The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-26 00:00:00

EtV4l). 41110

LONDON,
SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 26, 1831.

While we avow—openly and unequivocally avow
—our bitter, resolute, and inextinguishable hostility
to the boroughraongers; to that corrupt fraternity
who are inimical to the State, unknown to the Con-
stitution, and repudiated by the people ; who
thrive only on corruption, who exist only on
sufferance, whose only argument is power, whose
only support is the ignorance of the community ;
while we avow our hatred of this precious squad,
and are anxious to see justice done to them ;
equally anxious are we to avow our admira-
tion of, and to see justice done to, those lofty-
minded patriots who have nobly come forward
in the hour of trial, and without a sigh of regret,
without a murmur of hesitation, without a hope of
recompense, offered up their borough interests on
the altar of their country. These are sacrifices not
to be mistaken, not to be passed by with indiffe-
rence, not to be " washed in Lethe and forgotten."
And who are they that have thus nobly acted ? We
will tell our countrymen, that they may feel their
hearts leap with exultation to think that such men
are living among them. The Dukes of NORFOLK—
Of DEVONSHIRE—Of GRAFTON—Of PORTLAND—
Of BEDFORD ; the Marquis of CLEVELAND; Earls
FITZWLLLIAM and WINCIIILSEA ; Mr. J. RUSSELL,
Sir SANDFORD GRAHAM, and Mr. J. SMITH, to-
gether with a few others, whose names do
not at present occur to us, but who never-
theless shall not be forgotten—these are the
men who, when their country demanded of
them a sacrifice, obeyed without a word, and
even exulted in the opportunity of proving their
disinterestedness ! What a contrast does such con-
duct present to the grasping—clamorous—pecula-
ting charac er of the boroughmongers ! And
shall such patriots go without reward ? Forbid it
justice ! Forbid it every principle of gratitude! To
those among this illustrious band who are already
as high in rank as they can ever hope to be,
nothing can be offered but the most heartfelt thanks
of their countrymen ; but to those who have yet
to attain the honours of the Peerage—to Mr. Rus-
SELL, and Sir SANDFORD GRAHAM, and Mr. SMITH,
we would recommend that the Government, in
ttni-
son with the people, should hasten to pay its just
debt. Three nobler-spirited men never yet graced a
coronet; three more popular ones never yet took their
fitting station in the House of Lords. We hope
they may shortly meet with their deserts. The
Aristocracy %NHL be a gainer by the elevation of
such men to the Patrician Order.

The great Reform meetings of London and the
county of Derby—both which will be found in an-
other column—•are a triumphant answer to those
svho have still the superhuman impudence to
assert that the question of Reform is not uni-
versally popular. The City meeting in particular
is a proof " strong as holy writ," that all who are
gifted with the slightest portion of reflection in this
vast metropolis—all who are disinterested—all who
really wish well to their country, and have no
paltry views of their own to promote, are
leagued to a man in the cause of Reform. As
for the much vaunted " Hole and Corner
Meeting," which was held a few days since
somewhere in the East, between Ludgate-hill and
Shoreditch—that was altogether a job—altogether
a matter of private interest and party spirit,
got up solely to answer the purpose of a
desperate knot of prejudiced individuals, who op-
posed Reform, not on the ground of its danger to
the institutions of the country, but simply and sel-
fishly because it interfered with their own merce-
nary monopoly.

In considering the probabilities of the stability of
the Administration of M. CASIMIR PERRIER, it is
impossible to deny on the one hand that his politi-
cal professions are characterised by a cautious pru-
dence which in Paris is a quality both rare and
valuable, and, on the other, that public opinion in
France, as especially manifested through the
journals, is, so far as can be at present judged,
decidedly hostile to the new Ministry. Whether
this hostility be greater than the Ministers deserve,
is a question we cannot here take upon ourselves to
determine; but when we see the name of LA-
FAYETTE arrayed in the ranks of opposition, we
have great difficulty in coming to a conclusion
favourable to the permanency of M. CASIMIR PER-
RIER'S power.

The interference of France on behalf of Italy is
warmly urged by LAFAYETTE, and is desired by the
mass of the French nation, whilst the Ministry
refuses to interpose. Now it is no easy matter to
decide what is the sound policy of France in this
respect ; for, although there is much weight in what
fell from the Premier as to the maintenance of non-
intervention, it is, we apprehend, the decided
interest of France in reference to her future
freedom and happiness to weaken the arms
of Russia and Austria, those declared foes
of the liberties of Europe—those ultra-Tories
and anti-Reformers of :the Continent. The
principle of non-intervention is by no means
an absolute one, for, if it were, the Greek treaty
could not be justified ; but should rather be regarded
as a fixed line which ought not to be passed,
unless it appears that the good likely to
arise by transgressing it would counterba-
lance the evil. Now, in reference to this
position, it will not, we suppose, be denied that the
evil of the presence of the Russians and Austrians
in the Western States of Europe is a fearful one

eren to the present generation, and would be still
more tremendous to posterity. It is sufficiently gal-
ling, and sufficiently obnoxious to civilization, that
the classic soil of Italy should be occupied by a
German race against whom the Italians are now
rising in arms, and of this, we can only remark, that
the contest is a national one, just as much as that
which has been so happily set at rest between
the Greeks and Turks, and that the Greek treaty is
not wholly inapplicable as a precedent in this in-
stance. But of this we are sure, that if there be any
grounds for believing the intention of Russia to
have been to make this very year a campaign on the
Rhine, (and, who can doubt the evidence cited by
LAFAYETTE ?) it would be a very insufficient secu-
rity for France if she were merely to remain on the
defensive As a passive spectator of the march of the
barbarians. The most remote contingency of the
invasion of Belgium by the Russians or Prussians
wholly alters the policy, as well as the duty, ef
France in regard to succouring the Italians. It is
therefore, to say the least, by no means clear that
the line of policy professed by M. CASIMIR PERRIER,
is the one best calculated to promote the permanent
interest of the French nation, to say nothing of the
other States whose liberties are so closely inter-
woven with those of France.

To the French we say, as we have said so often
to the Belgians, do not be intimidated by Protocols
and Diplomatists into a belief that Great Britain
will unite with the Continental despots in any as-
saults they may make upon your liberties. The
people of England will not suffer the Government
to go to war, on any ground short of some imme-
diate danger to Great Britain. Earl GREY'S Go-
vernment has openly declared itself to be earnestly
desirous of preserving for this country the blessings
of peace, and if (which God forbid) Mr. HORACE
Twiss and Sir ROBERT PEEL were to return to
office, it is certain, that a supply for war would be
refused them. Great Britain should, therefore, be
considered as a nation absolutely neutral in conti-
nental contests, and from whom no fears of inter-
position can reasonably be entertained.

By the following accounts from Warsaw, though
they come even through the distorting channel of
Berlin, it will be seen that the cause of the Poles is
daily becoming more encouraging. The news from
Warsaw is to the 17th inclusive, at which period the
weather—bad roads—insurrection—sickness—and
mortality were all working against the Russians and
in favour of the Poles :
WARSAW, Mirror 15.—Our State Gazette gives among the
official news a report from the District Commissioner at Zamcsc,
tlom which iteppears that the Finland Regiment of Dragoons
under General Bawer, had, on the 26th of February, taken the
town of Janow, on the frontiers of Gallicia, and that the citizens
had again taken the oathiof allegiance to the Emperor Nicholas.
The local authorities had either concealed themselves or fled.
The same paper says, that the inhabitants of the Waiwodeships
of Plock and Cracow have voluntary offered to organize new
regiments of cavalry. This paper gives also the following ac-
counts :—" Within these few days the frost has returned, there
is a great deal of floating ice in the Vistula, and the military
operations will therefore be in all probability interrupted for a
week or two. Meantime prisoners continue to be brought in by
our detachments. After the corps of General Dwernicki had
left Pulawy and its neighbourhood, the Russians entered it on
the Pth of this month. We hear front Radow, that the inha-
bitants, after Divine Service, on the 7th, took the oath to be
faithful to the country and the nation, as prescribed by the Diet."

- , .
The Warsaw Gazcite gives the following particulars :
" The Russians, on their retreat from their positions before
I'raga, set fire to the village of Targowek, and to all the gabions
and fascines which they had prepared for storming the tbr..
tress. The villages beyond Praga are entirely ruined. The
bridge from NVarsaw to Pr/ga will probably not be removed, but
out of precaution the troops that were sent to reconnoitre the
Russian army have been recalled to the capital. It is reported
that a corps of the enemy under General Witt, has again taken
possession of the town of Pulawy. Princess Czartoriski has fled
to Gallicia."

The Warsaw Courier says,—" For these five days we have
heard nothing of military operations. The enemy has withdrawn
from before Praga and gone to Sienneca. Many of our wounded
soldiers have already recovered and gone back to their regiments.
The Military Tribunal continually passes sentences of death, not
only on spies who have been taken during the present war,
but also on other persons convicted of various crimes. In
the night of the 12th, Major Osinski, Chief of the Staff,
of General Dwernicki, arrived here with a report to the Gene-
ralissimo in Warsaw, but the contents of these official reports of
the operations of that corps have not yet been made public.
Some new cannon have already been cast at Warsaw. A very
important proclamation to the inhabitants of this city will shortly
be issued."

The Polish Gazette says " Field Marshal Count Diebitsch has
sent back to us Colonel Spendowski without asking a Russian
prisoner in exchange ' • declaring that he willingly sent him back
that his wound might be better attended to in Warsaw. The
Colonel's foot was so wounded that amputation was necessary,
which operation the Russian surgeons had successfully per-
formed. General Geismar interested himself with great huma-
nity for the wounded officer, for which we assure him of our
gratitude and respect. We are likewise greatly obliged to the
Commander-in-Chief of the armies with which we contend, and
will certainly seek an opportunity to return the obligation."
Colonel Spendowski, being unable to walk, was borne by Itussian
soldipeer.spolil.etheir carbines to Grochow, where he was received by
our
The intention of the Diet, after the termination of the present
war, to give portions of land to the soldiers, has led to the inser-
tion of an article in the Journal, .• New Poland," which shows
how important it would be to the cultivation and civilization of
the country, to improve the condition of the lower classes of the
inhabitants of Poland, by emancipating them and making land-
owners of them, which would more firmly attach them to the
interests of the country. This notion, it is added, had many
friends and advocates under the Russian Government.

The Governor-General of the capital has learnt that the troops
in garrison in Praga pull down the houses the inhabitants have
quitted, and use the materials for fuel, and that in many other
streets fences and stables arc destroyed for the same purpose.
He gives strict orders to the commanders of the troops to pre-
vent such disgraceful proceedings, and then orders that in future
the damage shall be made good out of their pay.
The Warsaw Gazette says, " That two important projects of
law will shortly be laid before the Diet, namely, on the as-
signment of land to the peasantry, and on the pensions of civil
officers."

The Konigsberg Gazette says—" We hear from our frontiers
that in the vicinity all is tranquil. In that part of the kingdom
occupied by the Russians, especially in Augustoro and the en-
virons, the inhabitants had renewed the oath of allegiance to the
Emperor Nicholas as King of Poland."
WARSAW, MARCH 17.—Our State Gazette says—" The
breaking up of the ice still continues. Snow and rain alternate
with each other, and the roads become worse and worse. This
seems to be the reason that we hear nothing from the theatre of
war. The steam-boat which was in the Vistula sunk a few
days ago."
CRACOW, MARCH 15.—Our Courier says—" General Clo-
pieki has been'here thesethree days ; he is come to get his wounds
cured." The same paper gives a letter from Warsaw of the 11th,
which says that Field Marshal Diebitsch has sent General Witt
in pursuit of General Dwernicki, and that the Polish General
Szembeck hag resigned."

ST. PETERSIcURGII, MARCH 12.—Our yesterday's Ga-
zette says—" The Commander in Chief of the army in the
field reports to his Majesty, under the date of February
19 (March 3), that since the battle of the 13th (25th), no-
thing had occurred in the army. Notwithstanding the defeat of
the rebels on that day, and the complete confusion in their army
on the right bank of the Vistula, it has not been possible to reap
all the advantages of the victory. The dangerous state of the ice,
in many parts of the Vistula, which has already began to rise,
render it impossible for our troops to pass the river till it is en-
tirely clear. Mean time the Field-Marshal has ordered General
Rosen, commander of the sixth corps, to clear the waiwodeship
of Plock from the parties of the insurgents, and to disarm the in-
habitants. Count Diebitsch also reports, that our loss on the
25th exceeds the first estimate, and that according to the re-
ports of the several regiments, it amounts to eight thousand
killed and wounded. The loss of the enemy is incomparably
greater, from the concentrated fire of our immense artillery, and
the incessant attacks of our cavalry. This is confirmed by the
prisoners and the soldiers, as well as by the inhabitants of
Warsaw, who daily come over to us. The number of deserters
from the regular Polish troops is very considerable, and in the
Landstrum it is so great that many of the newly formed regi-
ments dispersed after the battle of the 25th. In general, dis-
cipline has declined to a great degree in the army of the insur-
gents. On its retreat from Kaluzyn to Praga it devastated the
sountry and completely plundered the unfortunate inhabitants.
From the 3d to the sth there were no new cases of cholera at
Moscow, nor any recovery or death of the eleven patients who
remained on the 3d in the morning, ten were expected soon to
recover. _

WARSAW, MARCH 15.—Count Diebitsch, we hear, has his
head-quarters at Zelechwo, half way between this and Luislin.—
The passage of the Vistula below Warsaw having been found
impracticable, he is now said to meditate passing the river at a
point higher up. It is also probable that the Russian Commander-
in-Chief is awaiting the arrival of the guards who crossed the
Polish frontiers on the Ist instant, and are not likely to arrive at
head-quarters before the 20th. The open country between the
Bug and Vistula has been completely devastated by the enemy,
who, after robbing the peasants of their provisions and cattle
generally, set the barns and cottages on fire. An insur-
rection in Podolia is very generally spoken of. Kamienice Podol-
ski is said to be in the hands of the insurgents. Thu Nobles, it
is added, have unanimously agreed to emancipate their serfs, and
to place themselves at their head. The corps of observation
which was encamped in front of Praga has retreated. A detach-
ment stationed in Grochow has been driven out of that village,
and the whole corps has sought refuge in the forest. In the
course of the skirmishes which preceded this retreat our troops
suffered severely. Two staff-officers were severely wounded. An
immense number of dead bodies were left by the enemy upon
the spot where they had been encamped; as these bodies had no
marks of wounds received, the natural conclusion is that sick-
ness, to a fearful extent, must prevail among them.
WARSAW, MARCII 17.—The French Ex-General Excel-
mans is expected here in a few days, apartments are already pre-
pared for him. M. Durand, the French Consul, is said to be re-
called, and that he will be succeeded by M. Firmin.
HAMBURG, MARCH 21.—According to Stockholm Papers a
report prevailed in that city that Russia had called on Sweden
tthoefuLnailsyhAalleiaonnctein,gtehnetlaotftelr powerO,o bound herself to furnish, in men, which, by the terms of
case the cause of legitimacy in Europe should be endangered.

A press of matter has hitherto prevented oar
inserting a report of some proceedings which took
place at an interview last Saturday, between Lord
ALTIIORP and a deputation who waited on
him, respecting the alterations proposed in the

New Stamp Act. We now publish: the.

port, observing that though we are sincere a'
vacates for the reduction of taxes on knowledgl
yet we cannot coincide in the view taken of t,
subject by many members of the deputation. Th
plan of charging postage for 'Newspapers wo"I
never answer. Government would lose in th
revenue, and the people be very justly disco
tented by a scheme so troublesome and vexatious
At present Government receives the money at once
for stamps, whereas, by the proposed method, tblit
collection would be spread over a million places' an
frittered into innumerdble fractions
.'Besides, where
is the advantage or policy of taking a penny off th:
stamp, and troubling the public with paYill
daily ? To suppose that Newspaper Proprietorf
would arrange the matter with the Post-offee
is absurd ;—but were it practicable, the mesa
sure would be grossly unjust to the large an
respectable body of News-Agents, who would tiler::
by be ruined. We observe that the weight 0'
td",
larger printed Paper is stated at 401bs. per thoro3ll
th;s is a mistake, the weight being rather ahl/u
901bs. per thousand for large, and averaging frog'
about 64 to 801bs. per thousand for other PaPers'of
In conclusion, we think that the CnAscco,oll t
the EXCHEQUER'S own plan is decidedly the hesi'
both for stamps and advertisements, and in this a:
nion the majority of those interested agree with a

ELECTION COMMITTEES.-(THIS 01)