriptions from different persons on pretence that
they were for the distressed widow and family of a lite-
raryman of some note. Amongst his victims were Mesdames
Ugalde, Tedesco, Cruvelli, Cerito, and other theatrical no-
tabilities. To commit his frauds, he took the false name of
the Vicomte de Croin-Matie. The total soothe received was
about 2,500 fr. Oct Saturday be appealed to the Imperial
Court against the conderunatioe. The prisoner alleged that
be is a literary man by profession, that he had been con-
nec!ed with different newspapers, and that he bad been
accustomed to earn money by writing vaudevilles for noted
dramatists, who brought them out under their own names.
It was stated in the course of the proceeding. that in ISM
be was arrested fcr having been concerned in a Carlo•re-
publi. an plot, that in 1815 he was sentenced to bac
months' imprisonment for libel, and in IMO be was con-
demned to three months' imprisonment and file ye ari
ia-
teroiction of civil rights for swindling. In the present
case, he originally pretended that he had really devoted the
money received to a dieteessed family, and that he Mould be
able to prove it by the testimony of that family. But the
proof was not folthcoming, and the former beutence was
confirmed. _

SUDDEN DEATH IN A COFFEE-HOUSE.—Last even-
ing Mr. B. Baker. *anther, hold an inquest at the London
Hospital, on view of the body of Thomas Chapala), aged
45 year•, who was found ceud at u coffee-house a der the
fo:lowing eitcutastanc,s ,—lt is:,peared that the deceased
was a carpenter, ar.d bud come front Lowestoft ou a visit to
his friends in Loudon. 110 arrived very late to Saturday
' night with his see, and et g .g. d u lodging at ths %mpg
Coffee-house, 47, litgh-street, Whitichspil, whet.: they re-
tired to Il'at about one o'cloels on Sunday motailig. The
' boy got out of bet! nbout 11 o'clock, but esulti net Make*,
deceased liter, an•t w! the waiter was called dressed
was found to be in,ttsib:r. Mr. Cowley, surgeon, of High-
street, was called, w:ts pronounc.d the deceased te be dead.
There were no maths of violence, but the deceased had been
sick after he drank tome coffee. Mr. Conde,. e•ated tkst
the deceased had died of apoplexy arising hem Weill
causes. The jury returned a verdict of "Died by the stsi-
tation of lied."

II: i I lAN IWIAL MAIL STLAM
JA r7G.tT(UN courA XY.

Yesterday an extraordinary general meeting of
th,thrholdete was held at the L,ndon Tavern, Mr. FRITH
la the chair, for the pupae of annulling or altering the
rovuonis of the deed of settlement, which required that
~,,Rhet of shores to be held by a director should have
tun hild ter el& consecutive months nest preceding his
ileoloc, for altering the number of directors, and for other
yorpotst•
1%, report stated that, in pursuance of the resolution
%tried to ty the pro, ietors at the last 'entre' meeting,
the choirm..n waited on the Board of Trade and asked for
to the modification of that part of the decd of
settotunt which required a director to hold his shares for
tor.q, %give ision•hs previous to his election. In eonse-
cues, e however, of one of the directors having waited on
thi, word Trade, the reply returned was that the Board
of Trade could assent to the proposed modification only,
after t had been sanctioned by a meeting of the share-
holders.
The CH tt KHAN said that the present meeting was called
iaerder to obtain the assent of the shareholders, and the
propewd IntAttkation, as required by the Board of Trade.
thr he had awed on a former occasion, he understood that
the Loud of Trade assented to the modification, but in
ronvireente of cue of the directors having gone and Meted
hi. own views to the Board of Trade, it required that the
sweat of the shareholders should be formally given to the

tearosed loodtliestion. The resolution he had therefore
awl/nit was, that the necessity for holding the required
samba of shares be limited to ten days nest preceding
Ike election of a director instead of six months.
31r. Sltarazun seconded the resolution, which wee car-
ried.

The CHAIIMAN then submitted a resolution for reducing
tte *umber of directors from 12 to such number u the
sharelolden might think most advisable. If the opinion
gale directors wee asked, they would, he believed, say that
7 would be a proper cumber. (Hear.)
A i'MOPIIIZTUR proposed that the number be reduced to
5, which not biding a seconder was not put.
•

Another PROPRIETOR proposed 9, but the motion was
100. and the number 7 was adopted.
Ihe CUAIRMAN said that this was the only busineu
which the directors hail to bring before the meeting, but as
it wai competent for any shareholder, under the terms of
the advertisement, to submit any resolution in reference to
the Oars of the company, he wished to know if any gen-
tleman had any further resolution to propose.
Mr. LAWRENCE then moved, and Colonel COFFIN
seconded, a resolution, instructing the directors to take
steps for realising the property of the company, and di-
viding it amongst the shareholders.
After some dii.cussion, from which it appeared to be the
general feeling of the proprietors, that the more advisable
course would be to leave the matter in the hands of the
dirsct ri generally, the motion was withdrawn.
In answer to a Shareholder,

The CHAIRMAN said that the Sydney was the only vessel
which the directors had ordered to be sold in Australia.
Mr. W. Hewes, one of the directors, then submitted a
resolution, the object of which was to alter the male of
voting at general meetings. By the provisions of the deed
of settlement there was • vote for every share; but, as
under that system a great preponderance might be given
to a few shareholders holding a large number of shares, he
thought it would be for the advantage of the proprietors
generally, if the scale of voting mentioned in the company's
Clauses Consolidation Act of 1846 were adopted instead.
The scale of voting recommended in that act would give
sufficient security both to the large and small, to the absent
as well as to the present shareholder. lie and his friends
had a large interest in the company, so that he could have
no other object in proposing the alteration than the advan-
tage of the proprietors generally.
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to make some observations in
reply to Mr. Hawes, and remarked in very strong language
(for whisk he afterwards apologised) on the unusual pro-
ceeding which he adopted in going la his individual capa-
city to the board.
Mr. AMBROAZ Moons deprecated t►e bandying nf per-
sonalities, and recommended Mr. Hawes to postpone kis
resolution, in which he concurred, to • more suitable and
calmer period.
Mr. fawns adopted the suggestion, and the resolution
was accordingly withdrawn.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.