The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-16 00:00:00

THE POLISH QUESTION,

The following summary of the Russian reply to
the last notes of the three Powers appears in the

Nord :

We have received from our correspondents at St. Peters-
burg some detailsrespecting Prince Gortschakoff's despatch
and the memorandum which accompanies it. In the best
informed circles at St. Petersburg the contents of the me-
morandum are better known than the wording of the des-
patch. We may add that the memorandum is of consider-
able length, while the despatch is very brief.
The Russian memrandum is a reply to the document
which accompanied M. Drouyn de L'Huys' last despatch,
but it is not an annexe of the despatch; it is addressed
separately.

This document treats the question exclusively in an in-
ternational point of view. It gives an historical sketch from
the Congress of Vienna. It thoroughly examines in how
much Russia is bound by those treaties, and dwells at con-
siderable length upon the Congress itself. It endeavours
to prove that the autonomy already decreed for the King-
dom of Poland, and the application of which has not been
suspended but obstructed by the revolution, satisfies the
obligations contracted by Russia towards Europe.
However (and we particularly point out this declaration
repeatedly made by the St. Petersburg Cabinet), a provin-
cial elective representation does not constitute the limit of
the Russian programme.
As regards the despatch, we repeat it, our informs ion is
not so full ; but we know enough to indicate its character.
It maintains the point of view which Russia has always
advanced--that of the necessity of a lasting pacification as
the condition of more extensive reforms. If the Russian
Government does not again enter into a long discussion, it
is simply from a desire not to envenom the debate.
As regards the basis (the six points) the Russian Govern-
ment declares that it is agreed upon, and Russia will do
everything that is within her power to resolve a question
which is a source of misunderstanding between the

Cabinets.
Such are the principal declarations contained in the last
despatch of Prince Gortschakoff.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,-1 have read in The Sun, this evening, a
statement, taken from the Athenceum, respecting
the delay incarred in the obtaining of books in this
National' Repository.
Whether such is the case or not I cannot state,
not having yet succeeded in obtaining the entree,
although a week since I forwarded to the librarian
a written recommendation, signed by a gentlemanwho is a member of the bar, for my admission to
the privilege.
I was informed this evening that an additional
sponsor is now required, although a few years since
in my case one was deemed sufficient, in order to
enter the reading room; but this addition appears
to be merely a whim of the principal librarian, as
the names of the trustees are not mentioned.
Is the demand usual, can any of your readers say ?
yours obediently,

deemed quite
that it was so before Mr.
14th Sept., 1863. C.
bow comes our correspondent—
s Reader. there, no matter how
cwerhteanin.lsyirtoHbeenry
Ellis was
require a re-introduction of any
sufficient, [One
spo
ynesaorrs need
od,
access to the Library of the
Librarian. The fact
Panizzi's time is within our own recollection and
experience. But,
obtain access
San.]
having once been
many years ago—to
British kind in
Museumorder to
?oLt E

INVISIBILITY OF LIGHT.-The Abbe Moigno ex-
hibited and described M. Soleirs Tenebroseope, for
illustrating the invisibility of light at one of the recent
sittings of the British Association. It is well known to
ffi-
scientific men, although the general public do not su
ciently appreciate the fact, that light in itself is invisible
unless the eye be so placed as to receive the lays as they
approach it, or unless some object be placed in its course,
from whose surface the light
may be reflected to the eye,
which will generally thus give notice of the presence of
that object. Thus, if the strong beam of sunlight be ad-
mitted into a darkened chamber through a small opening
and received on some blackened surface glared against the
opposite wall, the entire chamber will remain in perfect
darkness, and all the objects in it invisible, except in as far
as small motes floating in the air mark the course of the
sunbeam by reflecting portions of its light. Upon project-
ing a fluid or small dust across the course of the beam its
presence also becomes perceptible. The instrument exhi-
bited consisted of a tube with an opening at one end to be
looked into, the other end closed, the inside well blackened,
and a wide opening across the tube to admit strong light to
pass only across. On looking in, all is perfectly dark, but
a small trigger raises at pleasure a small ivory ball into the
pours© of the rays, and
its presence instantly reveals the
existence of the crossing beam by reflecting a portion of its
light.
AGREEABLE INTERRUPTION TO A DRAMATIC
succEss.—The success of lrnnani was secured by the
monologue of Charles V. in the fourth act ; that tremendous
monologue was interrupted at almost every verse by bravos,
and ended in interminable rounds of applause. These
shouts were still
going on, when some one came to tell the
author that he was wanted. He went out and saw a little
man with a round belly and staring eyes. "My name's
Maine," said the little man. " I'm the partner of M.
Baudoin, the publisher : but we can't talk here : " will you
spare me a minute outside the house ?" When they were
in the street, " Vow, then, he said. "M. Baudoin and I
were at tke performance, and we should like to publish
Herneni'—will you sell it ?" " What do you offer ?"
" Six thousand francs" (VD). "We will talk about it
when the i;ertortnance is over." " I beg your pardon,"
said the publisher, "but I make a great point of settling
the matter at once." " Why ? You don't know what you
are buying. The success may be less complete." AL,
that's true, but it may be much greater. At the second act
I thought of offering 2,000 francs ; at the third act got up
to e
4,000; I now, at the fourth act, offer 6, NO •' and after
the fifth I am afraid I
should have to 10,000.'' " Well,"
said M. Victor Hugo,
fear about the play, laughing, "since you have so much
you shall have it. Come to-morrow
morning, and we will settle the matter." "It it's the same
thing to you, I should prefer settling it at once. I have
get the 6,000 francs in my pocket." " I've no objection, but
how can it be managed ? we are in the street." " Here's a
tobacco shop." The publisher entered with the author,
bought a sheet of stamped paper, and asked for a pen and
ink. The treaty was written and signed on the counter,
and the author received the money, which was by no means
unacceptable, as he had not more than 50 francs in his pos-
session. He went back into the theatre as fast as possible,
and saw, by the uaive, sal attention paid, that the success
had not din T'idor s Life, by his Wife, its
Witness.