The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-10 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

11113 WZATHEIL—Stat Onms, May. 10,
THZJINONZTZB, IN THZ SHAD&
62—highest since noon yesterday.
49—lowest this morning and during the night.
61—this day, at noon.

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Tcus bey —Mornm. 17 mtn.alter 8 Eiening Smin.aft. 9
Ta-liosaow —Mortung 45 min.after 9 j Evening 23 min. aft.lo

B 41101D:rine 29'51.
WIND, W. to N.W.—Light, with dull weather. Last
evening it began to rain, and a considerable quantity has
fallen in the night.

to
4Ttl C.
§

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY.IO, 1855.

Last September we drew attention to a remark-
able "Letter to the Emperor of- the FRENCH on
the Eastern Question, and the re-establishment of
the Independence of Poland." It was a transla-
tion from the French, and the author, according
to universal and uncontradicted report, is the M.
DE PERSIGNY, who is now appointed ambassador
to our Court. At the same;time Count WALEWSKI,
whose very name must guarantee his sympathy
with the cause of the Poles, succeeds M. DROUYN
DE L'HETS as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in
Prance. Concurrently with these official indica-
tions, we find the services of the Polish prisoners
against their oppressor accepted, and a Polish
Legion, alas ! too tardily, in course of formation.
In the pamphlet we have alluded to, onr readers
rimy remember that M. DE PERSIGNY shows with
clearness and vigour that an independent Poland
is the grand effentive sentiment which would im-
part to the Allied efforts "a passion" which would
be more than a match for the religious fanaticism
on which Russia so much relies ; and that its
realisation as a fact is the only possible means of
depriving Russia of her present offensive power
against civilised Europe. We consider, he says, `the
recognition by a common declaration, on the part
of the Allies, of the legitimate existence .of the Polish
nationality" as the masterpiece of Allied policy.
Before this he conceives, if accompanied, of course,
by suitable military measures, the complications
of the case would attain a prompt and ready so-
lution. We may surely hope, then, that the
new French Ambassador and Foreign Minister
are indications that Lours NAPOLEON, at
least, is favourable to a bold and worthy policy.
We may be told, perhaps, that we have with
Sebastopol and the Crimea, enough on our hands
at present. Perhaps quite enough to do, but cer-
tainly" not enough to fill our plans and thoughts.
" Ever too late" has been the ruin of everything
hitherto ; our policy, thanks to that caressed
drag-chain Austria, has always as yet been (plite
as much behind the occasion as our military and
commissariat management. Had PERSIGNY'S
advice been adopted the day he gave it, we be-
lieve that, despite all our administrative short-
comings, Sebastopol would have fallen ere now.
Polish nationality recognised, and the Polish flag
floating before Sebastopol, would have disorganised
the plans of Russia, have stopped her reinforce-
ments far away from the Crimea, and have trans-
ferred her best soldiers from the garrison of
Sebastopol to our trenches. If it be now adopted,
though too late to recal the past, it will not be
too late to give a new, and we believe invincible,
vigour to the future.
Suppose the Allies to act on M. DE PERSIGNY'S
suggestion, what would be the results ? Take the
Allies themselves first. In England and France
the universal feeling would be one of deep satis-
faction. It would be a relief to the national
conscience of both countries. The burden of
half a century—the guilt of complicity in the
blood of a murdered kingdom—would be taken
off at once. This War is but the visitation of OUT
fathers' sin, in tolerating the dismemberment of
Poland, upon us their children. We are pain-
fully conscious of its lying upon us till we avenge
the oppressed, and punish`the rampant oppressor ;
and we should bear the needful sacrifices of the War
with the light-heartedness of one who frankly
atones for long-neglected duty. Every soldier,
too, and commander employed in the War would
feel that he was engaged in a really holy cause.
Contrast the spirit with which we should pay,
and our soldiers fight, for such a cowardly, we
must say such a recreant, peace as Lord JOHN
would have accepted at Vienna, and for the res tor-
at'4l/ of a crushed and noble nation ! A
the te,ti
'up_
whose restoration alone can stave off
ivvuee of these cruel wars in which its
destroetion has
constitut.t.oian,:uvolved us. A resolve to re-
and fire all the would
would disburden the conscience,
and France. it is sentiments of both England
Turkey would hail itsZera, uous to add, that
curity. uer only effectual se-
But how would our,
trxiltnirtio affect
Austria and Prussia ? pt :
worse enemies it could not niakefi hem 2s .
Fcase
rtaei nc ,
alliance and treacherous neutrality
is all We have
hitherto gained from them. At open war With
them we should have known what to do. By
heminal peace Prussia has shielded Russia on her
weakest. side, and has almost nullified our costly
111°Q44(10- Austria's villany, in enabling rein-
4,'reements to march from the Danube to Tnker-
nl4l3, can never
itritti•-4 therm be forgotten. We do not dread
Mew:. i en'les so much as lying and treacherous
31tt *hat is their interest ? We answer,