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view . He is solely guided by his pride , and it is for -that pride that he sacrifices your blood . Yours , we say , not his own ! He is too much in love with that . .... Have you ever seen him in front of your ranks ? Not on . paradegrounds , but—on fields of battle ? It is he that has begun the war : may it fall solely on his own head ! Hay it set a limit to our sad Btate of stagnation 1 After 1812 came the 26 th « f December What will come after 1854 ? Sha ll we , then , be so slothful as to let the present hour escape ; such an hour as will not return for long ? Shall we not be able to profit by the storm called down by the
Czar upon himself ? We hope , ir e hare faith . . . , . See Poland . Hardly did tie , news of wax reach her , when already she raises her head again , and awaits but tbe first opportunity to reclaim her rights , her freedom What will you do when the Polish nation shall fly to arms ? Your lot is the worst of all . Your comrades in Turkey are soldiers ; and you , who are in Poland , w ill you be merely executioners ? Your victories , they will cover you -with shame ; you will have to blush for your courage . The blood of kinsmen is washed oat with difficulty . Beware of again deserving the name of Cain . It might cleave to you ever after .
We know well that it would b « from no wish of yours , if you were to march against the Poles . Bat it is time you should have a will of your ownj Do you . think it easy , then , to constrain the will of thousands in arms , who understand one another ? . . . . One day , we no longer remember in what province , - when the new administration of the crown domains was introduced , some peasants revolted ( it was the case in nearly all the provinces ) . Troops were sent for ; the peasants did not disperse . The general ordered his men to load . The soldiers
It is net the Russian people whom you defend in Poland . The Russian people , in the very first hoars of its awaking , will deny you , and will curse your victories . You are upholding there the pretensions of the Czar—of that Czar who leaves the half of Russia in a slate of thraldom , who takes nine recruits out of every thousand , who permits his officers to strike his soldiers , and his police agents to beat the citizens , and everything that is not peasant to belabour whatever is peasant . Know , then , that in defending him you are maintaining all the scourges of Russia ; that in fighting for him , you are Sghting for the seignorial rights , the knout , slavery , robbery organised by the officials , ana larcenies carried on in broad daylight "by tbe nobles .
Poland has suffered quite enough from Russia . Even if she has often been in the wrong , she has long since expiated her faults . . . . Her children at a . tender age bare been carried off , her women cast into prison , her defenders have perished in Siberia , her friends are scattered over all' the surface of the globe , her trophies have been taken away to St . Petersburg , her traditions have been falsified . They have not « ven left her the past . No , —on Polish ground no laurels grow for the Russian warriors . It is too saturable for women's tears and the blood of men , shed by your fathers , —perhaps by yourselves . On the banks of the Vistula , near the graveyards of Praga and Vola , there can be no military glory for you . The only glory possible for you in Poland is that of reconciliation and alliance .
What lave you to do , how are you to set about it , —this is what jrou will learn as soon as the proper time arrives . But , until events arrive , convince yourselves of the truth of our words , and by _ all that is sacred to you , swear not to take up arms against Poland . This oath , it is not demanded of you by the Czar , but by the conscience and remorse of the people . And even should you perish for this cause , your deaths will le holy , you will have fallen expiatory victims , and by your martyr blood th » indissoluble yet free alliance between Poland and Russia will be sealed ; the commencement of the free association of all the slaves into one united and federal republic . ( Translated from the Russian . ) March 25 , 1854 . .
executed this order , supposing it to have been merely given for frightening tbe insurgents . But tbe people were not Intimidated . Then the general gave . the colonel the sign to fire . The latter uttered the order , tbe soldiers presented , but—did not pull their triggers . Amazed , the general dashed up and himself cried—Fire ! Tbe soldiers grounded their arms , and remained motionless . We ll , what think you was done to these soldiers ? Absolutely nothing . The commanding officers were so afraid of the business , that they passed it Over in silence . That is an example of what you may do . But abstaining is not a ll . The hour is come to range yourselves on the side of the poor Bussian people , as the Polish army did for its own in 1831 .
We are approaching a mighty period . Let it not be said that , in so solemn a moment , so tyerrible a one , you have been left without brotherly advice . "We forewarn you of the danger that threatens you . We wish to preserve you from a crime . Have confidence in us . It is the Russia of the future that speaks to you through us . _ Russia free and young , condemned to 6 ilence in its native land , bat whose voice resounds in exiles—the Russia of martyrs , of mines , of Siberia , and of casemates—tbe Russia of thePestels and Mouravieffe , of the R ylelffi and Bestoujeffs—that Russia , of whom we are the heralds , of wuiuu to
we are e BpeaKing-vrnmpets . We are your wail of grief , your hatred , your cry for vengeance on your oppressors . . . . We denounce to the world the murky crimes of your Government ; we are a living reproach to it , we stigmatise it ; we brand it with a hot iron , as it does to living men . If our word be harsh and acrid , it is because it is the echo of the lamentations of violated women , the death-rattle of old men who died under the lash , the clank of chains that fettered our dear poets , our best friends , when transported to Siberia .
In the land of the stranger we have commenced an open struggle by words , but in expectation of one by deeds . Our words are an appeal ; our voice is the distant sound of the bell announcing that the matins for the grand festival of the resurrection or nations have commenced also for the Russian people . This voice shall not cease to resound until it shall be changed into a tocsin or a hymn of triumph . Far as we are from you , we are your relatives , your brothers , your only friends . We have reconciled the Russian
people with the peoples of the West , who were apt to confound us with the Government of St . Petersburg . The Poles have stretched out their hands to us as to Russians . Such is also the sense of the words that we have addressed to them , such is the meaning of our alliance with them . They have appreciated our love for the Russian people . On your side , understand it too , and love the Poles , because they are Poles . What do the Poles desire ?
An independent Poland , that shall be free to confederate with Russia when emancipated from autocracy , but without allowing herself to bo absorbed by her . Federal unity is perhaps that which is most opposed to the uniformity of a despotic centralisation . The actual annexation of Poland to Russia is an absurdity , a tact of brutal violence . After three and twenty jears of persecutions , the Government dares not displace on « single regiment throughout entire Poland without sending another to replace it .
These forced unions do but perpetuate hatred , and time cannot modify it . Is Hungary or Lombardy Austrian ? and is even Finland Russian ? It ia only the Baltic provinces that find the Holstein-Mongol government of St . Petersburg to their tasto , and who arm from devotion their children in defence of the Greek orthodox church with Luther ' s Bible in their pockets . . . If we Russians , if we do not choose to comprehend the necessity of Poland ' s restoration , Poland will not fall off A ? ? U 88 U tho le 88 : she will be severed from her by others And then ane will become , not independent , but a stranger
The question between Poland and Russia is a family one Ho foreign intervention . We ought to solve it between our selves—that , too , without urrns
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ORDERS IN COUNCIL . At the recent meetings of the Privy Council , under the presidence of the Queen , several orders were agreed to and have been promulgated . We quote that now popular journal , the Gazette : — "At the Council Chamber , Whitehall , the 11 th day of April , 1854 , by the Lords of her Majesty ' s Most Honourable Privy Council . The Lords of the Council having taken into consideration certain applications for leave to export arms , ammunition , military and naval stores , &c ., being articles of which the exportation is . prohibited by her Majesty ' s proclamation of Feb . 18 , 1854 , their lordships are pleased to order , and it is hereby ordered , that permission -should be granted by the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty ' s Treasury to export the articles so prohibited to be carried coastwise to ports in the United Kingdom , and likewise to all places in North and South America pt the Russian tN
tion , and that any such vessel , if met at sea by any of net Majesty s ships , shall be permitted to continue her voYMfttd any port not blockaded . ' T * V" **» ™» " And whereas her Majesty , by and with the advice of her said Council , is now pleased to alter and extend such part of the said order , it is hereb y ordered , by and with such advice as aforesaid , as follows ; that is to say : —that any Rusaiaa merchant vessel which , prior to the 15 th . day of May , 1864 Shall have sailed from any port of Russia , situated either m or upon the shores or cotiBteof the Baltic Sea or of the Whit *
Sea . bound for any port or place in her Majesty ' s dominions , shall be permitted to enter such last-mentioned port or place and to discharge her cargo , and afterwards forthwith to de ^ part without molestation j and that any such vessel , if met at sea by any of her Majesty ' s ships , shall bo permitted to continue her voyage to any port not blockaded . 14 And her Majesty is pleased , bv and with the advice aforesaid , farther to order , and it is hereby farther ordered , that in all other respects her Majesty ' s aforesaid Order in Council , of tbe 29 th day of March last , shall be and remain in full force , effect , and operation . "
, exce - « |>» wv « u Aw * va * uuv , kjuuvu ** . W ^ l *\ j ** ^ CMkVfVLFH % ; I 1 V AVUoJDltiU possessions of North America ; to the coast of Africa , west of the Straits of Gibraltar , and round the south and east oi Africa ; to the whole coast of Asia not within the Mediterranean Sea or the Persian Gulf , and not being part of the Russian territories ; to the whole of Australia , and to all British colonies within the limits aforesaid , upon taking a bond from tbe persons exporting such prohibited articles that they shall be landed and entered at the port of destination ; and that nil further permission to export such articles to other parts of the world ba only granted upon application to the Lords of the Council at this board .
" C . C . GKKVH . T . E . " On Saturday last her Majesty took the chair at s meeting of her councillors at Windsor Castle , and resolved on issuing the following important orders . It will be remembered that a ' declaration" on th « rights of neutrals was appended to the declaration of war , by which the Queen waived a part of her rights . That declaration is rendered precise by the following order of the 15 th instant : —
" Now it is this day ordered , by and with the advice of her Privy Council , that all vessels under a neutral or friendly flag , being neutral or friendly property , Bhall bo permitted to import into any port or place in her Majesty ' s dominions all goods and merchandise whatsoever , to whomsoever the same may belong ; and to export from any port or place in hor Majest j ' b dominions to any port not blockaded , any cargo or goods , not being contraband of war , or not reqnlring a special permission , to whomsoever the same may belong . " And her Majesty is further pleased , by and with tlie advice of her Privy Council , to order , and it is hereby further
ordered , that , save and except only us aforesaid , all the subjects of her Majesty and the subjects or citizens of aiiy neutral or friendly state shall and may , during and notwithstanding the present hostilities witii Russia , freely trade with all ports and places wheresoever situate , which shall not be in astute of blockade , save and except that no British vessel shall , under any circumstances whatsoever , either under or by virtue of this order , or otherwise be permitted or empowered to enter or communicate with any port or place which shall belong to or be in the ^ possession or occupation of herMnjesty ' a enemies . "
The next order , dated the same day , is as follows : — "Whereas by an o > rder of her Majesty in Council , of the 29 th cf March last , it was amongst other things ordered 4 thnt any liussiun merchant veBseFwhich j prior to the duLc of tine order , ahull liavo Hailed from any foreign port , bdTind for any port or place in her Waieaty ' B dominions , Bhall l > o permitted to enter such port or j > luco and to discharge her cargo , and afterwards forthwith to depart without moleata-
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The Gazette has also published proclamations commanding the good folks of England , Ireland * and Scotland to observe the 26 th of . April as a day of prayer and humiliation . Thejanguage of this , dojjjn * ment will at once shock and amuse our readers . After stating the day , it continues : — " That so both we and our people may humble ourselves before Almighty God in order to obtain pardon of our sins , and in the most devout and , solemn manner , send up our prayers and supplications to the Divina Majesty for invnlor
lng his blessing and assistance on our arms for the restoration of peace to us and our dominions ; and we do strictly charge and command that : the " said ^ aybe Mverentiyanol devoutly observed by all oar loving subjects in England and Ireland , a * they tender tite favour , of Almighty God , Omd would avoid His wrath and indignat ion . " .. .. r > < In England the Archbishops' and Bishops , to facilitate this purpose , ate directed to prepare a suitable form of prayer | but the like direction is not , for goCd reasons , addressed to Scotland .
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AN ANGLO-POLISH liEOlON . Certain Poles in England hare offered to form a Polish Legion , which , being supplied With munitions of war , shall fight side by side with the English and French troops against the common enemy . An address to that effect having been sent to Lord Aberdeen for his approval , he replied as follows : •—M Dovraing-street , Apra 10 . " Sir , —I am desired by my Lord Atardeen to acknowledge the receipt of tbe letter you addressed to hint on the 8 rd inst ., in which , adverting to the declaration of war by
England and France agannst Russia , you express ' a hope ^ on behalf of yourself and jour countrymen residing at Port * mouth , that her Majesty ' s Government will allow yon to form a Polish Legion , which , being supplied with munitions of war , shall tight side bj * side with the English and French troops against the common enemy ; and I am to acquaint you that your letter has been referred for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies . —I nave the honour to be , sir , your obedient servant , 44 Clinton G . Dawkisib . " Major Stawiarski , 43 , Grigg-street , Southsea , - Portsmouth . "
In the last war we employed % German Legion in Spain . Surely no scrupulous feelings for Austrian or Prussian susceptibilities should be an obstacle to the employment of Poles against their worst enemy .
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EXCULPATION . We readily give place to the subjoined explanatory statements , one of which , it will be seen , is official ; the other we quote from the Glasgow correspondent of the Times . With respect to Mir . Pitcher " * case , Mr . Osborne writes as follows , in reply to a letter from that gen * tleman : — "Admiralty , April 12 . " Sir , —With reference to your letter of the 8 th inst ., wherein you state that you have been accused of attempting concealment and withholding information from her Majesty ? Government as to the ships building by you for the Russian
Government , I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you , that on inquiry being mode by officers from tie department of the Surveyor of tbe Navy as to tho circumstances und « r which the two vessels in question were being built by yon , you have behaved in the most candid manner , and afforded every information , stating that they wero being constructed for the Russian Government , and that in subsequent communications with you on the subject of tlio transfer of these vessels , and their equipment for the purpose of being fitted and adapted tot her Majesty ' s service , you have afforded every information nnii fuAlliKV .
" Their Lordships command me to add , that so far from having reuson to complain , they are of opinion that throughout this transaction you have behaved with pur feet candour and honour . "I am , Sir , yonr most obedient humble servant , u B . OSBOROTB . " W . Pitcher , Esq ., Northfleet Dockyard . " The Napier case ( seizure of engines ) is also satis * factorily explained , if we may put faith in the following statement from the Times * Glasgow correspon dent : — " These engines were ordered in July , 1852 , by a Colone l
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Leader (1850-1860), April 22, 1854, page 365, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2035/page/5/
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