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

HIGH WATER AT LoNpow BRIDom

Tus b.7.----MornTu, 17 8 Fveni..g 3min.art.
Tr am" • ilorulig 45 nitn.after 9 j Ev.ningt23min.aft.lo

TBA WEATHER.-3un 071101, May. 10.
Te3Bilhto3o2lTEß, IN VIZ BEAD&
62—highest since noon yesterday.
4 ) —lowest this morning and during the night.
61 -this ilay, at uoon.

AROM 29•53.
WTID. W. to N.W. —Light, with dull weather. Last
evening it began to rain, and a considerab:e quantity has
fallen in the night.

F 7.4
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LUNDON, THURSDAY, MAY 10, 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 wag a transla-
tion from the French, and the author, acdtrding
to universal and uncontradicted report, is the M.
DB PERSIGNY, who is now appointed ambassador
to our Court. At the sameitime Count WALEWSKI,
whose very name must guarantee his sympathy
with the cause of the Poles, succeeds M. DROUYN
DE L'HuYS as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in
France. Concurrently with these official indica-
tions, we find the services of the Polish prisoners
agaibst their oppressor accepted, and a Polish
Legion, alas ! too tardily, in course of formation.
In the pamphlet we have alluded to, our readers
may remember that M. DE PERSIGNY shows with
clearness and vigour that an independent Poland
is the grand offensive 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
againstcivilisedEurope. Weconsider, 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-
lu,tion. 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-
tainlyinot 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 quite
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-
fastion. 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 our
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.
Atltiast the spirit with which we should pay,
4aid our soldiers fight, for such a cowardly, we
xa" say such a recreant, peace as Lord JOHN
1"11(Illa're accepted at Vienna, and for the restor-
atiei of
nation, ton: Whose restoration
and noble nation ! A
restoration alone can stave off
the recture.. _
UV'e of these cruel wars in which its
destruction 'has, involved
Constitute Poland wonddiuszurdAen resolve re
enrcee-,
and fire all the nobler sentiments of both England
and France. It is su
PerThlous to add, that
Turkey would hail it as her only effectual se-
curity.
But how would our determination
affect
Austria
and Prussia ? One thing is certain,
worse enemies it could not make them. False
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
nominal peace Prussia has shielded Russia on. her
*realms aide, and has almost nullified our costly
btockado. Austria's villany, in enabling rein-
irt4ceblente to.march from the Danube to hiker-
"
a„").°an never be forgotten. We dread
ii 4rei as enemies so much as-lying
'l'44e. ' \ do not
andtreacherous
~ But what is their interest ? We sower,
(
'
.
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