The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

M. KOSSUTH AS A JOURNALIST.

ar. Kossuth intimates in the Atlas of this day the ter-
mination of his labours as an English journalist. It is
but justice to say that his contributions to the Atlas have
frequently imparted to the English public information
that could not have been obtained from any other
source ; that his views of European politics, always
broad and comprehensive, have often bee❑ strikin,l.

just and original ; . • .• "
Mid that the tone and tenii, of Ills
hwa been uniformly uncompromising, elevated,
and dignified. Subjoined is M. Kossuth's farewell :
" After nine mouths of uninterrupted communion, my
connexion with the Atlas is brought to a close.
"The object of my engaging in the cheerless task
which I now terminate was clearly defined in my intro-
ductory article, published in the 7th April number of this
paper. I leave the reader to judge whether I have been
faithful to my programme. That programme is my tes-
timony that I was not sanguine of success when I en-
tered on the task, and in parting with it I confess that I
did well not to he sanguine of success. Still, I look back
with some satisfaction on this strange episode in my
strange life ; and though I cannot boast of having de-
rived immediate advantage from it, either to the cause to
which I am religiously devoted or to myself, I do not
regret the pains it has cost me to go through it. My con-
science tells me that I have performed a duty; and to me
that is enough. Some want hope for a motive, and suc-
cess for a reward. With me the sense of duty is a suffi-
cient motive ; aud the consciousness of having done a
duty is a suffioient reward. Besides, words lost on the
ears of the living are not elwaye lost E'er historys'ancl (I say
it with sorrow, not with pride) I-have the presentiment
that many a nerst-liraverwrittet-ine- the -fitter& linVe
Atlas, which after a short while may read like antioi-
pated record of history. But be this as it may, I remem-
ber to have read in the-Times the telling remark, that
in England the leaders of party are intent on Parlia-
mentary tactics instead of European politics. If that
remark tells a true tale, it is no: amiss that the British
public should hear now and then s,nue little of European
politics. Well, I bare the consciousness that I for one
have spoken to them European politics. Modest as my
acquirements otherwise may be, this subject at least is
familiar to me : protracted study, experience, medita-
tion, and my very sufferings concurred to familiarise me
with is ; and the morel solitude in which I stand in
England has this advantage at least, that, impassible to
the varying emotions of the flitting moment and of party
interest, I mey keep a steady cye on the main features
of events, and take a broad view of a broad case. True
it is, much prejudice exists in England against the
opinions of foreigners. While on the Continent it is a
vernacular truth that nobody is a prophet in his own
land, in England the reverse is true. In almost every
other regard the most cosmopolitan nation, in that one
regard the English are not free from self-conceit, Em-
phatically a nation of "details," each man a "specialty,"
they do not muck care to arrive at a bird's-eye view of
a European case ; and because they do not, they are
inclined to think no foreigner can. But strong as this
prejudice may be, truth is not the less truth because
a foreigner has told it ; and if good be the advice
which a foreigner happens to give, not he will have to
rue if men do not profit by it.
" Besides, though the son of a foreign land, and though
the beet affections of my heart cling with superhuman
ardour to the land of my birth, I am not an alien to any
people on earth. Corrupt as is the Christianity of this
our material ago (alas ! degraded into mere lip worship),
I thank our Father in Ileavou that amongst all the
vicissitudes of my sorrowful life, be has left me a heart
religiously devoted to the sublime fundamental command
of pure Christianity—brotherly love and charity. Fra-
ternal solidarity is my religion. lam no stranger to my
brethren on earth ; no stranger especially to my bre- '
thren the people of England ; I take the deepest inte-
rest in the welfare of this country, which gave a shelter
to my komeless head,
" It was this interest that prompted see to contribute
the modest light of my lamp towards the enlightment of
public opinion at this critical period of England's history.
Whether or not I have been too presumptuous in
undertaking the task, time will show. The task is done.
In parting with it I publicly thank the proprietors of the
Atlas for die fair field they held open to me for perform-
ing what I, in conscience, think to have been the duty of
an honest man, and I thank the readers for the indulgence
with which they have borne the unflattering austerity of
my language, and the defects of /4 foreigner's pen.
" Unbiassed as I have been by any of those particular
considerations which often have their share in the ma-
itagetnent of the English periodical press, I did not learn
to make a compromise between truth and the art to
please. Rigid are my convictions, because they are the
well-matured result of principles which neither can mis-
lead Nor aver change, and severe has been my language
accordingly. Truth is mostly unpalatable in itself.
When told by me it may sometimes have caught a tinge
of bitterness from the gloomy disposition of the exile's
soul ; for bitter is the salt on an exile's bread, cheerless
is the air of homelessness, and sad is it to stand between
compassion, indifference, and derision—humiliating the
first, chilling the second, and revolting the third. Thus
to stand is the doom of the patriot exile. It is not plea-
sant to commune with him. Therefore, in bidding fare-
well to the Atlas and its readers, I do not rock myself in
the illusion that I have been a pleasant companion to
them • but this conviction I carry with me, that though
not pleasant I have been true.
"I promised not to treat the readers of the Atlas with
sentimental appeals to batren sympathies, and I trust I
have been as good as my word. In every subject I have
discussed these nine months, I conscientiously laboured
to take an English stand, and to judge matters from an
English point of view. I wish for England's sake (and
for England's sake alone ; my national hopes rest on
another ground !)—I wish, for England's sake, the truth
I have told could have been worthier told, so that it
might have left some impression on the public mind. But
" What is writ is writ—with toe the pain;
With the future the moral of the strain.

" ROS aTTH. "

It affords us gratification to announce that the recia
opening of this extensive undertaking has been attended
with unqUalified success. 'N-otvrithstanding the dull
sea?on of the year, as respects arrivals, and the generally
adverse state of the wind, no feWer than 39 vessels,
averaging 500 tins each, equal to_nearly 20,000 tons of
shipping, have entered the decks- during the last 4.)rt-
night, comprising lull cargoes from Calcutta, New York,
'uebec, Alexandria, Naples, Sicily, Bourdeaux, Havre,
13altic, &c., &e., including also the large steamers
Syuney and Australian, last from the Crimea. A.
(;loi.•
siderable portion of the cargoes has, we understand,
been warehoused by the dock company. This result
may be regarded as affording conclusive evidence that
the mercantile public will &wily avail themselves of the
combined -advantages offered by this new claimant
,to
their patronage. Ample water accommodation, w4h':the
modern appliances of hydraulic power and perfect rail-
way communication, insure that great desideratum, -sea-
, patch, and, united with a low tariff, enable the merchant
' or agent to conduct big business alike satisfactorily'co
his principal and himself.
The Victoria Dock and Basin just opened comprise
about one hundred acres of water, being more than
double the space afforded by the St. Ictztherine Docks
and London Docks together, and nearly equal to
all the docks, canals, and basins of rim 'At t and West

India Dock Company unite]. Vollr yee.74eN, *Lie
' `::t3iisive vaults and warehouses, afford, i
addition to the Sidi-s of the do.ik, abundant quay roonoa
whilst lines of rails connect the said warehouses and
landing-places with the North Woolwich Railway,
access to the Fenchurch-street and Shoreditch stations
and to every railway north of the Thames. The com-
pany possess, in addition, 450 acre 7. of land, extending
eastward to Galleon's Reach, with Parliamentary powers
and adequate capital to construct froM 100 to 200 acres
of additional docks. Assuming merely the Smaller quan-
tity, the Victoria Docks will bo fully equal in extent to
the Liverpool Docks collectively, whilst, by the adop-
tion of modern improvements and appliances, they will
greatly surpass their northern competitors in point of
convenience and facilities. When completed, they will
extend in unbroken length nearly three miles, which
may be described as the distance from the Marble Arch
to Newgate-street, Whilst the marginal land will afford
every kind of acconuo.3ation to trade and shipping that
can possibly be required, includi, g graving-docks, ship-
builders'-yards, &ie., to the gnat advanta.;e of the Com-
pany., and increase of the natural business of the docks.
Owing to the inexpen,ive narura of the land, and
.
the economical .modc of coastructaen e.Mp4oyeq,-114es0
neverreleati-4,rikinr-rerttttrWttlitive bed" accompli-hed
At an outlay incredibly small, when looked at with re-
ference to the cost of similar un iertak inv. The follow-
ing comparative estimate does not pretend to extreme
accuracy, but it is sufficiently near for the purpose re-
quired. Inasmuch as an cntire uniformity (the result of
combination) exists in the rates, charges, and regula-
tions of the other great dock companies on the north
bank of the Thames, they may be practically treated as
one amalgamated concern, though otherwise perfectly
distinct :
LiverpoolDacks,about
200 acres of water,
cost
St.Katherine,London,
Eastaud West India
Docks, about 1&5
acres of water, in-
cluding works in

progress, cost about 8,500,000, or 55,000/, per acre.
Victoria Docks, pro-
bable minimum ex-

tent 200 acres, with
theSteelyardEstate,
and intended ware-
houses thereon, cost 1,200,000, or 6,0001. per acre.
Thee particulars are derived from the printed reports
of the Victoria Dock Company. Eucouraged by this
great disparity of outlay, the lessees have fixed the rates
and charges on an average nearly 50 per cent. below
their neighbouring competitors, and placed them mainly
on a par with those current in Liverpool.
We consider it impossible to exaggerate the mo•
mentous consequences of this event to the commercial
progress of the metropolis. Certainly, it may be now
fairly said, its trade is virtually freed from the incubus
of high charges, and the obstructions attendant on im-
perfect accommodation. We regard the opening of the
new docks as forming an era or starting point in the
history of London ; and we see every reason to hope, not
oniy that its present commercial preeminence may be
maintained and perpetuated, but that some portion of
the trade diverted from it of late years may be pre-
sently restored to its ancient channel.—Moriiiity Ad-
vertiser.