The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-03 00:00:00

A.. 1.11.41 /4
7. AI 4,4 -LAI
44:1(1_,
_ .
tc-;771
. Ar 4
ph
SYMPATHY WITHPOL Igt3o.
--,
Or,
tam
Oit - 411.1),›
Ur 0 nll.Oll

PUBLIC MEE FING AT WOOLWICH.K. _
Last night at 8 o'clock a crowded public meeting of the
inhabitants of Woolwich, Charlton and Plumstead was held
at the Townhall, William-street, Woolwich, for the purpose
of expressing sympathy with the Poles in their struggle to
free themselves from the despotic yoke of Russia.
Ihe chair was occupied by Mr. W. Angerstein, M.P.,
and at the commencement of the proceedings the following
letter was read from Alderman S ilomons, :
" I am availing myself of the Easter holidays to have a
few days' run out of town, when I hope to return better
able to give a closer attendance at the house than I have
lately been enabled to do. Although unable to be present
at the meeting, I can only express the hope that Woolwich
lib-rally unite with heart and voice to give strength to
our Government, in combination with the other great
Powers r f Europe, to settle on some permanent satisfactory
basis the Polish ques .ion.—l am, yours, Sce.,
" DAVID SALOMONS."
The CHAIRMAN a erved—The gallant Polish nation uas
now engaged in a deadly struggle with that despotic Power
which Lad crushed them down for many years, and they
well deserved the sympathy of every true friend to freedom.
The cruel conscription which had taken place in that un-
happy country WAS with a view to kidnap th, se spirits who
we-e considei.ed to 1, to RUSSi and the Poles
had no other alternative 1,,,t to oppose by force of arms the
wickedness of their oppiess• rs. He was happy to find that
the people of Scotland ware fully alive to the claims of Po-
land, and that Lord Palmerston had expressed the most
liberal sentiments on the sal j ect. The noble lord had, during
a long life, been celebrated for his exertions to promote
liberal institutions on the Continent. He had proved this
with regard to Spain, Portugal, and Italy, and he would be
delighted to hold out a helping hand to Paland. It would be
well, however, that Government should be allowed perfect
freedom of action with regard to this question. If Govern-
ment was to follow a particular course recommended by Par-
liament, and that course failed to produce the desired result,
then Government might blame Parliament. He therefore
did not wish to see the Government relievedfrotn its respon-
sibility, and he sincerely hoped the affair would yet be so
managed that the wrongs of Poland would be redressed. He
believed that Lard Palmerston's Administration would do its
utmost in favour of the Poles, although he concurred with.
the opinion that the Government was wise not at once to
• declare what mode of action it intended to adopt. Mr. Att-
' gerstein concluded an excellent address by expressing plea-
• sure that Austria appeared willing to take a liberal view

PRICE .4d.
STAMPED ....M.

telligence.

Naval am

THE NAVY.
Letters received at Plymouth from the screw
steam gun-vessel Cygnet, 5, Commander W. S. de
Kant zow, state that she left Port Philip onyeh. 2,
and, aft. r a cruise of 11 days, arrived at Havannah
on the 13,h, and was appointed to leave on the 14th
for another cruise. Tile crew were in good health.
His Netherlands Majesty's screw corvette Soem-
bing, Capt. J. N. Siegt, sailed from Spitlaeed es-
te' day for Flushing. Previous to her departure
Capt. Slegt was offi.:iaily introduced to the military
and naval nut horitif s of the port and g errisort by
the Chevalier van Den Bergh, the Netherlands
Consul at Portsmouth.
An additional body of mechanics and artificers
from Chatham dockyard were yesterday placed on
board the iron-plated frigate Royal Oak in order
that the remaining work to be effected on board may
be completed by the 20th inst., when, in compliance
with instructions received from the Admiralty, she
is to be ready to hoist the pendant. The Royal
Oak
has had 660 tons of coals placed on board, which
has brought her down about 2ft. lower than her
draught on the occasion of taking her trial trip,
She has to receive ber armament, shell, powder, pro-
visions, and a considerable quantity of stores, which
will increase her draught of water to about 20ft.
aft, and 22ft. forward.
The following appointments were made yester-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Edward Kelly,
Lieut. L. M. Mallet, Lieut. Wm. Walsh, and Lieut.
the lion. A. D. S. Denison, to the Hannibal; Lieut.
G. E. Price, to the Aboukir ; Lieut. P. H. W.
Wayow, to the Archer; Lieut. J, R. Twysden, Lieut,
H. Vaughan, Lieut. R. C. Gayer, Lieut. R. M
Blomfield, and Lieut. 0. S. Titton, to the Canopus,

respecting the Polish question.
Mr. J. R. JOLLY moved the first resolution, " That Rus-
sia, by the violation of her engagements to Europe on behalf
of Poland, and by her system of confiscation, exile, and
massacre which has been carried out, has forfeited all right
to the possession of that country." The speaker referred at
some length to the past history of Poland, and contended
that Russia had clearly broken the Treaty of 1815, which
ought to be enforced by the great Powers of Europe. Eng-
land and France had maintained by force of arms the in-
tegrity of the Turkish Empire, and surely Poland was en-
titled to support during her present struggle.
The Rev. J. M'CRAE, of Plumstead, seconded the reso •
lution, which was supported. by Mr. W. ROBERTS, and
unanimously adopted.
The Rev. T. TUFFIELD moved, "That the present posi-
tion of Poland, in its subjugation by Russia, is inc,insistent
with the general progress of the age, and this meeting
hopes that the British Government, in concert with other
European nations, will urge the liberation and independence
of Poland." He reviewed the past struggles of the Poles for
independence, and the iLanifold injustice and cruelty to
which the nation had been subjected for a long series of
years. It was time that the frea people of England spoke
out upon this question ; and although he deprecated War,
when it could possibly be avoided, it was necessary to urge
upon Parliament and the Government that the wrongs of
Poland ought to be redressed.
Mr. BOOTH seconded the motion, which was supported
in an eloquent and argumentative address by Mr. WHITE,
and unanimously adopted.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM moved, and Mr. C. TAYLOR seconded,
"That the sympathy of the British nation, always mani-
fested in the cause of liberty and civilisation, is deeply in
favour of the success of the brave Poles in their present
struggle, and that a subscription be opened in aid of the
present movement."
The resolution was ably supported by Messrs. A. GA.BIENI
and T. WAREIKI, Polish exiles, who expressed a favour-
able opinion as to the ultimate success of the present con-
test, and stated that Poland had hosts of men to fight for
liberty, but they required the sinews of war—the means of
providing arms.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the pro-
ceedings.

THE ARMY.
The hired sailing transport,Elizabeth Ann Bright,
Commander Starkey, sailed from Portsmouth at 10
a.m. yesterday for New Zealand, with the head
quarters of the 2d Battalion 18th Regiment (Royal
Irish) on board. She left Spithead with the wind
at N. by W., and with every prospect of a favour-
able run clear of the Channel. The names of the
officers and the total numbers embarked are as fol-
low :—Lieut.-Co). A. A. Chapman, in command :
Capts. J. Inman, R. P. Bishop, G. T. King, F.
Fearnley, and E. A. Noblett ; Lieuts- T. C. Wray,
J. A. J. Briggs, T. J. Corrie, W. J. Croft, G. A.
Nicholls, C. G. Minnitt, J. J. R. Russell, and W. F.
Thacker; Ensigns J. B. Jackson, A. J. A. Jackson,
T. G. Butts, B. G. Hainee, C. G. Philips, F. G.
Pringle, H. D. Bicknell, C. Dawson, and W. E.
Chapman ; Adjt. R. W. E. Dawson, Quartermaster
J. Stoneforth, Surgeon G. W. Peake, Assist.-Surg.
Barry, Paymaster C. J. Heatley. Officers' families
—Mrs. Chapman, five children, and one servant;
Mrs. Peake, two children, and one servant ; Mrs.
Heatley, six children, and one servant ; Mrs. Stain-
forth and Mrs. Wray. The non-commissioned offi-
cers, men, women, and children were 34 sergeants,
11 drummers, 617 privates, 'l9 women, and 114
children. The Elizabeth Ann Bright is a fine ship

of 1,919 tons register, North American built ; her
height between decks is—poop, 6ft. ; maindeck, sft.
Bin.; and lower deck, 6ft. Bin. She carries seven
boats, estim ,ted according to the transport regula-
tions, to carry 200 persons, two of which are fitted
with Clifford's lowering apparatus. Her stock of
water at starting is of limited quantity, as she is
fitted with two of Dr. Normanby's patent distilling
condensers, which condense I,OCO gallons of water
in the 24 hours. The accommodation is good below,
and to render ventilation perfect she carries two of
Danks's patent blower ventilators. On deck, how-
ever, the arrangements are not so satisfactory, the
entire deck being crowded with cabins, cook h,:uses,
watercasks,and other fixings,leaving no room for the
large number of men, women, and children on board
when turned up from the troop deck, that it may be
cleared for sanitary purposes. This is, however, the
only objection which can be urged against the
Elizabeth Ann Bright as a hired Government troop
ship, yet we trust never to see such a mistake re-
peated by the Transport Board in their hiring of
ships for the transport of troops to distant stations.
It seems a pity that some of the thousands of sea-
men belonging to the Royal navy, who are now em-
ployed in convict and ordinary labourers' work in
our dockyards (and who are fast exchanging the
active habits of seamen for the well-known lazy
dockyard trot), could not be put on board a few of
the sailing vessels now lying idle and utterly use-
less in our harbours, and employed in the exchange
of troops between England and the colonies. This
is said in no spirit of carping at the employment of
our merchant shipping on so necessary a work, but
simply because at the present time there are num-
bers of vessels the names of which stand on the Ad-
miralty official navy list lying idle in our harbours,
and costing no inconsiderable sum for their yearly
maintenance,with some thousands of seamen losing
their smartness and ability as seamen by dawdling
the day through as labourers in the dockyards.
Many cf the younger ruen scarcely know how to
reef a topsail. The Elizabeth Ann Bright brings
home the headquarters of the 65th Regiment from
New Zealand.
The Hotspur, Indiaman, Capt. H.Toynbee, arrived
at Spithead yesterday from Calcutta, and landed
passengers. Her military invalids were transferred
to Government steamers and sent to the Royal Mi-
litary Hospital at Netley, with the exception of one
insane soldier, who was forwarded to Chatham. A
detailed account of the military and private passen-
gers arrived in the ship, with the dates of sailing
and ships spoken on the voyage, &c., was given in
The Sun yesterday in the report of the ship's arrival
off Portland. The Hotspur sailed again in the
afternoon for London.
Notice has been given at Chatham, from the
Horse Guards, that the next examination of candi-
dates for -Erect commissions will commence at Chel
sea Hospital on May 4, before Major-Gen. F. W.
IHamilton, C.B , Vice-President, and the other mem-
bers of the Council of Military Education. The exa-
mination of candidates for admission to the Royal
Military College, Sandhurst, under the regulations
dated Horse Guards, May 1, 1862, will commence
on June 22 ; and the examination of candidates for
commissions in the Royal Artillery and Royal En
pired men
gineers for admission to the Royal Military
Ace;
demy, Woolwich, under regulations dated May 6'
St. Mary's
1852, on July 2. The examination of candidariteco on
admission to the Staff College will comet
July 2.
d when 22 non •
invalid depot, Chatham, g
and
of •
various cavalry
commissioned officers
"were f
anTdhienvlasaltido
and infantry regiments
tf
rtohoep
s detachments
w e
re
forwarded either to
heir respective corps or,. in the case of those
tun-
fitted for further service, to their homes. With
the exception of a few of the officers and non-corn
missineed officers connected with the Staff, the en-
tire invalid establishment at Chatham has been
transferred to the new military
hospital at Netley.
The only officers belonging to the
depot who ere
still retained at Chatham are Col, H. S. Shaw, the
superintendent, Col. J. F. De T •
eSpst"etCorif;ftetydi,ll:o:
elf4BlCr, and Major
J• H. Matthews (paymaster).
During the last few
days a numberof troops
have been engaged in clean
ing the quarters at Sr.
.Mary's Barracks, which will
accommodate 1,000 officers and men in readiness for
their being occupied by any troops arriving from
abroad. The 109th Bombay Infantry is shortly ex-
pected to arrive from India, and will probably be
quartered at Chatham, should no order be received
for their being forwarded on landing to any other
station.

Oersted's great experiment, step by step, has been deve-
loped, until the latest improvements have given us the un-
failing magnetic telegraph. Herring's magnetic brushes
and combs are now so perfected that they a e unfailing in
restoring the colour to grey hair, and curing neuralgia and
nervous headache. N.B.—Counterfeits are being made.
OfDoes, 32, Basiughall-street, London.