The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-15 00:00:00

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
LEMBERG, Aug. 7.
Count Mensdorff returned here from Vienna a
few days ago, and must now be aetonished to find
that a portion of his functions have been assumed
by an anonymous gentleman calling himself
" Chief of the Town." There is a great deal that is
sublime and much also that is ridiculous in the
Polish insurrection, and it is ridiculous and some-
thing worse for any Pole or Poles to claim publicly
the direction of affairs in a province belonging to

Austria, with which Power it is conventionally
supposed that all Poland is on good terms. The
first address issued by the " Chief of the Town" is
printed in the form of a handbill, and is marked
" No. 1," from which it may be inferred that a
series is meditated. Few nations have shown such
an aptitude for political blunders as the Poles; but
I think it is generally felt by the most influential
people in Lemberg that a mistake of no ordinary
magnitude has now been committed, and that the
" Chief of the Town" had better hide his head as
soon as possible. This is a case for the interven-
tion of the Poles themselves. They should inter-
vene between the Lemberg " Chief of the Town"
and his folly, or between the Lemberg Committee
and their folly. I have heard it suggested that
it would be a good idea to attribute the composi-
tion and circulation of the address in question to
Russian agency, and certainly the Russians could
not injure the general prospects of the Poles more
effectively than by setting the Austrian Govern-
ment against them. The address is as follows :
Fellow•citizens,—The present moment, so important for
the national cause, is one in which all our ardour must be
maintained.

"The enemies of the movement would, to the injury of
the nation, check that readiness to make sacrifices which is
our only strength. It is our duty, then, to take care that
the national enthusiasm be allowed to work, and through
the proper channels. To this end, having been appointed
by the Committee for Eastern Galicia, I now assume my
functions and take upon myself the heavy responsibility of
watching your conduct and directing the manifestations of
your patriotism.
" From this position I invite your respect. Citizens, re-
main peaceable and pay no heed to provocations from what-
ever quarter they may come. Do not take part in any move-
ment in the streets, for this would be to act in the interest
of our enemies. Preserve a dignified tranquillity, and re-
member the loftiness of the cause which we all serve.
" I know your readiness to make sacrifices of money.
" To increase and strengthen this readiness to the extent
of our present necessities is one of my main duties.
"I must warn you against all abuse of confidence. De-
posit money and other offerings in the hands of those per-
sons only who are authorised by me.
"On my demand only, and only in the way indicated by
me, you must give active support, with men and with
money, to the war now waging in the provinces held cap-
tive by Russia.
" Patience and subordination must be your motto. Im-
plicit obedience is now your first duty. Indifference is a Bin,
and opposition a crime.
"CHIEF OF THE TOWN OF LEMBERG.
(Naczelnik Miasta Lwowa.)"
It is an error to suppose that there is a " revolu-
tionary" committee in Lemberg, as some German
newspapers have hinted, and as a Bohemian journal
of Panslavonian tendencies, and therefore bitterly
hostile to any movement that may have the effect of
weakening Russia, has openly asserted. The Com-
mittee for Eastern Galicia, sitting at Lemberg,
like the Committee for Western Galicia, sitting
at Cracow, is in correspondence and in union
with the Central Committee of the National Go-
vernment sitting at Warsaw. It was formed for
the purpose of directing the efforts of the Galicians
on behalf of their countrymen in Russian Poland,
and in aiding the movement against Russia in every
possible manner. It has committed an act of great
imprudence in sanctioning the circulation of an
address in which one of its officials claims op enl
exercise authority over the Polish subjet;stse.y of
Austria, but it can be seen from the address 1
that the
i
that the committee desires most earnestybe
at
o
authority of the Austrian Government shall
the same time respected.
to " check that readi-
who are described as wishing
is our only strength."
One word as to the "enemies of the movement,"
ness to make sacrifices
whiidchabout the existence of
sand it might be imagined
A great deal has beedn
two parties in Poland,
tfanthteo
cautions hisfellow-citizens are
Town" of Lemberg
that the persons
his political opponents.
say what separates
against.
awrthieosminthpeo"laCnhdief
plt is easier, however, to
them or what different views
words
entertain. A great abuse is made of the
say that there are two
words " aristocratic" and " democratic" here, as in
other countries. I asked a distinguished Polish
"democrat" the other day (who, by the way,
would be very much annoyed if any one were to
question the antiquity of his family) whether he