Archiwa Collection of nineteenth-century manuscripts and printed sources concerning different aspects of Polish-Irish relations. - Polish

Copy of Antoni Ostrowski’s letter to Daniel O’Connell (November 1837)

A letter written in French from Antoni Ostrowski to Daniel O’Connell (November 1837). Reproduced courtesy of the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Archiwum Ostrowskich z Ujazdu. Listy od A. Ostrowskiego, 1837, call number 407, p. 1-2).

Copy of a letter to Daniel O’Conell

Representative of Dublin

[As a] Member of the revolutionary parliament of Poland and citizen of this Land, hounded by the atrocious despotism of the great despoiler of the North, proud of sharing the banning, the exile and the conditions of my numerous companions of misfortune, like them, I felt a … feeling of consolation in learning that the famous defender for the right[s] of the oppressed and the nations, that you, Sir, had very recently again raised your powerful voice on behalf of our sacred cause! Yes, this word spoken in our cause, which touched our hearts in gratitude for you, who are such a worthy representative of the powerful and free Albion; this word, I say, will have … impacts not only on the convictions of our friends and appreciators of the good and just and of the real interests of humanity, but it will also be listened to, as an echo of our sufferings, a warning, and perhaps out of remorse for the conscience of which a narrow selfishness and a forgetfulness of the principles of sane politics have made them act up to now.

Thanks therefore be given to you, Sir, for having chaired so nobly and with such a touching anointing, the last feast commemorating our enduring night on 29 November 1830. Continue your noble efforts for this great work of universal importance, and so worthy of your great heart.

Yes, you will continue, we are accepting in advance any announcement, with this perseverance that is yours and which will remind the world of the antique virtue of Cato, in proclaiming the necessity for the good of everyone, to humiliate our mutual enemies, in asking continuously that the whole of Poland be given its previous independence and liberty. In this way, You would put the seal on the work which has so greatly filled your career.

At the same time, would you, Sir, as president of the mentioned meeting of the 29^th [November], express our deepest gratitude to the venerable English speakers who were willing to join their generous voices to yours. Your name Sir and theirs are from now on written in our history, and our national affection will be with you always.

(signed) Le (Paladin) Antoine Ostrowski…

Paris, rue des petits augustins, 17

11 [?] Nov. 1837 …address…in London.

Copy of Antoni Ostrowski’s letter to Daniel O’Connell (November 1837)

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A letter from Władysław Zamoyski to Daniel O’Connell (November 1837)

A letter from Władysław Zamoyski to Daniel O’Connell (November 1837). Reproduced courtesy of the Princes Czartoryski Library in Kraków [Biblioteka Książąt Czartoryskich w Krakowie], Władysław Zamoyski. Bruliony i kopie listów, 1837-1842, call number 6967 IV, no page number.

Nov. 27th 1837….

Dear Sir

The kind feeling which you show to the cause of my country by comenting [commenting] to take the Chair on Wednesday next at the Polish meeting gives me the courage of calling your attention to the following observations, the object of which is to give to ~~render~~ your presence on such an occasion its full effect. ~~– as valuable to that cause as it is intended to be:~~

Similar meetings on preceding years have been the occasion of speeches highly injurious ~~discreditable~~ to the polish cause ~~They gain~~ by conveying to the public of this & other countries the impression that the Poles were divided amongst themselves by hostile feelings & opinions – ~~They, in…, did not allow to believe in (nor even to wish for~~ an impression calculated to spread joy among their enemies & even to create doubts as to their capability to profit by circumstances which might enable them to reconquer their independence.

I feel confident that by your attention being drawn to this point ~~I have thought, I feel confident~~ the preliminary observations ~~that some recommendations to the contrary effect such in the Charman’s~~ which you might make from the chair would effectually restrain any such injudicious outbreaks of feeling, while ~~opening speech would be of the best result on the next meeting & might even spread out of doors~~ the weight of your authority & the effectiveness of your counsels would greatly send to correct these unhappy dispositions among my countrymen & their friends.

No body, certainly, is more fit to obtain benefit in matter relative to the redeeming of an oppressed country than the Liberator of Ireland. He might with indubitable success, recommend to others the line he has been following himself & which his countrymen have earnestly, perseveringly & successfully pursued in concordance with his directions & orders.

He might tell what power result from such a line of proceeding on part of a nation toward a well tried chief. He might learn to others what he has himself experienced during a long, a difficult & successful carrier, a life which is not only admirable but whis [whose] is a true model for those who have a country to save.

~~Excuse, Sir, the liberty I have taken.~~

Having in vain attempted to get a momenti [moment] conversation with you I have thus taken the liberty of addressing you. I could not restrain myself from expressing these fears for the result of the meeting & this confidence in you.~~[A] Step calculated to do good should not turn to be a painful & regrettable display in which all Poles & friends of Poland would be … to find their best … of that cause involuntarily involved.~~

I have the honour to be, dear Sir, Your devoted servant

W Zamoyski

A letter from Antoni Ostrowski to Daniel O’Connell (September 1839)

A letter written in French from Antoni Ostrowski to Daniel O’Connell (September 1839). Reproduced courtesy of the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych w Warszawie, Archiwum Ostrowskich z Ujazdu. Listy od A. Ostrowskiego, 1839, call number 407, p. 3).

Paris, 22 September 1839

Sir,

It is on behalf of the members of the Polish Parliament that I have the honour of sending you the expression of high esteem and perfect gratefulness that they have for you. It is you who were the first, in the Parliament of England, to raise your voice for Poland with a dignity that suits the most holy of cause[s], [namely], for the independence of nations. More than one of your colleagues imitated [emulated] you but if their speeches awakened our sympathy, yours had repercussions for our cause. We would have spoken in the same manner ourselves. From now on you are a Polish man for us ….

It is in this way, as President of the Polish parliament, anticipating the possible arrival of its members in Great Britain, that I appeal to ask you in all confidence … for your help and advice. There is no-one better than you to show the necessary steps appropriate to take to your government, in order to obtain for the members of parliament a kind and suitable welcome. If destiny calls us to your homeland, it will please us to offer you our thanks for this new service carried out in the cause of Justice and Liberty. And as for me in particular, I would be pleased to get to know personally the one who has so valiantly fulfilled the great duties dictated by his standing and the trust of all.

Please you accept my high esteem and best consideration ….

Mr. Daniel O’Connel,

Member of the Parliament

Antoni Ostrowski’s letter to Daniel O’Connell (September 1839) and Polish-Irish Historical Contexts