The Sun.
London, England, 1837-10-06 00:00:00

COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the dispatch of a great
deal of public business.
EXTREME DISTRESS OF THE POLES, AND APPLICATION TO
THE CORPORATION IN THEIR BEHALF.
Petitioners appeared at the bar of the Court from the
Literary Association of the Friends of Poland, while
Deputy PEACOCK presented the following appeal :
" Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1837.
" To the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Corn-
mon Council assembled.
_ _ _

" My Lord and Gentlemen,—The City of London has
ever been distinguished for the liberality and generous sen-
timents of its inhabitants, no less than for their intelligence
and commercial success. Those noble sentiments have
been evinced in an eminent degree in the case of the
Polish refugees at all times, but more particularly by an
act of great munificence on a late occasion. To appeal
therefore again to the liberality of the Court of Common
Council on the same subject may appear an abuse of kind-
ness, but confiding in your humanity and benevolence, we
have no fear of the present request being so interpreted.
One kind act is sure to lead to applications for others, for
when once it is known where generosity resides, there dis-
tress is sure to solicit relief. It may also be said, that
one kind act disposes the mind to others, for such is the
pleasure of doing good, that he that has once conferred a
benefit is little likely to refuse another whenever he has
the opportunity, and only requires to be assured that the
object is worthy.
" The condition of the Poles in ,this country is now
wretched in the extreme ; it is worse than ever ; because,
while their numbers have greatly increased, in consequence
of measures taken by the Governments of the Continent to
force them here, there has been no augmentation of the
grant voted by Parliament for their relief, and the sums
hitherto collected from private sources are quite inadequate
to their wants.
" It will naturally be asked, do they not seek employ-
ment ? do they not find means to maintain themselves ?
The inquiry is highly proper, and we are glad that it should
be made, because we are able to give an answer to it which
reflects honour on the Poles. They do seek most earnestly
and some of them do find means to support themselves.
There are to be found Poles in this metropolis engaged in
almost every branch of honourable industry ; and it is a
fact that there are at this moment several field officers em-
ployed as day labourers on the railroad, as well as many
young men of good families, born and accustomed to far
other things. Still the redundance of hands in every trade
and profession, in some cases the jealousy of native work-
men, in others ignorance of our manners, language, and
customs, forms serious obstacles to their endeavours, more
particularly on their first landing, debilitated as they fre-
quently are by the effects of long confinement in loathsome
dungeons, and by the fatigue of long and painful travelling.
Those who receive an allowance from Government are, of
course, less to be pitied than the others, although the pit-
tance allowed by the Treasury is barely enough to keep
body and soul together ; but there are no less than 170 ex-
cluded from all participation in the Government grant, not
because they are less deserving than the others, but because
the regulations of the Treasury admit none who had not
reached this country previous to a particular date. It is
to procure relief for these that the efforts of this Associa-
tion are now directed, and that we now venture to request
the assistance and co-operation of the Court of Common
Council.
In 1834 the use of the Guildhall was granted to us for
the purpose of a ball for the benefit of the Poles ; the en-
tertainment given was not only hr:lliant itself, but emi-
nently successful. By it relief was afforded to many a Pole
pining in sickness and penury ; it is scarcely too much to
say that by it many a Polish life was saved ; and by the
news of it, it may certainly be affirmed, has comfort been
carried to many a Polish heart even in the remotest re-
gions of Poland. At this time the minds of all men arc
turned with peculiar interest to Guildhall, in consequence
of the expected visit of her Majesty. If the Common
Council should think proper again to grant us the use of
that noble hall for the purpose of another ball there for
the benefit of the Poles, as soon as possible after the
Royal visit, there can be little doubt that the undertaking
would be attended with the like and even greater success.
" We, therefore, venture very respectfully to crave that
favour, and in the earnest hope that the Court may think
proper to grant it, we have the honour to be, my Lord
and Gentlemen, your much obliged and very faithful hum-
ble servants,
" DUDLEY COUTTS STUART, Vice. President.
" By order of the Council,
" E. S. BLUNDELL, M.D., Hon. Secretary."
The appeal was listened to with the greatest atten-
tion, and—
The LORD MAYOR having asked the petitioners
whether they had anything to add,
Mr. BLUNDELL informed the Court that Lord Dudley
Stuart regretted that he was prevented from attending at
the bar in consequence of being obliged to repair unex-
pectedly to Brighton. The petitioners had nothing to
add, but to throw themselves upon the well-known ge-
nerosity of the Court, in the hope of compliance with their
prayer.

_
Deputy PEACOCK rose with great satisfaction to move
that the request contained in the forcible appeal which had
been just made to the Court should be granted.—(Cheers.)
Three years ago a similar application had been made on
behalf of a number of, natives of Poland, whose cala-
mities were not greater than the calamities of those to
whose wretched condition the sympathies of the Court were
at present directed, and the effect of the exertions of the
patrons and conducting of the charity was, that a sum ex-
ceeding 9001. was collected upon that occasion. Nothing
could surpass the gratification felt by those who supported
the charity. The scene was magnificent in the extreme,
and there was no demand whatever upon the city's funds in
making the preparations for the entertainment. He anti-
cipated a most advantageous issue to another attempt to'
serve those numerous, distressed, and almost heart-broken
men. The splendid efforts which the entertainment Com-
mittee were making to render the Guildhall worthy of the
honour which was intended to the citizens of London on the
9th of November would so excite the public curiosity, that
even independently of the desire to relieve the objects
on whose account he solicited the Court, a sure calcula-
tion might be made as to the pecuniary advantage resulting
from so magnificent an exhibition.—(Cheers.) He should
at once move that the prayer of the petition be granted,
and that it be referred to the entertainment Committee to
decide as to the most advisable time and mode of carrying
the object into effect.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. LAURENCE wished to know what number of officers
were amongst those who were totally destitute.
Mr. BLUNDELL replied that two-thirds of the number
were officers. Many were field officers, and some were ge-
neral officers, and the privations which they had undergone
were indescribably great.
Alderman VENABLEs seconded the motion most warmly.
He had seen Lord Dudley Stuart on the preceding day in
the Guildhall, and received from his Lordship an affecting
account of the condition to which multitudes of those help-
less strangers were reduced, and he felt great reliance in the
disposition of the Court to acquiesce in a mode of relief
which appeared to present such advantages.
Mr. W. PRITCHARD said—The Court could not feel

the least hesitation in granting the boon which had been
been asked in behalf of the Poles ; and expressed much
satisfaction at the judicious mode and time of application.
—(Loud cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR Elect said he felt the highest degree
of pleasure in supporting the application, which he trusted
would be attended with great benefit to the Poles. The
granting of the hall for that purpose could not be attended
with any inconvenience, as it was to be kept in its state of

decoration after the 9th of November for the entertainmen

which he and the Sheriffs intended to give to their fellow•

citizens on a subsequent day.—(Cheers.) In everything
that had been stated by Mr. Peacock he most heartily ac-
quiesced, and he was perfectly aware of the great exertions
of that gentleman upon the occasion which had occurred
three years ago, and in which the labours of the Committee
were most praiseworthy and unremitted.—(Hear.)
Mr. WlLLiams and other members also spoke warmly-
in favour of Deputy Peacock's motion, which was carried
unanimously, and in the midst of acclamations from all parts
of the Court.

The manner in which the object of the petition was car-
ried reflected the greatest credit upon the humanity of the
Court, which was fully attended by members of all classes

and denomination of politics.

THE USUAL ANNUAL FEAST AT GUILDHALL.
The LORD MAYOR had much pleasure to announce to
the Court that the Lord Mayor Elect and the Sheriffs had
mutually agreed to give the usual annual entertainments at
Guildhall as soon after the visit of her Majesty as possible.
—(Loud applause.)
THE ALTERATIONS IN NEWGATE.
The report of the Committee appointed to inquire into
the condition of Newgate was then brought up.
Sir P. LAURIE in moving that the report should be
agreed to, and referred back to the Committee to be car-
ried into effect, said, that the saving effected had no doubt
amounted to 30,0001. He believed it had been the inten-
tion of the Government to build prisons for the solitary
confinement of our fellow-creatures, but the opposition of
Lords Lyndhurst and Denman interfered with that humane
project, and it was abandoned, because those authorities de-
clared that solitary imprisonment was more than human
beings could endure.
Alderman T. WOOD seconded the motion.
After some observations from Sir CHAPMAN MARSHALL,
Mr. LAURENCE, and Mr. WIRE, the report was agreed to,
and it was referred back to the Committee to carry it into
effect.

A vote of thanks was thou voted to the Court of Alder-