The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-09 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 9, 1855.

POLAND AS AN INDEPENDENT STATE.

PUBLIC MEETING.

( From the Manchester Guardian of Wednesday.)
On Monday evening, a public meeting was held in the
Town Hall, "to consider the importance of the king-
dom of Poland as an iudependerit state in her relations
to Europe." The large room was crowded with a very
respectable audience ; amongst those upon the platform
being the Rev. Dr. Vaughan. Messrs. J. A. Turner,
Absalom Watkins, William Martin, N. F. Zaba (on be-
ha'f of •the Society of the Friends of Poand), Joseph
Adshead, J. R, Cooper, S. I. Samson, Isatrc Gregory,
Dr. Hudson, Hugh Warburton,
Mr. WILLIAM MARTIN (of Altrincham) took the chair,
on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Vaughau. He said that
if he could have known five minutes before that he

would have been called upon to occupy such a position,
he should not have been present at all ; and he had only
consented to assume it, on the assurance that he
would not be required to express any opinion of his
own, but simply to keep order. With the permission
of the meeting, he would assume it to be their wish that
any person who wished to speak in opposition should be
heard with patience, after the speakers who had posses-
sion of the tneetinrY should have concluded ; but until
then any attempts to interrupt the meeti,g should be
put down (Applause ) The chairman real a letter
from the town-clerk, stating that Mr. Alderman Barnes
(who had promised to take the chair) was indisposed
and confined to bed ; and expressing Mr. Barnes's re-
gret that he would, therefore, be unable to be present.
Mr JAMES ASPINALL TURNER proposed the first re-
solution

"That this meeting would express its high admiration of the
patriotism and courage which have so long characterised the
Polish nation, would avow its sincere sympathy with that
noble people under their many and protracted wrongs ; and
should the issue of the present war be favourable to the res-
toration of Poland to her ancient rank as an independent king-
dom, would press it earnestly on the Cabinets of the Allies to
use every means in their power toward the accomplishment of
that end."

He said that his heart was sincerely with Mr. Z:lba and

the friends he represented on the present occasion. It
was his disposition to express sympathy and to feel kind-

ness for any private individual who was suffering from

distress and injustice ; and he was sure that an audience
such as he saw before him entertained most cordially
the same feelings. But when, instead of an individual,

it was a large people, who not only now, but for many
years past, had been suffering great injustice and wrong,
the people of Manchester, whenever they had an oppor-
tunity of meeting and expressing sympathy, would not
fail to do so. The "wrongs of Poland" had become
almost, proverbial. It was not for him to say exactly
what ought to have been done when Austria, Prussia,
and Russia were committing the grievous wrong of pal:

titioning Poland. Perhaps it would have been well had
we made the stand at that time—(applause)—which
we had now been also compelled to make. Russia

broke down the barrier of Poland, became she cast a
wistful eye on Prussia, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and
Norway, in order that she might reach the Atlantic
Ocean ; and those countries, since the barrier was broken
down, had been trembling lest the barbarian troops of
Russia should make their way in that direction. A
stand against the partition of Poland might at the time
have involved all Europe in war ; but the history of
Europe would have been very different if it bad been
made. None of them perhaps could conjecture what
would be the course of events in consequence of that re-
markable event which had taken Europe by surprise.

The tyrant of Russia had been called to his long account,
and he was afraid it would be a very black one. (Ap-
plause.) They would not comment upon the deal, but
they would hope that his successor might have a more
peaceable and moderate disposition. But if the Czar
Alexander fulfilled the expectations generally entertained
of him, God grant that he would be able to put down
the fanatical spirit of which his younger brother Con-
stantine was the representative. They all earnestly
desired peace, for they had suffered from the war, and
should still suffer mere ; but he hoped that in a just
cause they would bravely and nobly endure this suffer-
ing—(loud applause)—but if the negotiations should
take a tarn to enable peace to be made, so that in the
final settlement it could be arranged to restore Poland
to her ancient rank, every man present, he was pure,
would rejoice to see her the barrier for the west against
the encroachments of the eastern barbarians. (Ap-
plause.)
Mr. ABSALOII WATKINS, who was received with ap-
plause, seconded the resolution. The Russian autocrat,
he said, was dead, and he hoped there was nothing im-

pious or improper in asserting his belief that the prayers
of the widows and orphans from 10,000 homes,-who had
been male such by his ruthless ambition, had been heard
and answered from Heaven. (Hear, hear, and a few
hisses.) He could not understand how any Englishman,
recollecting the sufferings of eur soldiers in the Crimea,
cou'd do otherwise than rejoice at the death of the wan
who was the great oLlstaele to peace. (Applause.) Ile
(11.1 Wat'dirsirktii*- n tFiing or 0..14 conventional .feirni
which, in the Upper Home of Par lament, induce.'
noble lord to move that, all considerations relating to the
war should be adjourned. He did not helieve that the
policy of flus=ia had died with the Emperor Nicholas.
(Hear, hear.) He believed that the duty of that noble
lord was to have moved the carrying on of the war with
vigour until we had conquered peace. (Hear, hear.)
He did not believe that we should ever have a peace
that weu'd be worth having--a hollow peace we might
have, and one that suited the convenience of our enemy
—until we had thoroughly humbled the pride and power
of our despotc adversary. (Hear, hear.) In the pur-
suit of that end we must not forget the restoration of
Poland to her right of independence. (Hear.) The in-
justice which was perpetrated in that csuntry 60 or 80
years ao still rankled in the minds of her brave sons,
who longed for the restoration of their nationality, and
the relief of the wrongs under which they groaned.
No greater barrier against the power of Rus,ia
eould exist than the reconstitution of the Polish na
tion. The Poles were brave and ready to fight, but they
were compelled to fight in the ranks of our adversary—
unwilling subjects, unwilling soldiers. Bat they had re-
cei7ed no encouragement from the allies. He was sure
the Poles would not lack our sympathy, and hoped the
period would soon arrive when the successes of the allied
forces would render it not only proper, but expedient,
and also an easy act., to accomplish the restoration of
Poland. (Applause.)
The resolution passed unanimously and with applause.
The Rev. Dr. VAUGEf AN, who was warmly applauded,
moved the adoption of the following petition :
To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the City of Manchester,
Your petitioners humbly represent to your right honourable
house that Russia is proved, by the experience of the past
year, to have prepared vast naval armaments and strongholds,
both in the Black Sea and the Baltic, which are incompatible
with the safety and independence of neighbouring states, and
which afford evidence of aggressive and menacing designs,
dangerous not only to the present but to the future tran-
quillity of Europe. That the territory acquired by Russia
from adjacent countries since 1772 is greater in extent and
importance than the whole empire she possessed in Europe
before that period ; and that every portion of her vast acqui-
sitions from Poland, Sweden, Turkey, and Persia have been
obtained in opposition to the interests of Great Britain. That
by seizing on the principal part of ancient Poland, Russia has
acquired immense resources in a military point of view ; the
fertile plains on which are grown almost all the corn that she
exports to western Europe ; a numerous and warlike popula-
tion ; and a position protected by rivers, morasses, and for-
tresses of the first class; situated in the centre of Europe, and
giving her a pieponderating influence over the courts of Ger-
many, of Sweden, and of Turkey; and that, in the belief of
all competent authorities, no treaties of peace can insure the
permanent tranquillity of Europe, unless the Polish nation be
re-established in complete independence of Russian control.
Tour Petitioners humbly submit to your right honourable
house that upwards of 100,000 Polish soldiers, forming a very
largo part of the Russian armies, by whose handi' so
many of her Majesty's most gallant subjects have fallen; are
serving in the ranks of our enemies by compulsion. That the
forcible abduction from their homes of all the youths of Po-
land, and their expatriation for military service in distant
parts of the Russian empire, for the period of twenty-five
years, a service from which few ever return, is one of the nu-
merous glieVances which redder the Russian Government in
Poland odious and intolerable to every Polish family; and
that the adoption by the Western Powers of a policy which
should promise the Poles a liberation from this liahi-
lity would paralyse the armies of Russia. That Polish
auxiliaries would enthusiastically co-operate in a war,
t
wofihavingtwithin
Poland, i ftos itsan d ancientoia
shtljwole
seisotunteuhcgytoll
ehbi,
would
neighbourhood
dielopt
s.
yntgi
powerfully
ahewilsb.
iateas necessityorruitiuif ocbdmurtijl.
hyeal
yo:ftt totoeot hsarrh.
cieaaooiwtTl. empirenfetahitrtagioetbunir a.
aiuseastgsrt gieanastrnoo,
hebttfwseoyeaswel,
.thevkadtaeriraini;ntfaoCdglahmesyreit
tasameeen-
ablinghneeiencrgtesteti
umahlE:sire ushedrtiertpeeimenso
fof the Czar can alone be effectually and permanently weak.
ened , and a secure and honourable peace be obtained. There-
fore, we humbly entreat your right hon. house to ,present an
address to her Majesty, praying that the war, having been
undertaken in the cause of justice against oppression, as much
favour may be shown towards Poland as towards Turkey, and
this the more especially as we have a clear right, by the
treaty of Vienna, to protect the Polish nation.—And your
petitioners will ever pray, &c.
Dr. Vaughan explained that M. Zaba was present, on
behalf of the "Associated Friends of Poland," in London.
Over that association the late Lord, Dudley Stuart pre-
sided for many years, and his place was now supplied
by Lord Harrowby. The association included, besides
Lord Shaftesbury, many persons distinguished by the
nobleness of their sympathies with the cause of religious
and civil liberty upon the continent of Europe. When
he (Dr. Vaughan) consented to ti,ke part in that meet-
ing, he did not anticipate that his name would have been
put so prominently before the public of Manchester ; but
he was not the man to shrink from the discharge of what
appeared to him to be a duty on account of little irregu-
larities. We were all of us now placed in circumstances
in which we felt, if we were to be a great people, that
union must be our strength. The wrongs of Poland were a
matter about which there could scarcely be a division of
judgment, and they had met to s.sy that, should the
issue of the present struggle allow of it, the future set-
tlement of Europe should include the restoration of Po-
land to its ancient independence. Since entering the
room he had been asked, in writing, to give his opinion
about the justice or injustice of the war. He had no
objection upon earth to say what he thought. (Loud
appliwee.) Certainly, if the was Rolf were not just, it
- -

hardly became us to be talking about justice to Poland.
(Hear, hear.) They were supposed to be satisfied that
the war itself was just, and they hoped to take into the
sphere, over which it would extend the element of jus:

tfee, protably Poland as well as Turkey, (flear, hear.)
He should be sorry to have any hesitancy in stating in
Manchestf r, or any place or presence, the reasons which
convinced hiin that the war was a just war—which con-
vinced him that it was a war which England had not
sought—a war which England world have gladly avoided
—but a war in the midst of which England bad been
placed by Providence, and where it behoved us to acquit
ourselves with all the courage, and with all the endur.

ance, and with all the wisdom that we might. .It was
a great miF.tAke to suppose that this war with Russia
was a great a.7cident. There was no accident in it at
ail. It was not a huge misfortune that would never have
come about, but for the foolish talk of this man, and

some silly doing of the other. It was a very shallow phi-
losophy which taught that great events ever came from
little causes. (Thar, hetr.) Dr. Vaughan then pro-
ceeded at some length to describe the progress of the ne-
gotiations and events which preceded the war, film the
brat diplomatic correspondence as.to the holy places to
the affair at Sinope. Referring to the discussions on the
" balance of power," he said that some asked, "But
this equilibrium of Europe, is it not a fiction I See to

what evils it has led, what injustice it hasinvolved," and
the like. This was easily said ; but, with submission, it
was no great proof of any man's wisdom to say it. (Hear,
hear.) There never bad been a cluster of nations, small
and great, as the nations of Europe were, whether in a
civilised or comparatively barbarous condition, but this
idea of a balance of power had come into recogni-
tion, and a system growing out of it had been worked
into shape, and always acted upon, It was very true
that the system might lead to many wars; that there
might be involved in the working of it many particular
instances of injustice. But this was Taylng no more than
could be said of the government system of nation. We

Felt, however, that the worst government was better than

absolute anarchy ; and so this attempt to keep down some
one great power, by a combination of lesser powers that
should balance it, and tell it effectively that it must keep
within its hounds, was absolutely necessary. (Loud ap-
.

plause.) If the English Government, with the know-
lelge they were now proved to have posses,ed, had
.aid to the Turkish Cabinet, after all the demands of

Prince Menschikoff, "You must suspect nothing amiss
at St. Petersburg—you must consent to all that is re-
quired of you—and inasmuch as you are told that the
Emperor of Russia does not mean anything that shall
infringe the independence of Turkey, you must believe
that he does not ;" if our Government, with its know-
ledge, could have said that, our Government should
have been impeached for treason. (Applause.) After
the most careful study and reflection upon all the cor-
respondence and facts of the case, his conclusion was,
that to declare that the Governments of England and
France were to be blamed for this war, was about as
just as to say that a man who resisted the attack of a
housebreaker was to be condemned, and not the house-
breaker, whose attack had made that resistance neces-
sary. (Applause.) And more particulary so, when that
housebreaker bad been hovering about that neighbour.
hood, suspiciously armed, for a long time, and had at
length made his way into the house—had got possession
of the two best apartments and all he could find in them
—and threatened the master, unless all his demands
were complied with, he would at once take possession
of more. We had gone into this war to preserve Tur-
key, not to serve the Turks ; not to oppress nationalities,
but to secure to the nationalities of Turkey larger liberty
under the sway of the Sultan than they could ever hope
to have under the sway of the Czar ; not to encourage
bigoted Mahommedans in the persecution of Christian
sects, but to secure to Christian sects greater liberty
under the sway of the Sultan than the Czar was
wont to allow to such sects in his other dominions.
(Applause.) We were at war, not to uphold, rotten des-
potisms, but rather to break up the fraternisation of des-
potisms. For ali those objects it was indispensable that
the power of Russia should be repressed ; if Czarism was
not to be curbed, he saw no prospect for the security of
European liberty. (Applause.) The result of the war
might be, and he hoped it would be, that in addition to
all other points to be settled as the basis of peace, we
might make this a point—" And that the ancient king-
dom of Poland be restored to her true and proper inde-
pendence." (Loud cheers.) To restore Poland would
be to rear up a great rampart along the whole line be-
tween'Russian power on the one side and the more hope-
ful nations of Europe on the other. Austria and Prussia
might be made to see that they would be gainers by such
a reconstruction of the map of Europe. Austria never
went cordially into the partition of Poland ; it was the
work of Prussia and Russia; but both Austria and
Prussia were now paying the penalty of tie brigand do-
ings to which they were partners—for they had brought
Russia down clos,; upon their territories, and made every
inch of those territories insecure. There was every
reason to believe that Austria would be a party to
the restoration of Poland ; the great difficulty would
I.oc.witil Prussia; and from wha' -Al, had seen of
Prussia of late, th'ere was no -ielks' bn to be very
d lie to as to how things might shape themselves in
relation to his Majesty of that kingdom. (Hear, bear.)
In conclusion, Dr. Vaughan said—Uzsrism, we are told,
is m t dead ; but let us not be disheartened. If we
have to deal with it, let us not go to it in a craven spirit.
Have you never known, in the history of individuals,
that some of the best actions of their lives have been

those which have proved to them most costly ? Never
did this noble country of ours give itself to an enter-
prise in a more generous spirit than it has given itself
to this war enterprise. Mistaken, or not,. it has been
unselfish, as a movement to aid the weak against the
strong—to uphold the free and the civilised against the
servile and the barbarous. It must be ours not indeed
to be blind to such things as come to us about the suffer-

ings in the Crimea—not to be indifferent to the derange-
ments arid privations that come at home, or that may
come ; but that we allow not our thoughts to render us
insensible to the true significance of this straggle, as a
grand question of right and wrong. Patience, my noble-
hearted countrymen ! The stout in heart know how to
wait as well as to work—how to endure as well as to
dare—how to hope in the dark day as well as how to be
sober in the bright one ! Let us cast away the last taint
of the sordid, the selfish, the servile, the fearful ! Let
us count that we live only as we live to be just, and ge-
nerous, and noble ! (Loud cheers.)
Mr. JOSEPFI ADSHEAD secoi;del the adoption of the
petition, which was to be forwarded for presentation to
the House of Lords by the Earl of Harrowby, and to
the House of Commons by the Right Hon. T. M. Gib-
son, Esq., M.P.
The petition was adopted with applause.
Mr. GOULD moved the third resolution
That this meeting desires to express its sympathy for
Poland and her exiled sons, and that the address new read
embodying .those sentiments be adopted and transmitted to
the Prince Adam Czartoryski, that he may communicate it to
his countrymen.
The three great principles of humanity, justice, and free-
dom, lir* identified with the problem of the re-establishment
of the independence of Poland, and its solution becomes daily
of greater importance to the interests of Europe. We con-
'template with poignant grief the events of the past which
have a reference to the melancholy fate of Poland. Her dis-
memberment reflects a discredit upon the spirit of the times,
but we chiefly deplore the indifference with which Great
Britain beheld the consummation of that act of spoliation.
However, we are inclined to ascribe that apathy moro to the
want of proper knowledge of foreign affairs than to the hs
fluence of unfriendly feeling. We are uow anxious to make a
compensation for what we consider to have been a grave poli-
tical error, by the manifestation of our sympathy and a desire
to support the claims of Poland to her national independence.
Under the influence of such sentiments we address your high-
ness, hoping that our sympathy now conveyed in words to
you, and to your fellow-exiles, may be soon written by deeds,
whitili will realise your wishes and vindicate the rights of
nations." •
'

Mr. ISAAC GREGORY seconded the resolution, and ex-
pressed a hope that the approaching treaty at Vienna
would accompany what neither Napoleon the First, nor
the old treaty, nor England, nor France had accom-
plished, namely, the restoration of Poland ; and said he
illustratedcalamities.
believed that if a vigorous voice were expressed in all the
large towns of the kingdom, England and France would
be roused to discharge their long-neglected duty. (Hear.)
The address was cordially adopted.
M. nits, a Pole, urged the necessity of never ceasing
to combat injustice and tyranny, for to disregard that
duty on the plea of obtaining the settlement of peace
(Rear,
hear.)on only bentiihsetrsuotuhrcewaosf
strikingly
y inou
the history of man, but unfortunately we seldom profited
by the experience of the past. He could not kelp re-
garling the present war with Russia_ as a retributive
penalty which had heavily fallen upon Europe for having
suffered with indifference the aggressive spirit of Russia
to march forward and to grew into a giant strength at
the expense of ju.tice. (Hear.) Russia, before the dis-
memberment of Poland was without political influence
in the councils of Euiopean states ; but Poland was the
safeguard of western civilisation, keeping back the pres-
sure of the eastern barbarism of the Muscovites' the
Tartars, and the Turks. There was in the Polish lan-
guage a proverb which said that "If you allow a bear
to put his paw upon yourself, he is sure in a short time
to crush you with his weight. (Hear, and laughter.)
The truth of this proverb was perfectly illustrated
with regard to Russia. There was no doubt that
Russia aimed at universal dominion. The noble lion
and the golden eagle had, however, been startled by the
presumption of the northern bear, and entered into a
compact to keep it in abeyance ; but unfortunately by
acting from the generous impulse of their nature, they
did not like to attack the Russian bear in the weakest
part, but tried at the strongest. (Applause and laughter.)
If the noble lien and the golden eagle had taken the
white eagle,—that was Poland,—into their councils,
Russia would have been taught a good lesson. And
even at this moment, if we were anxious to muzzle the
Russian bear, we must ask Prince Czartoryski to stir
him up with' the Poles--=(laughter)—who would effect
what our cannons and Minis rifles had not accomplished
at Sebastopol, and would have done the work without
the enormous sacrifice of life and treasure. (Applause.)
The Poles took great interest in the foreign enlistment
bill, and wanted a Polish legion to have been organised,
not as mercenaries but as allies, with the avowed object
of the re-establishment of the nationality of Poland.
(Applause.) No doubt there were difficulties, but he
did not believe that England could be placed in greater
ditneultieS than Rho expericuod at present

The destruction of Sebastopol, and the Russian navy,
and even the loss of the Crimea would be only paring
the nails of the giant. M. Zaba concluded by saying
that if Poland's claims were neglected, and she once ac-
quired the conviction that she could expect no sympathy
from the western powers, then the Poles would be
actually driven to become Rus,ians, and make common
cause with Russia, which might at a future time bring
about European calamities of even a more sanguinary
character. (Applause.)
On the mutton of the Rev. Dr. VAUGHAN, a vote of
thanks was given to the chairman, and the meeting ter-
minated at a quarter Fist ten o'clock.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Royal George, 102 guns, screw steam-ship, left
Sheerness yesterday, under steam power, at 2.30 p.m.,
for Portsmouth, having repaired the defect and damage
to her starboard waste pipe. _

The Orion, 91, new screw-ship, Captain Erskine, was
undocked on the sth inst., and taken down to Gilling-
ham-reach to take in her guns and ammunition. The
provisions and water will also be shipped immediately.
She will then be ready for sea. Her engines were tried
on the 7th inst., and were found to work admirably.
This magnificent screw line-of-battle ship is the first of
her class designed by the present Surveyor of the Navy,
and from the time of the first plank being worked to
the present period is only 15 months. This is an un-
precedentedly short time to finish so large a ship and
fit her for sea complete in every respect.
The James Watt, 91, Captain Elliot, has been re-
moved from the dock and into the steam basin at Ports-
mouth to complete her refit ; her machinery will be
readjusted and ready for trial on the 20th.
The Majestic screw steam-ship is to leave Sheerness
for Portsmouth on Saturday next.
The Edinburgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, is to be out of
band at Portsmouth on the 14th inst.

The Arrogant, 46, Captain Yelverton, has received
orders to complete stores at Spithead for six months.
She shipped her powder and shell yesterday.
The Falcon, 16, Commander Pullen' is ordered to re-
turn into Portsmouth harbour, from Spithead, to have
the well of her screw altered.

The Centaur, 6, paddle-frigate, Captain Clifford, is now
complete in her rig, and will leave tha basin at Ports-
mouth to-day. She has commenced outward painting.
The Ariel, 9, Commander Luce, having had her screw
well altered, will be unlocked, and ready to rejoin the
fleet at Spithead to-day.

The following promotions have been made, although
they have not been officially given out at the Admi-
ralty :
Assistant-Surgeons.—James Henry, borne on the books
of the Impregnable, for service at Plymouth Hospital ;
and James Wade (b), recently serving in the Resistance,
have been promoted to be surgeons.
Lieut, Beville G. W. Nicolas (1849), recently serving
in the Amphion, has been appointed to commission and
command the Teazer gun-vessel, at Woolwich.
Captain James Willcox (1850) has arrived at Wool-
wich, and taken the command of the Odin steam-frigate.
Surgeon William T. Billings has been appointed to
the Melampus.
Assistant-Surgeons—James Holt, to the Hastings ;
James Young, M.D., to the Tyne.
Acting Assistant-Surgeon P. W. Wallace, M.D., to
the Arrogant.
Clerk George B. B. Brown, to the Centaur.
Midshipmaa T. D. Bedford, from the Sampson, to
the Vulture. .

Lieutenant-Colonel St. George will proceed to the
Crimea in charge of the 32-pounder field battery.

The Himalaya steam-ship arrived about 10 o'clock on
Tuesday morning at Queenstown.

The Arabia screw steam transport, Captain Judkins,
left Portsmouth for Liverpool yesterday. It is reported
she has been engaged by the French Transport Board.
The Harkaway sailing transport left Portsmouth har-
bour yesterday, for the Crimea, with a large supply of
victualling stores, from the Royal Clarence-yard.
The Horatio steam-frigate, now in the fitting basin at
Sheerness, has landed all her guns, and is preparing to
receive two of the monster mortar guns invented by.
Nasmytb. The guns will be of the following dimen-
sions : Length, 10 feet 6 inches. Diameters as follows
—at bore, 13 inches ; muzzle, 315 inches ; base, 40
inches ; weight, 23 tons or thereabout. It is slung on
the principle of Captain Julius Roberts's plan, similar to
the sea service mortar, and will throw a solid spherical
shot of 302.41 b. with a charge of 301 b. of powder. A.
short time only will be required to fit the Horatio fur
immediate service.

By the arrival of the Peninsular and Oriental Gun-
pany s steam-ship Indus at Southampton we learn on
the night of the 15th of February her Majesty's steam-
sloop Gorgon succeed d in getting the Ileela steamer
afloat fl om off the Eastern beach, where she had been
aground since the morning of the 23d of January.