The Sun.
London, England, 1833-03-27 00:00:00

THE POLISH MEETING .

(Continued from our Paper of Yesterday.)
Mr. FEARON continued to speak to the following effect :
He thought this nation, under such circumstances, ought to
feel honour at being selected by those eminent individuals as
their place of refuge.—(Loud cheirs:) He happened this
morning to put his hand on the Annual Register of August,
179?, above forty years ago, Wherein he found that a
meeting of the same character, and having the same
objects in view was held at the Mansion House, in the City of
London, and at that meeting this resolution was passed
Every nation upon earth is interested in the fate of the
Polish people ; to participate in their cause is our English senti-
ment for freedom, is in its nature social and beneficent.
‘. fheir open country may be overrun, but the unconquerable
trill must remain in ail its vigour."
He need not say how prophetic had been that declaration. The
country had been overrun, but the spirit of its people had not
been subdued.—(Cheers.) He hoped the English nation
would make a distinction between the Exiled Poles and our own .
poor—the one was provided for by law—the other had
no home, were friendless, houseless and in a foreign land ; he
trusted that contributions would flow in liberally, as afford-
ing a proof of the approval of the English people of the prin-
ciples which had actuated the Polish nation.—(Loud cheers.)
Prince LUCIEN BONAPA lITE then came forward to move
the next resolution, and was received with enthusiastic cheers.
The Prince spoke in French, and Dr. King interpreted what he
had said, to be, that he came forward with pride to succour the
bravest nation upon earth ; that being himself a foreigner in a
foreign land, he was in a situation calculated to make him feel
the benefits of hospitality and kindness, and that he should to
the utmost of his power second the laudable objects the meet-
ing had assembled to promote. The resolution was as
follows:

3. I hat this meeting has heard, with the deepest regret, that
the Poll-h exiles in Loadon have been in a state of destitution,
and highly approve of the means that have been adopted by the
members of the Westminster Polish Exile Friend Society to
afford them temporary relief, and done all to provide them with
some permanent means of support.
Mr. DUCKINGHA M rose to second the resolution. That
tesolution having been moved by Prince Lucien, gave an addi-
tional feature of interest to the meeting, by shewing that in
this assemblage of men from different countries, speaking diffe-
rent tongues, placed under different circumstances, all in their
hearts worshipped one idol—liberty. It had been truly
said that those could least appreciate the blessings of liberty
who had witnessed in their wildest forms the caprices and cru.
cities of despotism. Therefore it was that these brave Poles,
seeing the contrast this country presented with their own, must
feel intensely how much they had lost —(Hear, hear).
When they saw a meeting of this description, attended
4 the same time by men of high rank, and, also, by
',nett of humble station—by men who held political opinions
almost diametrically opposed one to the other, by ladies as well
as by gentlemen, a thing unknown in any country, but
England and America,—when, he said, they saw these
things, and contrasted them with what was taking place
in their own country, they must weep tears of anguish at the loss
of that which was the only thing that made life desirable.
There was one portion of the interesting speech of Prince
Lucien Buonaparte which the gentleman who translated it
overlooked. He said, that if Englishmen had been placed in
the same situation as the Poles, they could do no better
than the Poles themselves had done; for that all that
Englishmen could do, would have been to fight to the
last gasp in defence of their liberty, and that the Poles
had done.—(Loud cheers.) And that, if defeated, they
would have sought an asylum in a country where the feelings
of the community were most congenial with their own, and as it
would have been a reproach to that country to reject them from
their shores, so it would be a shame and a reproach to England
not to afford them to those, who had acted as Englishman
should act in the same circumstances, all the courtesy it,
their power. He was no party to the compact that Government
politics:were excluded from the discussions of this meeting,
but he was bound in courtesy to accede to the agreement
which had been observed by others. At the same time,
it was difficult, indeed, quite impossible, to speak of
Poland, and not be political. He would avoid being so, how-
ever, as far as he could. It was notorious that the Revolution
-in Poland differed from many which had taken place
in other countries. It was not the presence of tyranny
under an acknowledged system of right, that the Poles rose to
resist. Independence was promised, nay, given the Poles,
and afterwards invaded. They were as much justified,
therefore, in rising against the oppression, as we should be
justified in meeting an enemy who had invaded our shores.—
(Cheers.) Theirs was not an insurrection, but an act of self-
defence and self-preservation.—(Renewed cheers.) Hence
men of all political parties might agree to pay them •
honour, for he must be a recreant, and coward indeed, who
could say that a man was not justified in defending his country.
—(Cheers.) The Poles had a claim, therefore for the suffer-
hugs they had endured to preserve their hearths from violation
upon the sympathy of every free man.— (Cheers.) They all,
doubtless, knew of the cruelties which had been practised in
Poland ; but, perhaps, he might be permitted to recall
to their recollection this unnatural aggravation to them.—
(Hear, hear.) Whilst their wives and daughters were
treated with savage ferocity by the hounds of barbs-
rians which overrun their country, the helpless Poles
were condemned to see their infant children led in •
chains and fetters into an exile from which there was not
hope of return.—(Cries of " Horrible.") He asked them as!
fathers, as husbands, as men, as Christians, Whether in any of •
these relations their hearts would not swell in their bosoms be. I
yond the power of control, and their hands search for a.e
weapon to plunge into the hearts of their tyrants, even though
it were the last act of their existence, and the heavens themselves
were about to fall to crush them into annihilation. He:
was happy the sentiment lie had expressed was so responded .
to him. Advertance had been made to a fact lamentable t&
the French Government—namely, that a national provision had'
been made for large numbers of these unfortunates, but the
financial difficulties of this country made it perhaps impossible
for our Government to do the like ; and although a proposi. •
tion to that effect would, no doubt, be received with
approbation by a large part of the country, yet:
there would be others who would resist it on the
ground that it ought to be left to individual charity. Perhaps
those who thought so, but properly estimated the reliance
which might be placed on the feelings of Enhglismen.—(Hear.)
Had they not in the chair a distinguished Member of Parlia-
ment, whose life presented a continued career of advocacy of
liberal principles—(Loud cheers) and that: not merely
with the lip worship, so easy even to the lukewarm, but in his
purse and munificent hospitality bestowed upon foreigners
in distress.—(Loud cheers.) Had they not present also
a Noble Lord (Ebrington) who had throughout his life fol-
lowed the principles which immortalized the name of his dis.
tinguished colleague? Looking beyond the Noble. Lord, he
saw present also the Hon. Member for Kirkcudbight (Mr.
Cutler Fergusson) whom he had known hi India as the advo-
cate of liberal principles, and who, although he might differ
from him in some political questions, had certainly done him-
self immortal honour by his advocacy of the cause of Poland.—
(Continued cheers.) Although, then, we fell behind
France, as far as the Government's assistance went,
that was a good reason for hoping that we should as much ex.
ceed th m in our private munificence, as we did in the greater
extent of our wealth and of freedom of sentiment which
pervaded all classes of our population. If the Government
gave relief to foreigners to which he had to contribute a
crown, he should feel much less pride and satisfac-
tion, than he should feel in giving half-a-crown volun-
tarily from his pocket. He doubted not, therefore, that
the friends of freedom in this country would sieze the oppor-
tunity afforded them of gratifying their feeling by a voluntary
contribution to the humane object they were met to promote.
The Hon. Gentleman concluded by seconding the resolution
which he observed he did with hearty good will.
The resolution was then put to the meeting by the Chair-
man, who declared it to be carried unanimously.

The Cux'aMa then read a letter front Prince Adam Czar-
toryski, in which he regretted his inability to attend
the meeting, in consequence of ill health, and begged the
Chairman to express to the meeting how deeply gratciul
he felt for the kind interest the people of England had
taken in the misfortunes of his country. The Prince also
begged to call the attention of the meeting to the school
established in France, for the education of children of Polish

The CHAIRMAN, in rising to propose to the meeting
a Pole, who was renowned for having, during a long life,
advocated the struggle for the liberties of Poland, felt
no small gratification. That Noble Pole had now attained the
age of nearly SO years. He had been wounded in the field of
fighting for the liberties of Poland under the great Kosciusko.
He had been taken prisoner, and imprisoned for ten years in
the dungeons of St. Petersburgh. He trusted that the course
the English nation were now pursuing, would not only
alleviate the sufferings of the unhappy Poles, but would
assist in forwarding those views which had been pointed
out by the Prince Czartoryski in his letter. This country had
shown itself foremost among the nations of the earth to vie with
the French Government in relieving the sorrows of Poland ;
and he felt no hesitation in saying, that it would be a great gra.
tification to the unfortunate Poles, even if this country should
not be able to afford them that assistance which would extricate
them from their troubles, to know they had done so much.
The Hon. CHAIRMAN, after admitting that he was rather
wrong in stating that polities should be left out in the dis-
cussion, introduced to the meeting

NIE WER.VOIEZ, Senator, Castellan, Poet, Director of the
Chancery of the Polish Diet, who, on coming forward, was re-
ceived with the most deafening applause. He begged to convey
to the meeting, in the name of his countrymen, the sentiments
which they felt towards the people of England for the kindness
they had experienced from them. The language of this country
being but imperfectly known to him, and his feelings being so
strong upon the subject, he trusted the meeting would
pardon him if he did not render himself perfectly understood.
It was to him a most glorious sight to see in the chair one who,
for half a century, had been the constant supporter of
liberty, not only in this country, but over the whole
globe. He had heard speeches that day, expressing senti-
ments of sympathy in the wrongs of Poland, which were
most flattering and delightful to him. Such had been the
state of Poland that upwards of 300 Polish youths had for-
saken their schools and colleges in order to enlist in the army
and fight to the last for the liberty of their countrymen. Those
youths were now in France, and it would be a most happy era
in his life to know, by the exertions of England, their wishes
were likely to be perfected. He thanked the meeting and the
people of England for the exertions they had made in the cause
of unhappy Poland, and he prayed the Almighty that
the great, the free, and the powerful England—(tbud cheers)
—might never experience those woes which now ground Poland
to the earth.--(Loud cheers.)
TURII, Chancellor of the Polish. Diet, came forward to ad.

dress the meeting arhidst loud and long continued cheers.--
Gentlemen, I hope you will excuse me, if, from want of
proficiency, I am brief in returning my thanks, I
feel my utter inability to express anything like a due acknow-
ledgment, because your sympathy with our ill fate, and the
kind offices in alleviating, it, are such as to be more easy to be
felt than to be expressed. However,' our common feeling
will, I hope, become more evident, if connected with senti-
ments expressed by a Polish mother when writing to her
exiled son abroad, in answer to one of his letters, in which,
for the sake of not causing her any pain, it was said
that her son needed nothing, although in fact he was in distress
and misery. Here is the extract of that mother's letter, whose
name I must forbear telling, as it might expose her to prosecu-
tion. These are the feelings of a Polish matron of 60, worn
out by grief, and the vivacity of whose feelings are chilled by
advanced age. You may then imagine what must be the fervour
of gratitude of those who are young wives, sisters, and daughters.
Still I beg to consider that these are the feelings of a feeble
sex—of the Polish women. Our gratitude—the gratitude of
men—shall be manifested in another manner. There, in the
fields of battle--in the struggle of liberty against despotism—
in the defence of the rights of man—there we shall endea-
vour to prove the greatness of our gratitude. He then read
the extract to which he alluded, and which was as follows :

" The hopes, my son, you hold out of a speedy return do not
in the least alleviate my grief, for they have often proved trea-
cherous to us! Still the news of the excellent r c,ption you
everywhere meet with abroad is a real consolation to your
afflicted mother. During your stay in Germany I used to write
to those who had stretched their helping hand to assist
you. I then was happy to know their language, and I
thought by my letters I have been augmenting the num.
ber of your benefactors and friends. This was, then, the
only means left to your mother for benefitting you. But at pre-
sent I must forego even that advantage. Now in England,
since I can neither be read nor understood, I beg to tell, that
no greater consolation can be afforded to an afflicted mother,
whose age had placed near the brink of her grave, and who in
her unhappy country every day finds fresh motives for new
sorrow, than to hear of her son's misfortune meeting with cheer.
ing and soothing compassion. My gratitude must be as great as
the consolation affbrded is soothing, and my blessing as sincere
as my prayers to Heaven are ardent."

Captain KORGTKO addressed the meeting in the Polish
language, and M. DE LA GARDE, Chamberlain to the late King
Stanislaus, proceeded to translate the speech to the meeting,
which, as near as we could catch it, in consequence of the low
tone in which M. De la Garde spoke was nearly to the following
effect :—lf ever unfortunate Poland was relieved from its present
misery, it would be owing to the example and kindheartedness
of England, that country of liberty. Poland was once a large.
happy, and free country, but the hand of despotism had been
laid heavy upon her from many quarters. He did not doubt
but she would have been supported by England had she not
been surrounded by a host of enemies. It was to be hoped
that as soon as England had it in her power she would step for-
ward and assist poor Poland once more into the scale of nations.
Even now the only cry of her exiled sons to the English people
was gratitude—gratitude—gratitude.
Mr. CAMPBELL then rose to propose the next resolution
In so doing, he would assure them that after all that had been
said, he would he brief in the observations with which he would
preface the resolution. There had not been a meeting of the
Literary Polish Association since that meeting had been
called, but he believed that he might take upon him-
self to return thanks of the association, to those who
then sat before him. That association had been instituted
for the purpose of expressing and keeping the wrongs of Poland
before the public, and he would tell the Imperial Kidnapper
that if he would give no amnesty to the Poles, then the friends
of Poland would grant no amnesty to him, but show him up in
all his native wickedness.

The motion was seconded by Lord DUDLEY STUART,
which was to the following effect :
That this meeting earnestly recommend the benevolent and
liberal of all classes of the community to contribute, as far as
their means will allow, to so laudable an object, and while they
invite the co-operation of all parties and conditions of English-
men, they a,so respectfully and confidently solicit the Ladies of
England, to aid and as ist in so truly Christian a cause, feeling
assured that benevolence and compassion are the distinguished
attributes of the female heart.

Sir Francis Burdett and the other Members of Parliament
then left to attend their duty in the House.

The Chair was then taken by Mr. G. EVANS, who an.
flounced a subscription from Colonel De Lacy Evans, of 51.
(Loud cheers.)

Dr. KING then proposed the 6th resolution.
That the thanks of this meeting are due, and are hereby
given to the Polish Literary Association, particularly to I.
Campbell, Esq., its President to Mr. Bach, is late Secretary ;
rand to R. C. I. ergusson, F—sq. M.P., for their able and disinte-
rested advocacy of the Polish cause ; as well as to the conductors
of the public press, and all those who have exerted themselves
for the reli.•fof the Polish exiles.
Mr. CARPUE seconded the resolution, which was put and
carried unanimously.

Thanks were voted to Sir Francis Burdett and to the pre.
sent Chairman, as well as to the Polish Committee.

Several additional subscriptions were announced, and the
Meeting separated.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 26.

In cons• quence of there being ballots for Committees on
the Southampton, Coventry city, and Nippon borough
Elections, the gallery was not opened till ten minutes
after five.

The amendments to the London and Birmingham Rail-
way Bill were read a second time, and ordered to be
engrossed.

The Sheriffs of the City of London appeared at the hat-
of the House, and presented a petition from the Lord
Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons in Council assembled,
on the subject of the house and window taxes.
Mr. Alderman WOOD moved that the petition be read.
The petitioners stated th ,t ,hey relied with confidence on
the determination of h s Majesty's Ministers to reduce the
public expenditure, and relieve the burdens of all classes
of the community. They felt that the house and
window taxes were unjust in principle, and unequal in
operation, and pressed with great seve►ity, partly from
the vexatious surcharKes occasioned by them on the in-
dustrious classes. The window tax especially, they con-
siders, most injurious to the public health and comfort,
and they, therefore, humbly petitioned the House that
both :taxes should :forthwith be repea!ed. The Worthy
Alderman supported the prayer of the petition, and
moved that it do lie on the table.

Sir JOIIN KEY also supported the prayer of the pe-
tition, and trusted the Noble Lord (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer) would give that effect to it to which it was
entitled, as the petition of the corporate representatives of
the first city in the empire. The house and window
taxes pressed most injuriously and unequally on the in-
habitants of the inetrop who paid the largest portion of
those most obnoxious taxes.

Sir HARRY VERNEY presented a petition from
Buckingham and its vicinity for the better observance of
the Sabbath.

Sir THOMAS FREMANTLE supported the prayer
of the petiti,,n, but he hoped that in any Bill which the
Hon. Member for Wigton intended to bring in, there
wuuld he no clause that would interfere with the recreation
of the poorer classes.

Mr. WILKS presented petitions from the Wesleyan
Methodists of Birmingham, of the city of Lichfield, and
Che--terlcy in the county of Stafford, complaining of the
grievances under which they laboured in being obliged to
pay church and poor rates, not only for their own resi
'knees but for their chapels, although they paid the ex-
penses of their own places of worship, and supprted
diem own poor He also presented petition. from two
congregations of Bapt•sts in the Old Kent Road, Surrey,
tnd in Charhs-street, Berner,- street, Commercial-road,
tor the betoer observance of the Sabbath.

Mr. HUME thought that a great deal of time would
be saved, and the necessity of petitioning upon the
subject to which those petitions referred—he meant re-
Ming to the parochial registration as it aff eted the
Dissenters—would be done away, if some Member of his
M jesty's Government would consent to take it in hand.
Mr. WILKS objected to that course as he bad given
notice of a motion for a Select Committee to consider
the subject nf general registration, which he thought it
would be better to dispose of before the marriage ques-
tion was brought forward.

Lord ALT HORP made some observation, which was
not audible in the gallery.