The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-23 00:00:00

- . .
COURT ,OF COMMON COUNCIL.

Yesterday a Court was held for the purpose of seal-
ing the contract for the foundation of the New Royal
Exchanga, and on other business.

THE DITESESSED POLES.

Lord Dudley Stuart, Mr. Cortazzi, and Mr. R. G.
inDonnell, appeared as petitioners from the Literary
Association of the Friends of Poland, and were received
with the greatest respect by the Lord Macor, Alder-
men, Sheriffs, and Members of the Court. The depu-
tation were invited to take seats on.the platform next to
the Bench.
Mr. Wu. PRITCHARD said that he had the honour of
being intrusted with the petition, on the merits of which
it would be unnecessary for him to address the Court,
as the subject of the distress of the Poles was not new
to them, and Lord Dudley Stuart would take the op-
portunity of making such observations relative to the
matter as appeared to him to be necessary under the
circumstances. The-refugees had already experienced
the bounty of the citizens ; but their deplorable deri-
tution, as well as the cause which led to that extre-
mity, gave them a claim which could not be denied
or neglected.—(Cheers.)
Lord DUDLEY STUART then read the following pe-

tition
" To the Right Hon.•the Lord Mayor, Aldermen,
and Commons, in Common Council assembled,—
" My Lords and Gentlemen,—Your petitioners ap-
proach the bar of your Honourable Court, to which
your patronage and protection in behalf of those unfor-
tunate Polish exiles, who have nothing to depend on
save the sympathies and charitable exertions of the hu-
mane and benevolent. In doing so, your petitioners
feel a strong confidence that their request Will meet a
favourable reception, for they remember with deep
gratitude the indulgence extended towards them on for-
mer and similar occasions by your Honourable Court.
"The reasons which then influenced your Honour-
able Court to come forward with true English gene-
rosity, and hearken to the voice of the oppressed and
the exile, are, alas! at this moment stronger, if pos-
sible, than ever. The months which have flown since
your petitioners stood at the bar of your Honourable
Court have brought no diminution of suffering, no
alleviation to the misery of the destitute Polish exiles.
Another winter is fast approaching, and, to the scanty
food, want of sufficient Clothing, and indifferent lodg-
ing, is about to be added the unmitigated severity of
the season. The friends, who have never ceased to
watch over the interests of the Polish Refugees have
done all in their power to relieve their wants by
raising subscriptions, by fetes, and by public statements
of their unhappy condition. Your petitioners would
not feel justified in approaching the bar of your
Honourable Court were they not able most truly to as-
sert that they do 'so only after having exhausted every
practicable scheme for raising funds to relieve the imme-
diate and pressing extremity to which the exiles are now
reduced. For this purpose the Council of the Literary 1
Association of the Friends of Poland got up with much
trouble and expense a fete at Beulah Spa, and another
at Cremorne House, for the benefit of the Polish exiles.
The proceeds of the former amounted to a mere trifle, in
consequence of the wretched state of the weather
whilst a similar reason rendered the latter fete at
Cremorne House not merely unprofitable, but even a
loss amounting to upwards of 1301. The Council;
feeling that it would be adding, sorrow to sorrow, were
this ' less to fall en the diminished funds that re-
mained for the support of the exiles, a few of its
t.i4n.bers subscribed from their own pockets the defi-
ciency 'of 1301. Having now done all in their
power, having exerted themselves in every possible way,'
to alleviate the heart-rending misery of the refugees
and having, failed, through'eircumstanees over which it
was, utterly impossible for them to exercise any control,'
they therefore hope your Honourable Court will take
into consideration those various. (nisfortunes which have.'
absolutely forced them •to thrdw themselves once more,
on your benevolence and kind indulgence.
" Your petitioners know thpt in this,hall, and amongst
the high-minded and independent British men assembled
here, the voice of the destitute and suffering, if they be,,
deserving, is
,never raised in vain. Shall pot, therefore,
the gallantry of those whose present want is the best
commentary on their virtuous patriotism, find an an-
swering chord in every true English heart that beats
within these-walls,
" There are 52 Polish exiles' whose entire and sole
dependence for bread is on the efforts of the Council of
the Literary Association
_of the Friends ,of Poland to
awaken public sympathy in their behalf. Shall these
52 ,men ask for bread, and must they be sent away
starving ?

" Their request is a simple one ; yet though easy for
your, Honourable Court to grant, on its success depends
the probable welfare or misery. during the weary months
of a long winter, of many a brave but unfortunate man.
" Your petitioners, therefore, pray, that they may be
again allowed. by your,ilonottrable Court the use of the
Guildhall,, for the purpose of giving therein a ball for,
the.henefit of, the Polish refugees at present, dependent
on. them, pr .that such . other :relief .maybe granted to
those exiles As your Honoura'sle Court shall in its wis-
dom doom fit:and proffer. ,
" On behalf of the Council,
". DUDLEY COUTTS STUA,RT,,ViCO President.
" RICHARD GRAVES MAJONsELLL, HOn. Sec."
Lord DUDLEY STUART ellen proceeded to address the
Court. He deemed it a very high privilege, and it was
one of which he felt most proud, to be permitted to ad-
, dress the, Corporation on the subject which had brought
i the, deputation before them, that day.. -He had always
.o;periPnced, so much. kindness from the members col-
lectively and individually, that the, diffidence which he
Ishould otherwise have.felt in coming forward, was in a
great measure alleviated. He came to. plead: the cause
of those who had already received great benefits from the
Corporatioo-o4soltdon-Cireers.)-: Perhaps it might
be said. gist' fliet.mie.a xettafin altbie he. should not appeal'
aeon the present, occasion as a petitioner for further
favours. He' trusted, hoWeiter,' that his explanation
would' justify his conduct. These tinforttinate per Sons,
-for *ham he implored the 'humane considerAtion of the
Court, were ' plunged in distress. All that had been
recently done to alleviate•their miteries, bad been ren-
dered unavailing by elrenmatahees which could opt be
controlled, and they knew not where to turn for bread,
and must perish if not aided by the benevolent. It was
no flourish to say that. there had been instances of the
fatif effects'of the destitution to -which the poor Poles
had been subjected., "lii the experience Which 'he had
'had, he had known; that some had died from
want, that come had died in their attempts to
obtain sustrnance, by labour to' which they were
tirifitted and -unaccustomed, and that the'intellects of
others had. been destroyed 'by the necessities to which
they were subjected.—(Hear, hear.) Yes, there were
several of those unfortunate exiles unde'r 'confinement in
consequence of this mental aberration, whiehhad grown
out of their extreme distress. It was in the cause of
tbitt gallant, but unfortunate band,. he appeared.—
(Cheers.) He had no idea of entering into the great
political question i'dvolvkl in their Condition. He
merely addresseel himself to the charitable feelings of
the Court; but the cause in which the Polisleexiles had
been engaged, and for their attachmerit to which they
were now dreadful suffeiers, was acknowledged to be a
righteous cause by perians of all 'politics and per-
suasions.—(Cheers.) In Parliament their claims were
admitted by those who were opposed-to each other on
another questions ; and the subscription lilt had in its
catalogue the names of Pratestarde, and Catholics, and
Jews, .and boasted of 'the recent addition' of the highest
r ecclesiastical names in the country.—(Loud cheers.)
He trusted that the Court saw that he came forward
upon substantial grounds- to ask' them lb? a'repetition
of the indulgence which had already proved so highly
serviceable to the cause. It might be said that the
conduct of some of the Poles was objectionable. At-
though he had 'been called an enthusiast in the cause,
he was not So blind as' not to admit that there were in-
dividuals amormst them who' had acted in such a
manner as deserved reprobation ; but the Courf
would not allow that to imply an imputation
ngainst'{ttse general body.—(Hear, hear.) There was
onepoint worthy of node() with reference to those un-
happy exiles. -It was asked; 'how long was the applica-
tion for relief to last ? Was the country for ever to be
giving assistance to the Pales ? He would reply to
these questions by saying, that so long as they remained
in the condition in which they were placed is conse-
quence of the efforts they had made in' the great cause
for which they suffered, so long would British-liberality
stand between them and starvation:—(Cheers.) People
who were provided for in their blindnesi and deafness,
and other defects or maladies, continued blind and deaf,
and incapable of maintaining themselves from those
causes, and yet charity was not wearied. Those poor
exiles appealed to Englishman uijOn the' unanswerable
plea that they were deprived of their home. They
asked for bread and shelter, and he was convinced they
would not be denied.—(Cheers.)
Mr. PRITCHARD, after a few words (many were unne-
cessary), moved that the prayer of the petition be
granted.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WELLS, who has been in the habit of opposing
ppwetlio
tinie the ti4iiboonuhsfor pecuniary relief, rose, to the astonishment
of everybody, to second the motion.--(Cheers.)
'Mr. STEVEDIS thought it would be advisable
questionto:post-
deaja the streets.
fora
( week,,e.s as there' might be appli-
cations 'for the Hell for the benefit of the British poor
M WILLIam
r. *
the polls •,,s also threw out a hint that relief to
gnt to follow assistance to our own claim-
ants. •

Mr. ANDERTON strongly advocated the cause of the
Poles iihO had, aftei nci claim ox-
cept upon the humanay of the public'; and the grant
of the Rail involv'ed no expense to the Corporation.
'The use of. the Hall was then granted, not a single
hanCi3O the crcdit of the, pouit, being held up ar,ainst it.
The Committee was iubseCiiiently appointed.' Their
operations will commence_immediately, and a most
Lornikigoifie. ayor'seai
Day. rl take place very shortly after the
d M

• • THE 'NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE.
R. L. JONES brought up the Report of the
Royal Exchauga, and Gresham Trusts Committee,
which stated that since the detailed report preseitted op