The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-10 00:00:00

THE INSURRECTION IN POLAND.

A Prussian journal contains the following accoun t
of the sanguinary fight between the Russians and
Poles at Przgtullen and Bialiczewen on the 30th
ult..—

" On the morning of March 30 a courier came to Stuczyn
to announce to the Russian military detachment stationed
there that 1,700 insurgents were assembled about a mile and
a half from the place, and that they intended to make an
attack on them. The Russians, amounting to 800 men,
immediately marched to meet the Poles at Przgtullen, and
attacked them there. The struggle was most severe, and
lasted till noon, up to which time the Russians had been
driven back to the Bialiczewen farm. Here the fighting
ceased. The leader of the insurgents, the son of a captain
formerly in the Russian service, rode to the owner of the
farm to obtain some food. The owner of the place and his
wife and daughter were there. Suddenly the daughter
called the attention of the Polish leader to three Cossacks
who were approaching. At the moment when the Cossacks
passed the dwelling-house the Pole opened the window and
shot down one of them and severely wounded another. The
leader believed himself to be secure against more troops.
Suddenly, however, a swarm of Cossacks surrounded the
house, and shot the owner and his wife and daughter,
whilst the insurgent leader made his escape by the back
door. The rage of the Cossacks was excessive, and they
now began to plunder and murder all who could not escape.
The foreman of a brewery (a Prussian) and four men were
stabbed. In the meantime the insurgents and Russians
reassembled, and the fighting recommenced and continued
till the evening. The Russians and Poles between them
carried off 34 horses and all the cattle, and the farm buildings
were burned. The insurgents obtained the victory, and in
the evening withdrew to the woods."

L
From private information from
that three Russian officers have been shot there.
ERK?
e,
w A p
w ear
r
We are further informed that in parts of Russia
e
proper a great outbreak has taken place, and that
61;
General Rzewuski's division is proceeding, by forced
marches, from Volbynia to the interior of Russia.
WARSAW, April 5.
The Grand Duke addressed the Grenadier divi-
sion, which arrived here from St. Petersburg by
rail, in the following words :—" You have been
called here before to suppress the Polish revolution
(the first time in 1831), but I hope this will be the
last time you come here for that purpose, as I now
charge you, my children (rabiata), to exterminate
the insurrection,

CRACOW, April 6.
Radom has been taken by the insurgents. About
20 Polish prisoners have been liberated by them,
and a detachment of gendarmes stationed in the
town was disarmed ; the Poles have also taken pos-
mission of the Government treasury-cheat. The
gpirrison, under the command of General Uszakow,
etucuated the town, and proceeded to Kielce.
! A battle has taken place near Olkusz, the parti-
i c Lars of which are not known ; it is said that a
b dy of Cossacks was completely destroyed in this
b ttle.

I I The news of the dispersion of the insurgents,
under Prasmyl and Lelewel, is not correct; they
are still harassing the Russians in the palatinate of
Itublin. There are about 5,000 of the latter in this
d strict.
The insurrection in the government of Augustow
i increasing. A strong body of Poles near Mary-
s pol has destroyed the railway between Kowne
and Eydkunen. Russian troops have been de-
s patched after them to Marusz from Wierzbolowa.
I It is announced that the distinguished insurgent
G*der, Roginski, who had several times defeated.
eneral Nostitz in Bialystock, and occupied the
tewn of Pruzany, has been captured by the Russians
ar

d imprisoned in the citadel of Brzese Litewski.

telegraphic despatches received here from
3reslau and Dantzic report the disbanding of
several bodies of insurgents, hundreds of young
trn have left Cracow today and yesterday, in-
ending to reach the seat of war through Krzra-
Twice. Nothing definite has reached us respecting

the movements of the insurgents, who have found,
it would appear, a safe stronghold in the moun-
tains of Swenty Krzyz. The Russian troops who
have taken up a position on the frontier of Szyce
apd Michalowice were withdrawn from the detach-
ments stationed at Michow, Olkuez, Wolbrun, and
Vrielce ; and, from the reports of the country people
who have had communication with the Russian
military, it would appear that by this disposition
of the troops the Russians are able to prevent the
arrival of reinforcements for the insurgents, and to
hinder their flight into Austrian territory. Recent
arrivals here from♦ Siomniki mention that the Rus-
sians keep up large camp fires, especially at night-
time, which can be seen at great distances.
There has been more fighting in the northern
part of the kingdom, as appears from the following
bialletin of Cieszkowski :
" CAMP NEAR KAMITIC, March 29.

" On the 27th, at Radoszewice, a village to the
east of Wielun, on the right bank of the Warthe, I
offered battle to Major Pisanko, who had under
his command two companies of infantry and a sotnia
of Cossacks. The engagement lasted three hours
and a half. I first dislodged the Russians from
Kielezylowy, and afterwards drove them from
Kzasnia, a village east of Radoszewice, on the road
hn
to Pajerczno, through Szczerzow, into the marshes.
They left 28 dead or, the field, with three ambit-
lcaanpcteasidfilslekduiwskitil:
decidedw ou n d etdhe O
victor.o r
yri. Th
fiemen' leder by
a
of the day is Madame Nieonojowska, for she sated
The oi
our standard by snatebiug it from a fallen scythe.
man.

(Signed) ei Colonel CIEZNOWSIiI."

Was a somewhatL stormy meeting of the
delegatesrfh ere
of the. Lancashire and Cheshire Union of
on Wednesday T
beinc,
,o le ne
occasioned
ttouhuteeedsu,
lib
iyo
na
chargeof
*smanagbenpareenr aneddu:lngbauinslisie-st
Hess-liketsAht°leoreh executiveawai°:
conduct
report, an amendment demanding investigation was pro-
posed, and cal ried by a large majority.
TIIE ADULTERATION OF COTTON IN INDIA.--We
contractorspointed
futo r some
cotton had b
time
ime
agoeeu
thattogive
compelledone o f the
up ela
almost
entirely the system of advances, because the honestyorfgttekse
people did not afford a sufficient guarantee for the faithful
performance of their contracts, and there was no law to
compel them to do so. Now we have to record the results
which are being produced by the system of cheating and
fraud carried out in the adulteration of cotton. We find
the great merchants all telling the same tale of efforts made
and sad disappointments, owing to the rascality of the
dealers. They are obliged to make the same confession
one atter another that " We have now been obliged to
abandon in a groat measure our up-country business.
Arrangements for this are now in progress, and simply
because we find it impossible to make head against the
growing evil of adulteration of cotton." This is lamentable
in the extreme, and the ruin of this important trade is sure,
unkss some measures be adopted by the Government to
make the fraudulent adulteration of cotton a penal offence.
the course of the pr.2sent debate, and had that cotton
have
met
That a gooi cotton can be produced here has been
sent for sale in an unadulterated form, it
or not, as you
less to say to merchants, " You ctahne
are obliged obliged to take
BNNvi vooeu alndma btoueurnseut
of
1 if ofti
the superintendence
e simply
a market would thus
with a ready acceptance in the English
b e adulteration
defeatsha:
please ;" it has been proved thilotn
of y
what they can get, in considerationatuke
that or none, or staxtel
by them. No doubt they
the alternative of les-vg
part of merchants in
the advancess
l'
m" lbnae made
1
get, eral the
from
i must
their
wtewnvhe Yei rcyhbulmarket.
entirely
factal'r
would'k oeft
o.
trh
haylei'nt te
ill
it. POuae:bn°te-:
objectof •
to, and the main making cottoza
been resorted
the dealers, is
secure it
a viewo ensure that no
possibly be anticipated, without a
eh eap constituted,
e noug
the cessatiora of
the trade, and imwnse loss eTentually both to -• •
c'...do,vAtore
and dealers.—llurkaru.
enough
oth
lawi'he
00
rnwl y i
t result
without honesty
that nan
in

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL: 10, 1863.

The visit of the SULTAN to his Egyptian dominions
will not, it is to be trusted, realise the sinister
anticipations some have formed of it. It
,we may hope, intended to express his confidence
and approval of the liberal and enlightened policy
which we have good grounds for anticipating will
be carried out, under the new Viceroy. The SULTAN
is no doubt sensible of the effect produced in Europe
by the abolition of forced labour, and the other mea-
sures proposed by IsMAIL PASHA, and is desirous of
encouraging the Viceroy in his path of progress, as
well as of obtaining a share himself in the respect
andlapproval excited by the inauguration of the new
reign. ISMAIL PASHA was fortunate in having
secured, before he acquired his new dignity, a repu-
tation for liberal and enlarged opinions. It remains
for him to carry out his principles to the fullest ex-
tent compatible with the traditions of his country.
He may by so doing become a public benefactor of
no common degree, by gradually introducing into
Egypt and the surrounding states the views and
principles which regulate the conduct of Euro-
peans, and by disseminating the blessings of educa-
tion and general culture prepare his countrymen for
the adoption of that purer faith which teaches the only
true civilisation. In nations still governed according
to the Eastern system, we must rest our hopes of
national progress and advancement almost wholly
upon the character of the ruler. His influence and
authority are so arbitrary and unquestioned that
whatever may be secretly thought of his proceed-
ings, no opposition, short of a rebellion, is to be
contemplated. It is for him, then, to introduce new
laws, to modify existing systems, to open the door
to better and wiser influences, to sow gradually the
seeds of knowledge and progress. It is true that
he may be hampered by the prejudices or habits of
his people or by the plots of would-be candidates
for his throne, still the power in the hands of an
unconstitutional ruler is very great. The Viceroy
of EGYPT does not altogether belong to the class o
irresponsible monarchs, but if the SULTAN con-
tinues to accord him the cordial support he has
already given he will have much in his hands. On
his arrival at Alexandria, the SULTAN declared that
be wished only to be regarded in the light of a
guest to the VICEROY. The latter having introduced
the foreign consuls to him, they presented a con-
gratulatory address, to which the SULTAN returned
a brief but not unimportant reply.
giving had come
iv
to Egypt, he said, with the object of a testi-
mony of his goodwill to the VICEROY, and of visit-
ing this important portion of his domains.
" Alt
ray efforts," he added, " are directed to the develop.
meat of the welfare and the happiness of all classes
of my subjects throughout the empire, and to
strengthening the ties which unite us to Europe."
Though there is little prospect that the Turks can
long continue to occupy their present place in
Europe, still the more enlightened their Govern
ment becomes, the better chance it has of sur-
viving any shocks that may be in store
for it. The SULTAN concluded his address by ex-
pressing a hope, which we may also share, that the
VICEROY will follow in the steps of his illustrious
father, by continuing and more fully developing
the policy he has already indicated, thereby recur
ing the welfare of his subjects and the approval
of his European allies.

The recent charges of the Comptroller of the Navy
against the private shipbuilders have, naturally,
given great offence, and, in some instances, have
ce.lle‘,l forth indignant replies. Messrs. LAIRD, of
BirkenZnad
' have recently addressed a spirited
letter to
A.llllral itoniNsoN, the Comptroller of the
Navy, vindicatfog the
long and well established
character of that most
respectable establishment.
They refer to the remarks
which were made in the
statement signed by the Admiral, and ordered by

the Honse to be printed. In these paragraphs it is
said that the general slovenliness of the work per-

formed by shipbuilders occasioned the necessity of
the presence of an Admiralty inspector, and also
that great temptation beset the constructor to use
inferior articles, in consequence of the great cost of
good iron. To these most serious complaints, com-
ing from so high a quarter, Messrs. LAIRD most
aptly remark that " they believe a statement of
this nature tends very seriously to injure the credit
of the contractors in this country, and also to
shake the confidence which foreign Governments
and foreign mercantile houses have hitherto reposed
in the good faith and skill of the shipbuilders and
engineers of this country. This is perfectly correct,
and the authorities ought to be ashamed of them-
selves for doing their utmost to injure respectable
firms in order to further their own pet plans and
prejudices. Of course when the work is done in
the Royal dockyards favouritism and secret influ-
ence have full sway, and therefore it is very con-
venient to nullify the arguments of those who urge
the advisability of entrusting others with the
work instead of reserving it to be performed under
their own exclusive patronage. No firm influenced
by self-respect for its own integrity, or animated
by honest pride for its own conscious
superiority in the profession, could be
otherwise than justly indignant by sue h
remarks as those just quoted. A very proper an-
swer to the impertinent inuendoes of the inevitable
necessity of having an inspector to watch proceed-
ings is that no such form was observed in the case
of that vessel built by Messrs. LAIRD, and now of
world-wide celebrity, the Alabama. That terror of
th e Northern States,that pride of the Southern navy,
was constructed on premises such as those Admiral
ROBINSON refers to in his comments on the building
of ships. The answer of Mr. ROMAINE to Messrs.
LAIRD, though intended to be satisfactory, is not at
ill conclusive. He says that he is commanded by
the Lords Commissioners:of the Admiralty to ac
quaint them " that the objections urged to the con-
struction of her MAJESTY'S ships in merchant
yards, as compared with the Royal dock-
yards, are of a general nature, and were in
no way intended to injure the shikbuilding
firms employed by the Admiralty, but rather to
show from the results of experience the difficul-
ties which obtain in exercising control over the
work, and a due supervision of materials and work-
manship when ships are built in private yards."
This is absurd, in point of fact, because everyone
knows that an injury is quite as prejudicial whether
intentional or not; and no one who at all understands
business can be ignorant that a statement such as
that alluded to must be highly detrimental to the
interests and injurious to the credit of every firm at
all connected with the Admiralty. In the second
portion of this letter there is a remark that contra-
dicts the assertion of the earlier portion, inasmuch
as it is said that the " work performed on the Agin-
court and Orontes is reported to be of excellent
quality throughout, and there is every reason to
believe that the quality of the work in these ships
will be unexceptionably good. Why, then, all the
outcry raised at the objections put forward. It
would be a very simple and straightforward way of
treating the matter to trust to the integrity of the
firms employed, and let the future patronage depend
on the proved excellence of the vessels that are fur-
nished to the Admiralty. It is not likely that the
result would be otherwise than satisfactory to all
parties. It is obvious that shipbuilders who wish
to maintain a good character with their customers
both at home and abroad, will endeavour to turn
out the best work they can in order to ensure the
continuance of the connection, because it ex-
tends their business, and this more parti-
calarly with our own Admiralty, whose pay is
sure, and their orders, if properly executed, are
always to be depended on. Henco the folly of
making such mountains of molehills, and always
substituting difficulties instead of plain-sailing in
their arrangements. Messrs. LAIRD referred very
properly to the works that have been
executed by their firm during the last 32
years. They have sent out for service in
different parts of the world more than 40 vessels for
her MAJESTY'S navy, and between 30 and 40 for
the Honourable East India Company ; they have
❑ow in course of construction the Orontes, a troop
ship of 2,850 tons, and the Agincourt, an iron-cased
ship of 6,750 tons. A more suitable reply could
not have been given to such statements as those re-
ferred to, and a mere spirited vindication could
not have been made of the credit of their firm than
has been effected by Messra. LAIRD in their ex-
cellent and admirable letter to Admiral ROBINSON.
In the name of the shipbuilders of England, they
stand forward to make clear their good name that
was threatened with reproach, and to vindicate
their reputation that official insinuation would
have tarnished. On their own behalf,
they declare that they refute the charges im
puted, and deny the statements set forth
that militate against their interest and whisper
concerning their integrity. It is a straightforward
and manly course that they have adopted, and one
that will be sure to gain for them the respect and
esteem of all competent to judge the question.
Men of experience will detect the glaring subter-
fuge of the Parliamentary representations and the
empty sounding phrases of the official explanations,
and seek and find and mark for themselves where
truth ends and fallacy begins in these complicated
1 complaints.

The horrors of the civil war which is d€solating
the fertile plains of what was once the Great Ame-
rican Republic, are cccasionally enlivened by son e
incidents that excite a laugh instead of a shudder.
Among these was the memorable exploit of the
Confederates, when they secured the stores and
clothing intended for Federal regiments, and rode
off triumphantly with three coats each, leaving their
discarded rags, which had done duty many a weary
night for the benefit of the discomfited ex-
dPeacy and
htnanotts.
Aer incident of a similar character, but one
which will probably occasion a much greater degree
of annoyance and mortification to the Federals, has
just taken place. Thanks to a ridiculous, though
not unnatural, oversight on the part of a Federal
official, the Confederates have succeeded in securing
another British-built privateer as a companion to
the Alabama, the Florida, and the Oreto, in spite
of the prior announcement of the sailing of the
vessel, and the united efforts of Earl RUSSELL,
Mr. ADAMS, Mr. DUDLEY, the United States Con-
sul at Liverpool, and Mr. EDMUNDS, the Collector
of Customs at that town. It appears that a short
time ago four of the quartermasters of the Great
Eastern, who had also been gunners in the Navy,
left that vessel, probably in accordance with ar-
rangements made on the other side of the Atlantic,
and signed articles to join a screw steamer named
the Japan, then fitting out at Greenock, for an
innocent voyage to China. After joining the ship
three of these men returned to Liverpool,
and engaged about a hundred sailors for
a voyage to the East. It happened, however, that
while drinking healths in celebration of the en-
gagement, one of the quartermasters allowed
his loquacity to outrun his discretion. Next morn
inc.., some of the sailors considering that the even-
ing's amusement did not bear the morning's reflec-
,