The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-15 00:00:00

INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND.

A crowded meeting of the inhabitants of South-
warke r'
was held last evening at Taylor's D osi-
tory, St. George's-road, for the purpose of petition-
ing Parliament in favour of the independence of
Poland. Mr. John Locke, M.P., one of the
borough members, presided, and was supported
by Mr. P. Hennessy, M.P., Sir Henry Hoare Pro-
fessor Birkbeck, Dr. Rendle, and most of the
vestrymen aed parochial officers. During ti3O
proceedings Prince Czartoryski, Prince Ledie-
Nue, General Count Zamoishy, and several
Palish gentlemen, just arrived horn. Paris, came
J
upon the platform, and were most enthusiastically
cheered.
The CHAIRMAN' expressed the pleasure he felt at
seeing so numerous a meeting of his constituents.
He considered it was the duty of all Englishmen to
support the gallant Poles, and ho trusted the people
of England would not rest satisfied with the Go-
vernment until they had compelled Russia to observe
the solemn engagements she had entered into re-
specting Poland, by peaceable means if possible ;
but if not, by all other available means.
Capt. ROGERS moved, and Dr. RENDLE seconded,
the first resolution, declaratory of the right of the
Poles to resist by force of arms the violation of their
just claims by the Russian Government. lie thought
diplomacy would never work out the independence
of Poland.
Mr. HENNESSY, M.P., in supporting the resolu-
tion, said he was heartily sick of expressing idle
sympathy with Poland. Ho desired to see some
practical means taken to help the Poles in their
gallant and gigantic struggle. Diplomacy would
never do this. While they were talking and writ-
ing the Poles were fighting ; and until England and
France were prepared if necessary to send a fleet
into the Baltic and an army to Warsaw, he was
afraid no good would be done. He believed that if
Russia saw the Western Powers were in earnest on
this point, she would, but not till then, withdraw
her unholy grasp from Poland. Ho looked upon the
Russian notes as so much dust thrown in the eyes
of France and England, and he firmly believed that
the French Emperor was prepared actively to in-
terpose on behalf of Poland—with England if 6110
. would ; not, without her. (Loud cheers.)
The resolution was carried by acclamation.
Sir 11. HoARE moved the second resolution, call-
ing upon the English Government to acknowledge
the independence of Poland, and support that
independence, if necessary, by force of arms. He
entirely agreed with the spirit of the resolutions.
Mr. SAZELL, a vestryman, seconded the resolution,
which was supported by Mr. Conolly, Professor
Birkbeck, Mr. E. 13eales, and other gentlemen, and
carried amidst loud cheers.
A petition to both Houses of Parliament, embody-
ing the principles of the above resolutions, was then
adopted, and the meeting, which manifested a most
warlike spirit, concluded with a vote of thanks to the
chairman. _

Alarming Scene at the Royal Pavilion,
Brighton,

On Wednesday night this building was the
scene of consternation rarely equalled in intensity.
It appears that a crowded audience had assem-
bled in the Music Hall to hear Collins' troupe
of Christy's Minstrels. As soon as the doors
were opened an escape of gas was perceptible. The
large chandelier of the room was lit up, and none
of the others appeared to be " turned on ;" there-
fore the increase of the peculiar smell common to
gas escapes created a good deal of anxiety amongst
those present. However, people came trooping in
every minute, and only a very few cautious ones
again retired. As the time for the commencement
of the performance approached, the atmosphere of
the room began to get quite oppressive, and the
waiting audience felt somewhat alarmed. The
officials were hunting about the room seeking to
discover the escape; tut still the seats were kept
and the number of seatholders increased. Just be-
foi e eight o'clock a voice was heard from one side
of the room calling that the escape was there. In
a few seconds more the crack of a lucifer match was
heard, and a light was seen to be paused along the
wall, about seven or eight feet from the floor. In-
stantly a great batch of flame burst forth, accom-
panied by a report like the discharge of a piece of
ordnance. In another instant a second explosion
of the same kind took place, further along and
higher up the wall, a third and lesser one followed
in the same diagonal track towards the roof, and
then came an explosion far louder and more violent
than those proceeding. This took place in a corner
of the roof just under the dome, and sent down a
mass of plaster, woodwork, and broken glass on to
the portion of the room immediately beneath.
Fortunately the heavier portion fell in the space
fronting the platform, and therefore no one vas
struck down. Dense volumes of smoke and dust
however poured forth into the room, and either
obscured or extinguished the lights in the large
crystal centre chandelier. The side of the room on
which the explosions took place is next to the lawn,
to which access is given by lofty windows open-
ing to the floor. These were draped with
damask curtains which caught fire after
the explosions and added to the terror of the
crowd. The effects of this terror bailie all descrip-
tion. At the first explosion shrieks and cries broke
forth, and a general rush was made towards the
single door by which the audience had entered.
This was quickly blocked up, and lamentable results
would have ensued had not some persons bad the
presence of mind to open the lawn window
nand cry
to the people to escape that way. A large umber
did so dash out of the room, heedless of the danger
threatened from fire and further explosions. Others
escaped by the platform door, and in a few minutes
all were got out. Then men set to work to
police
fire extin-
guishbrigade the flames, which jeopardised the entire build-
ng.
Water
w„ at band in abundance,
quickly attended, and in less than an
()ne
of side
erhe building is
intricate of
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' the
room
corati and
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completely \\ reeked
and if
restored to its original state
insured.ill cost largoaln ses,
several
co
af s
esm iemoney.al e s
and medical assistance sustained severe
lengthenedfrights and repeated s
amount of property in shawls,liats,v:n°netse'
damaged beyond was
considerable needed
in
lost or
the crowd. accident
ni s
The
acc._ further wear in the rush of
y connection &c., was either
for said
foot-lightst ov e bbe
being
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in a Wrong manner.

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ITothe VlSlTtrustEeetisßoofPPE.lLOn the evening of the 22d
ult. Plymouth Church Society held
a special meeting, at which
slant hard work upon thtehepapetor reep(tßibelev. eifficeentryo,fll%'rnei
Beecher) was the subjc.ct of discussion. After some little
conversational debate, it was moved and carried unani-
mously that Mr. Beecher be granted leave of ab.sence of four
months from the Ist of Juno, and that his expenses (luring
a flip to, in, and from Europe be defrayed by the society.
Upon the adjournment of the meeting the trustees pro-
ceeded in a body to the parsonage, where they surprised the
retir;fig shepherd and informed him for the first time of
their desire and determination. Mr. Beecher was natu-
rally touched by so generous an evidence of personal and
social regard,
and, after consultation with the trustees, con-
eluded to accept the offcr.—Ncte York Times,
THE "ANTIQUARY" WOULD lIAYE STOVTLY MAIN-.
uirted the impossibility of a Inessagebeingieeeivcd in LT:i
don Within a few minutes of its being written in Edinburgh.
But it is undeniable. Equally so is the fact of grey hair
b
lug restored to its natural color, and neuralgia and
nervous
headache cured by Herring's magnetic brushcs and combs.
Recent improvements have made them Etha c
N.B.—Counterfeits are being made. ,„, os, infallible
hall;strect, London. Offices, 32 B, . .
) ,ibing..