The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-20 00:00:00

TURKEY AND POLAND.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,—It is, perhaps, unnecessary to contradict any
statement which appears respecting England or Poland
in the New Gazette of Prussia, but as a letter, purporting
to be written by a correspondent in London, which ap-
peared in that paper on the Bth instant, has been trans-
lated and transferred to your columns, and has even led
to inquiries being made at the chambers of this associa-
tion on the part of the Commissioners of Police, I may,
perhaps, be excused for alluding to the subject. The
letter, among other statements of a similar character,
contains the following :—" You may readily form an
idea of the fanaticism which the declaration of war by
Turkey has caused among the emigrants, particularly
the Poles and Hungarians. I am also informed that
the Polish Literary Society has at its disposal 6,000
muskets, which are now on board two vessels at South-
ampton intended to convey the Magyar-Polish Legion
to Turkey. It is said that 900 Poles, completely armed,
and commanded by Colonel Oporski, will leave South-
ampton to-morrow. The Literary Society displays the
greatest activity ; half the street in which it holds its
meetings is blocked up by Polish refugees."
In reply to this London correspondent, I beg to
state that this society (the only Polish society which has
assumed the name of " Literary "), so far from having
at its disposal 6,000 muskets, has not, nor, to the best
of my belief, ever has had, at its disposal even a single
musket, or arms of any species whatever, unless it be
the sword of the brave General Bern, delivered here as
a relic. The society displays no more than its usual
activity. The meetings of the council are held, as has
been the practice ever since the establishment of the as-
sociation in 1832, once a-week only ; and their proceed-
ings have for several months been limited to the single
object of affording relief to refugees who are incapa-
citated by sickness from following their usual employ-
ments. There has been no unusual attendance of Polish
refugees at the chambers of the association ; on an ave-
rage of many months certainly not more than 20 daily.
Duke-street, in which the association is situated, has
consequently not been half blocked up by Polish refu-
gees, as you may possibly be aware from personal obser-
vation. I do not refer to the other statements contained
in the letter, many of which are no less improbable and
ridiculous than those which I have quoted, because the
latter alone concern the Literary Association, and the
falsehood of the others is not known to me of my per-
sonal knowledge.
May I be allowed to add that the Preussiche Kreuz
Zeitung does not appear to be in advance of the New
• Gazette of Prussia in the accuracy of its foreign corre-
spondence. The former journal, of the 4th inst., stated,
as appears by the Allgenteine Zeitung of the 10th inst.,
—"With regard to the absence of the secretary of the
Literary Society (Szulczewski), I am informed that he
has really been in Sheffield arranging these purchases of
arms, which are to be kept in readiness for the enrolment
of the part of the legion to be armed here." I have never
been in Sheffield in my life ; no purchases of arms have
been made—no orders for arms given by this society ;
and therefore the purchases alluded to are probably no
less imaginary than the 6,000 muskets at the disposal of
the association.

It is difficult to say whether these statements have
been made with any political object, or with the view of
defeating the appeal which this society is usually con-
strained to make at this period of the year to the humane
and generous feelings of the public, independently of
political considerations.
I am directed by the council of this association to
make this communication, and
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
C. SZULCZEWSKI, Resident Secretary.
Literary_ Association of the Friends of

Poland, Sussex-chambers, Duke-street,
St. James's, Oct. 19.

AN ARTFUL DODGE.—An Italian refugee, Della
M—, opened some time ago, at the Batignolles, a
shop for the sale of maccaroni and parmesan cheese. But
not succeeding as he had anticipated, he, to the surprise
of everybody, took a new shop by the side of it, which
he caused to be splendidly decorated, and above which
he placed the inscription " Pharmacie du Progres," He
then gave himself out as the brother-in-law of the chief
of an important drug establishment at Naples, and pro-
duced papers which appeared clearly to prove that qua-
lity. He afterwards obtained on credit several kilo-
grammes of quinine and iodine, several bottles of acetate
of morphia, and other expensive chemical. To inspire
more confidence he sent off the things to Marseilles, to
the address of different persons, charged, it is said, to
forward them to Naples; but a day or two after he wrote
to Marseilles to have them sent back again, on pretence
that an error had been committed, and he then sold
them for whatever they would fetch. As the substances
were very expensive he realised considerable sums. At
length his manner of proceeding became known, and a
warrant was issued for his arrest ; but when the com-
missary of police went on Saturday to execute it he had
fled.