THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
Vienna, April 4. As I did not come here to speculate on the probable result of the Polish insurrection, but simply to give a faithful report of what I might see and hear of the events which are now taking place in that unfortunate country, which so obstinately refuses to die, in spite of the repeated official announcementsof its decease, I shall at once proceed to business, and report to you the principal facts which I have succeeded in gatheringup to the present moment. With regard to the events which led to the incarceration of Langiewicz in an Austrian prison, it is extremely difficult to get at the truth. The predominating opinion seems to be that Mieroslawski, who is on all hands admitted to be a mere selfish adventurer, was the main cause of the disastrous result of the battle of Chroberz; for, among the many names given to the battle-field of March 17th, Chroberz seems to have emerged as the most generally received appellation. Chroberz is a village on the river Nida, some twenty miles distant from its junction with the Vistula, and about equally distant from the town of Stobinca. It seems that in the early part of the day, chiefly owing to the intre- pidity of the French Commander, Rochebrune, with his " Zouaves de la Mort," the insurgents got considerably the best of it, and would have gained still further advantage had not the cavalry, commanded by Czaspki, a creature of Mieroslawski's, left the field at a gallop, when ordered up to charge the already broken Russian line. Unfortunately, at this juncture, the Russians were reinforced from Stobnica, and the insurgents were compelled to retire, though not in disorder. The fighting seems to have been renewed next day withno important result, and inthenight of the 18th-19th Langiewicz called a council of war, and it was decided to split up the army into two main divisions, which were again to be subdivided and act separately, partly because of the difficulty of getting provisions, partly in order to distract the Russians. Langiewicis subsequent proceedings are variously explained. Poles with whom I have con- versed assert strongly that he was simply making a short cut through Galicia to foment the insurrection in the eastern provinces, when he was unfortunately recognized by the too officious Austrian authorities, who, it was supposed, would have winked at the manceuvre. It seems, at any rate, certain that, before quitting the camp, he had placed an experienced general at the head of each division. A private account of the present whereabouts of the in- surgent generals so nearly tallies with the disposition of the forces given in the Allgemeine Zeitung, that I am inclined to think you may rely on it. To the south-west, not far from the Silesian frontier, is Cieszkowski, that indefatigable bridge and railway destroyer. Next him, on the north, succeeds Orinski, with his flying division, who is in his turn flanked by Bliclenski beyond the Warta near Konin. Miclenski's corps is reported to be engaged with the Russians almost daily. Eastwards Padlewski extends his forces across the Narew (which flows into the Vistula at Modlin), into the province of Augustowo. Under Padlewski's orders is Colonel Fritsche with his scythemen. Warsaw itself, whence "that mysterious Committee, every member of which faces death every hour of the day," directs the movements of the in- surgents, is threatened by a corps under Tschartkowski. In Lublin, Colonel Lewandowski, lately victorious over the Russians at Stawin, is ably supported by the flying division under Lelewel. In Radom no commander of any note is reported. The positions of these commanders, it must be remembered, change every day. Besides these organized corps commanded by experienced officers, in every province innumerable smaller bands, under nameless chiefs, weary out the Russians and defy pur- suit; and I am assured that the fire of the insurrection is only now smouldering, and that the flames will burst forth in May. Expeditions are already organized for operating in Lithuania, Volhynia, and Podolia. According to the latest accounts, the whole of those provinces are in a state of the most violent fermentation, and there seems little doubt that the move- ment will before long spread itself over the whole of that district which formed the ancient kingdom of Poland, extending from the Baltic to the Euxine, and from the Oder to the Dnieper. The resignation of the marshal of the nobility of Grodno has been followed by that of all the marshals of Lithuania. The following is a part of the text of Count Victor Starzenski's resignation :— " In consequence of the proelamations exciting the peasantry to rise and massacre us, in presence of the overthrow of all social order with which we are threatened by the authorities, I must confess I am no longer able to reconcile my functions as a marshal with my dignity as a Pole. I am convinced that every public work having for its object the development of the industry of the country can no longer be carried on with success." A letter from Wilna announces the deportation of 300 landed proprietors as a precautionary measure. It is said that the English legion under Theophile Lapinski, the hero of the Caucasus, is to land on the Baltic coast, and to endeavour to effect a junction with the corps which is now being organized in Galicia, to act in Podolia and Volhynia. But these are mere rumours, as the success of such expeditions consists in keeping them dark. The English public should be convinced that the best news from Poland for some time will be no news, for the movement has yet need of at least a month to ripen.
One of the most hopeful signs for Poland is the existence of a very strong Liberal feeling in Russia itself. I am in a position to give you the text of an address to the Russian soldiery, which has lately been published by the Liberal party in Moscow. It runs thus—" You will cover yourselves with eternal shame if you show yourselves servile cut-throats ; if you combat a revolution provoked by unheard-of cruelty and arbitrary acts." "The Poles," says the proclamation, "have sworn not to lay down their arms until they have attained their object, and as long as one of them is left alive. Is it easier, then, for them than for us to obtain their liberty? If it is eager for them, it is because they are penetrated with profound patriotism, and because they have already worked so many miracles of courage and heroism ; because they have forced us to admire them and bow down before them. It is because they have in- scribed on their banner "for our liberty and for yours," that in working for themselves they work equally for the proper liberty of all those who love and desire freedom in Russia. This is strong language, and that such a proclamation comes from Moscow, the very heart of the Russian empire, speaks volumes for the state of public opinion. The Liberals in Russia fed that Poland can never be a source of anything but
weakness to the empire ; they are taxed to a fearful extent to support the army necessary to keep the country in subjec- tion; for the Russians hold Poland in a still more iron gripe than the Austrians do Venetia, and there can be no doubt that the solution of the Polish question would very soon lead to the solution- of what remains of the Italian question. The two cases are very parallel, and if only the Liberal party will continue to do its utmost to make its voice heard and respected, there is yet good hope that both these European sores may be healed without the necessity of an European war. It is, after all, only such reforms as are brought about by the good sense of a people working outwards that are lasting and produce ultimate good. Reforms thrust upon Russia or Austria from without by force of arms would cease to be real as soon as the compulsion was removed. It is sincerely to be hoped that Europe will be spared the mockery of seeing further concessions wrung from that Czar whose mildness and generosity are so much lauded. His memorable words to the Polish nobility seem to be forgotten :- "The happiness of the Polish people depends on its entire fusion with the people of my empire ; what my father did was well done, and I will maintain it. My reign shall be the continuation of his."
This leaves little to be hoped from him. AN ENGLISHMAN.
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