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

rRE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, MAY 18, 1857

LITERARY ASSOCIATION OF THE
FRIENDS OF POLAND.

late 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 nations. (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 Par:s, 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 country for their
patriotic conduct. He concurred in the opinion
which had 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 nation-
ality of that kingdom. (Cheers.)
EDMUND BEALE.% 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 Pazis. It was his duty
to do right and fear not. If he thought the rights
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 Polan, 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 been 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 Breadalbane). 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 opic 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 of the greatest political crimes and blunders
ever perpetrated by the Euporean powers." These
words, uttered by a man so cautious, would remain
indelibly engray.'n in letters of brass so long as
Russia existed. Twelve months 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 " bendecl knee
or with bated breath." It was impossible not to
'egret 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 no-
assist you." Two such countries as France and
England ought never to 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 Poland, 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 beyon the alliance between France
and England, that was something, for it was a proof
that when nations acted honestly 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 bad gone by for
Poland. (Cheers.) Russia was quiet at present.
She had been compelled to make a peace, and not
a very honourable one. She could not have cars ied
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 again 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 to hope that some
good would be derived from their example. Be-
sides, Austria could no longer depend on Russian
bayonets. In a time of peace her revenue was many
millions deficient, and she was unable to go to war
with any State, however insignificant in comparison
with herself. (Hear, bear.) He trusted that the
association would persevere in its efforts—that the
Poles would remember the interest taken in their
welfare by the people of this country, from the highest
to the lowest ; and tt.i at they would, if possible, have
the countenauce andesuppert b-eth 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 independence were established.
(Cheers.) _- _ _

1 THE MURDER AT WOKINGEIAM.

The annual general meeting of the members of
this association was held on Saturday last, at their
rooms, Duke-street, St. James's, the Marquis of
Townshend in the chair. Amongst the gentlemen
present we ob.erved the Earl of arrington Lord
Kinnaird, Viscount Raynham, M.P., Hon. W. Fox
Strangways, Rev. Dr. Worthington, E. E. Crowe,
Esq., Joseph Ferguson, Esq., Thomson Hankey,
Lep, M.P., and William Scholefield, Esq., M.P.
War. L. BIRKBECK, Esq., read the report, which
alluded to the abstinence of the association from
giving any public entertainment for the benefit of
the Poles, a line of conduct which was adopted at
the instance of several influential friends of the
association, in consequence of the representations
made by the Russian plenipotentiaries, that the
Emperor Alexander was about to enter on a course
of jest and conciliatory policy towards Poland ; but
that they who trusted in those representations had
been speedily undeceived by the speeches of the
Emperor Alexander at Warsaw, and the unsatisfac-
tory nature of the so-called amnesty published by
his Government. The expedition of a detachment
of Poles to Circassia, and the establishment of a
Polish colony on the estate of Redshid Pacha, in
Thessaly, where they had been provided with a
hospital, a church, and maintenance till the next
harvest, were also referred to. The incouue of the
association for the past year had amounted to 8091.,
by means of which relief had been ministered in 660
cases The report concluded with the expression
of a wish that the attention of the Poles for the
present should be especially directed to the social
improvement of their country.
The Rev. Dr. WORTHINGTON, in moving the
adoption of the report, expressed his regret that
the hopes to be held out to the Polish exiles were
not of a more cheerful character than at the last
anniversary meeting of the association, but it was
gratifying to know that the feeling of sympathy to-
wards that unfortunate nation was increasing.
Lord KINNAIRD, in seconding the motion, said
that on a late occasion hopes were entertained that
under the blessing of Providence something might
turn up to improve the condition of the Polish
people, but it had not been the will of the Almighty
that that country should be restored to that posi-
tion among European nations in which every lover
of liberty desired to see her placed. With regard
to the course pursued towards Circassia, he believed
the blame did not rest entirely with this country,
and that difficulties arose in another quarter. Refer-
ence had been made to the conduct of Lord Pal-
merston. He had known that noble lord for many
years, and did not believe that there was in exist-
ence a more cordial and sincere friend of liberty.
He had on some occasions raised up ill feelings
against himself amongst the pseudo Liberals for the
part which he had taken or wished to take with re-
gard to the liberation of Poland, but the difficulties
which any minister had to encounter in moving in
that direction were so great that it was impossible
to proceed without the active co-operation of the
country ; but if the feeling of the country could be
roused in behalf of Poland, he believed that Lord
Palmerston would fully respond to that feeling.
(Cheers.) He had conversed with the noble lord
on the subject of the liberties of Europe, and was
convinced that no man had them more sincerely at
heart than Lord Palmerston ; but unless the coun-
try would back up a minister, he could not be ex-
pected to accomplish one-half of that which he
might be desirous of doing. -
The resolution wts then put and agreed to.
The Hon. W. Fox STRANGWAYS moved the next
resolution, declaring it to be expedient to continue
to give a vigorous support to the Polish cause. He
was sure that Lord Palmerston, so far from being
adverse, was exceedingly favourable to the cause of
liberty in all such countries as Poland and Circassia,
and in those two countries particularly ; and he be-
lieved that nothing but insuperable obstacles, or
What appeared to be insuperable obstacles, had
prevented the Government on so apparently favour-
able an occasion as that which presented itself last
year from pushing their desires to the utmost
extent. (Hear, hear.) He was, therefore, bound
to believe that those difficulties did occur, but he
was not bound to accept the result as perfectly
agreeable. (Hear.) That was quite another ques-
tion. The resolution which he had moved was one
of re-assurance rather than of expectation. He
believed that some harm had been done by the con-
stant tone of expectation which had been kept up
fur so many years. Great events did not happen
every day, and if the imagination was always kept
on the stretch much commonplace work that was
useful was often neglected. In the calm which
now existed there was no cause for depression on
the part of the Poles. It would hardly be for the
credit of the Polish nation that the world should
imagine that they required a sea of trouble and a
time of agitation in order to induce them to bestir
themselves. He believed the Polish character was
as firm and calm in peace as it was terrible in war,
and he trusted that during the present apparent
stagnation they would use their utmost exertions
to improve their condition. There were two or
three circumstances rather favourable to the cause
of Poland in that point of view. One was, that
the character of Russia and the character of Polend
were better understood by England and by Europe
than they were before the commencement of the
late war. The consequence of that knowlege had
been to increase the distrust which was felt regard-
ing Russia, and that distrust would continue to in-
crease until another favourable opportunity might
arise of resisting the encroachments of that power,
and he imagined that it would not be very long be-
fore such an opportunity occurred. (Hear.) He
wished to see a more frequent and steady commu-
nication with the liberal parties in other countries
which were nearly in the same situation as Poland.
(Hear, hear.) The question of the Danubian Prin-
cipalities was not yet settled, and whether the re-
sult would be the union of those Principalities or
not, they might turn rgainst the enemies which most
nearly beset them. He entertained strong hopes
with respect to the Danubian Principalities.. During
the last generation there had been a great spread
of edacasion which must, after the lapse of a
few years of settled government, show itself
favourably towards Poland. (Cheers.) He trusted
that any opportunity which might occur of con-
necting the affairs of Poland witty those of Moldavia
and Wallachia would be readily taken advantage
of. (Hear.) The Polish people hardly knew how
much their cause had been studied and reflected
upon in countries distant from their own. He bad
never heard the cause of Poland more earnestly
prayed for, or her wrongs more bitterly lamented,
than in Sicily, which was equally oppressed. (Heir,
hear.) Although the Sicilians and Neapolitans were
generally supposed to be at daggers drawn with
each other, that was far from being the case with
the liberal parties in those two countries. (dear.)
He trusted that the Poles would make peaceable
use of the calm which now prevailed, because such
a course of policy would puzzle Russia more than
any other line that could be adopted, because, from
her general principles, she would not be able to
understand it. (Cheers.)
The Earl of HARRINGTON, in seconding the reso-
lution, said that at the last meeting of the assccia-
tion they were recommended not to criticise too
freely the conduct of Russia, because it was net
politic ot that time to do so, and if any one run
riot on that occasion it was himself. (A laugh.)
They were too well acquainted with Russian diplo-
macy to believe that any of the anticipations which
had been held out would be realised, and time had
proved that those who entertainedsuch opinionshad
a correct view of the subject. Absolute govern-
ments under pressure might, like Austria and
Prussia and the states of the Pope, give very satis-
factory promises, but when the pressure was re-
moved those promises were never acted upon ; and
the constitutions which had been promised hat not
been given. (Hear.) Russia during the last war
lost from 300,000 to 400,000 men and expended all
her money, so that it would have been impossible
for her to carry on another campaign ; and if the
spirit of Lord Palmerston had prevailed in our
councils and in the councils of our allies he had not
the least doubt that Russia would have been hum-
bled to the dust. (Cheers.) But'after being thus
beaten her despotic wisdom was about to restore
Sebastopol and its fortifications. She had attacked
Circassia, and, he was happy to say, had been well
beaten. She ha d stirredup a war between England and
Persia, and he rejoiced. to think England had been
victorious not only in her arms but in her diplo-
macy. cCheers.) Bret the most dangerous step
which had been taken by Russia was that of con.
strutting railroads. It had been said that she
would never raise the money, but he had no doubt
she would obtain quite sufficient for the purposes
she had in view. If Russia, during the late cam-
paign, had had railway facilities she would have
taken down her men, and guns, and provisions,
and must have been victorious. Her present ob-
ject no doubt ems to bring down her munitions of
war to the Mee,iterra,nean., and to form a powerful
fleet in the Meeliterranean, and to take possession
of Constantinople. She would bide her time, and
had the power of keeping the peace. She might
wait ten or twenty years, and then her power of
attack would be immensely increased. She would
follow the example of Napoleon, and bring immense ROYAL COLLEGE or SURGEONS.—The following gen-
masses of troops to bear on one particular point, tlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for
which with the assistance of railways she would be the diploma were admitted members of the college at the
able to do. (Hear, bear.) Europe had been saved meeting of the Court of Examiners en the 15th inst. :
only by the recent alliance, and he believed that
Messrs. John S. Wilkinson, Caledonian-road, Islington ;
alliance would continue so long as the present Em- Wm. P. Price, Margate ; Thos. Rayner,
D,Birstal, near
peror ot France bore sway in that country ; but, in Leeds; 11l
Richd. Griffiths, achynlletb, io ntgomery-
the event of his death, that alliance would not be shire ; Chas,. Keily, Ramsay, Isle of Man
is
an ; Chas.l F.
secure for a single day. Our chief dependence then bitchier, Sydney' New South .'Pales ;Jas. ntyre,
muss be upon Poland, and it should not be foreot- Coleraine, county :Derry ; John Chipp, Shrewsbury ;
ton tbai although Poland was tranquil duringlhe Joseph J. Mu,kett, Tfolt, ;co/I°lk ; and John T. Keel,
Oakhaa, Rutland, . ..

A few hours after the examination of the maniac
John Blackwell before Mr. Dailey, the chief mag's-
trate, on Thursday last, for the murder of Thomas
Rance, he was remove 1 to the county gaol at
Reading. Since his incarceration the symptlins 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 placed. 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 a few 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
be (the grandfather) had been recently,inuch 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 she 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 laqt be first
observed that bis 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
ty 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 had
not done Lunch 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 the Wokingham Union (Mr. Beechey) saw the
prisoner on Wednesday, and said to him that be
must be removed to Lit tlemore Asylum on the next
day if he 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. Qn 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.

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

J. E. CRowE, 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 be might be in his private character,
he was the impersonation of despotism and tyranny
of three generations of Russian potentates.
(Cheers.)
The motion was seconded by E. JOENSTONE,
Esq., and agreed to.
On the motion of Mr. N. F. ZABA, seconded by
Major SzuLcznwsm, a vote of thanks was given to
the chairman.
A vote of thanks was also given to Mr. Birk-
beck, the hon. secretary, on tho motion of Captain
ORDON, seconded by Captain A. KOZMIAN.
On the motion of Mr. BEALES, seconded by the
Marquis of TowNstrEND, a similar compliment was
paid to Major Szulczewski, and the proceedings
then terminated.