The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-18 00:00:00

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Did it not express the principles which had been
impressed week by week upon Lord Russell by Gen.
Zecaoyski, and which Lord Russell then conceived
to be just and which he sought to give effect to ?
(Loud cheers.) So much was that understood to be
the fact abroad that, happening to be in Paris at
the time the speech arrived, I know a gentleman
who went to Gen. Zemoyshi, who was also there,
and said—" I congratulate you upon the success of
your speech at Blairgowrie," (Hear, hear, and
laughter.) Therefore I would ask you to remark
that this speech, which conveyed, so far as we could
judge, the deliberate conviction of the Foreign-
office, was not followed up by results, and therefore
there has been a discrepancy and incongruity be-
tween the speech at Blairgowrie and the subsequent
acts of the Government ? Why is this ? It is be•
cause the popular opinion of Great Britain has not
been
expressed with that loudness and distinctness
as to give even a cautious statesman the power and
the liberty to act on the convictions he has formed
—the convictions he has blazoned forth to the
continent. I hope I have thus brought home to the
humblest and the plainest understanding the con-
viction that agitation has upon the Polish question
this tendency, namely, to give to the Government
the freedom of doing that which it desires to do, but
which it shrinks from doing until it has the indubi-
table stamp of public approbation. Having thus,
I trust, convinced you that agitation is practicable
and friendly to the Government which rules us,
and is desired by those who wish for our suppaeoart,uf
will only remark at the outset that the League
of which I have the honour of being one of the
vice-presidents disclaims the accusation frequently
urged against it—that of attempting to light up
the flames of war in Europe. War is not our ob-
ject. It is true that in 1854 Great Britain, after
due deliberation, resolved that it was advisable to
go to war with Russia, not for the purpose of pro-
tecting herself or her allies, but Eastern Europe
from Russian aggression. (Hear, hear,) Hence the
Crimean war. It is true that the cause of that war
is emblazoned upon the annals of the country, but
no man with Balaklava in remembrance would wish
to see that principle acted upon at present if it were
possible to avoid it. The League does not aim at
war, but it does wish to avert that collision be-
tween Russia and the Western Powers which must
unavoidably be brought about should Poland be un-
happily exterminated. (Loud cheers.) But although
they do not wish for war, they wish to contend that
Polish independence is a British object, and that it
is our duty to preserve it on the ground of its being
our own interest to do so as well for the sake of
humanity. In the age in which we live France and
England go together. (Cheers.) So long as they
do, Russia may not be considered in Western
Europe as a formidable Power. (Hear, hear.) But
it is impossible to count upon the life of the extra-
ordinary man who now rules France ; he is not
immortal, and what politician could be so rash as
to count upon the policy of France when deprived
of its master mind ? (Loud cheers.) Who shall
say that at all times France and England will be
ready to present to St. Petersburg the firm front
they did in 1854? Would that have occurred iu
1830, in 1816, or in 1848 ? Who, then, can always
calculate upon the continuance of their alliance? I
ask you, therefore, to consider a moment what the
consequences will be if, eviler France and England
are not united as at present, the question of Turkey
should give rise to a disagreement between the
Cabinets of London and St. Petersburg. If not to
France, where are we turn to for an ally ? We
must look in that event to the German Powers,
namely, Austria and Prussia; and so long
as the Cz.lr holds Poland in his hands,
Austria and Prussia cannot be considered
as free agents. If you look at the map of
Europe you will see that Warsaw commands Berlin
and Vienna—Berlin being only 20 hours' journey
from Warsaw, and Vienna only 24. (Hear, hear.)
You can conceive how the Czir influences the de-
termination of political questions at these places,
and it explains the servile Russian part which
Prussia has acted in this very matter. At the same
time, it explains why Austria, wishing as she does
to act with France and England, has been compelled
to adopt a double-faced policy with regard to the
Polish question, especially with regard Eto Galicia,
to which reference has recently been made by the
Galician members of the Austrian Reichsrath.
(Hear. hear.) So long as the Czar holds Poland he
holds Germany; so long as he holds the German
Powers as his footstool without France as our ally,
Great Britain is powerless to oppose Russia with
Poland in its possession. But with Poland emanci-
pated this could never be the case. (Cheers.) This is
a mere matter of geography and observation which
the eye of the least instructed man can see at once.
Let that extensive country stand between the Czar
and Germany, and Western Europe is free from
Russian aggression. (Lond cheers.) Oa these
grounds the League is justified in saying that Polish
independence is a British question. (Cheers.)
.And
now, having proved to you that this is
a British
question, you will be more prepared o listen
ia
to
those who will tell you that the Emperor of Russ
has forfeited his title to be Sovereign of Poland.
(Hear, hear.) I regret the absence on this occasion
of my noble friend Lord Ilchester, another vice-
president of the League, who, from the official posi-
tion he had occupied at the Hague, in Florence and
Vienna, and his connection with the Foreign-
office, would have been able to have addressed
you with greater authority on this point, and whose
accession to t League has been of great advan-
tage to it. The noble lord having called upon Mr.
Day to propose the first resolution, resumed his seat
amid loud cheers.
Mr. DA proposed the first resolution :—" That
the hat
the devoted heroism of the Poles in their present
and in their past struggles for the independence of
their country entitles them to the admiration and
support of Great Britain." Russia was an aggres-
sive Power; sho had increased her possessions, and
sho would, if unchecked, in time be enabled to en-
tirely disregard the West of Europe altogether,
Had it not been for the Crimean war Western En.
rope would have felt before this the aggressive 1 '
hicy of Russia. With regard to the speech of Earl
Russell, he thought Lord Palmerston had pulled the
string on
him, and had decided that a neutral policy
should be adopted. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He
trusted that Great Britain was not losing its old
British pluck, or that we were going to give up the
position in Europe we had hitherto
occupied.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. BURNEY seconded the resolution, and con-
tended that we ought to put an end to the fearful
atrocities which were being
committed by Russia in
Poland, several accounts of
which he read to the
meeting. If we were compelled to appeal to arms
we need not send a large army to the interior of
Russia, but could easily muzzle the bear by blockad-
ing the Russian ports, and when the bear wanted the
muzzle taken off,
making him pay all expenses.
Mr. POPE HENNESSY said since he had bad a seat
in Parliament he had given this subject his earnest
attention. This
was the time when public opinion
could not be given forth in Parliament, and it was
the proper time for members of Parliament to as-
certain the opinions of the people whom they repre-
sented. (Hear, hear.) Now, what progress with
regard to the Polish question had been made since
the last public meeting.
red
First, there was the
speech of Lord Russell, in which he decla P
over olthat and.
Russia had forfeited her sovereignty
After such a declaration from the Foreign Se-
cretary, he cared not what
ndes patches had been
there was the '
sent. (Hear, hear.) he
Emperor' Napoleon's ad-
dress the other day, in
important sentence in the
which he also declared that
Russia had forfeited her rights over Poland- The
French Emperor spoke not only for France but for
England and for the civilised world. (Loud cheers.)
The third great event was the recall of the Grand
Duke Constantine, who had been the author of the
oppression of Poland. Russia bad herself admitted

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comehave itv oadmittedover that
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termined to obtain their liberty.
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bound to uphold; and if we did not Fish
must
into the position of a second-rate Power we
L Uy
not allow our obligations to be torn to piece s
Russia, If we tolerated the crushing of Polat (litiao
great disgrace would befall us. (Hear, hear.)
people of _England must force the Governmentl .to
save us from such a disgrace. (Hear, hear.) A
Congress had been proposed, and upon that goes--
tion the Times neayspaper, after vacillating until it
found out the intention of the Government, came at
last to the conclusion tL'at we are to hare one, "un-
der certain conditions." (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
The Emperor told us that those who refused to
attend the Congress would contribute 10 bring about
a war. Now, we ought not to be afraid of war. We
had spent hundreds of millions noon armaments
since the Crimean war, and were our it on-plated
frigates to be only used in saluting foreign sove-
reigns on their arrival in this country I' (Ile ir, and
laughter.) We must not fear war whe:i our
honour was assailed. (Loud cheers.) Lord Russell
had on a late occasion almost threatened war if' our
demands on Russia were rejected. France, findiog;
/
he atrocities Poland increasing, had asked us ,'.ajoin
thum'
war to compel Russia to behave with
ce
Poland, but England had refused.
h nity, to er:
in iti
a s
in
at
(Hisses.) it was
(Loud
our duty to have gone hand in.
hand with Frat,:ce
in the matter.cheers.)
To do the Goverilme
nt justice, he believed Earl
Russell would take II
much higher position if he
thought he could rely upon
the opinion of this coun-
try for support. The insur!ection in Poland was
increasing, and so were the Russian atrocities.these atro-
cities. to a
Ladies were being flogged, and 1:1
after being flogged, had next day' .given birth case a lady,
child, which died, and had lost her
*reason, her
only
band having since been executed. i\iow, not
Russia, but England, was responsible 1,3, .
cities. (Hear, hear.) Let us, therefore,
join with
1.8 r_-#,
France in declaring that Russia had wil 10M of
,*td her
claim to Poland, and that the ancient king _
Poland must be restored to its proper positiOu
lure
Europe; and nothing less than this he was )- ,
would meet the wishes of the people of this
and the rest of the civilised world. eount, Y
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. EDMOND BEALES moved the second resolu-
tion—" That this meeting cordially approves of the
objects of the National League for Promoting the
Independence of Poland, and urges on the Govern-
ment the justice of extending to the insurgent
Poles the belligerent rights which they have asked,
in concert with other Powers ready to concede
them." Poland had been one of the greatest
nations in Europe. She had been the home and
refuge of the persecuted. She had been the nurse
of the arts and sciences, and her chief fault was
one which ought to endear her to English-
men—a too great love of liberty. Her free insti-
tutions roused the fear and hate of the despotic
Powers on her threshold, and they combined toge-
ther to crush and stamp her freedom in the dust.
Mr. DONALD MVICHOLL seconded the resolu-
tion, and M. NAPOLEON ZABA supported it.
The resolution having been carried unanimously,
the meeting terminated at a late hour with a vote
of thanks to the chairman.

IRON SHIPS OF WAR.

Last night, at eight o'clock, a numerous audience
attended at the Hall of the Literary Institution,
Royal-hill, Greenwich, to hear a lecture delivered by
Mr. E. J. Reed, chief constructor of the royal navy,
on the subject of " Ships of War." After briefly
referring to early naval architecture, the lecturer
observed that the Americans were the first to intro-
duce armour-plated vessels, and in 1843 Mr. Stevens
constructed an iron-cased floating battery for that
Government. He believed the idea of constructing
such war vessels in Europe was not derived from
America, but rather from the active mind of the
French Emperor. The Warrior was undoubtedly the
bold and truly British answer to the iron-cased fri-
gates bui tin France ; and although that vessel had
some defects, she was worthy of every praise, as the
first specimen of our iron ships. The Warrior, as
well as the,l3lack Prince were completely iron plated,
and thus a portion of the vessel was exposed. The
Defence and the Resistance were built on the same
principle, but they were not so much plated, and
therefore their seagoing qualities weze superior. The
Hector and the Valiant were plated right round in
the region of the guns, and were of immense
strength. After describing the Minotaur, Agincourt,
Northumberland, and other iron ships in progress,
Mr. Reed contended that the Warrior and ships of
her class were too long, and he firmly believed that
the same rate of speed could be obtained from a much
shorter vessel. The attention of the Admiralty had
been much devoted to this question ; and he could
assure them that no more iron ships for the royal
navy would be laid down of such a length as 400
feet. Whilst one of these long vessels had a large
portion at each extremity exposed, a shorter vessel
could be armour-plated from end to end, would sail
as many knots per hour, and a great saving would
affairs.
fra those
os
Navale
construc-
tion be effected to the public. These matters of detail
ndoidwnaott
theescape a thehoed
of
n a attentionvalffamen who were
is a peculiar art, resting upon b a struse branches
of science, and involving principles and calculations
with which non-professional men •
in office could not
prudently interfere with in an b. ar itrary manner,
and hence the practice of the profession was to run
in grooves, out of which it was most difficult to re-
move even in times of the greatest emergency. In
fact it was only by a violent wrench—by giving
sudden and unexpected scope to younger men and
new ideas the thing can be done at all, and when it
has to be done it is attended by such pain and dis-
appointment to many that it
and courage to undertake it. That had recently
been proved in his own case, some extremely pene-
trating and pure-minded people having discovered
that his appointment to his present office was a
"disgraceful
job." He supposed these people did
think it disgraceful
for a Board of Admiralty to
appoint to an office involving much hard work, and
grappling with difficult and pressing questions, a
man Who has neither attained the age of 60, or
taken part in elections in what are called "Govern-
mentr.ed
boroughs." (Hisses and cheers.) M
arßeative
then discussed the question of the comorp
with a
merits of ships built entirely of irono
inion in
backing of timber, and expressed p
disaster to the
favour of the latter class. The late
arkable manner
Prince Consort proved in srem hull of that
the vast strength of the woodenspe
ship. It was true that
she
t hip
of seven considerable
feet,
us
water, but not to thehi
exedten even five feet of
stated ; for if she hads PP
water, must have beenPoilers
water, every fire to her
kept up steam
extinguished, whereas she through.,
sent to Kingston to in-
out. An officer who was
I after she came to grief reported--
spect the vessel
" From one end of the ship to the other not one
bolthead had been disturbed." It scarcely ever
that an ordinary wooded ship,
happened Without
an iron plate upon her, after encountering a Channel
storm, returned to port with such trifling damage
as that done to the Prince 'onsort. He could not
fully enter into the details of the improvements
already effected, and now under consideration, with
regard to the construction of iron ships, but one of
the chief of these was the introduction
of the " un-
sinkable principle," invented by Mr. Langley, of
Deptford. That system consisted in • dividing the
iron hull into numerous water ti •
ght and fire-proof
compartments, by means of the decks themselves,
and preserving the integrity of these compartments
by affording an entrance to them through the hatch-
ways only. He could state with the utmost confi-
dence that the Ad • miralty was la ow building a cor-
vette, from which •
the swiftest iron vessel now afloat
could not hope to escape, and which would be armed
in a most ff e ective manner. The Admiralty had to
contend with incessant hostile criticism, proceeding
from persons free from responsibility.

The general effect of the bullock-waggon has
been humorously compared by Captain Knight (in his re-
cently published Diary of Travels in Cashmere and Thibet)
to " being run away with in a dust-cart through Fcnchurcb.-
htreet, the gas-pipes being up at the time."