The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-21 00:00:00

THE POLISH QUESTION.

The Moniteur publishes the reply of Prince Gort-
schakoff to the last Note of the French Government
on the Polish question, as also a memorandum an-
nexed to the same.

The following is a translation of Prince Gortscha-
koff's despatch to Baron de Budberg

Tsarkeo-Selo, Aug. 26 (Sept. 27), 1863.

_
I hairs the honour herewith to send to your excellency a
Copy of a despatch from M. Drouyn de Lhuys, which the
Duke de Montebello was charged to communicate to you.

The Imperial Cabinet has taken cognisance of that docu-
ment with all the attention which it deserves, and with the
sincere wish to lead this exchange of ideas to an under-

standing.
Atter a careful examination, we have not found any mo-
tives to abandon the point of view expressed to you in my
despatch of the Ist (13th) July.
We believe that we are only meeting the views of the
Ministsr of Foreign Affairs of France by abstaining from
prolonging a discussion which would not attain the object
of conciliation which we have in view, if it had no other
result than to confirm each of the two Governments in their
opinions upon a quesion where we regret sincerely we can-
not agree with the Cabinet of the Tuileries.
We will only dwell upon one point of M. Drouyn de
Lhuys's despatch, because we wish to avoid any further
source of misunderstanding. I mean the allusion made
more than once and under different forms by the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the western provinces of
Russia, as participating to a certain degree in the interna-
tional stipulations which in 1815 regulated the late of the
Duchy of Warsaw.
The Imperial Cabinet cannot admit that point of view
in any measure—not in the most restricted one; and your
excellency is requested to repeat to M. Drouyn de Lhuys
the declaration already made in my former despatch, that
his Majesty the Emperor, always ready scrupulously to
fulfil his obligations towards all the Powers, must peremp-
torily exclude, even in an interchange of friendly views, any
allusion to such portions of his empire to which no inter-
national reference whatsoever refers.

As regards the other points touched upon in the despatch
of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, we prefer to
speak of those where we agree, at least in intention.
The French Government is desirous of seeing a state of
affairs established in Poland which would give tranquillity
to the country, quiet to Europe, and security to the relations
between the Cabinets.

We heartily share that desire, and will do everything in
our power to realise it. _ _

Onr august master remains animated with the most bene-
volent intentions towards Poland, and with the most conci-
liating ones towards the foreign Powers.
The welfare of all his subjects, of every race, and of every
religious confessions, is an obligation which hie Imperial
Majesty has accepted towards God, his conscience, and his
people. The Emperor devotes all his solicitude to fulfil it.
As regards the responsibility which his Majesty may
assume in his international relations, those relations are
regulated by international law. The violation of those fun-
damental principles may alone lead to a responsibility. Our
august master has always respected and observed these prin-
ciples towards other States. His Majesty has the right to
expect and to demand the same respect on the part of the
other Powers.
You will please to read this despatch to, and leave a copy
of it with, the Freneh Minister of Foreign Affairs.—l am,
&c., GonTscuAKorr.
To the above despatch is annexed a memorandum

for the three Courts of London, Paris, and Vienna

The memorandum appended to Prince Gortscha-
koff's despatch recalls that Russia possessed the
Duchy of Warsaw by right of conquest at the time
of the events of 1812. So far back as the year 1812
Russia announced her wish to regenerate Poland as
soon as the work of Europe's deliverance had been
accomplished. Prince Gortschakoff maintains that
the Emperor Alexander, in taking the initiative in
1815 of the reforms to be granted to Poland, did not
give Europe the right to interfere in the interior
affairs of Russia.
He discusses the different points proposed by the
Powers, and maintains the impossibility of an armis-
tice or of a Conference of the Powers, an 3 prefers
awaiting the re-establishment of tranquillity before
granting reforms to Poland. Prince Gortschakoff
hopes that the difference of opinion will not cause
any serious dissent between the Cabinets, or disturb
the peace of Europe. Matters could only assume
such a character if the authors of the revolution
were permitted to develope their plan. Such toler-
ance is only to be apprehended from the Powers
who pursue, under the appearance of diplomatic
action, the csrryiug out of the merit extreme views
of the Polish revolution, which would lead to the
subversion of existing treaties and the balance of
power in Europe. The Cabinets who have taken
as a basis the scrupulous execution of the treaties
of 1815 could not have such tolerance.

CONCERT—ST. JOSEPH'S HALL, KINGSIAND.—
The second concert of the St. Cecilia Choral Society
is announced to take place oa. Tuesday evening next, con-
ducted by M. Leman, who has secured for the occasion the
services of 80 professional and amateur executunts. The
programme is a very attractive one, and we are informed by
the secretary, that many tickets have already been secured
by several of the nobility and gentry.
The stumping season is setting in rather earlier
than usual, and with extraordinary severity. Though
September has not yet passed away, we have already, it has
been calculated, had extra-Parliamentary speeches from
Lord Russell, Sir Charles Wood, Mr. Roebuck, Sir John
Ramsden, Mr. Grant Duff, Mr, White, end more that, one
from lord Stanley.

The screw steam storeship Fox, Master Com-
mander Thomas C. Pullen, from Woolwich, which
arrived at Plymouth on Friday Efternoon, left on
Saturday with stores for Pembroke.
The iron screw steam storeshipWye,Master Com-
mander Valentine G. Roberts, in Plymouth Sound,
has received her powder preparatory to going to
sea.

On account of the protracted term now required
to complete the works at the entrance of the outer
basin at Woolwich Dockyard, the armour cased
ship Caledonia, on being undocked on Tuesday, the
29th inst., will be transferred to the Victoria Docks
to receive her boilers and machinery, and will after-
wards, according to present orders, be taken down
to Sheerness to be fitted for sea.

The old dilapidated iron paddlewheel steamer
Kite recently brought to Woolwich from Bermuda,
will, from the same cause, be removed to Deptford-
yard (as is supposed) to be broken up; and the
Bloodhound, paid off at Woolwich, from the West
Coast of Africa, is likewise to go to Deptford to
undergo the necessary repairs for recommission and
service again on the coast.
Capt. George Henry Richards was, on Saturday
last, appointed by the Board of Admiralty to be the
new Hydrographer of the Admiralty, vice Rear-
Admiral John Washington, F.C.S.,deceased. Capt.
Richards entered the navy in November, 1832,
passed his examination in March, 1840, and after
serving as mate of the Caledonia, 120, flagship at
Plymouth, was promoted to Lieut July. 12, 1842.
As Lieut. he served from the date of his promo-
tion until the close of 1845 in the Philomel, 6,
commander B. J. Sullivan, employed in surveying
service in the Brazils. He was promoted to Com-
mander November 18, 1845, and was employed as
Second Capt. of the Acheron, steam surveying ves-
sel, Capt. J. L. Stokes, in the East Indies and New
Zeaiand from October, 1847, until the close of 1851.
He was appointed Second Capt. of the Assistance
discovery ship, Capt. Sir Edward Belcher, C. 8.,
February 10, 1852, and was employed in the Arctic
searching expedition until the close of 1854. He
obtained Post rank Oct. 21, 1854, and has com-
manded the Plumper, 12, and the Hecate, 6, em-
ployed in surveying service in the Pacific since De-
cember, 1856. The Hecate, which was some months
since ordered home, arrived at Sydney from the
Pacific June 26, and remained in Port Jackson on
July 17. She was to leave at the end of the month
for Batavia.

The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :—Commander G. P. Nares,
to the Boscawen, vice Campion, promoted; Corn•
mauler Edwin C. Symons and Commander Richard
H. Roe, to be inspecting commanders in the Coast-
guard.
The following promotions were made on Satur-
day :—Commanders Herbert Campion, Thomas B.
Lethbridge, and Josh. Dayman, to be Capts. ;
Lieuts. Hugh H. Knocker, William A. Smyth, and
Edward J. Brooks, to be Commanders; Alexander
Ritchie, in the Dasher, for the Speedy, and William
Landells, supernumerary in the Asia, promoted to
be first-class assist.-engineers.
The undernamed gentlemen were nominated on
Saturday to naval cadetships :—Reginald R.
Lousada, Keppel H. Foote, Arthur P. Stackpoole,
Richard D. Bushby, and Henry S. Christopher.