The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-12 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES. .-The Polish question is still without an
answer. It can hardly be doubted any longer that
the hopes recently entertained of a liberal policy on
the part of the Emperor of Russia were little better
founded than the innumerable canards which fill the
Continental papers on the Polish insurrection. Our
correspondent, indeed, mentions the rumour as posi-
tively asserted by the Russians at Warsaw, but he
places no confidence in it. Such a came was ob-
viously open to the Emperor of Russia, and we can
only regret that he is not so wise as his Prussian
friends represented him. He might not, indeed,
have been able to induce the Poles at once to accept
his promises. They would probably, as our corre-
pondent points out, have rejected such an arrange-
ment the more impatiently because its direct ten-
dency would have been to destroy the national
independence, for which alone they are fighting.
But the Emperor would, at least for the time,
have disarmed the Western Powers, and extin-
guished any hopes in the minds of the Poles of
intervention for the present. As the insurrection
feeds itself on the hope of foreign interference,
this might have been the most effectual mode of
starving it out, and a reasonable moderation after-
wards would have ensured the Czar's victory. But
as we now seem thrown back again on the old
scene of incessant bloodshed in Poland and endless
diplomatic correspondence in Europe, we are natu-
rally led to reflect on the condition and pro-
spects of each side of the drama. As to the
insurrection itself, whatever may be the daily
exaggerations which reach us from Polish sources,
there is no doubt that it continues, end that
the Russians have not yet been able to check
it with any considerable success. The insurgents
are gradually acquiring skill, and though numbers
of them have perished, those who remain are more
dangerous to the Russians than the untrained
masses who met them at first. When the next
winter comes, if it be not as mild as the last—a
very unlikely supposition—it will be a very diffe-
rent story. The snow is more freezing to the Polish
patriots than the six points of the Western powers.
Their bands only exist by help of the protection
which the forests give them. If they were obliged
to leave the woods and maintain themselves in the
open country they would soon be annihilated by
Russian troops; and it is well known that the
Russians reckon on the winter to drive the rebels
from their fastnesses, and thus bring them within
reach of their forces. -Winter, however, is still
some way off, and if the Emperor of the French
chose to do more than remonstrate he has time to
give the Poles some material assistance before they
are frozen into submission. Their leaders do not
measure the value of the lives they spend by the
success gained ; they shed the blood for the sake of
the bloodshed, for when Poland bleeds they are
sure that Europe is wounded. It is a sad spectacle
to see a nation thus throwing away its best men in
the effort of mere despair. There is an utter hope-
lessness in the prospect of every side. The only ob-
ject for which the Poles expect the Western Powers
to intervene is one which, it is certain, is absolutely
unattainable, and even if it could be attained it is
very doubtful whether matters would be improved.
Every other voice, however, protests against such
an operation. England, France, and Austria remons-
trate and threaten the surgeon, whose knife is
already operating, if he persist. We are not going
to weaken the protest : but we must say that such
an interference entails the gravest responsibility.
Civilised nations are certainly bound to protest pub-
licly against the horrible cruelties which the Rus-
sians contemplate and aro already executing. But
if the Western Powers do not under any circum-
stances intend to go further than protesting, if they
are resolved not to interfere by force of arms, they
aro bound to let the Poles know their determination
at once. ,We have done this. We have declared
that we will use every influence short of war to in-
duce the Emperor of Russia to treat Poland with
justice, humanity, and generosity; but our Minis-
ters have stated at the same time, in the plainest
language, that they will not, under any circum-
stances, plunge .this country into a war for an
object uncertain, unattainable, and dangerous. We
trust that the other Powers will take an equally
direct course.

HERALD.—We have good reason to believe that
he Government has committed itself to an overt
act in the affair of the steam rams built at Birken-
head. We are informed that Earl Russell, on Wed-
nesday, dispatched, by written missive, a positive
order to Messrs. Laird to prevent these vessels leav-
ing their yards without an ample explanation of
their destination, and a sustainaule reference to the
owner or owners for whom they are constructed.
The Foreign-office has thus distinctly pledged
itself to the Federal policy which hos been
imposed upon it. Without regard to the explicit
and simple provisions of the existing laws of the
country, without regard to the general sense of
fairness and equity, which animates the English
nation in its rendering and translation of the Foreign
Enlistment Act, Lord Palmerston, or rather Earl
Russell, leading his more aged Premier, has deter-
mined to exercise a power that could only be dele-
gated by the assembled Legislature of the land. It
is asserted that this step of prohibition has been
resolved upon and carried out solely because, at the
present juncture," time is thought to be precious to
the Confederates." Apprehensive that these steam
rams may at once be used to reinforce the Confede-
rate navy, the Cabinet has acted directly as a par-
tisan, and has agreed to follow the fashion of the
American bench, and proceed upon "presumption"
and "suspicion." It is now affirmed, moreover, that
the French Ambassador has been appealed to as to
the possibility or non-possibility of a French subject
having ordered vessels of this stamp of an English
shipbuilder. There is declared to have come a proper
official reply from his excellency that no French sub-
ject has any legal right to possess or purchase ves-
sels of war, either for himself or on behalf of others.
Earl Russell, it is said, argues to himself that these
vessels could only be vessels for the warlike purposes
of a State or an individual. His lordship holds that
Messrs. Laird are bound to declare—and sustain
bn unimpeachable testimony such declaration—
the Government for whom the steam rams have
been built. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs is
also of opinion-that, if it is pleaded that these
vessels are for an individual owner, na+•ive or
foreign, that individual could only be a privateer
or a pirate. And it is on these grounds that the
Government has made up its mind. At any rate,
the English Government is now firmly resolved to
try the question in a court of law, and, if amerced
for damages, to make an appeal for support to the
House of Commons. There can be no doubt that
the member fc4 Birkenhead, who is a man of action,
of high spirit, and undaunted temper, will take up
the challenge. His business, in his eyes, is not to
be at the mercy of the Foreign Office. So marked
an obedience to the pressure from the Federal Go-
vernment will have to be thoroughly explained and
accounted for, and the bureaux of the Foreign
Office will have to yield up and publish some very
peculiar correspondence before the whole secret of
this extraordinary step is to be thoroughly under-
stood by the public. For the last six weeks Earl
Russell is declared to " have had his eye" upon
these vessels ; his hand has been itching to seize
them; he thinks he can hold them, and that the
nation will support him in what) ho has done. But
whether sustained or not by his fellow-countrymen,
we must repeat, those who support Earl Russell in
this policy affirm that his lordship's satisfaction
will be. complete from the assurance that he will
have delayed the uses of these formidable craft. To
us this measure seems rash, impolitic, and unworthy
of an English Minister. The voice of the country
throughout this horrible civil war has over said to
its representatives, " Be fair, be
,just, be honour-
able." Treat both sides alike. Amend the law
wherever necessary. But above all things do not
wrest it 'to serve your own prejudices !

SOMETHING "VERY LIKE A WHALE" CAP-
TURED By' LADIES NEAR BIDEFORD.--A few days
ago a young whale about three feet long was taken near
the far.famed pebble-ridge, Northam Burrows. The cap-
ture was effected by some young ladies who, while on a
bathing expedition, espied the little "monster" in a pool
of water in the sand left by the receding tide. A few weeks
since one similar in size was secured by a fisherman, near
Braunt3n, about two or three miles from the same place.—
Western Morning News.

THE DULL SEASON having now fairly set in,
and the columns of the daily papers are as usual,
says the Queen, busily occupied with the discussion of more
or less trivial questions cropping up for discussion accord-
ing to custom, at this period of the long vacation. The
Times has been more than commonly unsavoury in its
choice of subjects; but, among the rest, it treats its readers
once more to the old hotel grievance in a new form. The
question whether the landlady of the Hafod Hotel was civil
or unoivil to a party of excursionists seems to rival in im-
portance the proceedings of the Frankfort Congress, and the
balance of testimony is about as conflicting as that which in-
flnences the opinions of men as to the authorship of Junius,
or any other disputed point. How the matter is to be de-
cided we can scarcely presume to decide. Three gentlemen
of known position declare plainly, citing words and circum-
stances, that they were ill-treated, vituperated, and insulted,
and forthwith a number of other gentlemen (some subscrib-
ing their names, and others writing anonymously) declare
that they have never experienced anything but kindness
and courtesy from the landlady. But, inasmuch as no
amount of negatives can upset the position of a proved posi-
tive, the only conclusion we can arrive at seems this : that
the landlady is generally a good-tempered woman, but that
the three travellers happened to encounter her in a sour
moment. Women are variable, and so is the weather; but
we scarcely think that the temper of the hostess of the
Hafod Hotel is a topic of sufficient importance to occupy
much space in the columns of the

COUNTRY MARKETS•

b.,.. ,

LIVERPOOL—FRIDAY.
At this day's market there was rather less doing in both
wheat and flour, and prices closed a little easier than on
Tuesday. Oats unchanged. Barley, beans, and peas all
quite as dear. Indian corn brought full prices.

WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY.
A fair quantity of wheat came to hand to-day, but the
trade was dull, at barely the prices of last week. New
barley in improved supply, and prices were in favour of
buyers.