The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-11 00:00:00

TBE POLISH INSURRECTION.

We here give from the continental papers some additional
details respecting this attempt to raise the standard of free-
' dom in Poland, and regret to, find that nearly all concur in
stating that there is not the slightest chance of success,
The Journal des Debats of Monday says :—" We received
yesterday sad news of the Polish insurrection. It may be
remembered that General Collins, repulsed by the insurgents
from Cracow, had first retired to Pcdgorze and neat to Wa-
dowice, where he had taken up his position. ,The insurgents,
who had destroyed a part of the bridge of boats on the Vis-
tula under the tire of the Austrian troops, made an invasion
into Gallicia by passing the river, which, near Cracow, is as
wide as the Seine at Paris. They directed their course
towards Bochnia and Wieliezka, where are salt mines
which form one of the richest resources of the Austrian
Govermitent. They seized on them, and advanced into
the circle of Tarnow, hoping to find a general rising in
their favour. Others, after having repaired the bridge, oc-
cupied Podgorze, and endeavoured to propogate the insur-
rection. We have said that a horrible struggle had taken
place in the circle of Tarnow between the nobles and the
peasants. The Litter, remaining faithful to the Austrian
Government, attacked their masters and the emissaries who
endeavoured to urge them to insurrection, and massacred the
greater number of them. After this unexpected success,
Colonel Benedetti, head of the staff of General Retsi, Com-
mander in-Chief of the army of Gallicia, proceeded to or-
ganize militarily the peasants who showed so much bitter-
ness against the insurgents. He divided them into compa-
nies under the orders of non-commissioned officers drawn
from the troops of General Collin, established at Wadowice.
The insurgents, after having occupied Wieliezka, situated
within two leagues of Podgorze, advanced to Gdow, on the
Bochnia road. It was on this point there took place a first
combat between the insurgents andthe peasants, commanded
by Colonel Benedetti. This engagement, of which we want
the details, had for result the retreat of a part of the insur-
gents in the direction of Wieliezka and Podgorze. General
Collins, who had at the same time received reinforcements,
took advantage of this circumstance, and on the Tith of
February marched on Podgorze, which, it may be remem-
bered, is in front of Cracow, on the right bank of the
Vistula. The insurgents, organised in a hurry and badly
armed, endeavoured however to hold Podgorze, the
position of which offered no means of defence.
The combat was on both sides sharp and welt con-
tested, although the Austrians acknowledge only one man
killed and seven wounded, but after two successive attacks
the Austrian troops occupied Podgorze. The insurgents
took refuge in the city of Cracow. This place is seriously
menaced by General Collin, who, under the protection of his
artillery, can effect the passage of the Vistula either above or
below the town, whilst the insurgents cannot any longer so
easily attempt the passage of the river, having only some
dismounted pieces, and being exposed to the attacks of the
troops united with the peasants, whom Colonel Benedetti
supports with detachments of infantry and cavalry. Gene-
ral Rohr still occupies the same position on the frontiers of
the republic of Cracow, receiving every day reinforcements
from Sileaia. As to the Russian troops dispatched towards
that direction, we have no information as to their move-
ments. Thus, in the actual state of the insurrection, and of
troops of the three protecting powers of the republic, the
denouement of this unfortunate but heroic attempt of the
Poles cannot be long delayed."
The German journals, which arrived at Paris on Monday
morning, do not bring much news respecting the insurrection.
The Augsburg Gazette states that General Paskewitsch has
offered to place a corps d'armic at the service of the Arch-
duke Ferdinand of Austria, but that it is not probable the
offer will be accepted, as the Austrians consider their own
force more than sufficient to put down the insurrection in
their part of the Polish territory. The Austrian Observer
publishes the official report by General Collin of the
defeat of the insurgents at Podgorze. General Collin
states that he had only one killed and seven wounded, but
that the insurgents left a great number of dead, and he made
89 prisoners. The Universal German Gazette mentions
a rumour from Breslaw of the 3d that the insurgents of
Cracow had capitulated, and were to evacuate the town on
the stla. Several more arrests have been made at Posen, but
the whole of Prussian Poland is said to be tranquil.
(From the Epoque, another Government paper.)
" We think it useful to remark how difficult it is, and how
rash it would be, to pronounce, in the midst of so many con-
tradictory reports and opposite versions, on the real import-
ance and character of events at Cracow. As much as we
should be distressed at allowing it to be supposed that we are
indifferent to the generous efibrts which a friendly nation can
make to recover its nationality, brutally violated, so much
should wo reproach ourselves with imprudently encouraging
vain demonstrations, which, far from profiting that nation,
would only tend to increase its servitude and augment its
misery. We leave to others, for this moment, the task of
applauding or criticising events, before even any positive fact
permits a reasonable and well-founded opinion to be formed.
As to us, we fear that the end of this will be much bloodshed,
and perhaps, terrible reactions. and that is, n e should
imagine, a reason grave enough for men ofsense to approve our
keeping silence until we can pronounce with a real knowledge
of the matter."

The National says:—
" We cannot give a faithful account of all the visits, letters,
and ardent, deer, and pathetic testimonies received by us
yesterday in favour of the Polish insurrection. It is then
true that a holy cause and an intrepid devotedness are suffi-
cient to make the generous blood of France thrill in her
veins, and precipitate all the pulsations of her heart. Let
us, therefore, declare to these brave men who combat yonder
10 against 1.000, how much their heroism penetrates the
whole of France with admiration I Let us tell them that
young men belonging to all classes of society, students,
clerks, 'workmen, have come in crowds to express to us their
desire to not only subscribe for Poland, but to set out to lend
her their assistance. Let us tell them that if we were per-
mitted to-morrow to enrol volunteers, a French army would
soon have joined the insurgents, who have risen in the name
of their country! We know well that it is men's arms that
they want! and it is one of our misfortunes to be reduced
to impotent good wishes! But there is also strength
in right: there is strength in the opinion of a country
like ours! Cold-blooded spirits, which only look in
all things to success, calculate all chances: reckon the
battalions of the enemy, and entertain respect only for vic-
tory Alt Iwe should be less agitated, less disturbed, were
the victory certain I It is because the Poles are feeble that
they appear so great ! It appeared that fury and vengeance
hawithout
foour ewd
rt
shhe
pl swt tbh roeuatt ht efm
tnoi r s
st iroenmwn a
ni t ht
soutw e
rnea
dis-
persed : it possessed neither unity nor wealth, nor physical
strength. Behold, it rises up all of a sudden, and com-
mences, at the end of 60 years, its seventh insurrection, which
affronts alone, naked and isolated as it is, three formidable
powers ; which seizes on a city, establishes a government,
and calls to arms all that responds to the name of Poland
And a population of heroes is then seen to spring from that
l• nations ity which was believed extinct. There are no
longer any distinctions either of age or sex ; the Catholic
priest, the Jew, and the Protestant take up arms with emu-
lation; the women combat by the sided men : burgesses,
peasants, nobles, are nothing more than citizens, and all
these citizens are soldiers uttering the same cry, invoking
the same God—the God giving to all the same souls to
love their country."
The France alludes as follows to the demonstration made
on Saturday by the Polish refugees at the Hotel Lam-
bert :

" What is the object of the "Mats in rendering an account
of this proceeding of the Polish refugees? Is it to give it its
approbation? is it to make it believed that the French Go-
vernment beholds with interest this manifestation—that it
approves of and encourages it? For our part we shall state
what we fear. Undoubtedly there is no one who does not
render homage to the character of Prince Czartoryski, and
to the heroic courage with which the Princess Czartoryski
devotes herself for the unfortunate Polish refugees. But in
giving a grand and official publicity to the proceeding of the
Polish refugees for the purpose of offering the chief power
to the Prince, has it been considered what a situation was
made for the Government ? This proceeding may not per-
haps have been seen with indifference by the representa-
tives of Prussia, Austria, and Russia. They will demand
from the French Government if it approves of it. We know
beforehand the reply. The refugees and Prince Czartoryski
himself will be sacrificed, after having been apparently en-
couraged. The present Cabinet, in accordance with the dy-
nastic policy, beholds with a sort cf joy the public emotion,
the subscriptions which are being organised, and the national
movement •in France towards the heroic courage of the
Poles. That serves more than is thought the system of
peace at all cost. They will give themselves credit for hav-
ing resisted a national movement in favour of Poland, and
already notes are prepared for Berlin, Vienna, and St. Pe-
tersburgh, to carry protestations of devotedness in favour of
European order. We cannot say whether the proceedings
of the Polish emigrants and the attitude of Prince Czarto-
ryski will impart more force to the insurrection, but it is
certain that they will serve the policy which is opposed to
them, and which will not only abandon them, but deliver
them up, whatever they do. The dynastic policy and the
Ministerial policy perceive in this a means of rendering ser-
vicet
poss
itbol
eE ufrroomp e
an and
atgliiteayti
or clic k,60.
hni
cohn
arte abpoitntgo
mal Is
etahrec ebl ndeifis
quiets them."

Fleet, who wag at the recent Bucks Assizes, sentenced
to be :executed, has been reprieved. He was tried before Baron
Parke, and con7icted of havin; caused the death of Anu Ray, a
nulls inutfuh by giving her corrosive jnbU i to W 13.1W11n abortion,