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

THE POLISH QUESTION.

The Afoniteur 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 have 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
&Tate]) of the Ist (13th) July.
We believe that we are only meeting the views of the
Minister 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 question 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 wean 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 icgulated the late of th©
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 Di. 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 wo 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 French Minister of foreign Affairs.—l am,
&C., GORTSOHAXOFP.

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
Ru,2aia 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, and prefers
awaiting the reestablishment of tranquillity before
granting reforms to Poland. Prince Gortsehakoff
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 dovelope their plan. Such toler-
ance is only to be apprehended from the Powers
who pursue, under the appearance of diplomatic
action, the carrying out of the 'most extreme Vie"
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 eueh tolerance.

CONCERT—ST. JOSEPH'S HALL, KINGSL AND.—
The cecond concert of the St. Cecilia Cliaral Society
is announced to take place on Tuesday evening nest, "11-
ducted by M. Leman, who has secured for the occasion the
services of 80 professional and amateur executants. Abe
programme is a very attractive one, and we are inforMol37
the secretary, that many tickets have already been aecuren
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, and more than one
horn Lord ts.tauley.