The Express.
London, England, 1856-03-26 00:00:00

POLAND.

WARSAW, 14xson 11.
Since I saw you the colour of things in 'world
has changed. In this country everything is suffenag
under the effects of hopes disappointed, which though
always vague, are now considered as lost.
The le v 7 of conscripts has been postponed until
Easter. This is a momentary relief, for the kingdom
is in the extremity of distress in consequence of a
mortality never before equalled, eves during the pre-
valence of the most virulent epidemics. This is tensed
by the bad harvests and by the divines among the
cattle. Add to this the number of hands drawn from

agriculture tor military service, and you will obtain
very melancholy results. There are some people who
will tell you that this country has made a great deal
of money by the war. This is only true as regards
the cornfutors, the Jews, and the intermediaries of
the Russian trade in the divers articles which peas
through this way, and as regards one part of the
country only, viz , the government of Podlachia,
which has, indeed, sold its produce at an enormous
price. The price of provisions was, it is true, every-
where very high, but no one had any to sell, while
everybody was obliged to boy.
The mind of the public in the country has lately
been occupied with the changes to be introduced in
the administration, which seem, however, to be
nothing more than changes of persons. Prince Pia-
kiewitch died in most excruciating agony. He is
replaced by Prince Gortcbakoff, commander of the Cri-
mean army, andwho wu fora long time chief of Prince
Pukiewitch's staff. As we are not to have a grand
duke or a prince of the blood, as we were promised, nor
a Pole, there are, perhaps, lets objection, to Prince
Gortchakoff than to any other, except Kisieleu, the
minister of the domains, but he will introduce
nothing new. Education will be as much neglected
as ever, the censorship as severe. However, venality
may, perhaps, be less tolerated, for the prince is
honest, though avowedly an enemy of this nation.
During three months power has been held provi-
sionally by General Count Vincent Kresinski. This
has sufficed to bring to light a number of cases of
turpitude, of theft, of scandalous proceedings set
aside by the late marshal. In his strong-box have
been found sixteen millions of Polish florins, spoils of
the city of Warsaw, derived from the surplus of the
cash accounts of the commission charged with
billeting soldiers in Warsaw, and who receive in
money the contributions of those who desire to be
exempted. After this can we wonder should the city
be bankrupt?
One fact of importance to commerce is the permis-
sion granted to the transports of Prussian trade, to
come as far up as Warsaw. In the deplorable state
of our railway, and of the waggons belonging to it,
and considering the depredations made by the Coe.
tom-house officers on the frontiers, this is a very
lid measure. The first transports consisted ot
coa-
traband of war; the centre of this commerce was at
Berlin. The agents, Messrs. Freenket (married to
an Englishwoman) and Luki, have made large
fortunes.

I transmit to you herewith a memorial in Russian
(you will no doubt find some one to translate it), pre-
sented by the nobles of Vilna to the Emperor, who
sent back the parcel without opening it. It is a
request in favour of the Polish language and of a
university.
Translation of a petition addressed to his Majesty the Em-
peror of Rnesia by the Cc rpotation of MAW of the Go-
vernment of Vilna.

Availing themselves of their cnvoca.ion for the 'porpoise
of elections, the chinos of the g eeeee meat of Vilna, be-
longing to the Clam of the nobler, hasten to fulfil their first
duty, end their most sacred obligation, by laying at the foot
of your Maletty's throne the expression of their most re-
speettol sentiments. By an inrpiretion coming to them
from God, nations behold in the descendants of their princes
the foundations of their future prospects, and they devote

themielves to them with all their tool and with inezprm-
sible lots. Such are our sentiments, great monarch. We
behold in you our hope (or the present and the safeguard
of our future destiny, and we venture, with filial love, to
express to you, oar powerful fattier, our wants and oar de-
sire. In stardom*, with your 'salted will, Sire, his Ex-
cellency the Minister of the Interior, Lanakoi, has commu-
nicated to as the noble sentiments of your Majesty coaaern-
log the inviolable preservation of the laws which have been
granted to lie. The words of your =framer have penetrated
the depths dont souls. They have confirmed sad strength-
ened our hopes, end have emboldened as to take the liberty
' of respectfully laying at the feet of your Majesty the sub-
oined p.tition :

lot. According to Article 78, heeding 3 of the collection
of laws (itstato relitiog to public functions curetted by

means of election), the citizens of the western government",
belonging to the ems of the nobles, are deprived of the pri.
alleges which are erjayed by all the nobles in the other
governments cf Great Barrie. This results more parti-
cularly from the fJlowing regulation In order to be
admitted by means of election to the exercise of the veriest'
functions thtrain conferred, it is measlier, to have served
the state ten years in a military or civil capacity."
In addition to this, levant citizens of the class of the
nobles having lost the confidence of the government for the
lot fire-sad..wenty years, and *von previous to this epcch,
they cannot be sleeted to exercise the duties which our
' elections impose upon us. Finally, the noble citizens of the
government of Vilna are not always admitted to exercise
the public functions, the appointments to which ere made
directly by the government, while our sons ars obliged to
fulfil their dative as citizens in the governments of Or.at
Russia.

These rerrictions considerably diminish the importance
of the electioss of the wcrtby representativm of the corpo-
ration of nobles in the government of Vilna.
Groat monarch, we are convinced that in your inethwast-
PA* kindness towards your subjects, you consider as AI,
mat powerful and gentraus father, as equally your chil-
dren, that you desire to leave to all liberty of action and of
eonseisuce, top • molt sacred bond between man
sad his duties, his faith, his language, and the customs of
his forefathers.
Under your benevolent sceptre several heterogeneous
rases euj ty the lows which your crowned ancestors have
bequeathed to them.

Merciful monarch, we alto are your most faithful lab-
' jeep. We, like the re t, make our taring' ecoording to
our means. Our sone, with the molt perfect abnegation of
themselves, are shedding their blood in the present war in
the ranks of your warriors. In the civil service oar oompa-
triota are likewise proving themselves aseful servants of the

common weal. Let, therafors, your supreme gruel
dewed upon us, by coutsrriug upon us the right
' • ' '

of electing all thou It hs hays attained a certain grade,with-
oat limitatlos as to the number of year, of civil or of milt
tart' service. Ccmtnand that tte functionaries sppinted
directly by the government, shall in future be nominated
without distinction of reiigion. Deign to grant to our eons
the faculty of salving wherever local circumstances or family
relations. shall render it most euy and advantageous (or
them.

god. The considerable distances which minute our
government from all the towns of the empire, are the trin-
civil calm of many f our youog peopV being, for want of
the oecessary means. deprived of the advantages of &higher
education. Our e iuntry being preeminently agricultural,
commerce, industry, and manufactures among as are in a
state of absolute inferiority. Agriculture alto is far from
hay.ng attained that degree of c evelopoteut, which can only
be given to it by agricultural scasoce, applied practically to
localities and climates.
- • - -•

---
The want c f ouchanicisor, of chemists, of medical pram, '
Wieners, sad members of other 'peels' profusion', is keenly
felt. These neon forte as to supplicate your Mete►t, to re-
establish the Utile. rely of Vilna, which is so indispensable
for the purpose of huaooi'iog the benevolent views of the
government with the solicitude and hope' of the parents
belonging to the corpor►tion of the noble".
The progress of science, of the arts, and of industry, is trans-
emitted from generic on to gecerati, n, and passes away, but
the banediotioes of a whole people live for ever in the impe-
rishable remembrance which it retains of the geoerous and
mobile solicitude of a sovereign who is the Maher of his
people.
Allow us, therefore, Sire, to solicit Ton to accept the
truthful sad most crux ctinl assuranee that our mat mut
thoughts are inspired by the love and devotion that we beer
to you.
In sir hearts, august monarch, dwells a hope of a comic-
titre connelicso, and we trust that our faith—nay, even our
prayers, ere bat a feeble retie" of your noble sentiments,
and of your paternal and benevolent thoughts.
We ire, &c., &o.
Following up several questions which were die,
unwed by the eaporation of the nobles of Vilna, and

which are appended to this petition, we find the fol.

- -
parige:
Finally, the corporation of the noble. disowned the ques-
tion relative to the Polish language, which, though spoken
in private and family life, and though the language in
which religion is taught, is not used in the scientific institu-
tions of the government of Fitts. This motive induces the
corporation of nobles to solicit the chief of ihe government,
in hie capacity of Curator-General of Studies and Instruc-
tion, to direct, or obtain that it be directed, that instruction
la all the schools in the government of Vilna be imputed
la the Polish language.