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    i r oa 25, 1851.] gp* aeadgn 1007

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    Kossuth In England. Rise Of Public Fbeli...

    neither its wounds noi its days without rest , nor its "Shts without sleep , and which says within itself What is all that ? Justice and liberty are worthy of many Ot pardon us for saying that , as a proof of our affection for your holy cause , we have for the last five months sustained twelve of your companions m arms . 1 hey are a portion of the 260 who landed at Liverpool from Shumla , in March last . You will be as glad to hear as we are to inform you , that they are happy and contented in their adopted home . Should it be with arrangementsit

    " compatible your , would be to us a source of devout pleasure to welcome vou to Newcastle-on-Tyne . Our townsmen would rejoice at having the privilege of seeing , face to face , one whose name is with us a Household Word . " Believe us to be , honoured and much esteemed Sir , " Everywhere , and to the end , yours unalterably , " Alex . Guthrie , Chairman . " Jos . Cowen , Jun ., Secretary . " In an appeal to the public of Newcastle , on behalf of twelve refugees maintained there , we find the

    following paragraph : — " As it is a subject attracting some attention just now , it may be stated that Lekawski knew the pretended « Baroness von Beck in Hungary . Her secretary ^ has been attempting to prove that she was a veritable Baroness . ' Lekawski saw her at Szygeth . He inquired who she was , of Prince Woronucki , who was giving her instructions relative to a journey she was about to take into Galicia to ascertain the position of the enemy there , and he said she was a spy in the employ of the Hungarian National Government . "

    The letter is signed by Mr . Joseph Cowen , a gentleman of intelligence and trustworthiness ; and it is issued by a committee of unimpeachable character . Lekawski is the officer under whom the Polish Hungarian refugees arrived at Newcastle from Liverpool . The conduct of the refugees at Newcastle reflects the highest honour on the cause they have espoused . The proprietor of the Belle Sauvage Hotel , Ludgate-hill , says the Morning Advertiser has generously offered to provide accommodation , free of charge , for Kossuth and his companions , numbering from 60 to 70 , during their stay in the metropolis .

    THE LANDING AT SOUTHAMPTON . The Madrid was signalled at Southampton about two o ' clock on Thursday , and a crowd of people of all classes rushed down to the pier and the docks to greet Kossuth . " Wearing his insignia of office , the Mayor went instantly on board , and found the longexpected hero , his wife , and children safe and well . Taking the hands of the gentlemen introduced to him by the Mayor in both Ms own , Kossuth exclaimed , 11 , now I feel I am free . I am free when I touch your soil . " The Times reporter describes Kossuth as follows : —

    " He stands about five feet eight inches in height , has a slight and apparently not strongl y knit frame , and is a little round shouldered . His face is rather oval ; a pair of blueish-grey eyes , which , somewhat reminded me of O'Connell ' s in expression , well set beneath a full and arched brow , give an animated and intelligent look to his countenance . His forehead , high and broad , ia deeply wrinkled , and time has just begun to grizzle a head of straight dark hair , and to leave a bald 6 pot behind . He has not got the true Hungarian nose , but it is a fair well-formed feature , —such as a French passport would describe as tnoyen ; a thick mustache nearly ¦ covers hia mouth , except when he speaks or smiles , and unites with beard and whisker in a full flock of dark hair falling down from his chin . The portraits are singularly

    Mnlike him in either person or expression . Whether from his recent captivity or from constitutional causes , there is ¦ somehow an air of lassitude in his look , to which the fatigues of his voyage not improbably contributed . Altogether he gives one the id « a of a man of thought rather than of a man of action ; there is a speculative air in his face , mingled with some degree of melancholy , which would murk him for a visionary or theoretical enthusiast lather than for a great leader or a soldier . He was very plainly attired in a dark green frock-coat with a little silk braid at the back and edges , and wore a common , low-crowned , square , felt hat . Madame Kossuth , who weemed in delicate health , stood beside her children , !* runcia and Louis , boys , and Wilhelmina , a girl , the « ldest about eleven , the youngest seven , and was dressed «» simply as her husband . "

    Ab the vessel entered the dock , the crowds at the T > '»« heads cheered loudly , and M . Kossuth , with unco vered head , bowed in acknowledgment . There we » perhaps , 800 or 1000 persons stationed at these points ; 'but opposite tlie mooring-ground of the 'Madrid , the whole quuy-wall was thronged , and worn © 200 © or 3000 persons were collected there , foremost among whom , were tlvo refugees . Ab the vessel w «» proceeding to her moorings , a ' boat , in which ^• - 'reMr . Cr . oBkey , the AmericanConsul . M . Pulzaky and Madame

    Pulzsky , boarded her . The meeting between two latter and the Kossuth family was very warm and tender . M . Kossuth pressed MadaincPulznky to hiu "tart , while hia eyes tilled with tears , which slowly rolled down hia cheeks . M , Pulzsky saluted Madame JVoHH uth most warml y , and she and Madame Pulzsky «<> w into each other b arms , kissed each other and JJ'l » t in turns . M . Pulzsky , too , wa » deeply affected . , , . ° ' < lrc" were then , embraced , and a general » ' » ikmg of hands then took place . This little scene touched all tho byatundera , but tho cntuutuu » m on

    shore as the Madrid came alongside , and the exiles beheld Kossuth , was tremendous , and in their anxiety they nearly pushed each other into the water . Repeated rounds of cheering broke from the crowd , mingled with the Hungarian " Hurrahs , and wild shouts of " Eljen . Kossuth ! " Handerchiefswhite , red , and every colour , were waVed in a perfect cloud , and it seemed as if the band of his compatriots would carry off their chief bodily . band of

    At length he landed , and preceded by a music , the American and English ensigns waving in front , mingled with the Hungarian colours , was driven in the Mayor ' s carriage to his house . The bells rang , the crowd cheered , Kossuth bareheaded stood bowing at the back of the carriage . On reaching the house of the Mayor , Kossuth appeared at the balcony , and spoke as follows : — ' . ' I beg you will excuse my bad English . Seven weeks back I was a prisoner in Kiiitayah , in Asia Minor . Now I am a free man . ( Cheers . ) I am a free man because glorious England chose it . ( Cheers . ) That England chose it , which the genius of mankind selected for the resting monument of its greatness , and the spirit of freedom for his happy home . Cheered by your sympathy , which is the anchor of hope to oppressed humanity , with the view of your freedom , your greatness , and your happiness , and with the consciousness of my unhappy land

    in my breast , you must excuse for the emotion I feel—( cheers)—the natural consequence of so striking a change and so different circumstances . ( Cheers . ) So excuse me for not being able tojthank you so warmly as I feel , for the generous reception in which you honour in my undeserving person the cause of my country . ( Cheers . ) I only hope God Almighty may for ever bless you and your glorious land . Let me hope you will be willing to throw a ray of hope and consolation on my native land by this your generous reception . ( Cheers . ) May England be ever great , glorious , and free \—( cheers)— -but let me hope , by the blessing of Almighty God , and by our own that

    steady perseverance , and by your own generous aid , England , though she may ever remain the most glorious spot on earth , will not remain for ever the only one where freedom dwells . ( Great cheering . ) Inhabitants of the generous town of Southampton ! in shaking hands with your Mayor , my best and truest friend ( here M . Koasuth turned round to the Mayor and . shook hands with his worship energetically , amid much cheering ) , I have the honour to thank you , and to salute , with the deepest respect , you , the inhabitants of the industrious , noble-minded , enlightened , and prosperous city of Southampton . ( Loud cheers . )"

    Kossuth then retired , Madame Kossuth stepped on to the balcony , and was loudly cheered ; the children were brought forward , and fresh shouts arose . Before leaving , Kossuth called for " Three cheers for our Gracious Queen , God bless her ! " he exclaimed " God bless her ! " The hero then sought a few moments rest to fit him for the fatigues of the meeting at the Town-hall . Among the strangers assembled in the hall were Mr . George Dawson , Mr . Charles Gilpin , Mr . Pulzsky , Mr . Wyld , M . P . The Mayor is said to have made an energetic speech in presenting the address of the City to Kossuth , warm and affectionate and respectful towards him , and not afraid as some Englishmen are of using the word national . When the address had been read by the Town Clerk , Kossuth said ,

    " Mr . Mayor and Gentlemen of the municipality of the town and borough of Southampton , excuse me , an unpretending stranger , for not being able , in your own language , duly to express the warmest sentiments of thanks and gratitude for the honour of your generous welcome , and for those generous sentiments which you , Mr . Mayor , were pleased to addreas to me . ( Cheers ) I was already before my arrival bound by lasting gratitude to the town of Southampton for numerous tokens of the most highminded sympathy with the cause of my dear native land , and of protection to its exiles ; and bein ^ prepared for the honour of this occasion , you will excuse a few words , I may say , inspired by your presence , and said to you without any preparation . ( Cheers . )

    It is , indeed , an honour to bo welcomed by the people of England in this noble town . It ia the highest gratification to me that it was the municipality of the first tewn I had the honour to meet , which receives me in such a generous manner . It ia not on this day only , but from my early youth , that this glorioua country had a mighty share in my deatiny . ( Cheers . ) I waa used to look on England as on the Book of Life , which had to teach me and the nations of Europe how to live . ( Loud cheers . ) Through three centuries , the House of Austria has exhuuatcd against Hungary the arta of open violence and of secret intrigue , and it was our municipal institutions which still , among the most arduous circumstances , conserved to Hungary some spirit of public life and some part of constitutional liberty ( Loud and continued chettrs . )

    It waa at the time when this flit ill sickncuH of political feeling to centralize every power , aud to tutor the people into this notion of political wisdom —when this fatal sickness , I way , spread over the Continent , and made its way even to my own country , so tlmt it became nluiout the fanliion , and almost a murk of intelligence , to bend towards the doctrine of centralization , that 1 , my humble self , with a few frienda who stood by me , struggled against this Htorm—against those mailing waves coming over the spirit of Europe , because 1 regarded , and 1 ever uhall regnid , municipal public life as a public benefit , without which there ia no practical freedom whatever ( loud cheers ) , and for tho Iohs of which I tltink all MiuiHteriul responsibilities and Parliamentary privilege but a pitiful equivalent . ( Cheers . ) In thin land is eccn the Uucut fruitB of this conquest of liberty : the

    glory outside , the freedom within , unwithered by the blighting finger of centralization . ( Cheers . ) When I first read the French constitution , I foretold that great and glorious French nation should yet have to go through many storms , because it did not abandon its fatal principle of centralization , and because it is only in municipal institutions freedom can be developed . ( Cheers . ) That i 3 my conviction . " He expressed his firm conviction that the greatness of England was the consolation of the oppressed , of whom she was the protecting elder brother : —

    " There is one thing that is a prominent feature in your race , —a result of no small importance in our struggles , — that the sentiments of this race are spreading over the wprld , and that it is not the least of the glories you call your own that the people of England appear to be resolved to take the lead in the new direction of the public opinion of the world , out of which the highest blessings will flow . The generous sympathy of the people of England for my bleeding , struggling , down-trodden , but not broken , native land—( loud cheers )—is one , but not the only one , manifestation , by which England shows she is ready to accept this glorious rule of the elder brother of humanity . ( Cheers . ) This country , though it has not to fear any

    direct attack on its own liberty , still knows that its welfare and prosperity , founded as they are , on the continued development of your genius and industry , cannot be entirelv independent of the condition of other nations . The people of England know that in neither social nor political respects can it be indifferent whether Europe be free or groaning under Russia and her satellites ; the people of England are conscious of their glorious position—it knows that , while it conserves its freedom , it cannot grant the privilege to Russo-Austrian despots to dispose of the fate of Europe , but must have its weight in the balance

    of the destinies of Europe , or England would no more be an European Power . ( Loud cheers . ) And it is this knowledge which is the source of hope and consolation to my oppressed country , as well as to all the fellownations of Europe ; for by the principle on which your freedom continues , and on which your happiness is founded , and by your generous sentiments , we are assured that , let the people of England once throw their weight into the balance of the fate of Europe , then they will never assist despotism , but freedom—( cheers )—not injustice , but right ; not the ambition of a few families , but the moral welfare and dignity of humanity . ( CJieers . )'*

    Animated by the expression of British opinion that Hungary would yet be free , he freely exclaimed that , " seeing them entertain that hope and belief , was almost like victory itself . " " I hope the Almighty will grant , before I leave thi 3 country and cross the ocean , and go to the young giant , the younger brother of your mighty race , and thank him for the generous protection bestowed on me , and entreat his brotherly hand for the future of Europe and of my own country , that I shall see established in full activity and Bpread over these glorious isles , some of those mighty associations by which you carry the triumph of every great reform and of every great principle in your constitution . ( Loud cheering ) I hope to see some of those

    associations lending its attention to the solidarity of the independence of Hungary , with the hope that the peace of Europe and the future of these gloriou 3 isles will take for its aim to give a practical direction to the sympathy of the people for my poor down-trodden country—that the people of England will look upon my unhappy land , and that they will reduce to a ruling principle that sentiment of the public spirit of Britannia , which evidently shows itself to be ready to accept the solidarity of the destiny of mankind , and especially of the liberty of Europe itself . ( Cheers . ) I thank you for the generous wishes you have bestowed on me . To me life in itself is not of

    valuebut only so much as I can make some use of it to the liberty and independence of my own country , and to the benenefit of humanity ( cheering and applause ) ; and , though I have to decline all praises bestowed on my own personal character , aa I am conscious I have nothing done but only that which 1 considered my own simple duty to be , while I am sorry my modeat faculties could not equal my devotion to my native land , btill 1 take thin expression as an encouragement to go on in that way which I took for the aim of my life , and which I hope the blessing of the Almighty and tho sympathy of the people of England , and of all generous hearts over the world , may help to carry to a happy issue . ( Cheers . ) '

    A few more eloquent and grateful words , with warm allusions to tho Queen , and M . Kossuth sat down . Then the meeting rose to itH feet , and the cheering lusted several minutes . " Three groans " were given for the Austrian , tyrant ; and afterwards the Mayor , giving a sketch of its history , presented to KoBsuth the ilag worked by some Hungarians in New York , which has ho long been ia the Customhouse . " Koasuth , took the flag , pressed it to hia boson , and siiid with energy—• 1 receive , Gentlemen , this / Intf , aw tho moat valuable trust intrusted to the people of Hungary , and 1 swear to you , whatever be our fate , cowardice and ambition hIhiII never turniHh thin / lair . '

    " Oreat cheering and applause , aftor which M . KoHSUth handed the flag to Mr . Crohkcy , the Aiuoricuii Connul . Tho nddrcHH <> f the working men of Southampton wan presented to KosHUth , and a mutable- reply returned . A rather ainiJning incident hero occurred , more illustrative of Engli "" freedom than many more pretentious things . " A Voice : ' Throe groans for tho Times . ' ^ Urouna accordingly , aini < l which " The Mayor exclaimed : ' Now , remember we are all lOiiirlislmu-n hvrc ; and rein , labor , when tho preaB takes ui > any question you are ulwuyu tuo bettor for their

    I R Oa 25, 1851.] Gp* Aeadgn 1007

    r oa 25 , 1851 . ] gp * aeadgn 1007

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 25, 1851, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25101851/page/3/