SIR.--It may not be known to the generality of your readers that the Tsar's intention to resuscitate the kingdom of Poland--at least as far as regards Russian Poland--is by no means a new project. It was already entertained by the Emperor Alexander I., but came to nothing. It is matter of common knowledge that Polish autonomy was one of the items in the programme of the Zemstow Congress in Moscow in 1905 and was unanimously supported by the Polish delegates. Of less common knowledge, however, is the fact that some of the most distinguished of the Russian delegates were also in favour of it. When I was in that city in November, 1905, as special correspondent of the _New York Herald_, I had occasion to discuss this question with Prince Eugene Troubetzkoi, Alexander Gutschkoff, and Prince Paul Dolgoroukow, the Marshal of the Moscow nobility. Prince Troubetzkoi's words to me were as follows: "In my opinion, Poland must receive a form of self-government, the exact nature of which, however, in view of the peculiar conditions which exist through the close proximity of Austrian and Prussian Poland, can only be the subject of careful consideration. The question has been discussed from two different points of view by the members of the Zemstow Congress; they are unanimous, however, with regard to one point, which is that no rupture or break in the unity of the Russian Empire shall take place." During a stay in Warsaw a few days previously I found, much to my surprise, that the antagonism of the educated Poles towards the Russian régime was much less marked than towards Prussia and even towards Austria, where, as everybody knows, the Galician Poles are more liberally treated than either in Russia or Prussia. I also found unanimity among the same class of people with regard to the view that for economical reasons alone Poland could not afford to be cut off from the Russian Empire, in which the Poles find the best market for their industry, which has made great strides in the course of the present generation. Another consideration in favour of Poland retaining its connection with Russia is that the Russian Empire opens up a wide field for good careers to the more intelligent of the Poles in nearly every sphere of life. These features seem to speak in favour of the ultimate realization of the Tsar's project in face of victory in the present war. * * * * * This rescript regarding Poland, of course, was different from the Tsar's Imperial manifesto to the Russian people, which met with such an enthusiastic response. This manifesto was issued on Sunday, August 2nd, to justify Russia's armed opposition to Germany, and it said: