The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-13 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, Is4s.

A. single eharity is grudged to the unfortunate
refugees from Poland. We regret this, deeply ; and,
above all, we regret to find that an influential portion
of the Press is directing its energies to the suppression
of the solitary effort made towards the support of
these patriotic exiles. According to some of our
Contemporaries, the annual ball at Guildhall is a
profligate expenditure of the popular benevolence.
They insist upon the necessity of illustrating the
national adage. They maintain that charity, like the
polyphonist, should be "at home ;" and that, unlike
the schoolmaster, it should never go " abroad." This
is surely a bitter return to the system of exclusive-
ness. It is an endeavour to render the effects of
Christianity national, instead of cosmopolite. It is
a melancholy step towards the localization of the
corporal works of mercy. For the sake of our cha-
racter as a people, for the sake of religion, for the
sake of humanity, we would raise our voice,
against this most deplorable and mistaken opposition
which is principally, if not entirely, directed against
the subscribers and the Committee of the Association
of the Friends of Poland. We would appeal to the
public for a continuance of its support to this noble
institution, not on the score of some eccentric par-
tiality, not for the perpetuation of a poetical and
romantic entertainment, not because we are, in any
degree, infatuated by the associations of an almost
historical masquerade or by the glamour of an heroic
sentiment. We persist that the charitable amuse-
ment which takes place, year after year, in Guildhall
is entitled to the aid of the population, not for any
idle or showy reasons of this character, but because
the proceeds of the Ball afford the principal means of
preserving a numerous body of unfortunates from the
horrors of despair and starvation.
On mature reflection we are satisfied that the dis-
like entertained by our Contemporaries for the annual
recurrence of the Polish Ball arises altogether from
two extraordinary and most erroneous apprehensions.
They regard the refugees from Lithuania as men in
a voluntary state of banishment, who prefer to derive
a precarious subsistence from idleness in a foreign
country rather than create for themselves an honest
though scanty livelihood by industry in their father-
land. Beyond this the dissentient portion of the London
Press is in dread lest the aid afforded by our citi-
zens towards a parcel of foreign paupers may cause a
sensible diminution in the alms bestowed upon our
own impoverished countrymen. To no other notions
whatever can we attribute the diatribes published in
some of the metropolitan journals against the Polish
Ball and the Polish Association. We are unwilling
to trace the antagonism of our brother journalists to
a less worthy origin. It is wholly beyond our com-
prehension that the great power exercised by the
Daily Newspaper should, from other motives than
these, be employed so energetically against a class of
foreigners who are unable in any manner to defend
themselves.

Viewing the matter, therefore, in this light, we
maintain that both the impressions we have mentioned
as having stimulated our Contemporaries to the at-
tack, are in the very highest degree fallacious.
Nothing can be more frivolous than to argue that
one
hundred andeviensng'samusement
sixty-five, _
five ,
can i
no uatnoyf every threappreciablee
manner tend to the diminution of our home
or domestic charities. To prove the extravagance of
this notion it would be only necessary to enumerate
the various hospitals, almshouses, lying.in institu•
tions, asylums, and other eleemosynary establish-
ments which are scattered in such profusion through.
out the metropolis, and which are supported with
unflagging munificence, solely through the influence
of voluntary contributions. One masquerade con-
trasted with so many splendid edifices is assuredly an
atom contrasted with a sphere. And while the mi-
serable creatures, who are relieved in their destitu-
tion simply because they are unfortunate natives of
the British islands, are housed, and clothed, and
nursed, and protected in these institutions by thousands,
it is certainly not very generous for any members
of the English Press to complain because one annual
ball is given to preserve the Polish refugees from
famishing. And most especially are these complaints
ungenerous when it is remembered that the Poles
are here amongst us claiming our assistance, not
from choice, but by a dire necessity. If it is a fallacy '
to dread the diminution of our national charities,
simply because a single entertainment is given on

behalf of the Poles in the course of every twelve-
months, it is either a monstrous error or a heinous
misrepresentation to term the Poles wilful burdens
upon our community. They are so far from
being voluntary sojourners in England that
their return homewards brings them to the horrible
alternative of banishment to the wilds of Siberia, or
death by the hands of the executioner. They must
stay here or perish. There remains to them no other
resource bat our benevolence. Of this a terrible
example was instanced on Saturday evening by Lord
DUDLNY COUTTS STUART, when addressing himself
to the Committee of the Association. Repeating what
he had already stated on a previous occasion, the Noble
President reminded his auditors of the case of " the
Polish Refugee, who, tot loag since, kept a shop in
Piccadilly, and who having, this summer (impelled
by a sort of mad desire of revisiting his native country)
ventured into Russian-Poland, was immediately cap-
tured and hung !" The inference to be drawn from this
terrible illustration is obvious. The Poles are com-
pelled to remain amongst us from obedience to the
common dictates of self-preservation. A few of them,
it is true, are enabled by good fortune to obtain
employment sufficient to earn their own subsistence ;
but the majority are deprived of every opportunity
of gaining a Avelihood by the exercise of their skill
or their intelligence. Nor is this surprising, when
we reflect upon the extraordinary number of our
own people who find it altogether impracticable to
obtain werk in their native country. Therefore it is
that the Poles look to the sympathies of
England for aid and sustenance in the midst
of their tremendous calamities. And if ever
any men were entitled to the charity of their fellow-
creatures, these noble. hearted but ill-doomed refugees
from Russian Poland are—by the sublime right of our
common humanity. The victims of a conquering
and spoliative despotism, they are expelled from the
land of their nativity, not for crime but for virtue—
the lofty virtue of their undying patriotism. They
come to us for shelter in the days of their great na-
tional tribulation. They fly for help to England, to
that England which has the glorious prerogative of
affording refuge to the guiltless outcasts of the nations
of the globe. Shall they receive protection but
be denied bread ? Shall they look to us
for our vaunted generosity and find only freedom
to perish with hunger ? What then becomes of that
memorable and impassioned boast of the great orator
—that the moment the black slave presses his foot
upon the shores of England, his chains fall from him
and he breathes the air of liberty ? That liberty is
surely little better than a hideous mockery which is
embittered by the pangs of famine, and recompensed
by the planks of a gratuitous coffin 1
While a single charity of comparative insignifi-
cance is begrudged to the Polish refugees simply
because those unfortunate men are foreigners, it
would be well to remember the splendid
acts of munificence recently displayed by a
distinguished foreigner towards our own suffering
population. While preparations are making for the
ball to be holden in the Guildhall of the city of Lon-
don on Thursday evening, it may not be inappro-
priate to remind our contemporaries of the sum
realised for the Brampton Hospital for Consumption
by the artistic and beneficent genius of Mademoiselle
Jamsur LIND, and to call to their recollection also
the four hundred pounds presented only the other
day for distribution among the poor of Dublin by
that wonderful songstress and most noble-hearted
woman. With these facts living in our remembrance,
we say with our whole soul, GOD speed the Polish Ball
on Thursday I

Three important railway statements have just been
published, in addition to those which have already
appeared. The directors of the " Great Western," the
" South-Western," and of the "Lancashire and York-
shire" Companies have afforded full and explicit in•
formation, to their respective shareholders and to the
public generally, of the position and prospects of the
vast undertakings that have been confided to their
control and management. Every person may now

judge for himself how far the directors have been
warranted in their estimates of future income,
and may make his own calculations as to the
probable amount of dividend to be received on
the sums which he may have already invested, or
may desire to invest, in the stock of any or either of
these companies. The great desideratum has been
obtained —accurate data are now afforded. There
can no longer be doubt or difficulty as to the various
matters that should be thoroughly known. There
cannot be the whispered insinuation, " the shrug,
the burn, or ha," by which the fears of timid parties
were excited, and themselves induced to sacrifice

their property. The mists have been dispersed, the
obscurity enlightened, and to every rumour or
surmise that may be hazarded by those anxious
to depreciate the value of railway stock, the
true state of affairs—set forth so clearly and explicitly
—the incontrovertible facts, may be replied to the
shame and confusion of the calumniators. We con-
gratulate the community in general on the improved
aspects, the more favourable prospects opened to the
railway world, so widely different from those that had

been put forward on the semi-official authority of the
Weekly Share Lilt. A simple comparison of the
statements " conjectural" and "rear —the former

viewed through the distorting medium of pro
)uclice and distrust the latter by the pure , and
natural light of truth—will speedily convince the
most sceptical how unsubstantial was the foundation
on which rested the recent pthic, and the general
want of confidence in railway resources and railway
management. It will also show the extreme lengths
to which the opponents of those great monuments of
national industry and national enterprise ventured
in their efforts to damage the property of the share-
holders.

The Great Western statement follows the order
adopted in that of the London and North-
Western, to which it bears a considerable resem-

blance. No information that could be desired is with

held, and the clearest explanations are afforded
on every point on which they could be
required. Front the general summary it appears that
on " the main line and branches producing revenue,
including plant for all the lines," there had been ex-
pended, to the 30th June last, 9,313,3201., and that a
further outlay of 130,000/. would only be required
after that date, making a total of 9,443,3201. thereon;
that on branch lines in course of construction, but
which were not producing revenue on the 30th June,
there had been expended to that date 955,9231., and
that 495,0001. was then required, making a total of

1,450,923 L One of these lines, however, the Berks
and Hants Rsulwway (from Reading to Basingstoke,
fifteen miles in length), has since been brought into
profitable occupation, it having
.been opened for
general traffic on the lit November inst.

On the railways purchased but not yet producing
revenue, there bad been expended 310,1161., and that
a further sum of 2,666,3841. would be required,
making a total under this head of 2,976,500/. Of the
subsidiary undertakings, in which the company are
interested by subscription, contribution, or guarantee,
there had been already paid 1,011,9141, of which,
however there had already been raised towards
these subscriptions, under a guarantee sanc-
tioned by the resolution of a general meeting
held in August, 1847, 549,6601, leaving a
balance of 462,254/. actually paid by the Great
Western Company, and 765,918/. still to be paid.—
Total, 1,928,1701. On the railways, or portions of
r taken
of railways for which powers have been obtained, but
which have not yet been commenced, there has al-
ready been expended 269,5461., and there are existing
liabilities to be defrayed to the extent of 80,544/.
making a total of 350,0001.—which, we fear, may be
looked upon as absolutely lost, or at least will remain
wholly unproductive until the time (if ever) when
these several branches will be constructed.
The completion of these lines would require a
total outlay of 2,680,012/., or 2,330,0121. in addition
to the above amount of 360,0001, which sum the
the r considerationi
they
have
of
the
been
g willene
be
el
body in
brought
t reference
have judiciously decided on not calling
_up
in the present state of the Railway Market, and no
furtherntl proceedings
respectively
es h aur en theretohdoelr
d ers
uthe
.
The
erefore,
faodr de i, t
hi oe
en an I
excludedcapital
thatfrnni s i t oh e
u 1
sd u
mb be requiredcapital
phi
ta
as
1,
provided or to be provided. On the whole, it appears,
that
sun d tbheaetn theree 1 P
e
I i.
,3 1 therel:o G a
making:the total of 15,448 91
isn sdte' dll re q underu
i re d every
4, l 3 7,8h4e42/44
, 34 and not 18,463,912/.,
as stated in the Weekly Share .iist
Alter giving these facts, the Q .
ompany have prepared

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