The Sun.
London, England, 1831-06-07 00:00:00

CASE OF GENERAL UWERNICKI.

(EXTRACT OF AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM WARSAW.)
It has without doubt come to our knowledge that
the separa.e corps of General Dwernicki, which had
signalist d its entry into Volhynia by various sue-
cesse, has been under the necessity of retiring into
the Austrian States. You are aware that this brave
warrior only had recourse to this last means of safety
upon seeing himself surrounded by the enemy, who,
with forces eight times more numerous than his
own, menaced his troops with total destruction ; and
you also know that the Russians could not have suc-
ceeded in turning him but by violating the Austria',
territory and thereby depriving the Polish General
of the possibility of supporting himself upon the
frontier of a neutral Power. The Austrian autho-
rities pretended they did not understand that the
Polish troops could not have been forced to seek an
asylum in Gallicia if it were not for the aggressive
violation of the Russians. Those authorities de-
sired to enforce the rights and discharge the duties
which the neutrality of the Austrian States seemed
to impose upon them—they summoned General
Dwernicki to lay down his arms. This intrepid
warrior, though accustomed to combat superior
forces—though preferring to perish rather than lay
down his arms—came to the opinion, upon serious
reflection, that it was his duty rather to sacrifice
himself than to seek his safety in compromising the
existing relations between Austria and the kingdom
of Poland. These relations might be cote,idered
already compromised by the rigorous measures
which have been adopted towards our troops, if we
did not attribute them rather to the timid and
excessive zeal of the local authorities than to
the Government of his Imperial and Apostolic
Majesty. The Polish Government knows too well
the equity and exalted wisdom of the Emperor of
Austria, and places too much reliance on the be-
neficence of his intentions, to indulge for a moment
in unjust suspicions. We still hope that, when the
Austrian Government shall have learned the real
state of the question, and when the protests of the
National Government shall have been received at
Vienna, his Majesty will feel all the justice of it,
and will not treat as prisoners of war those who
would not have been under the necessity of seeking
a refuge on his territory if the Russians had re-
spected it. We ought, besides to add, that General
Dwernicki has addressed the superior authorities of
Gallicia, and had, in consequence, obtained for him-
self, and those along with him, the advantages of
hospitality, and all the respect due to courage and
misfortune.

Such is the point of view in which we regard
here the conduct that has been adopted to wards
General Dwernicki, as well as that which it is be-
lieved to be our duty to pursue. But what can be
said of the audacity of the Russian General, who
has not respected the inviolability of a neutral State.
arid who considered every means fair and proper to
destroy an adversary whom he dreaded ?
Although the withdrawal of the corps of General
Dwernicki retards the progress of our success in
Volhynia, and impedes for a moment the insurrec-
tion which has broken out there, it cannot have dis.
tressing consequences, nor exercise a fatal influence
upon the principal operations of the General-in-
Chief. 'Tis with 'grief that we see ourselves de-
prived of the talents of an intrepid General, and of
the courage of three battalions of infantry—of
2,000 cavalry—of 5,000 stand of arms—and of 16
pieces of cannon. His energy and his brilliant
patriotism have pointed out to him the means of re-
pair ng this reverse. He has appealed to the de-
votion of the Poles, and has decreed the levy of
eight regiments of infantry, which will be soon
equipped and organised. It is thus that a nation
which combats for a sacred cause is not discouraged
by a reverse ;—on the contrary, it sees, in adverse
affairs, only the duty of making additional sacrifices,
and the opportunity of developing new resources
with a more effective energy.
May 10.

The half-yearly meeting of the members of
the Western Literary and Scientific Institution, Leicester-
square, was held last night in the theatre of the Institution.
It appeared from the report of the Committee, that the
affairs of the Institution were in an extremely prosperous
state,• the present number of members being 671, and the
amount of secessions being less than they had been at any
former period. At the conclusion of their report, the
Committee stated that the institution only required the
cordial support of the members to carry into complete
effect all the purposes for which it was established. The
report having been unanimouMly adopted, some resolutions
regarding the regulations dale Institution were proposed,
which led to a protracted discussion, and after they had
been disposed of the meeting adjourned.

MR. MANNERS SUTTON.—The projected
elevation of this Right Hon. Gentleman to the honours of
the Peerage, and consequent resignation of the chair of the
House of Commons, having been so frequently announced
(though it is now understood his re-election will not be
opposed by Ministers), it may be necessary to explain the
circumstances in which Mr. MANNERS SUTTON is placed
in respect to the important situation be has so long and
ab:y occupied. The late Lord COLCHESTER was chosen
Speaker in 1802, and after having exercised the functions
of that office during 15 years, it was considered by Lord
LIVERPOOL'S Administration, on the retirement of the
Noble Lord in 1817, that he was entitled to his pension
and Peerage, which he accordingly received, and Mr.
Strrrox and Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMS WYNN were pro-
posed as candidates for the vacant chair. Mr. MANNERS
SUTTON has, according to Parliamentary etiquette, been
re-elected every Parliament since 1817, and has now,
therefore, nearly completed the term which his predecessor
served before he was elevated to the Peerage. It was ge-
nerally believed in the early part of the Session of 1830,
that 111 r. MANNERS SUTTON would have been called to the
House of Peers, by the title of Lord LEXINGTON, an
honour which, though now extinct, was, about a century
ago, borne by one of the SwrroN family. Several candi-
dates for the chair were mentioned, but it was thought
" premature" to give their names. The SPEAKER'S
salary is 6,0001. per annum.

A coach, with a number of freeholders,. on
their return from the late election for a Gloucestershire
Coroner, stopped at the Dog, at Over, when a drunken
fellow came up, and applied for a seat. The coach being
alre,dy crammed inside and out, hii application was re-
fused ; upon which he began to pelt the passengers with
stones. One of these missiles unfortunately struck Mr.
.TAMES TERRET, of Bicknor, behind the ear, and kill d
him on the spot. Some of the passengers got down to
seize upon the man, when he put himself upon the
de-
fensive, and, with a knife in one hand, and a stone in the
other, bid defiance to them all. He was, however, ulti-
ma,ely overpowered, taken prisoner, and committed to
Gloucester gaol.—Monmouthshire Merlin.

Several army pensioners in Ireland have ac-
cepted commuted allowances for their pensions, and with
the sum received, which in general amounts to three or
four years' purchase, they purpose emigrating with their
families to the North American Colonies, where portions of
land are allotted to them.—hublin Morning Register.