The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-12 00:00:00

POLAND.
PU3LIC MEETING OF THE FRATERNAL

DEMOCRATS.

A very numerous assemblage of the members and
friends of this soeiety took place on Monday evening
last, December 7th, in the German Society's Hall of
Meeting, Drury-lane. John Moy was called to the
chair.
JULIAN ITAPNEY said, he had received some letters
from the country, the writers wishing to know if th,y
could he associated with the society as honorary mein-
hers. He sure :hat the society would be happy to
have the co• operation of all good democrats anxious r()
advance the principle of human brotherhood.—(Cheer...)
Two of the persons who had mitten to him he had mi,ell
pleasure in proposing as honorary members:—p,.!, r
Gray, of Dumfries ; and William Beesley, of Accri.
ton, North Lancashire ; both men of integrity and to,
link p ariot'sm.—(Cheers.) He hoped to see the leadi'7_,,
democrats throughout the country, ere long, ti.sociat,-.!
with the society in promoting the principles of fraternity
and freed.an.—(Cheers.)
Messrs. Gray and Beesley were unanimously clect
members.
Several candidates for membership were then pr
posed.

JuLrArr HARNEY reported that the resolu,i,ms adopt 4
by the Dem.cratic Committee for Poland's Reg,eneratt-,
-.ad been warded to Lord Palmerston, end to the lea :-
trig the Xortlarn Star, Morning
u7tz,er. The Sun, had published the resolutiot •
the Globe. md Dougts Jerrold's Newspaper, had mer
noticed then, ; and the Times, Chronicle, Daily 21ey
and We,-/l Dispatch had not even noticed them.
CARL SCRAPPER reported that an account of t'
I;:eeting of the Poland' Regeneration Committee
; een published in the Reforrne.—(Cheers.)
Subsequently a vote of thanks to those journals
,f.l published the democratic resolutions was unap; -!), adopted.
JULIAN HARNEY, after reading the address of
th
French Det,ocracy to the Democracy of Europe, vvhi,
was lourtly cheered, proceeded to read the address of tt, •
Frate nal Democrats, given below. The address w't,
warmly applauded. J. H. proceeded to speak at son;
length on the Polish question, and concluded by moving
the adoption of the address.
CARL SCRAPPER, in an energetic speech, which was
loudly cheered, seconded the motion.
The address was then unanimously adopted.
The meeting then adjourned until Monday evening,
December 21st, when Christopher Doyle will deliver an
address on " The State and Prospects of ama,_;cracy in
Scotland."

THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS (ASSEMBLING
IN LONDON) TO THE DEMOCRATS OF
EUROPE.

" All men are Brethren."
Fellow Men,—The last act of imperial brigandage
towards Poland has been consummated—the last shred
of Polish nationality has ceased to exist—the " free city"
of Cracow has become an Austrian out-post, the pirate
flag of the Kaisers of Vienna floats over the tombs of
Sobieski and Kosciusko.
The Polish exiles, wherever scattered, have, in. the
name of their bleeding country, protested against this
crowing wrong ; in the name of the gagged millions
within Poland. in the name of the living martyrs suffer-
ing in dungeons and captive chains, whose cries cannot
reach us, they (the exiles) have appealed to Europe
against this last outrage on the part of their remJrseless,
enemies.

Tie democracy of France have also protested against
this latest crime of purple clad criminals, they have ap-
appealed to Europe to assert with them the rights of
man against the unholy conspiracies of the usurping,
despotisms. To those appeals we add ours, in full con-
fidence, that the nations will not fur long remain silent
or inactive.
We deplore not the reading of the treaty of Vienna
The pact of 1815 was an unholy bond of alliance
against the people of all nations. Whether victors
or vanquished in the preceding war, the people who
had fought the battles and paid the cost, and
borne the suffering of the struggle—the people--
the people of all nations were conspired against by
the signers of the treaty of Vienna ; a treaty made to
perpetuate injustice in the name of religion, and tyrannx
in the name of peace : a treaty entered into for ibe
pur-
pose of suppressing liberty, obstructing popular pro_ress,
and protecting corrupt governments and perjure(
kings from the just vengeance of the people they had
used, cheated, and were then preparing to enchain.
The people of France, Belgium, Germany, and Poland,
in 1830, combatted against the treaty of Vienna ; subse
quently the people of Spain and Portugal rose likewise almost yearly Italy has been the theatre of " blood--
protests ;" and years ago, the British people joined
the general renunciation, if by a more peaceable es-
pression of public opinion, not on that account the le, - decisive.
On the other hand, the violation of the "treaty" com
menced by the hypocrite Alexander, and consummat, I
by the tyrant Nicholas towards the " guaranteed" " stitutional" King-aom of Poland;" has been at completed by the confiscation of Cracow, the free and'.
independent existence of which was " guaranteed" by.
the treaty of Vienna " for ever." The Russian, Ikres-
sian, and Austrian despots have joined to share UK.
infamy, the last-named takes the spoil.
But for Poland, the imbecile Ferdinand would neve,
have had a throne; but for John Sobieski and his Polish
heroes, Vienna would have fallen before the assault Ma.tiorntnedan hordes; yet now Sobieski's tomb is at the
mercy of an Austrian gaoler. Behold the gratitude c:
kings !

The confi,cation of Cracow does not induce us to de-
spair of the cause of Poland, en the contrary, we are
satisfied that its fall will hasten the moment of Poland's
restoration. Governments can no longer profess to be
bound by the treaty of Vienna ; the whole question of
Polish nationality is re-opened for governments as well
as for nations ; if the governments of western Europe
refuse to perform their duty, the people must (iv their's.
And the people must act. Already Switzerland is
threatened with them fate of Poland. or
is this all. Could popular inaction be counted upon by the despot-
isms the probability is that the entire of Germany
would be siezed b ustria and Prussia ; that Italy
would become the soles roperty of Austria ; and norih-
ward and southward "Russia would seize upon her wished
for prey, and Scandinavia and Turkey become part and
parcel of the Muscovite empire.
This is no dream—it is the undoubted aim Gr the
triune despots. Will the nations permit it ?
We abhor war, but even war is less terrible than
slavery.
One thing is earnestly to be desired before all others,
that the people of Europe, no meter by what name
calling themselves, should learn that their true interests
are oue and the same. The abolition of national pre-
judices will prepare the way for general and effective
action. Let the naticins be but united in sentiment, and
their moral power will be more invincible than all the
physical force of their oppressors. Should those op-
prssors madly dare the physical force ofunited myriad
woe to them.
We hear a whisper of the probability of a nevi Con-
gress of Kings to patch up broken treaties, cement royal
differences, and form a new league against ..ne people.
Against any such Congress, no matter under what pre-
text called together, we warn you. Instead, let A
CONGRESS OF NATIONS ASSEMBLE TO PRE-
PARE FOR THE GREAT " CRUSADE."
Our Polish brethren have appealed to the nations of
Europe, and the nations will not let them appeal in vain.
By the blood of Poland's martyrs—by the wrongs and
sufferings, tortures and miseries of Poland's children--
by the foul dishonour we have suffered in permitting so
long these crimes against humanity, we swear to de-
vote our enemies to the triumphant restoration of'
Poland.
Our French brethren have demanded the fraternal aid
of their brtAltrun of every land in this holy work ; and
that demaold x‘e are convinced will ere long be univer-
sally responded to. For ourselves, we swear that our
lives shall be dedicated to the glorious mission of rescu-
ing humanity from the thraldom of aristocratic institu-
tions, and despotic governments.
Our cause is the cause
of right and justice, progro...
and freedom. :Up then men of every land—
" Rise and rally forward nations!
Will must ripen into deed."
Signed loz the Secretaries :
G. JULIAN HARNEY, native of Great Britain.
J. A. MICHELOT, native of France.
CARL SCRAPPER, native of Germany.
LOUIS ORORSKI, native of Poland.
PETER HOLM. native of Scandinavia.
.T. SCHABELITZ, native of Switzerlarld.
N. NAM EII. native of Hungary%
Dee tuber 7th, 184 G.

,TRANGE CONFLICT.—A. 4:esv days ago, as two gen-
arnen were near the Meie Rock between Avoch and
Portrose, with a New
about 20 yards in c.oundland dog, a fish was seen
The fish was firms'
pursuit. H a•,:tt:e sea, its fins topping the water.
elevatee.it,elf
`.., caught thenedfistebdyegth
out of the water, and got clear obo
the
tail, immediately
whenf swam
ththe
fishd i'
and the
th dived o.
Tl2,e dog again caught it by the mouth,
h the fish, and.
The dog, however, succeeded in
fish in
is, we understand, a fox-
under the water, when a violent struggleuisg took place
dragged it ashore.
—1?oss• shire Ad-
vertiser.
shark, and measuredTshefeet in length.

ATTEMPT AT DROWNING IN THE SERPENTINE.--
Yesterday afternoon a very respectably-dressed female
was observed crying very bitterly, and hurrying along.
the north shore of the Serpentine river in Hyde Park..
Mr. Cross, of Chelsea, and Mr. Stephenson, of Kensinir.
ton, narrowly watched her ; but on a sudden she plunger',
in just where the water deepened very greatly. Tie, nu_
fortunate creature was got out immediately, and the
former gentleman having some knowledge of her, she
was immediately conveyed to her home in Sloane•street,
in a most deplorable condition, both of mind and body..
It transpired that she was the wife of a very respect-.
able tradesman, whose name for obvious reasons is wit:n.
held.

MYSTERIOUS FIRE AT ROCHESTER.-011 We;lies,
day afternoon, between three and four o'clock, tip-, in-
habitants of Rochester were alarmed by a fire Ituriidenly
Alelgiun?.4-
bursting forth from a building in the occupatie, .
.I.reatenea .1 of Mr.
Dadd, builder, of Chatham, at the back of
.
aouses, and other
place, on the common, which for a time 0-
composed entirely
struction to a number of small houses,
chiefly built of
direction,,erable spa
de-
wood, as well as stabling, slaughter'
but with the
outbuildings. The building on fir,
s,,
of wood, extended over a consirl
ce, and the
flames were spreading in ever,
jr
blazing masses wore thrown. nvvards, the fire
assistance of the fire-hooka.
ing away supports, the ' and by Cutting and knock-
down, and, being forcr,d i
subdued. The floo-•
'-vved with shavings, but has been shttc
.. of the d' in
was
at
lend'
broke out was str ui ing which the &re
up for some tittle, and at present its origin is envelopes/
in mystery, '
Mr. MP-11. owa White had au interview with Sir Geor,
ge
Greyp4taday%
, ---

~=~'

DRURY LANE THEATRE
Balfe's new three act opera, entitled The Bondman
(hike libretto by Bunn) was produced here last evening
s h the most complete success. It is an operatic
version of the French play, Le Chevalier de St.
George's, in which Lafont, as the mulatto hero, pro-
duced such an immense effect last season at the St.
James's Theatre. In the opera the Chevalier is trans-
formed into a Mr. Ardenford, which character was
admirably sustained by Harrison, who seems to have
studied Lafont's style of dressing and acti'.g to
great purpose. The opera opens in front of the
post-house near the avenue leading to the Castle
of Rainey, with a hunting chorus. Madame Co-
rinne (Miss Romer) arrives, and is received with all
duo attention by the innkeeper Jaloux (Mr. S.
Jones) and his pretty little wife, Grisette (Miss R.
Isaacs), who made a great deal of a very little part) ;
Corinne -is accompanied by the old Marquis de Vernon
(Mr. Weiss), who is courting her for his son, or,
rather, courting her fortune, for she is the young widow
of an immensely rich creole, and we learn that her father's
estate in St. Domingo and that of the Mai quis were ad-
joining. She observes upon the apparent neglect of the
son of Marquis, and reveals that she loves a mulatto,
Camille, the son of Naomi, a slave, who had been sold by
the Marquis to her mother, and who had been scourged
with igremainy from the race-course at St. Domingo,
for having dared to offer her his love. She has
never seen him since ; but once before she left St. Do-
mingo, she heard his voice singing a plaintive negro
air, which she still remembers, and which she has often
sung since. It is a beautiful ballad, " Child of the Sun,
unhappy slave," which was exquisitely given by Miss
Romer, and was enthusiastically encored. She still re-
members Camille ; and although eight years have
elapsed since that time, yet, strange to say, the appear-
ance of a mulatto gentleman, who, of course, could have
no connexion with the poor slave, whom she had seen
the night, before at the opera, has strangely affected
her. From her description, the Marquis at once re-
cognises in this mulatto gentleman, Ardenford,
who is the rival of the Marquis in every thing.
The son of the Marquis, the Count de Floreville (Mr.
Rafter) now enters, to the great relief of the Marquis.
The Count is a fop and spendthrift, and from his deli-
neation of this character we augur favourably of the
future career of Mr. Rafter, who is an actor as well as a
singer. He is constantly in love with dancers and
singers, and his opening air " On zephyr's wings they
say she flies," was given with quaintness and spirit.
This air is admirably characteristic, as is the duet with
the Marquis, which follows it, light, airy, graceful, yet
descriptive, most descriptive. This piece proves that
Balfe is a perfect master in opera buffs, and need not
shrink from a comparison with any of hiscontemporaries
of any nation. Ardenford and his companions now
enter singing a joyous chorus, " Were it not that
folly," which is perhaps the gem of the opera. It is
full of life, spirit, and originality—is admirably in-
strumented and excellently sung, and was rapturously
and deservedly encored. There is a little solo bit of
melody introduced for Harrison, followed by a reprise
of the chorus, which produced a most telling effect.
Then follows the flirtation scene with Grisette, the jea-
lousy scene with her husband, and the shooting of his
ssightcap by Ardenford, in which the original French
play is closely f illowed. After this comes another
chorus, " The chase, the chase," to which Arden-
ford's companions all hurry off, leaving him
alone, when he is joined by Corinne. Then
comes a ballad, ‘• They say there is some
.distant land," which is evidently written for llarrison,
and which was honoured with an encore. The flageolet
synaphony end accompaniment to this ballad is parti-
cular', beautiful. This is followed by a duet between
Ardenford and Corinne, exquisitely sung by Miss
Tstomer, who was in beautiful voice, and Harrison. It is
evi.d.ently they are in love with each other, and that,
in tins instance as in every other, the mulatto will be
the victor over the Count. Then follows the arrest of
Ardenfozd on his entry into the carriage en route for
the Bestile, and his clever substitution of the Count for
himself as in the original play. The act ends with
a finale and chorus a beautiful composition in
the old English style of music. The scene
of the second act is laid in a saloon in the
hotel of Madame Corinne in Paris. The Marquis is at-
tending on her, grumbling to himself at having to make
love for his son, for whose absence he cannot possibly
account. In this scene there is an admirable buffs air,
"There is nothing so perplexing," which was well sung
by Weiss. but which would require Lablache to do
justice to it, and which would be quite worthy of that
Prince of Baffes. This air, if given with the breadth
and viseomica which Lablache would give to it,
would alone make the fortune of a short
opera. Even Weiss, phlegmatic as he gene-
rally is, seemed quite inspired by the music, and his
exertions were rewarded by a hearty encore. The Mar-
quis tells Corinne that Ardenford is about to be married;
she then becomes convinced that she loves him, admires
even his very complexion, and expresses her feelings in
the exquisitely beautiful ballad, "It is not form, it is not
face," which, following as it does so closely the buffs air
of the old Marquis, pleases the more from the force of the
contrast. She is left alone, and the valet of Mr.
Ardenford, Mal-a-propos (Harley). is announced.
Mal-a-propos has known her in St. Domingo, and
is eloquent in praise of his master. She learns
from the valet that his master keeps a miniature
of a lady in a drawer—that is doubtless the lady of his
love, and she bribes him to procure her a sight of the
miniature. It is sufacient to say, that Mal- 1.-propoa
richly des:'rves his name, and that Harley acts the part,
with which he infuses all manner of indiscribable
and qua'nt Harleyisms for the lover of genuine
farce, to be perfe sly aware that there is a vast treat in
store for him. The valet leaves him, and Ardenford
enters. is not about to be married. Her inquiries of
him about St.. Domingo, of the fate of poor Camille, for
whom she confesses her love, and the certificate of whose
freedom sho consigns to Ardenford to be transmitted to
St. Domingo. It is scarcely necessary to add that they
recognise each other, and that at that moment the
hopes of the Count de Floreville are destroyed.
The whole of this scene is given in concerted
mutie, --which is most expressive, and in which
The accompaniment is most- judiciously managed. The
Marquis now enters, followed by large groups of nobi-
lity and gentry. There is a fise at the hotel of Corinne.
Ardenford, ouch to the annoyance of the Marquis
• ,
is in-es;ant its his attentions to Corinne, and
when she is asked to sing, even accompanies her
on the guitar. The Count, who has escaped from the
Bastille, now enters, and after getting well laughed at
for his adventure, returns to dress for the fete. lie is
met by Mal-a-propos, who, imagining him to be an
agent of Corinne, delivers to him the miniature. He
looks at it. It is the portrait of a negress,
and Mal-ft-propos, recognising it, declares it is the
portrait of Naomi, of master's mother, the mother of
little Camille, but adds that if it were known, it might
ho toe ruin of him. The company now re-
enter. Ardenford sings the negro air which Corinne
had sung in the first act. The Count enters, accuses
Ardenford of being a swindler, a runaway slave. the
sou of Naomi, who has still the mark of the whip on
him. Ardenford makes a rush at him, but is re-
strained. The Marquis contemplates the scene with
alarm. Corinne sinks fainting into a chair, sad the
scene drops upon the melee. Thus far the opera is per-
fect, but the third act is somewhat heavy, and needs
condensetion. There is too muchtlialogue in it. Arden-
ford and the Count are about to fight a duel—the Mar-
quis seeks Ardenford, and tells him the Count is his
brother, that he (the Marquis) is his (Ardenford's)
father, who, in his childhood, sold him and Naomi
to slavery. The concerted music of this scene
is very fine and expressive, and it was ad-
mirably given by Harrison and Weiss. We have then
an interview between Corinne and Ardenford, in which
there i introduced a very graceful romance, " Go,
memory, go," which was sung with great feeling by
Miss Romer. The Count and Ardenford meet to
fight the duel, and the Marquis also is present. Arden-
ford refuses to fight, but demands that the Marquis
shell publicly acknowledge him as his son. A crowd
of people enter who have been gathered together by Mal-
a-propos, to prevent the duel. Ardenford's claims are
recognised, and, of course, he is united to Corinne, who
also., of course, sings the finale. The noticeable pieces
of music in this act, in addition to the romanza and the
finale, are the chorus, " Through wood and through
forest." and a quartette, " There is a destiny which
leads," sung by Harrison, Weiss, Horncastle, and Rafter.
The chorus was, admirably given, but the quartette
must be rehearsed carefully before its full ef-
fects will be brt;:isht out. We had enough
last night to convince us that it is a masterly composi-
tion, but the singers were seai-rely up to the music—at
least they were deficient in that e:?semble which is the
life and soul of all part music. Taken as a whole, the
composition of this opera will add to Balfe's fame.
There are parts of it superior to anything. that he has
yet done. The instrumentation throughout is full,
complete, and artistical, full without being noisy.
It is evident that he has profited by his recent sojourn
in Germany. His orchestral effects are more perfect
than they have hitherto been, and it is, perhaps, the
most artistical work he has yet produced. He was
greeted with loud applause on his appearance in the
orchestra, and was called for at the conclusion, as
loud
s were
Miss Romer and Harrison ; and then there was
call for Bunn, who at length made his appearance,
and addressed the audience, thanking them in a
short speech for the manner in which they had testi-
fied their approbation of the work of himself and his
fellow labourers. The ballet of The Wags of Wapping,
With 6ophie Fuoco as the heroine, followed. The
house was crowded in every part, before the rising of the
curtain.

---
Tun ISLANDS HE THE PAClFlC.—Samples of sugar,
c.otton, and wool, of excellent quality, grown in the
Sandwich Islands, have been forwarded thence by Mr.
Miller, our Consul-General, and formed objects of con-
siderable ;attraction at the underwriters rooms last week.
--Liverpool Times.
WOOD rA.VEMENT.—In order to form a roughened
surface for tt,,e horses, every alternate course of the wood
Pav?mant by I side of the Royal Exchange has been
cut down about aL inch ; the result of which is a jar to
the
caremzes pasiinc over it that much injures them.
J'l he Builder.
Mr
•Elcd.on M p proposed, as Lord Mayor
of 'lurk, %che' for. thro,Ning open more completely
the weia-end nF
betßec3rAviishwi thebmagni6c": cathedral in that city, to
scs:orblic subs,-ription, and heads the
list Itim‘eif vr:th
DVRABLR AND PRESEILVATIVE
alr
112:5 batik taken cut by AINT.—A patent
of Chester, for an
improvement in the mode of. Jones,
tnaersip carbon or char-
ptntfor water-proof-
and as a permattent and
ii,141 and other railway or generalproof-
ciiity of pulverizing the charcoal of purposes.
00d at sde
-
ficeness in the ordinary grinding mills has been nyt
copse by the removal, under this patent, of the finer par-
ticks, in the form of dust, by aid of a stream of air,
more or less gentle, according to the fineness requisite.—
The Builder.