The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 8, 1863.

students of the Kieff University and about 20 of
the unfortunate young men were killed, and a
great number badly wounded.
In spite of the precautions taken by the Austrians,
150 insurgent horsemen passed the Galician frontier
on Whit Sunday, and are now in the Kingdom. The
frontier being specially guarded at one point, they
crossed it at another.

Three nights ago a troop of 60 cavalry assembled
here in a stable where horses, uniforms, and arms
were awaiting them. At 12 o'clock they rode out
of the town in regular formation ; had the compli-
ment paid them at the Warsaw barrier of being mis
taken for Hungaria❑ Hussars; passed a patrol of
infantry coming from Wengrze, cthe Austrian fron-
tier station facing Michalowice), which fraternally
saluted them; and at a little to the right of Wengrze,
at about five miles distance from Cracow, entered
the Kingdom. This daring practical joke, not likely
to be repeated, was no doubt suggested by the simi-
lar exploit performed a fortnight since by the
students of Kieff.
The mail train from Warsaw comes in now at all
sorts of times. Twice this week we have had no
letters from Warsaw, and it appears that the rail-
way is destroyed over an extent of eight English
miles between Rakocin and Pietrkow.
A correspondent of the Czas states that after the
battle of Ignaczew, in which Taczanowski's little
army was defeated, with a loss of some 250 killed
and wounded, Gen. Brunner ordered the wounded
Poles to be wrapped in straw, strewed with gun-
powder, and set on fire. The order was executed, to
the disgust of the Russian officers, who (as the cor-
respondent of the Czas states) make no secret of their

indignation, and tell every one who arrives at Ignac-
zew of the hideous barbarity of their chief—appar-
ently one of the Russianized Germans of Courland, so
notoriously worse in all respects than the Russians
themselves. Nevertheless, if this story be true—and
it is not very much nearer the incredible than some
other stories of cruelties known positively to have
been committed--the Russian officers, whatever the
rules of the service may say, need not in such an
extreme and quite unprecedented case have re-
frained from remonstrating with their commander.
On the 18th of May the torch of Russian military
incendiarism seems to have been applied to an im
mense wood near Tarnogrod in the South of the pro-
vince of Lublin, close to the Galician i rontier. As
the wind was blowing from the north, the fire spread
to the forests on this side of the border, and in
Galicia alone some 80 acres of useful cover for in-
surgents, and of valuable property, were destroyed.
The greatest exertions had been made by the
authorities of Cieszanow and the peasants of the

surrounding villages to confine the flames within a
narrow compass. In the kingdom, however, those
who had deliberately kindled the fire were not
likely to put it out, and there it is said to have ex-
tended over a space of nearly a thousand English
acres.

On the Cracow and Vienna Railway all the dis-
posable waggons have been sent to Vienna (it is
supposed) in order to fetch troops. Preparations
are also being made for the reception of troops at
Tarnow and elsewhere on the Galician frontier.
The end of all this perhaps will be that two or
three extra companies will be sent to Cracow and
the two principal towns between Cracow and Lem-
berg, but as the Civil Governor of the district of
Cracow and the Governor-General of Galicia have
both gone to Vie,ina, it is assumed hero that some
important decision is about to be taken, and that the
Austrians, if they are not going to enter the king-
dom as armed pacificators, are at least resolved to
declare Galicia in a state of siege, and to occupy it
in sufficient force to prevent the departure of fresh
detachments for the "kingdom" and for Volhynia.

THE AFFAIRS OF GREECE,

On Saturday afternoon an influential and im
portant meeting of noblemen and gentlemen inte

rested in the welfare of the Greek nation, took
place at No. 11, Charing-cross, far the purpose of
establishing a Philhellenic Committee, having for
its primary object the enlightenment ot the English
people as to the wishes and aspirations ot the
Greeks ; and to aid in giving a moral support to all

enterprises calculated to develop the material and
moral resources of that country.
Mr. A. B. Cochrane, M.P., occupied the chair,
and amongst the noblemen and gentlemen, many of
whom were present who were announced to have
enrolled their names as members of the committee,
were the Earl of Coventry, Lord Stratheden, Lord
H. Lennox, M.P., Lord Fermoy, M.P., Sir Robert
J. Clifton, Bart., M.P., Sir P. O'Brien, Bart., M.P.,
Mr. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., Mr, F. Coningham, M.P.,
Mr. Wm. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Crum Ewing, M.P.,
M. J. P. Hennessy, M.P., Mr. J. F. Maguire, M.P.,
Mr. G. Onslow, M.P., Mr. J. P. Brown Westhead,
M.P., Mr. J. White, M.P., Mr. S. Wylde, M.P.,
Mr. H. M. Seymour, M.P., Rear Admiral Burney,
Major-General Bower, Mr. N. G. liamber, J.P.
(Bucks), Mr. E. 'Frelawne, Mr. T. Page, E.E., Pro-
fessor Blackie (Edinburgh), Mr. Digby Wyatt,
F.S.A., &c.
The GIIAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, ob •
served that the great object to be obtained in estab-
lishing a Philhellenic Committee, was to make the
people of this country really acquainted with the
requirements of the Greek people, and of contribut-
ing to the moral and political advancement of that
country, an event which could not fail to be of ad-
vantage to England also. (Hear.) It taking this
step they were not attaching themselves to any sec-
tion or party ; a fact established by the circumstance
that the movement had the sanction of the Greek
Provisional Government and Ministers of State, who
had empowered Mr. Stephanos Xenos to aid in the

formation of the Philhellenic Conzmittee,and in whom
they ha: the greatest confidence, as he had under
all circumstances displayed the noblest and most
patriotic sentiments. (Hear.) With these remarks
he begged to introduce Mr. Xenos to the meeting,
who would more fully explain its objects. (Hear.)
Mr. S. XENOS having expressed the honour he
felt in addressing a body of such distinguished Eng-

lish gentlemen as those he saw present, observed
that the main object to be achieved by the formation

of this Philhellenic Committee was to make the re-
lations between England and Greece as intimate as
pa2sible. It was not his province to espouse the
cause of any particular party or interest, its sole ob-
ject being to enlighten public opinion in Great Bri-
tain as to the wishes and aspirations of the Greek
people; to act as intermediary, if necessary, between
the Governments of England and Greece; to give a

moral support to all enterprizes that would tend to

develop the material and moral resources of the
Greek nation ; and to advocate, in case of need, the
cause of Greece in the Press and Parliament of this
country. (Hear,) For these purposes they pro-
posed to establish a bureau of information in their
committee rooms, in which would be filed all the
official documents of the Greek Government and its
diplomatic agents. Although he (Mr. Xenos) had
had the promises of many members of Parliament
and influential gentlemen to aid him in this project,
for some time he had abstsiued from calling them
together in consequence of the very unsettled state
of Greece, and the question of the succession to the
throne being undecided, fearing that any step, under
such circumstances, might be construed into ono of
a revolutionary character. (Hear.) 13ut now a
new epoch had arrived. That Greece had now a
constitutional King was a matter of fact, and there-
fore the establishment of a Philhellenic Committee
in London would, in his opinion, be at this moment
of immense service to their young King and his ad- '
visers. (Hear.)
The committee was then formed, and with a view
to its proper organisation,
Ir. lou
M.P., said he would move that
Mr. xn
e t the post of their
hon. secretary, as he was sure the greatest reliance
.N c AAsG bei Rr
requested
nested to accept
could be placed in his patriotism.
Admiral BURNEY seconded the resolution, and
it
was carried unanimously.
Mr. MAGUIRE said he had now a gentleman to
propose as their acting secretary ; he alluded to
Mr. John O'B ien, for whom he could vouch as a
gentleman of high education and great ability, and
this
Who Was fully conversant with the subject they
were about to undertake
-5.1 r. LAmBE-
ILX had
n,
much pleasure in seconding
resolution, as he knew Mr. O'Brien's great

worth, and could bear his testimony to the pre-emi-
nent fitness of Mr. O'Brien for such an office.
This resolution was also carried 21C111. dis., and
after some discussion as to the election of a presi-
dent and vice-president, it was agreed to refer the
consideration of that q iesticn till an adjourned
meeting, to be held on Thursday next, at two p.n.,.
A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the pro.
ceedings.

end, so long as their present wretched domestic ac-
commodation continued. Adverting to the proposed

undertaking as one in which capital might be advan-
tageously employed, he said further facility would
be afforded for its investment by the Limited Lia-
bility Act, by which money put into the account
would be available to legal representatives of parties
dying, He remarked upon the circumstance of the
Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwell-
ings of the Industrials Classes having spent about
£3,000 in preliminary expenses, and some £15,000

in dwellings for single men, which latter sum re-
mained unproductive; and he mentioned, by way
of showing what might be done by men of business
putting their shoulders to the wheel, that he bad
just registered a steam company, all the ordinary
preliminary expenses of which had not exceeded £4O.
Mr. ROBERTS, speaking from his experience of
many years as h3norary architect of the society pre-
sided over by Lord Shaftesbury, entered into details
to show that 5 per cent., at least, might be expected
from the proposed undertaking, that being the sum
returned by the Streatham-street buildings, and
that, having regard to the greater economy of con-
struction by the use of Portland cement in the floors,
he saw no reason why it might not realize 6 per
cent. He added that in Edinburgh 5 per cent. was
obtained from property of that kind, and in Leeds
an equal amount.
The Hon. FRED. BYNG bore testimony to the dis-
graceful house accommodation of working people
in the parish of St. James's, and referred to the
efforts he made 20 years ago to bring it under the
consideration of the wealthier inhabitants. Latterly,
however, he said, some dwellings erected there by
the Metropolitan Society had answered remarkably
well, but especially in tending to improve, by ex-
ample, houses in the neighbourhood occupied by
mechanics ; but a great number of this class, who
could only afford to pay a limited sum for rent, and
also were yet obliged to settle near their work,
were compelled to herd together in places which
were disgraceful.

Mr. G ATLIFF, a gentleman long connected
with the Metropolitan Association, said there
was an impression which he wished to correct,
that the rents of working people were not easily
collected, He was able to state that out of £82,565
collected by the Metropolitan Association during,
the last 17 years, the bud debts had not amounted
to more than £4OO. (Hear, hear.) As to the
working classes availing themselves of this descrip-

tion of houses, he said the association had accomo
dation for 414 families, and an average occupancy
by 410 families. They have 670 tenants, including
tingle men in their model lodging houses, who fol-

lowed 158 different trades. He refer red to the be-
neficial effects of the association in inducing builders
to furnish conveniences to the new houses they put
up to compete with those of the association.

Lord STANLEY then read over, item by item, the
estimated capital and revenue accounts of the pro-
posed undertaking to erect 10 blocks of improved
dwellings for 200 families at a cost of 123,000. The
calculations were based upon the actual experience
of the block of buildings already erected, and the
rents of which, during the three months they had
been occupied, had been regularly paid in advance.
Each item underwent careful consideration, and the
result was to satisfy the meeting of the fairness and
moderation of the calculations.
Mr. GATLIFF, returning to the proposed sinking
fund of £5O a year, mentioned as an indisputable
fact that £5O a year invested at 3 per conc. would
redeem £23,000 in 80 years.
Lord STANLEY said he remembered hearing it
stated that an investment of £3,000,000 a year
would pay off the national debt in 66 years. (A

laugh.)
Mr. S. MORLEY, speaking on the general ques-
tion, said that although personally he had not joined
the undertaking as a mere investment, he was con-
vinced, and desired to prove to the public that
money might be expended upon it with a good re-
sult. He did not think the great and noble object
they bad in view would ever be attained by compa-
nies. They desired to stimulate private individuals
who had money waiting for investment, they (the
meeting) setting an example as pioneers, de-
termined at the same time to manage their own
affairs in this matter as men of business. He ad-
vised them not to begin until the whole £26,000
was subscribed.
Lord STANLEY, alluding to the question of rent,
said it was really vital. They might let rooms at a
lower rental than was proposed, but if they did that
they would cease to be a self-supporting society,
and would fall into the old groove. He admitted
that the lower class of labourers could not pay a rent
of ss. or ss. 6d. a-week. What could be done for
them was a problem requiring solution, but which
the meeting did not undertake to solve. There was
however, a higher class which could pay the higher
amount, and for which it was now proposed to give
better accommodation for the same money than they
had at present.
A working or provisional committee was then
nominated for carrying out the undertaking, com-
posed of Lord Stanley as chairman, Alderman Wa-
terlow, Alderman Finnis, Mr. Samuel Morley, Mr.
Henry Edwards, Mr. Travers Buxton, and Mr.
Ellis, and at the close of the meeting the subscrip-
tions amounted to upwards of £13,000, including
one of £5OO by the chairman.