The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-21 00:00:00

THE' SUN, LONDON, SATIT....:DAY EV_ENING, MARCEI 21, 18639

least, that this time—in regard to a grievance
that has at length become not only so
notorious, but so wholly odious and unendurable
as this double grievance of a mistaken Prison Dis-
cipline, and an ill-arranged system of Penal Ser-
vitude—the House of Commons will no longer
tolerate the usual hocus pocus of an inoperative
Commission. The grievance is, surely, too great
and too flagrant to allow of its being any longer
thus quietly, and (as it could alone be if allowed to
pass) disgracefully cushioned by another of these
delusive Commissions. There are men in the House
of Commons, we trust, who will not submit to re-
main apathetic spectators of a repetition of official
proceedings like these, proceedings so seriously
detrimental to the public interests, and so directly
insulting also, we cannot but think, to the dignity
and to the common sense of the Legislature.

We are glad to see that the inequalities of the
Income-tax are not to be left altogether unnoticed
this session. Mr. HUBBARD returns to the charge,
and will move on Tuesday next, "That the inci-
dence of an Income-tax touching the products of
invested property should fall upon net income, and
that the net amounts of industrial earnings should,
previous to assessment, be subject to such an
abatement as may equitably adjust the burthen
thrown upon intelligence and skill, as compared with
property." The principle embodied in this motion
is one which we have always strenuously advocated,
and it seems strange that its manifest justice and
common sense hes not secured the support of
the majority of the members of the Lower
House. The difference existing between the
real value of an income derived from secure and
permanent sources, such as landed property,
or funded investments, and the fluctuating means
of a professional man or a clerk, whose earnings
are dependent on individual health and strength
ss well as on the caprice of the public, is so very
evident and unquestionable, that it seems at first
sight marvellous that they should ever have
been rated together. The owner of a
small secured property may lose his health
or his eyesight with impunity, so far as his means
of livelihood are concerned, but he who earns his
living by daily or weekly exertion must pay the
same amount, although he knows that next year
his income may be reduced to nothing. The sum
extorted from him by the Commissioners would
serve to effect an insurance for his family, but the
House of Commor,s, consisting, for the most
part, of men happily independent of
such considerations, refuses to deal with
the grievance. Year by year it has been
spoken of, and cast aside to be considered some other
time. The wrongs of property are more likely to
be heeded firm the claims of " intelligence and
skill," but we should hope Mr. HUBBARD'S measure
would find some earnest supporters. The case is
so simple and self-evident that the mast
thoughtless can at once perceive the injus-
tice, so easily rectified that the most indifferent
can find a remedy. In commercial dealings the
probable duration of an engagement is always
taken into account in considering its value, and
curely the uncertain tenure of life incomes should
weigh in the official scale. Mr. HUBBARD'S mo-
tion is very fairly worded and deserves support,
but we can scarcely hope that Mr. GLADSTONE
will adopt the principle set forward. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer, it is known,
has a particular affection for the income-
tax as it stands. We may remember the
reluctance with which he told us he had abandoned
the delightful vision of a shilling income-tax, so
easily calculated, and giving such delightful re-
turns. Any interference with his favourite branch
of taxation is slways very ungraciously received,
and we are therefore not sanguine about the result
of Mr. HUBBARD'S sensible and appropriate motion.
The answer will inevitably be that all such mat-
ters will be discussed in the approaching Budget,
and the result of that Budget will most likely leave
precarious and fixed incomes in the same position.
We hope the House will at all events raise its voice
in favour of a reform, as manifestly called for, and
we must also hope that if public opinion, common
sense, and justice are powerless with our present
financier, they may have some more satisfactory
effect upon his successor.

LATEST

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

DEFEAT OF THE POLES.

PARIS, MARCH 21.

Despatches received at the Russian Embassy
here confirm the news of the defeat of Langiewicz,
who has been conveyed to Tarnow. The incur•
gents lost 400 killed, and 54 taken prisoners.
•

The Constitutionnel of this morning contains an
article on the Polish insurrection, signed by its chief
editor, M. Limayrac, who says therein

"If the defeat of the insurrection be confirmed,
fortune will offer a noble part to the Emperor of
Russia. It is amnesty which completes such vic-
tories, and the world would applaud the Czar if,
after having subdued the insurrection by force, he
disarmed it by magnanimity."

CRACOW, MARCH 20, EVENING.

The following are the details of the battle fought
between the Russians and the insurgents, com-
manded by General Langiewicz :--

The battle commenced on the 18th inst., near
Zigoscie. The cavalry and waggons of the insur-
gents were dispersed, after a desperate fight.
Langiewicz and his staff disappeared from the field
during the engagement, which continued till dark.
The scythemen and Chasseurs, after holding
their ground to the last moment, under a heavy
fire, withdrew on the 19th inst. to Vislitza.
Langiewicz and his friends crossed the Vistula
and gave themselves up to the Austrian Hussars,
who conducted them to Tarnow.

The insurgents are rallying at Vislitza, and are
provisionally ummanded by Colonel Smeehowski,

LEMBERG, MARCH 21.

Langiewicz, with several officers of his staff,
arrived yesterday in Gallicia, and presented to the
authorities a French passport bearing a strange
name. After having replied to the questions which
were put to him, he left without his identity being
discovered, but was afterwards brought by the
Austrian Hussars to Tarnow.

FRANCE.
PARIS, MARcil 21.

The trial of MM. Calzado and Garcia, for cheat-
ing at cards, took place yesterday before the tri-
bunal of correctional police.
Calzado was sentenced to 13 months', and Garcia

to 5 years' imprisonment.
The Constitutionnel remarks upon the vote of the
Senate, and appears satisfied with the speech of
M. Billault, declaring, at the same time, sympathy
with Poland and confidence in the Emperor. It is
impossible, it is said, to have shown with more elo-
quence and elevation of mind than did M. Billault
the feeling of the Government, and the Senate, in
agreeing to it, has evidenced once more its
patriotism and its wisdom.
The Opinion Nationale announces that a despatch
from Cracow declares that Langiewicz has gained a
new victory over the Russians, and that 10,000
men were engaged on both sides. The patriotic
cause engages more and more the population, and
no one can over estimate the significance of the re-
signation of so many influential personages.
Poland, in aiding herself, has revived all the sym
pathies of civilised people. Public opinion mani-
fests itself in favour of this sacrificed nation. The
Steele says that the vote of the Senate does not ac-
cord with its wishes. We persist in thinking
for the reasons which we have already said,
that the first body in the State could have
done better. The demand we made reserved for
the Government the right of decision as well as
the order of the day could have done. Far from
awakening passions, it would have calmed them, it
would have given satisfaction to the public opinion,
without compromising the authorities.

THE BOURSE, March 20.—The market has been
rather buoyant, and prices show a slight improve-
ment, Threes, for the account, being now at 691. sc.
Railway Share Market quiet, but firm. The mar-
ket closed as follows :

It per Cents .. 96 25 Bank Shares 3370
Do. end month.... ^ Credit louder 1495
3 per Cents
Do. end month.... 69 15 Do. end month 7O

New 3 per Cents ..
Do. end month....
Credit Nobilier..., 1260
Do, end r00nth....1262 50

• Russian
• Austrian
• Spanish Threes —
I Rome Debt
MAYS.

RAIL'

Cash. Account.
Orleans lll6 .. 1115
Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1195 .. 1197 60
Geneva..
Southern
Western.
Eastern ....
Sardinian .. 385 .. 385
Austrian
Lowbard
North of Spain
Saragossa .............. 710 .. 712 50
Ditto to Barcelona .... .. 350

POLAND.

(FROX OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
CRACOW, MARCH 17.

a body of Russian troops,
consisting Yesterday
of mtwoornig
detachmentsn of the Smolensk re-
giment, and some Cossacks and dragoons, entered
the village of Giebultow, situated a mile to the
north-east of Miechow, Etna belonging to M. Ladis-
lea Bielski. This corps was commanded by a colo-
nel whose name I have been unable to ascertain.
One portion, which had already killed several per-
sons on the road, broke into the estate, where there
was not a single armed insurgent, only the proprie-
tor with his household, and a few visitors from the
neighbourhood. The soldiery seized 12 persons on
the estate, and, striking and wounding them,
dragged them into tt e inn of the village. Here a
terrible scene took place. The savage soldiers
amused themselves by stabbing their innocent vic-
tims with bayonets and lances, and laughed at their
cries and protestations. Three of them, including
M. Severyn Mieszkowski, died on the spot, and the
remaining nine were very severely, or mortally
wounded. Among these was M. Wiesio)owski, who
received several deep bayonet wounds, and is now
at Cracow, together with M. Katarzynski, an em-
ploye from Micqow, who had come to Giebultow on
a visit. All the killed and wounded, except two of the
latter, who contrived to escape, were plundered by
the Russians. While this disgraceful scene was
being enacted, an officer named Lacroix stood calmly
looking on, together with other Russian officers.
The rest of the soldiers began to plunder the house
of the proprietor, but the colonel here first inter-
fered, and a Polish detachment just then being seen
to approach the village, the Russians took to flight,
leaving the wounded people behind them, who were
attended to by the Poles when they came up.

Almost at the same time another outrage was
committed by the Russians not far from Giebultow.
Mr. L. Finkenstone, a British subject, who had
crossed the frontier on the 14th with a passport,
signed by Eorl Russell, dated 27th March, 1862,
and duly vised by the Russian authorities, for the
purpose of buying corn, was stopped at a village
named Gorka. On being brought before the Rus-
sian commandant he showed his passport, and
although no arm, nor anything else calculated to
excite suspicion, were found either on him or on
the lady who accompanied him, ho was informed
that it would be necessary to detain him, in order
that he might give further explanations to Prince
Saadrowskoj. He was accordingly compelled to pass
the night on a waggon, which was guarded by a sen-
tinel against the attacks of the soldiery. Daring the
night several persons who had been arrested and
wounded were also placed round the carriage,
Next morning (the 15th) a body of Poles attacked
the Russians—the major in command defended
himself with half his men, the other half exclaiming,
"Kill the prisoners!" and in spite of the efforts of
an officer, who defended the prisoners with a re-
tolver against the soldiery, these rushed on their
unarmed victims, bayonet in band. Several were

stabbed to death, and Mr. Finkenstone was dragged
from the waggon, pierced with 26 bayonet wounds,
stripped, and robbed of 5,800 silver roubles which
he had about him. He only escaped tte fate of the
others by feigning to be dead; and when the Poles
came up, after beating off the Russians, they took
him to the camp of Langiewicz, who, at Mr. Fin-
kenstone's request, sent him back to Cracow, whence
he has addressed a complaint to the British Ambas-
sador at Vienna on the subject.