Mr. Hennessy on Thursday night brought forward a string of
resolutions affirming that the British Government was no longer bound to recognize Russian sovereignty in Poland, and there was a debate, but it did not come to anything. Lord Palmerston admitted all Mr. Hennessy had to say, but stated that he was not prepared to go to war in defence of Poland, and thought that the treaty of 1815 rather protected the Poles. As to refusing to re- cognize Russian sovereignty, we had done that in Circaasia, and Russia had conquered the country all the same, and was now engaged in expelling its people. In fact there was nothing to do but bear with a great wrong which we could not prevent. All that is merely the old story that ships cannot get to Warsaw, but does not answer the allegation that Napoleon and Charles of Sweden wanted to help the Poles, provided England would send a fleet to the Baltic, and England did not do it. It is better as it is, perhaps, but we shall give way once too often.
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