The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-14 00:00:00

romantic vicissitudes. Reviewing the different
speeches delivered by this very extraordinary man
since his arrival amongst us, it is impossible to do
otherwise than admire the tact not less than the elo-
puence of those remarkable and diversified orations.
It will have been perceived through their medium how
very peculiar is the capacity evinced by him to adapt
himself at once to his auditors, even when address-
ing them in a foreign tongue and in a land
remote from his own dominions. At Southampton
his manner was different from that revealed at Win-
chester in the inculcation of his ideas upon free and
constitutional government. At Manchester no less
apparent was this variety of bearing than it has again
been rendered at Birmingham. When responding to
the address presented to him in Guildhall, KOSSUTH
spoke in terms particularly suitable for the citizens
of a wealthy and liberal metropolis ; while on the oc-
casion of his reply to a similar address handed
to him in Copenhagen-fields, at a strongly contrasting
demonstration, he spoke as became one who delivered
his sentiments in the hearing of a vast body of the
labouring classes. It has been by this admirable
skill evinced on his part, in catching at once the tone
most acceptable to his ♦arious hearers, that the
Governor of Hungary has contrived so successfully
to extend his popularity in all quarters, even at the
very moment when his name is most maligned by the
commonest dealers in vituperation.
That the influence emanating from the genius of
KOSSUTH should have become thus widely diffused
in England is, under all circumstances, by no means
surprising when it is remembered that he has ad-
dressed himself to a people conspicuous for their pos-
session of common sense—and that, moreover, with
the powers of a rhetoric seldom if ever equalled since
the memorable days of DEMOSTHENES. From the
few speeches already delivered by his Excellency
since the hour of his landing on the British shores at
Southampton might be culled passages such
as it would be difficult to find any-
where surpassed for grandeur of expression, for
irresistible pathos, or for oratorical beauty. Could
anything we ask, for example, be more conspicuous
in these respects than the sentences in which on
Wednesday he recounted his famous appeal to the
Diet, where four hundred representatives rose as one
man, and, lifting their right arms towards GOD
dedicated themselves by an oath to " Freedom or
Death 2" According to the interjectional remark of
the reporter, the solemnity of gesture and voice with
which this narration was given produced, as might have
been expected, a powerful effect upon the Assembly.
Then, continuing his relation of events, said Kos-
13UTH—" Thus they spoke and there they swore in a
calm and silent majesty, awaiting what further word
might fall from my lips. And for myself :it was my
duty to speak, but the grandeur of the moment, and
the rushing waves of sentiment benumbed my tongue.
A burning tear fell from my eyes, a sigh of adoration
to the ALMIGHTY LORD fluttered on my lips ; and
bowing low before the msjority of my
people, as I • bow now before you, gen-
tlemen, I left the tribunal silently, speechless,
mute." Again the shorthand-writer interrupts his
record to remark that the orator here paused for a
few moments, overpowered by his emotion, with
which the company deeply sympathised. Then, re-
suming—" Pardon my emotions," said he, with a
sublime solemnity—" the shadows of our martyrs
passed before my eyes—l heard the millions of my
native land once more shouting, ' Liberty or Death !"
Than this we know nothing more touchingly
beautiful in the whole range of oratory. And
it has been in language thus elevated
and persuasive that KOSSUTH has opened his heart to
his sympathisers in England—speaking to them in
words of burning eloquence, though with the accent
and pronunciation of a foreigner.
Yesterday witnessed the completion of the series
of demonstrations in his behalf, by the presentation
to him of various addresses from the metropolitan bo-
roughs on the platform at Hanover-square Rooms,
and afterwards by his cordial reception at the
ball in Guildhall. KOSSUTH, after this suc-
cession of earnest greetings from the people
in our island, will cross the Atlantic, on his
way to the United States, we trust with improving
health, we believe with pleasurable recollections, we
are satisfied with renewed hopes for the speedy and
effectual emancipation of the Hungarians.

A very important question was, on Wednesday,
brought under the consideration of Mr. Commissioner
FANE, at the Court of Bankruptcy, Basinghall•street.
Although we cannot in every respect agree with the
learned and experienced gentleman who brought
forward the subject, we cannot deny that his state-
ments are worthy of the closest attention, and that a
legislative remedy may be required to provide for the
acknowledged grievance.
The subject was introduced by Mr. REED, who in
a very lucid, and at the same time temperate, manner
complained of the enormous charges to which a small
estate was subjected when wound up under the
jurisdiction of the Court. The case itself was one
of the ordinary character, requiring no unusual
exertion or outlay. There was nothing to swell the
bill of costs, or to give any party concerned an extra
claim on the assets, which were of fair amount—
something less than 1,0001. being collected by the
official assignee. A better example could scarcely
have been found to illustrate the working
of the existing system, and it was in that respect that
Mr. REED thought it desirable to direct the public
attention thereto, being well aware that his state-
ments would be wafted on the wings of the press
throughout the length and breadth of the land.
It appeared that the entire sum collected amounted
to 9571. 14s. 9d., which was distributed, or rather should
have been distributed, among the creditors, subject to
a reasonable drawback for the expense and trouble of
collection. The deductions had, however, amounted in
the whole to the sum of 235/. ss. (exclusive of the
allowance for the official assignee), or rather more
than 25 per cent. on the gross amount. Now, if, as
has been asserted, this case may be taken as repre-
senting a fair average of similar transactions, we
cannot feel surprised at the statement of Mr. REED,
that the effect of the system is to prevent cases from
being brought forward, and to induce the parties to
submit to almost any proposition rather than see
the property frittered away and wasted•in so scanda-
lous a manner. In a commercial country
there is, perhaps, no part of the law more important
than the debtor and creditor code ; and anything
that prevents an appeal to the recognised tribunals,
and the closest investigation into the mercantile
character and conduct of those who, under
the plea of unavoidble circumstances, are de-
sirous of being exonerated from the con-
sequences, of their former deficiencies, must be
productive of the most injurious results to the best
interests of society. We concur with Mr. REED in
thinking that the allowance to the bankrupt
himself is not one of the objectionable items. In the
case now under notice, the bankrupt received 191.15.
for a continued attendance for many successive weeks
at the office of the official assignee, to furnish the
necessary information for rendering his accounts as
perfect as possible. Expediency, as well as common
humanity, alike forbid any interference with
that item, which constitutes but a small propor-
tion of the sum total. The bankrupt is sup-
posed to surrender everything in his possession,
to retain nothing of any kind or description. It
he acts in accordance with the strict letter of the law
he would not have the means of obtaining a single
meal, or the commonest necessary of life, ;for himself,
or his truly destitute family—if no allowance were
made he should conceal property. Few indeed would
have strength of mind to sustain their sufferings
patiently, more particularly when they considered
that they were bestowing the time and; labour, that
might be devoted to earning a scanty subsistence
for their families, to the benefit of their creditors
generally, in assisting the official assignee to obtain
the largest sums practicable for the benefit of the es-
tate. We believe that there are few, if any, who
would object to such a charge, which is justified
alike on grounds of humanity and expediency.
We cannot, however, agree with the Learned
Gentleman in his objections to the charges of the
professional accountant. There is no part of the en-
tire proceedings more beneficial as well to the cre-
ditors as to the bankrupt, and inched to the com-
munity in general, than that which ensures
the most correct statement of accounts practicable un-
der the peculiar circumstances of each particular case.
These SCCOlint3 must be rendered in a certain recog.