The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-08 00:00:00

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THE EMPEROR ALEXANDER 11. AND
THE POLISH NOBILITY.

(Front the Polish Journal ems.)
KAMIENIEC PODOLSKI, October.
While the world resounds with the praises of the
progressive government of the Czar Alexander, and
really considerable changes have taken place in
Russia, we in Poland have enjoyed but a small
share of the general relief. The system introduced
by the Czar Nicholas still remains, though concealed
by a semblance of graciousness. The nobility of
the ancient Polish provinces, ever since the acces-
sion of the new monarch, had already several times
applied to him for favours, asking now for a pri-
vilege for the Roman Catholic religion, now for the
introduction of the Polish language into the schools,
and then for the revival of the custom of select-
ing the government officials from the classes of
the nobility which is practised in Russia—or at
least that such selection might be made for the de-
partment of justice. All these applications from
the nobility of Podolia, Ukraine, and Volhynia, re-
mained just as they were, unanswered or not at-
tended to.
This state of things in our provinces was too
vexatious for endurance. The nobility of Podolia,
assembled for the reception of the Czar Alexander,
resolved, even at the risk of exposing themselves to
persecution, loyally to lay before the monarch their
present condition and their demands, and thereby
ascertain to what extent they might put their trust
in the new Government, or at any rate prove to
Europe that, notwithstanding the systematic per-
secution that has been carried on against them,
their nationality still exists, and at the same time
show the government that all their persecution was
in vain.
Accordingly, on the two days preceding the ar-
rival of the Czar; an address was prepared to the
following effect:-
1. The Polish nobility, taking the opportunity of
the honour conferred on them by the Czar in visit-
ing them, consider it their first duty to give him
thanks for the permission granted to them to free
their serfs.
2. The Polish nobility, being convinced that the
object of the Czar's tour in the various provinces
and countries. subject to his sceptre is to learn with
ace•aracy the wants of their inhabitants, and by
satisfying them to increase the happiness of all,
have no hesitation in unveiling before him the
wounds of their hearts, and submitting to him the
following facts :
The man Catholic religion is not permitted to
enjoy her rights and privileges. The national
Polish language is bsnished from the schools and
the courts ofjustice, and debarred of the title of a
living language. Offices which, according to law,
should be held by nominees of the nobility, are
filled by nominees of the crown.
An address to this effect having been prepared,
it remained to settle the mode •f its presentation.
It was determined by the majority that, in the first
place, the governor of our province, General Prince
Vasilczykow, should be officially informed by the
presidents of districts, with the president of the
province at their head, of the intended address. It
was read by the governor, who appeared much dis-
concerted, and tried to prove that the Catholic reli-
gion was no longer persecuted, that our remarks
on the language were uncalled for, Podolia being a
Russian country, and.that it was his intention to
submit that in fature the government officials
might be selected by the nobles ; but he urged with
prayers, and even threats, that the address might
not be presented. Three hours after this inter-
view (on the 13th of October) the Czar entered
Kamieniec. In the hall of the governor's palace
were waiting the nobility and the civil and mili-
tary officers ; hut the Czar passed the palace,
and proceeded direct to the Greek church, where
the bishop and clergy were ready to . receive him.
On his return from the church the Czar found the
persons assembled in the hall of the governor's
palace expecting him with anxiety. Here the go-
vernor, contrary to custom, placed them so that the
Czar first saluted the military, next the civil officers
and the nobility last. Addressing the nobility, he
thanked them for the assistance in their affair of the
serfs, and expressed a hope that they would con-
tinuo in that course. Our presidents not thinking
it right to present an address in public, resolved to
ask for a private audience on the following day.
The presentation went off as all official presentations
usually do, and then the Czar retired into too rooms
assigned to him in the governor's house. This took
place between six and seven in the evening. The
town was lighted up by the police, and groups of Jews
filled the streets. At 10 the Czar attended a ball
given in his honour by the nobility. All went on
as usual until the Czar left ; then the governor
assembled round him, in one of the rooms, the pre-
sident of the province and those of the districts and
a few of the nobility. and in a sharp and dry tone
addressed them as follows :—" The address which
you have resolved to present, gentlemen, is illegal.
You have only the right to present addresses from
the assembly elected by you, and the elections have
not begun. You cannot, and I presume will not,
gentlemen, present this address ?" added he in an
in terrogatory tone. This query was received in
silence, and he continued, concealing his anger—
" You have asked me for an nudism's° of the Czar ;
you will have it at 10 o'clock in the morning. You
have been granted it, only to give you au oppor-
tunity to thank his Imperial Majesty for accepting
lour ball ; thank him, and say no more." On
eaving them, ho tried once more to shake the reso-
lution of the nobility by saying, " You have an
opportunity of presenting your petition now, and
to-morrow it will be too late. I shall tell his
Majesty the purport of your address, and he will
not receive it.
Next morning, at ten, the presidents had an
audience of the Czar. The monarch greeted them
with a penetrating glance, and reading, doubtless,
in their countenances an inflexible resolve, com-
menced, in a voice trembling with emotion, the
following conversation :—" When do your elections
take place ?" " To-morrow, your Majesty." "I
know you intend to present mo an address, but
your consultations are illegal. This is a conspiracy.
Do not forget this is a Russian, not a Polish
country; and remember that it is a hundredfold
more pleasant to me to give praises and thanks
than to blame." About four o'oclock the same day
the Czar left Kamisnicc.
The sensation created by this event was at first
one of confusion, but it very soon became one of
joy ; for all were glad that at length they had
extricated themselves from the uncertain posi-
tion in which the country was placed on the
one hand by the retention of the old system among
us, and on the other by the changes which were
reported to have tdken place in Russia, and the
graciousness of the Czar to individuals. The event
which had just happened opened the eyes of all.
We showed ourselves as we are, and the Czar
proved that he had not swerved one whit from the
road he had traced out in the manifesto he published
at his accession ; that he had softened the working
of the system, but (at least with regard to us) had
not clanged its nature.
The more respectable of the Russians, not under-
standing our position, on seeing the turn things
had taken, came to us with xpressions of condolence.
'f hey did not perceive that our object was either re-
form or an open publication of our grievances, and
consequent relief from our state of uncertainty, and
that we had attained the latter.

At the meet.ng between the South-Eastern and
East Kent lines, yesterday, a proposition was made by thu
former company, after a lengthened discussion, that the
East Kent directors should off r to lease their line to the
South-Easter n at a fixed annual rental for a period of
years. The East Kent Board will consequently meet on
Friday to take the suggestion into consideration, but the
expectations as to any result do not appear to be san-
guine.

LIVERPOOL, Dee. 7.—The Liverpool, New York,
and Philadelphia Steam-ship Company's screw-steamer
City of Washington sailed this morning at half-past vino
o'clock, fo*New York, with a mail, 190 passengers, and a
large cargo of general merchandise.

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