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

The Friends of Poland,

Yesterday afternoon the 30th anniversay meet-
ng of the Literary Association of the Friends 01

Poland took place at the rooms of the association,
Sussex-chambers, Duke-street, St. 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 lcd 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
agitation which had taken place throughout Poland
had induced some of the warmest friends of the as-

sociation to urge the abandonment of it as a politi-
cal society, but others were of opinion that it should
abandon the relief of destitute Polish refugees.
While it had taken no part in 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 desirable

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, en 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
trass 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
join 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 countriea and for
the protection of the weaker States from the danger
in which they were constantly placed by the en■
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
15d. 6d., leaving a balance of £2 lls.
The Rev. Dr. WORTHINGTON moved, and the
Rev. H. PALMER seconded, the adoption of the H.
port, which was carried unanimously.
The Earl of HARItOWBY moved a resolution de-
claring that, os 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
letter or spirit, but, on the contrary, have been fla.
grantly violated ; that the union of the two coun-
tries is consequently, as dependent on the Treaty of
Vienna, null and void, and that, whether so declared
by governments parties to that treaty or not, the
logical deduction remains good as a matter of fact—
viz., that the conditions of the engagement taken
having been broken the obligation bad fallen tothe
ground. The noble earl observed that while this re-
solution embodied his o.entiments generally, he die-

approved holding Y
out, as a cruel delusion to the
Poles struggling for liberty and against the tyranny
of Russia, any hope of active foreign intervention
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 HOARE, the Marquis
of Townsend, and others having spoken upou the
question, the resolution was put and carried.
Mr. JOHN ABEL bMITH moved, " That the Mar-
quis Townsend, the Eirl of Shaftesbury, the Ear:
of Harrowby, the Earl. of Zatland, Lord Kinnaird,
Lord Campbell, Lord Eoary, and Lord Houghton
be elected vice-presidents for the ensuing year."
The motion was seconded by Mr. G. DERING and
carried.
Sir HENRY HOARE moved that the Earl of Itches-
ter be elected president, which was seconded by Mr.
W. ADAM SMITII, 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,
i end the proceedings closed,