The Sun. — 1861-11-19 (London, England)

TILE AFFAIRS OF POLAND.-LEITAR  FROM GENERAL ZAMOY,YEL  The following is a translation of a letter, relative to the alleged discovery by the Russian authorities, of 15,000 muskets on Count Zamoyski's estates, addressed to the Journal des Debuts by General Zamoyski, and which has been transmitted to us for insertion in The Sun :  " PARIS, Nov. 12, 1861. " SIR,—AII the papers of to-day repeat, after the Prussian Gazette, the news of 15,000 muskets having been seized by the Russian authorities on ore of Count Zatnoyski's estates. Allow me to make use, on this occasion, .of the expression of M. Royer-Collard—" I do not know, but I affirm" —that this news is evidently incorrect on every point. Sufficient proof of this is to be found in the conduct, during the year, of all Poland, including all parties, without distinction of place, class, calling, or religion. Although the brother of Count Andrew Zamoyski, I am not authorised to speak in his name, all political relations having necessarily ceased between us since the year 1831. I emigrated in order to continue abroad a struggle which our disasters had interrupted; he devoted himself to the service of his country by rigorously keeping within the limits of what was permitted under the Russian regime. But the whole of his life— a life of 43 years' uninterrupted public service—. contradicts the imputation of which he is now the object. It is well known, too, what the Russian police is; and it is evident that under such a system the introduction of arms, even in small quantities, is simply impossible. But what, above all, prevents the arrival of arms is, that Poland does not now require any to defend its rights. The Count Zamoyski, spoken of in to-day's news, is the same who in March last was addressed in words which have since become famous. The Emperor's deputy, disconcerted in the face of a population which knelt in prayer under the fire of volleys of musketry, once said to him—" Let us fight—l will order arms to be provided you." The answer of the Count was—" We shall not fight, Prince. You may go on killing us as yon have done; but you will not have peace until you, who are not Poles, quit the country. Then, and then only, shall we forget our grievances, and render homage to the Emperor as our King." Since this interview took place, out of four viceroys or governors who have succeeded one an• other in Warsaw in the space of six months, one has died of grief, another has committed suicide, and two have left the country tired out, having exhausted every expedient at their command. This is because Poland has, in truth, invented a new mode of making war. It is the upholding, without arms, of a right which no longer required declaring, and for which every suffering that is endured is a triumph. _ _  If I am asked why this imputation, which is absurd as it is mendacious, is made, I will answer by two words which explain all, " The Moderates !" "It is they," according to the expression of one of the most daring of the envoys from St. Petersburg, "that constitute the force before which we in Poland now feel ourselves powerless." And why is this? Because they blush before the world at their impotence against the Moderates. The character of moderation, then, must be taken from the Poles at all hazards. Already the Consistory and half of the Chapter of Warsaw have been imprisoned, together with tie members of two commissions of inquiry, which the latter has had the courage to appoint in succession, in order to investigate into the profanation of the churches. Similarly the two Protestant priests, the Grand Rabbi, the two Vice-Rabbis, the President of the Jewish Consistory, several bankers, and the. Provost of the Merchants, have been taken to prison, evidently because they are all Moderates. In the provinces, in Lithuania, in Volhynia, old men of 90 years of age—such as Mr. Wagner and Count Tarnowski, have been sent of the country. And yet, during the whole year that these terrible trials have lasted, not a single soldier or police agent has been struck by a Pole, not a single insult has been offered to the most insignificant symbol of the Imperial authority. On the contrary, violence and insult are received by all with the invincible confidence given to the feeling of right, the unanimity of a great people, and its faith in Divine Justice. Bat the justice of man, so far as it is represented by the public opinion of civilised nations, is also one of those elements of strength on which Poland desires to rely. To mislead this public opinion, is the object of the unceasing machinations of our enemies. I have thought that the name of my brother, and the danger which to-day's news shows to be hanging over his head, made it my duty to endeavour at least to give to the 'measures which seem to be threatening him their true character. I shall, therefore, be particularly obliged to you, sir, if you will kindly facilitate my accomplishment of this duty.  Receive, &c.,