The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-02 00:00:00

POLISH LEGION.

FAREWELL VISITS OF GENERAL COUNTS
ZAMOYSKI AND THE OFFICERS OF THE
POLISH DIVISION OF COSSACKS OF THE
SULTAN TO THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES
AT SCUTARI.
(Prom. the Polish journal " Wiadomosci Polskie.")
SCUTARI, 12th August, 1856.
The day before yesterday I saw the officers of the
lisision assembled together for the last time. This was
the day appointed by General Zamoyski for paying fare.
well visits to the higher dignitaries among our allies.
Early in the morning, at half-past eight o'clock,
Generals Zamoyski and Breanski, and Lieut.-Colonels
Slubicki, Ponineki, and Dobrowolski, with a number of
other officers of various regiments, assembled before tie
quarters of General Storks, to whom, as the chief mili-
tary authority in the province, the first visit was due.
After we had entered, and received the salutations of
,nir gallant host, General Zamoyski addressed him in the
following terms :
" General,—ln coming before you to bid you farewell,
we also bring with us our thanks for the attention you
have given to the welfare of the Polish Division,
from its first formation by the British Govern-
ment to the last moment of its existence. At the
same time we also feel it our duty to thank you
for the indulgence you have shown us ; for we were
better prepared for the hardships of war than for the
melancholy and always difficult operation of disband-
ment, whose orderly performance is mainly due to your
care and activity. We tatter ourselves, General, that
you will not refuse us your testimony that each of us, in
his own particular line, has done his duty."
General STORKS made a gracious and appropriate an-
swer, expressing his sorrow that untoward circumstances
had debarred him from the honour of using the division
in the field ; and adding, "I do not doubt that you
would not only have fulfilled but far exceeded our expec-
tations."
From General Storks' quarters we proceeded to em-
bark on board a steamer offered to General Zamoyski fur
that purpose by Admiral Lyons.
As we steamed along the Bosphorus we directed our
course sometimes to the European, sometimes to the
Asiatic shore, according to the position of those splendid
villas in which the chief dignitaries of the country and
the ambassadors usually pass the summer. We visited
on this day the English and French amb issadors, the
Grand Vizier, the Seraskier, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the Grand Master of the Ordnance (brother-in.
law to the Sultan), and Admiral Lyons, in his ship the
Royal Albert, lying at anchor at Bouyouk-deri.
It would be difficult to describe all our visits in detail,
and to catch with accuracy the fleeting traits which mark
the receptions of high political personages ; but the ap-
pearance
the of
inhabitantslrge a hadnumber hardly
ever of
Polish
heardcie of e r 8 in
:end
es
where
—these national colours of a country blotted from the
list of nations now boldly glittering in the light, and
received in diplomatic circles, if not with hearty sympa-
thy, at least with sincere respect—made a great impres-
sion, and testified to the moral power of the name of our

country.
The British Ambassador, Lord Stratford de Radcliffe,
received us in his principal apartment, wearing the
Grand Cross of the Bath. When we had all taken our
places the General addressed him in these words :
" The corps of officers of the Polish Division consi-
ders it its duty, before separating, to bring before your
excellency its tribute of respect. We trust, my lord,
that you will be pleased to transmit to her Majesty
Queen Victoria, and to her Government, the expression
of our sentiments. Above all, we hope that the British
nation and her allies will bear in mind the alacrity with
which we responded to their call. Whatever may be
the fate which Providence has in store for our country,
AO often tried, even he: enemies cannot deprive us of the
glory of having► formed part of the British army. We
thank your excellency for the favourable sentiments
which you have for many years displayed for our cause.
We do not doubt that they will still remain unchanged,
for they ever force themselves upon a just and generous
heart."

Her Majesty's Ambassador then answered in a few
polite and laudatory words, after which the General pre-
sented to him the higher officers of the division. We
were about to depart, when a message came hastily from
Lady Stratford de Redeliffe, asking us in her name to a
luncheon which had been prepared for us.
We found two large tables, sumptuously covered, in
a long gallery. shortly afterwards our noble hostess
arrived. The General, after presenting to her a few of
the officers near him, thanked her for the sympathy
which, during the last 20 years, she had shown for
Poland and the Poles, and proposed her health in a
toast.

Our reception by Admiral Lyons was eqeally gra-
cious, and even more magnificent. As our steamer ap-
proached the Royal Alber t we perceived the Admiral
himself on the gangway of his ship, giving orders to
the boats which were to take us. Four of the boats,
with sailors in holiday attire, took up our whole
number. The Admiral, surrounded by a brilliant staff,
waited for us oa the last step of the ladder which had
been lowered from the ship for our embrace. After
greeting the General with great cordiality, he led him
on deck, where the whole crew in arms, and a guard
of honour with a band, gave us the military honours.
We all entered the admiral's cabins, whose extent
and magnificence astonished us. Although there were
nearly eighty of us, besides the admiral's suite, we all
stood comfortably in ono cabin. The adjutant then
requested us to sit down, and when we were all
seated, our gallant host rose, and, taking the General
by the hand, thanked him for affording him an op-
portunity of making the acquaintance of Polish offi-
cers—expressed his regret that " a peace, which we
must not call unfortunate, and cannot call fortunate,"
has thrown the sword from our bands ; and ended by
advising us to hope for better things in the future, as
the hopes of our cause ever find a support in God,
the guardian of all justice. Admiral Lyons is ad.
vanced in years, but still healthy and active. Ile
begged of us, with a sailor's frankness, to pardon him
for not offering us any refreshment, as our visit had
taken him by surprise. We thanked him for his kind-
ness, and answered that it would have been difficult
for us to avail ourselves of ir, as it would have been
the third breakfast that we bad eaten in the course
of a few boars. He then offered to show us his
vessel. We divided ourselves into small bodies, to
each of whom an officer belonging to the ship served
as cicerone. What a magnificei.t vessel is the Royal
Albert ! It has three decks, 120 guns, and a crew 01
1,000 men. It took us an hour and a half to go over
this stupendous edifice. The band continued to play,
and the Admiral was indefatigable in his efforts t.
please us—at one time giving orders to show us Born,
curithity which had been hitherto concealed, at anothe.
conversing with the General, then addressing our oil
cers, one after another, with the most cordial famili-
arity. Scarcely had our steamer moved to depart,
when the Royal Albert began to fire farewell salutes
At the same moment the Admiral appeared with his °M-
ore on the gangway, and bowed to us a cordial fare