The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-24 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Epoca of Madrid publishes the following
strange letter from Paris, purporting to give an
account of an interview at the Tuileries between
the Emperor and M. Cipriano del Mazo, a Spanish
agent sent to the French capital, on the Mexican
question :
" When about to leave Paris, M. Maze received
a letter from M. Thouvenel, informing him of a
wish expressed by the Emperor to see him, and re-
questing him to call at the Tuileries the next morn-
ing at ten. At the reception, which took place at
the appointed hour, the Emperor said that nothing
had been so agreeable to hire as to see the arms of
France and Spain make common cause in Mexico,
where their interests were identical ; that he ad-
mitted that it belonged to Spain to exercise the
principal influence in that country, where she had
interests, traditions, and rights which France could
not dispute, as she had in that part of the world only
small colonies, such as Guadaloupe and Martinique,
and that for that reason he had never thought of
taking on him the direction of the expedition. The
Emperor added that there was in the policy of
France an official part, that of the treaty of
London, the spirit of which in his opinion was,
not to treat with Juarez; and a non.official part,
that of Mexican interests which could not com-
promise the Empire. If he had believed the
idea to be acceptable of calling the Archduke
Maximilian to the throne of Mexico, it was on ac-
count of the high qualities of that. Prince, knowing,
moreover, that the three intervening rowers did not
wish to claim anything for themselves in Mexico,
and knowing also that the Prince belonged to a dy-
nasty friendly to Spain, and whose well known dis-
interestedness in the question would not allow any
suspicions to be entertained that he had been an
instrument of France, the rival of Austria in Europe.
' Nothing,' said the Emperor, ' was farther from my
mind as to give offence to Spain and to impose on
Mexico any kind of Government whatever, with-
out the assent of the nation. I know that the re-
miniscences of the past have left suspicions against
me, but tell Spain and your august Queen that,
being united to a Spaniard, Spain will never have
a more faithful ally than France.' Napoleon 111.
then conducted M. Maze into the apartments of
the Empress, who expressed with emotion her re
gret at what was taking place in Mexico. I will
defend with perseverance,' said her Majesty, 'the
legitimate interests of the nation in which my son
was born, but in everything beyond that I will
never forget that lam born a Spaniard. The sin-
cere and noble alliance of the two nations and the
grandeur of Spain are as dear to me as the grandeur
of this country. Be kind enough,' added her Ma-
jesty, to say to her who was my sovereign, that
my most ardent wishes are in favour of her prospe-
rity and of that of the nation which owes her so
much. Those who attribute to us other sentiments,
calumniate both us and the French nation. Such
was the interview, which produced the deepest
emotion in the mind of M. Mazo."

POLAND.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
WARSAW, MAY 18.

Whatever the means employed by the Russian
Government, they have lost their influence, if they
ever possessed any, with the Archbishop Felinski.
This prelate has now, from the purest motives of
religion—which is not only the fundamental
strength of the people, but a guiding star in their
severe trials—thought it his duty to expostulate
strongly with the authorities ; and in a long letter
addressed to the Director of the Ministry of Wor-
ship and Public Instruction, stated that, as the
head of the Church in Warsaw, he felt personally
offended by the orders given him to prohibit the
singing of hymns and other religious chants. He
even added that it was derogatory both to his sacred
dignity, and to the Government likewise, to issue'

such instructions, which he, far one, would not be
disposed to obey.
On the 17th the Lieutenant-Governor of Warsaw
had ordered the police authorities should abstain
for two days from making any arrests in the
churches for the singing of the hymns, leaving to
the clergy to use their influence with the congrega-
tions in persuading them not to pursue this ob-
noxious course to Russia. But if this short armis-
tice prove a delusion, the soldiers and the police
will have to recommence their daily work by ar-
resting the .persons whom they will find to be
incorrigible. It appears that though the churches
were filled during those two days, not one voice
was raised, thus showing that the Poles are not
unwilling to be led and governed by their own
countrymen.

Can there be any better evidence of the wrong
system pursued by the Czar in selecting always his
own Russian or German hirelings to oppress a
people who only want, and are entitled to, those
rights which the whole of Europe has solemnly
guaranteed them.

There is no doubt that a vast conspiracy has spread
among the Russian ranks—both among those sta-
tioned in Poland and in the interior of the empire.
Here domiciliary visits took place, and several offi-
cers are confined in the citadel, but their late is a
mystery. A regular propagandism is established
in St. Petersburg, and a frequent exchange
of communication passes between the heads
n London and Germany. Agitation in the
minds of the soldiers, and particularly
of the subaltern officers is upon the increase, and a
violent storm seems to be approaching. Such a
state of things .can but be advantageous to the Poles,
who, notwithstanding their unparallelled sufferings,
are determined to bide their time.

Of the so often trumpeted concessions, reforms,
and hard labours of the Council of State, we hear
nothing at present. All is quiet with thp expop.
tion of a few municipal councils which were
ordered to meet, in order to choose new members,
in place of those who are either imprisoned or
whom the Government do not approve.

The Draconic laws and the most intolerable
severity are still in full force, and lead to many
tragical acts. Towards the end of April, a Swiss
tutor in the family of Count Starzynski, near Lub-
lin, had been marked out as an agent of the Poles,
and an order was given to a Russian colonel to
arrest the individual. On arriving at the Count's
house, in company of Captain Cywinski and another
officer, he took charge of the tutor, and, while com-
ing out with him, the prisoner begged to be per-
mitted to take something. This was granted, when
of a sudden the son of Count Starzynski, a youth
of 18, rushed out with a revolver and shot dead
Captain Cywinski, and the other officers, one of
whom had since expired, mortally wounded the
Russian colonel, and then blew out his own brains.
Horrible as is this tragedy, it tells of what metal
the Poles are made, and that the Russian tyranny
can never succeed in Poland.
As much may be said of the Polish ladies, who
still persevere in wearing the prohibited dresses,
and who are being daily arrested in considerable
numbers and lodged in the citadel.