The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

NUNS OF MINSK.

The NOBLE EARL proceeded to say, that on a pre-
vious evening he had given notice to the Noble Lord
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of his intention to ask
him a question on a subject which had excited a great
sensation throughout all civilised countries. It had been
stated that in a state In Europe the most barbarous
and savage acts which it was possible to conceive had
been committed ; and though it might be questionable
how far they were entitled to interfere in the internal
relations of other countries, he still thought that an in-
terference by peaceable means, and peaceable remon-
strances, with regard to such acts as he was about to call
the attention of their Lordships, so far from being at
variance with national proprieties,was perfectly justifiable.
He alluded to what had especially been brought under
their attention lately, and of which they had read and
heard much. He referred to Lithuania, where scenes
had taken place so incredible, that it was with 'the
greatest difficulty they could be led to believe them. He
had taken great pains to arrive at the truth of the facts
alleged, and the result was that they were
too true. He had learned from the most undoubted au-
thority that that country had witnessed barbarities of a
most atrocious character. He would not harrow up their
feelings with a description of the horrors and cruelties
whieh had been committed in Lithuania on un-
protected nuns, and persons holding the Roman
Catholic Faith. He would be content with
stating shortly the leading facts of the case. In
1837 it appeared that the principal of the Roman Ca-
tholic Church in that district became converted from
the Roman Catholic to the Russian or Greek faith,
and in consequence he obtained an unlimited power
from the Emperor of Russia to use every means
for the conversion of the Roman Catholics hitherto
under his direction. He made his first attempt
at conversion upon the sisterhood of Minsk,
and, after obtaining the conversion of the prin-
cipal or head to his views, proceeded to use his influ-
ence with the nuns to change their religion. Having
failed in his attempt he gave them three months to
consider his proposition, at the end of which
time he expected them to give an answc r. Fail-
ing to obey this injunction the principal, at
the head of a body of soldiers, seized upon
the sisterhood and took them into custody. They were
then put to every kind of servile and menial employ-
ment, and obliged to associate with the lowest dregs of
society. After two years' servitude of this kind, from
fear that the bishop of their church would influence
the people of the town to rise in their favour, they were
removed to a neighbouring town, where they were
put to labour which no female ought to or
could endure. They were obliged to serve the masons
engaged in building the palace, and so hard was the
labour that eight of them died at the work, and three
others immediately after. The cruelties inflicted on
them were such as to make their Lordships' blood shud-
der. They were given salted herrings with the object of
increasing their thirst, and denied a cup of water to
quench it, while they fed on alternate days uponbread and
water. They were brought to the lowest possible state,
and then when they would not abandon their religion,
they were made to receive fifty lashes twice a week.
Under this treatment several of them died. Not only
were they made to suffer this treatment, but were sub-
jected to other treatment which he could not name.
He did think that a worse spirit was never evinced by
the most ruthless of the Roman emperors, or that acts
more horrible were ever committed by them. There
were four brought forth and placed under a
flow of water until the water was congealed,
and kept there until they were frozen to death.
These facts appear so marvellous that some think such
barbarities could not be committed by a civilised people.
Such cruelties do indeed appear almost incredible, but
he (Lord Kennaird) was much afraid that the
statements which he was making were too true.
They were forced to drink salt water, and
out of eighteen eleven only survived this treatment.
He did feel Very anxious on this subject, as there had
been assertions made against the Emperor of Russia,
and as this Government were on amicable terms with
that sovereign, he hoped an inquiry would be instituted
into the affair. He was sure it would not be considered
that this Government were improperly, or for a hostile
reason, interfering in this matter, but that it was
interfering for a humane purpose. The cause of
charity ought to induce their Lordships to make an en-
deavour to mitigate the sufferings of these unfortunate
nuns. The question he would ask of the Noble Lord
the Secretary for Foreign Affairs was, whether he had
received any information on the subject, or would he have
any objection that some information should be procured
on the subject. He was sure it could not be considered
a hostile inquiry by the Emperor of Russia, or that it
was created by any hostile feeling.
Lord ABERDEEN said that he had read, in common
with others the reports in question, and he
could not say whether they were correct or not,
as he had not received any information
from her Majesty's Envoy about the transaction.
He had no further knowledge of this subject than what
he now stated ; but he could not believe that the ac-
counts that had been received of this transaction
could in any degree be relied on. No doubt reli-
gious persecution of any sort was greatly to be
deplored ; but the barbarites enumerated by the Noble
Lord, he (Lord Aberdeen) really did not think could have
been perpetrated. The difference between the Greek
form of worship and the Roman Catholic was, that one
acknowledged the supremacy of the Pope, and the
other did not, but there was no difference in
doctrinal points. When the Emperor of Russia was in
Rome recently, the Pope asked him if those statements
were correct, and the Emperor assured him that he had
no knowledge of them whatever, but they should be
rigidly inquired into immediately, and if found to be
correct, the perpetrators should be visited with the
severest punishment. And this course he (Lord A.)
thought would be better then any attempt of this Go-
vernment to interfere in the matter.—(Hear, hear.)
RAILWAY INVESTMENTS.

Lord BROUGHAM gave notice that he would move
for a return of all the moneys that had been paid into
the account of the Accountant General on account of
railway property to be brought before Parilament this
session.