The Sun.
London, England, 1831-09-19 00:00:00

TO 2'llE EDIT O2# OF THE SUN.

SIR,—I have just seen in your Paper a letter signed
M. Irvine, in which allusion is made to a speech of Ur.
Sheil's in the House of Commons, wherein he is repnrted
to haVe AAid that f, in giVing evidence before the Commit-
tee of the House of Lords, stated ih no Roman Catlin is
was admitted into the yeomanry of Fermanagh."
The best denial I could give' this assertion Would. be a
r ference to the minutes of that evidence, but as many of
those *ha have re of the statement may nit have an oppor-
tunity of referring to them, I am cute you will tint hes:tato
to afford me, through the medium of }our Paper, the same
facility of contradiction which gave it publicity.
I should I e very sorry that Mr. Irvine, or my friends in
Fermanagh, whose kindness I can never forget, and for
whom I entertain the sineettat regard, could suppose me
capable of making so unjustifiable an allegation respecting
their county ; however, I feel confident, that whatever un-
fivourable impression the report might have produced will
lie removed, when I assure them that, from the beginning
to the end of my examination, the name of Fermanagh
never was introduced. Indeed, at the time, I had never
been in that county, and, consequently, unacquainted with
any of its arrangements ; and those who know me can
vouch for my not being in the habit of making statements
from hearsay.
I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant,
WM. VERNER, Lieut.-Col.
Chwchill, Dungannon, Sept. 11, Mt.

POLAND.

(rrtom A CORRESPONDENT.)

The news from Warsaw is very afflicting. After a pro-
tracted and sanguinary contest for eight months—after a
deadly combat fur two days under the walls of Warsaw,
the Polish army and the Diet have retired to the right
bank of the Vistula, and the Russians have entered the
town. It is a misfortune. Two squadrons sent to Cron-
stadt and Odessa, instead of to Lisbon and Antwerp,
might have saved Poland ; now regret, condolence, re-
proach even is superfluous; let us consider what will be
the consequence to Russia, to Europe, of the cruel ob-
stinacy of Nicholas and the culpable indifference of the
Cabinets of Europe.
The occupation of Warsaw does not terminate the con-
teat that rages between Russia and Poland ; its only effect
will be. to prolong the effusion of blood, and to occasion
ianumerable disasters. Let us even grant that the Polish
army is destroyed by the numberless hordes, and that the
Russians inflict again their vengeance, introducing again
their barbarous and lawless government, what will Europe
say to it ?
Since the Holy Alliance formed the league of rulers
against the people, the people on their side—jealous of their
rights, and looking to their common interest—regard each
other as brothers of the same family. Injustice or violence
towards the people of any one couutry is felt as an injury
by those of every other, and calls forth not only their sym-
pathy, but their claim to avenge and to defend their fellow-
men. Never was there a time when these sentiments would
be displayed with more energy than at present. An an-
cLiat Isiagdom, the bulwark of Christendom, celebrated in
the annals of Europe, which are r-eplete with memorials of
its glory, compelled to fight by the violation of its most
sacred rights, after exhibiting proofs of the greatest cou-
rage, and a perseverance that nothiog could subdue, after
having sacrificed its blood and its heroes, being betrayed
by a perfidious neighbour, and abandoned by all its allies,
is at last compelled by exhaustion to submit to the iron
sway of an autocracy ! The downfall of this gal-
lant nation will resound through all countries, where jus-
tice and generosity exist ; it will excite all people, fur the
injuries of Poland are felt by all freemen, and the insults
offered to her are offered to the people of all countries.
Frurn the north even to Italy the social world is in a state
of ferment —the materials for a conflagration are ready,—
the spark flies ; bew ire when it falls, for it will kindle
horrible, interminable wars, alike fatal to the tranquillity
of the world and the rightful authority of Kings. I
tremble at the idea of the effect this news will have in
Paris. It will be without doubt the precurser of misfor-
tunes to Europe. Let us stop to refl-ct what Russia will
gain by the arrogance, and the cruel and obstinate lan-
guage of her Sovereign. By the sword, disease, and de-
sertions, she will have lost two great armies, two distin-
guished Generals, cannon and munitions of war,—and all
because of these three words, " Surrender at dis-
cretion;" which might have been addressed to a re•
volted Pachalick, or to an horde of Cal mucks,
but to ad Iress them to a free and powerful nation, and
Over which Russia had no right, save that of usurpation,
is in truth, too revolting. Ah ! what misbd.tones
have these words, " surrender at discretion," occasioned
What tears have they caused to flow ? If the Autocrat be-
comes in ester of Poland, what will be his conduct ? or
what advantages does he Look for? He knows how by
his manikstoes, by the barbarous conduct of his troops, he
has null aged the opinion of all Europe ; that the very
name of Russia inspires horror ; he has endeavoured to
recover its esteem, I observe, by a hollow display of cle-
mency and generosity published on the Polish frontiers,
and insetted in almost ail the Go:ettes of that quar-
ter, but no one will be duped by this. The policy
of Russia has invariably been to am dgainate Poland
with Russia ; the last proofs it has received of the error
of this policy (I allude to the violation of the Con-
stitution of Poland, the im lisonwent of innoceut
men, and the treatment of the Polish-Russian provinces)
?rove been lost en it : in despite of the treatit s by which
Russia was obliged to maintain the religion, the laws, and
the language of tine country, she has forced the Greeks
and Rownelians to embrace the Russian religion ; she has
suppressed in Lithuania the code of laws which hail been
revered for ages, and has substituted for it her own absurd
ukases; she has changed entirely the system of educa-
tion, by prohibiting the study of the Polish language and
laws ; and has taken away from the University of Wilna
the superintendance of the Gymnasiums. Such is the sys-
tem introduced by the execrable Norveilzolt, which will
continue, we hope, for it will propagate from race to race
hatred of Russia. The pleasure of having succeeded
through obstinacy, and not by wisdom and reflection ;5
—what advantages, let me ask, will it produce to
Russia, it would be difficult to show them. The
cruelty exercised so long in Poland will long leave
tracts of hatred and animosity ; the sixtieth descendant of
the present Autocrat would never be secure without nu-
merous troops both in Poland and the provinces to main-
tain tranquillity. A convincing proof of this may be

found'in the circumstance, that in the last ukase, which

ordered a third levee, the Polish provinces, Grudno, Wilna,
Minsk, and Crajowa, are exempt, because no compliance
could be reposed in youths, the born enemies of Russia.
Good God! what pleasure can there be in reigning
over those who do not love us, and whom we can never
trust ? Is not Russia sufficiently extensive ?—has she not
sufficient territory to allow of her ilrandoning the Polish
provinces, which will always lie to her a source of ernbar-
ras•ment, and of her recognising the kingdom of Poland fr:,.
and independent ? To induce her to do this it is the interest
of Foreign Cabinets to use all their influence, as they
may be assured that otherwise Europe will never be
tranquil, and that if Po'and is abandoned to Russia, a
general commotion will ensue.
A country may be conquered, but the spirit of a people
cannot be subdued. As long as Poland exists anti is not
independent, torrents of blood must flow. Why should
not means be taken to prevent this succession of wars?
Why should ❑ot that freedom now be yielded with a good
grace, which must one day be wrested by .force
Your obedient servant, TRUTH

It is scarcely necessary to recall to mind that Generals Chlo-
pieki and Skrzynecki frequently made overtures to the Russian
Alarshals; but were harshly answered by the words " surrender
at discretion."