The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND POLAIV-N

The following is the text of the circular des-
patch addressed by the Russian Minister of
Foreign Affairs to the Imperial legations abroad,
relative to Poland :
ST. PETERSBURG, MARCH 20 (APRIL 1).
The rescript addressed by his Majesty the
Emperor to his Lieutenant of the Kingdom of
Poland, has acquainted you with the judgment
passed by our august master upon the recent
events at Warsaw. In the consciousness of his
strength, and of his sentiments of affection
for his subjects, his Imperial Majesty has
wished to see only impulsive enthusiasm in
events upon which, seeing the street disorders,
a severer appreciation was justly deserved.
A large scope has been given to this enthu-
siasm in the repressive measures which the
authority had the power and the right to take, in
order to allow the agitation time to subside. But
the Emperor has not wished to restrict his indul-
gence to these limits. The solemn act of emanci-
pation inaugurated by the manifesto of the 19th of
February, attests the profound solicitude which our
august master devotes to the well-being of the
peoples whom Providence has confided- to him.
Russia and Europe have seen in it a proof that, far
from from evading or postponing reforms demanded
by the progress of ideas and of interests, his Impe-
rial Majesty takes the initiative and pursues it with
perseverance. Our august master extends the
same solicitude to his subjects of the kingdom of
Poland, and has not wished that a painful impres-
sion should arrest the course of his generous in-
tentions.

The ukase, of which you will receive a copy, will
make known to you the nature of the institutions
introduced by the Emperor into Poland. The first
is that of a Council of State, largely admitting the
indigenous element by the adjunction of notables
either not included in the official hierarchy or in-
vested with elective functions. It gives the country
the means ofrco-operating in the administration of
affairs proportionately to its interests. The creation
of government and district councils and of munici-
pal councils, based upon the elective principle,
assures to local interests the power of self-govern-
ment. Finally, the ecclesiastical affairs and the
affairs of public instruction are entrusted to a
special administrative commission henceforth sepa-
rated from the commission for internal affairs. It
will be able to submit to the government the
measures necessary to the development of public
education. By these different institutions, the
moral and material interests of the country receive
new guarantees ; a legal expression is assured to its
wishes and its needs, and a place is left to the
ameliorations suggested by experience, the teach-
ings of which will always be consulted within
the limits of the possible and just.
The practical results of these measures depend,
however, upon the manner in which the subjects of
the Emperor in the kingdom shall justify the con-
fidence of which his Majesty has given them the
proof.
The Emperor desires that that which he grants
may be a reality. His Majesty believes that he has
fulfilled a duty of conscientious solicitude in open-
ing to the kingdom of Poland a way of .progress.
His liveliest desire is to see it maintain its position
and prosper. He firmly believes that this result
will be attained, if his intentions „are appreciated
and seconded by the wisdom of the country.
Receive, &c., GORTCHAKOFF.

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