The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-18 00:00:00

lat 3 war, not less than 200,000 men were employed
to keep her down. The mind of Poland could not
be kept in chains ; and although nominally with
Russia her wishes were in reality with the friends
of liberty, and she might, always be looked upon as
requiring an army of 200,000 men to prevent her
from rendering any active assistance to other' op-
pressed na4ions. (Cheers.) It was, therefore,

highly important to keep up the national spirit of
the Poles. Let them not be faint-hearted. No
great cause was ever yet won by faint hearts. He
trusted the great cause of liberty would never sink
in the estimation of the people of England, but
that they would continue their exertions to pro-
mote the independence of the Poles ; and what was
of still greater consequence, the liberties of Europe,
and the balance of power throughout the world.
(Cheers.)
The resolution was then agreed to.
Lord RAYNHAM, M.P., in moving the re-election
of the president and vice-presidents, said that,
although we must be patient, and by all means
avoid giving cause for a renewed state of warfare,
yet he trusted we should be fully prepared for it,
and in such an event, which in the present un---
settled state of Europe might not be far distant,
that au opportunity would be taken for asserting
the rights of Poland. (Cheers.) If the subject
had been properly brought before the conference
at Paris, he believed it might have led to very
desirable results. (Hear.) The amnesty which
had been talked of had, in his opinion, tended to
mislead the mind of Europe as to the prospects of
Poland, and particularly with respect to those men
who had been exiled from their eoun try for their
patriotic conduct. He concurred in the opinion
whichdiad been expressed with respect to the con-
duct of Lord Palmerston during the late negotia-
tions and believed that his lordship entertained a
sincere desire to do the best he could to promote
the liberty of that country. (Hear, hear.) Eng-
land was too apathetic with respect to the liberties
of Poland, and had not manifested that interest
which she ought to have done when opportunities
offered themselves for the re-establishment of
Poland ; but if another opportunity should occur
for accomplishing that object, he trusted the ex-
pression of public opinion would induce whatever
government might be in power to use their utmost
endeavours to affect the restoration of the netion-
ality of that kingdom. (Cheers.)
EDMUND Bea-eels, Esq., seconded the resolution,
and in doing so said that, in his opinion, great
blame attached to Lord Clarendon for his conduct
during the negotiations at Paris. It was his duty
to do right and fear not. If he thought the lights
of Poland ought to have been considered, he
ought to have urged those rights, and not to have
humbled himself before the diplomacy and power
of Russia. (Hear, hear.) If he had defended the
rights of Poland, and had failed in his efforts,
his conduct would have been a protest to the
world against the course pursued by Russia, and a
vindication for all time of the right of that country.
(Cheers.) It bad been said that no man was more
favourable to liberty than Lord Palmerston. He
hoped that was the case, but his conduct during the
late war had left him (Mr. Beales) little hope of
anything real or substantial being done in favour
of Poland, either by the Government of this coun-
try or by any dynasty at present in existence. All
the results. for which the late war was undertaken
might have b:eu accomplished by simply calling
Poland to arms. (Cheers.) The people of this
country were enthusiastic in the late war because
they believed it would lead to the restoration of
Poland. Instead of calling Poland to arms, a con-
trary policy was pursued. Every attempt to form
a Polish legion was resisted, until it was too late
for that legion to act, and nothing had been done
to show that a real desire existed to humble the
power of Russia and restore Poland to her rights.
He felt convinced that the edifice of European
liberty could never be completed, and that a satis-
factory and permanent peace could never be esta-
blished, until justice should be done to Poland and
also to the other suffering nationalities. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks on behalf of
himself and his colleagues, expressed his regret at
the absence of the president of the association (the
Marquis of Bieadalbane). At that meeting the
noble president was so afraid of trusting himself to
the expression of his feelings that he committed his
address to writing, thinking that as the times were
so critical every topic ought to be avoided which
could in any way be considered irritable with re-
spect to Russia or Austria. But nevertheless the
noble marquis said—" The flagrant immorality of
the original act of spoliation must be considered,
one oethe greatest political crimes and blunders
ever perpetrated by the Euporean powers." These
words, uttered by a man so cautious, would remain
indelibly engraven in letters of brass so long as
Russia existed. Twelve mentss having now elapsed
without any appearance of mercy, on the part of
that power, there was no necessity in any remarks
which might be made to speak on " banded knee
or with bated breath." It was impossible not to
regret that England and France should not have
insisted on some material guarantee from Russia
on the part of Poland. That was a great mistake
on" the part of both countries. (Cheers.) Nothing
could have been more simple than to have raised
the banner of Poland, which would have drawn
thousands of Poles around it; but when nothing
was done, they considered that we were their
greatest enemies, and, so far true to themselves,
they said, "If you will not assist us we will not
assist you." Two such countries as France and
England ought neverto have thought of conciliating
an unsteady, vacillating Power like Austria. The
way to have brought Austria to her senses would
have been the rousing of Polane, and other countries
Similarly situated would soon have followed her
example. (Cheers.) It could not be said that no-
thing had been gained by the late war. If nothing
had been effected beyond the alliance between France
and England, that was something, for it was, a proof
that when nations acted honesty and fearlessly to-
gether, they might defy the intrigues of countries
that were ruled by despotic sovereigns. (Cheers.)
It was therefore a great thing to see England and
FranCe acting together in amity and good faith.
He could not think that the day had gone by for
Poland. (Cheers.) Russia Wail quiet at present.
She bad been compelled to make a peace, and not
a very honourable one. She collet not have carried
on the war for another year. She had given up
what we contended for, and would probably remain
quiet until her railroads were finished, when she
would throw off the mask, and cgain appear in the
same character, but in a more formidable shape. It
was impossible not to hope that the position of
Moldavia and Wallachia would. greatly facilitate
the progress of the Polish cause. If these countries
should be governed by wise and liberal men, situ-
ated as they are on the confines of Poland and
Austria, it was impossible not o hone that some
good would be derived from their example. Be-
sides, Austria could no longer tepend on Russian
bayonets. In a time of peace her revenue was many
millions deficient, and she was enable to gO to war
with any State, however insignilcant in comparison
with herself. (Hear, hear.) Ito trusted that the
association would persevere in ~.ts efforts—that the
Poles would remember the interest taken in their
welfare by the people ofthis country, from the highest
to the lowest ; and that they would, if possible, have
the countenance and support b sth of our Govern-
ment and that of France. He trusted that, if
another opportunity should arise, the two Govern-
ments would manfully come forward and declare
their wishes and intentions, and 'that they would
persevere until the wrongs Of Poland were redressed
and her rights and iudependence were established.
(Cheers.)

Mr. gCHOLEFIELD, M. P., briefly moved the ap-
pointment of the members of the council for the
ensuing year. '

J. E. JaowE, Esq., seconded the motion, which
was agreed to.
W. A. SMITH, Esq., moved a resolution, expres-
sing the gratification of the association at the flat-
tering remarks made by Prince Czartoryski on the
services rendered by the association to the Polish
cause. He observed that the Grand Duke Con-
stantine was about to visit this country, and he
was quite confident that the Poles would behave
with decency and re pect. He trusted that the
English people would allow him to march on amidst
a dead silence, and that they would not greet him
either with hisses or shouts of congratulation.
Let them receive him with solemn silence, for how-
ever popular he might be in his private character,
he was the impersonation of despotism and tyranny
of three generations of Russian potentates.
(Cheers.)
__

The notion was wended by E. JOHNSTONE,
Eq., and agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. N. F. ZABA, seconded by
Major SztmozEwsKr, a vote of thanks was given to
the chairman.

A vote of thanks was also given to Mr. Birk-
heck, the hon. secretary, on the motion of Captain
ORLON seconded by Captain A. KOZMIAN.
On the motion of Mr. BEALES, seconded by the
Marquis of TOWNSHEND, a similar compliment was
paid to Major Szulczewski, and the proceedings
then terminated.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—The following gen-
tlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for
the diploma were admitted members of the college at the
meeting of the Court of Ex' miners on the 15th inst.:—
Messrs. John S. Wilkinson, Caledonian-road, Islington ;
Wm. P. Price, Margate ; Thos. Rayner, Birstal, near
Leeds; Ricp. Griffiths, Machynlieth, Montgomery.
shire ; Chas. Kelly, Ramsay, Isle of Man; Chas. F.
Eichler, Sydney, New South Wales ; Jas. M'lntre,
Coleraine, county Derry; John Chi, y
ppbul
Joseph J. Muskett, Holt, Norfolk ;
and John T. Shrews
Keery ;
l,
Oalthain, Rutland,

THE MURDER AT WOKINGTIAM.

A few hours after the examination of the maniac
John Blackwell before Mr. Dailey, the chief magis-
trate, on Thursday last, for the murder of Thomas
Rance, he was removed to the county gaol at
Reading. Since his incarceration the symptoms of
insanity have been so strongly manifested that he
has been constantly placed under watch of a
warder. In the first night the inmates of the gaol
were disturbed by his raving noise, and in his vio-
lence he broke the windows of the cell in which he
was pladecl. He also made a violent attack on the
warder, and seized him by the neck, but he did no
serious mischief, assistance being immediately pro-
cured by sounding the alarm bell, which is con-
nected with each cell. As no doubt can exist as to
his insanity, he will in aiew days be removed by
au order from the Secretary of State to a lunatic.
asylum, where he will be subjected to proper re-
straint. An inquest was held on view of the body
of the deceased man, Thomas Rance, before Mr.
R. Clarke, the coroner for the county, on the after-
noon of Friday. The only additional particulars
elicited were from the evidence of the grandfather,
William Blackwell, who said that the deceased
came to take care of the prisoner for the night, as
he (the grandfather) had been recently much dis-
turbed, and wanted to go out and get a night's
rest. There was a female lodger in the house, but
but she was so deaf that sbe could not hear any-
thing. He went to sleep at the White Hart public-
house, where the deceased had lodged, and was
called up soon after 12 o'clock by a woman, who
said there was a cry of murder. He got up and
went to his cottage, and there saw Rance lying
outside the back door quite dead, having nothing
on but his shirt. It was on Monday last he first
observed that his grandson was affected in his mind,
as he then cried out very much, made sad lamenta-
tion, and said, "Oh ! I must die." He was seen
by a medical gentleman on Tuesday, who gave him
some medicine. On that day he raved very much,
but he was pacified on some neighbours coming in
in to see him. His grandson had lived with him
since the disbanding of the Berkshire Militia, but
no symptoms of insanity were visible until Monday
last. He, was a shoemaker ; and, although he bad
not done much work lately, he could earn from
10s. to 14s. per week. All the knives and razors
were put out of his way on Tuesday. The prisoner
and the deceased were on good terms, and treated
each other as brothers. The relieving officer
of he Wokingham Union (Mr. Beecbey) saw the
prisoner on Wednesday, and said to him that be
must be removed to Littlemore Asylum on the next
day if be was not better. He never heard the pri-
soner talk of destroying himself, or any one else.
he was generally talking about religion and pray-
ing. On Wednesday the prisoner drank no beer or
spirits ;in fact, he took nothing but water. The
jury returned a formal verdict of " Wilful murder"
against John Blackwell.