The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-22 00:00:00

The Friends of Poland,

Yesterday afternoon the 30th anniversay meet-
ing of the Literary Association of the Friends of
PoLnd took place at the rooms of the association,
Sussex-chambers, Duke-street, 3t. James's. The
Earl of Ilchester, president elect, occupied the chair.
Mr. W. LLOYD BIRKBECK, the hon. secretary,
read the report, which explained the circumstances

which had led to the association not having been
called together since 1861, although it had re-
mained steadfast to the principles upon which it

was founded—political as well as charitable. The

had induced some of the warmest friends of the agitation which had taken place throughout Poland
as-
sociation to urge the abandorment of it as a politia
cal society, but others were of opinion that it should
abandon the relief of destitute Polish refugees.
While it had taken no part is the active attempts
which had been made to restore Poland to its na-
tionality, it had taken no step,
which some mis-
guided people in their zeal had attributed to it, of
throwing impediments in the way of that d'Airable
event. In relieving the distress of Polish refugees
they had been formerly assisted by Polish proprie-
tors, but of late that assistance had fallen exceed-
ingly short, on account of the requirements of their
brethren engaged in their patriotic struggle for
liberty. In England,
while on the one hand Roman
Catholics had regarded with indifference the wants
and necessities of their Polish brethren, the large
mass of English Protestants had abstained through
a belief that the struggle in Poland was a move-
ment in support of the Roman Catholic religion.
In 1863 the average number of Poles in this coun-
try was 730; 5 had died, and 53 had left the coun-
try, leaving 672. After asserting that the impend-
ing partitioning of Denmark was the result of the
policy of the English
Government in refusing to
jain France in a remonstrance to Russia as to her
conduct towards Poland,
the report concluded by en-
forcing the opinion that an understanding between
France and England
Was the best guarantee for a
durable alliance between the two courtriea and for
the protection of the weaker States from the danger
in which they were constantly placed by the un-
principled ambition of the partitioning Powers.
The balance-sheet for the
years of 1861, 1862, and
1863 showed the receipts for that period to be
£1,630 6s. 6d., and the
gross expenditure £1,627
15s. 6d., leaving a balance of £2 lle.
The Rev, Dr. Wil
-RTIIINGTON moved, and the
Rev. H. PALMER seconded, the *adoption of the re-
port, which was carried unanimously.
The Earl of HARROWBY moved a resolution de-
claring that, oa a careful comparison of the terms
of the Treaty of Vienna relating to the junction of
Poland and Russia With the notorious conduct and
avowed principles of Russia since that junction,
that those terms have not been fulfilled either in
orgreatly violated; that the union of the two coun-
tries i
s
peeonny, have been flaa
spirit,
consequently,
bu t,n
as
the
dependent contrary,
on the Treaty of
Vienna,
null and void, and that, whether so declared
letter
by Governments parties to that treaty or not, the
l
fact—
viz , that the conditions of the engagement taken
having been broken the obligation had fallen tothe
g logical deduction
d.The
n ob remains:e earl
l observed good as a matter of
thatout, as a cruel delusion to the
Poles struggling
for liberty and against the tyranny
generally, w while thhei sdri
se:
solution embodied his sentiments
hope of active foreign intervention
oafpin)rouvsseida,haooldyin g
in their behalf.

Lord CAMPBELL having seconded the resolution,
Mr. EDMUND BEALES denied the position taken
by the Earl of Harrowby that a war on account and
on behalf of Poland would not have the sympathy
of the people of this country.
The CHAIRMAN, Sir HENRY ROARE, the Marquis
of Townsend, and others having spoken upon the
question, the resolution was put and carried.
Townsend, the Eirl of Shaftesbury, the Earl
of Ikrrowby, th© Earl of Zotland, Lord Kinnaird,
-
ddeE:
ntbfror the ensuing year."
Mr. JOHN ABEL nIITH moved,
" That the Mar-
quis
Yo and Lord Houghton
Lord Campbell,
motiontaemd pv b
i:l
la-w,PLar secondedseosir
carried.

Sir HENRY HOARE moved that the Earl of lichee-
ter be elected president, Which was seconded by Mr.
W. ADAM SMITH, and carried nem. con. amid loud
applause.
The Earl of ILCIIESTER returned thanks, and
expressed a strong conviction that the Government
of the country had not taken up the cause.of Poland
so energetically as they ought to have done.
The council for the ensuing year and Mr. W.
Lloyd Birkbeck as honorary secretary having been
re-elected, thanks were awarded to the chairman,
and the proceedings closed.