No intelligence of the slightest importance has been received from
Northern Europe. It is rumoured, indeed, that Russia has placed fifty thousand -men upon the Pnith, but the statement requires more confirmation than it has received. The Russian Government has endeavoured to palliate the massacres of Warsaw by the following remarkable argument:
The Italian war, the good fortune of a successful soldier, the contagious example of Hungary, and the continued declamations of the foreign press—these are the causes which have exercised a great influence upon Poland,.and could not but ultimately result in an over-excitement differently interpreted by different parties.
One of these parties, which may be called the revolutionary, and which obeys the mot d'ordrs of blieroslayski, has endeavoured to bring about a sanguinary conflict, with a view to prepare the immediate triumph of democracy in the midst of unfettered passions. The other party, which can be hardly said to have had a distinct object in view, or which, at all events, concealed any definite purpose, merely endeavoured to keep up the movement by the manifestations of an unarmed multitude. It was in this way that they, perhaps, intended to bring the Polish question before Europe, and make' it one of urgency. After this description of the actors, it is easy to arrive at an explanation of what has taken place. The manifestations of the 25th and 27th February were the work of the revolutionary party, while the peaceful deinonstrations which preceded it, were originated by the other party, and could not but result in a sanguinary conflict, the partizans of the more turbulent section being always upon the alert, and trying to avail themselves of every opportunity as it occurred for their own purposes.
It is quite possible that a "physical force" party existed and exists in Poland, but it is certain that it had no control over the events of April. The leaders were passionately desirous that order should be maintained, and the attack on the people was obviously planned beforehand, troops having been stationed to intercept their flight. The Journal de St. Petersbourg repeats that the new institu- tions will not be withdrawn. The censorship on foreign journals, however, which had been removed, has been resumed, and the Go- vernment has ordered any ecclesiastic who speaks of polities in church to be arrested. This order is said to be intended to silence the clergy, who are endeavouring to remove the ill feeling between the peasantry and their lords.
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