Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-11-08
Kossuth's Letter to Lord Palmers
ton.
w1pp1N, (TuRKEY,) Sept. Goth.

Hungary, assuredly worthy Of better fate.
1t was not pied by the spirit of dis
order, or the ambitious views of faction; il
was not revolutionary leaning which in
duced my native country TO accept the NOR
tai struggle maintained so glorlousy, and
brought by nefarious means, to so unfortu-
nate AN end.
Hungary has deserved from her kings the
historical epithet of generous nation" for
she never allowed herself to be surpassed in
loyalty and faithful adherence to her sover-
eigns by any nation in the world.
Nothing bat the m st revolving treachery,
the most tyranlcal oppies ion, and crueIties
nuheard OF in tie words OF history Moth
ing but the internal d, ON of humiliation TO
her national exis ence, preserved through
thousand years, through adversltes so nu-
merous, W re able to rouse her to oppose
the fatal stroke aimed at her very life, to ell
able her to fepulse the tyrannical assault of
the ungratelul Hapsburghs, or to accept the
struggle for life, honor, and liberty forced
upon her. And she has nobly fought that
holy battle, in which, with the aid of Al
mighty God, she prevailed against Austria,
whom she crushed to the earth, standing
firm, even when attacked by the Russian
hope in & d, aud in our hope, my lord, in
the generous feeling of your great and glo-
rious nation, the natural supporter of justice
and humanity throughout the world. But
this is over what tyranny began has been
by treachery concluded on all sides aban-
doned, my poor country has fallen, not
through the Overwhelming power of two
great empires, bet by the faults, aud | may
say the treason of her own sons.
TO these un,ova ard events, | pray God
that my unhappy country may be the only
sacrifice, and that he true interests of peace,
freedom, and civl cation through the world
may not be involved i'll our unhappy fate.
MIR Francis Pul-ky, our diplomatic agent
in London, has re eived ample information
as to the cause of lhis sudden aud unlocked
for change IN the affairs of Hungary, aud is
Instructed to com lunicGte 1t to your excel
lency, If you are IracIouely pleased to re-
ceWe the same. It is not antIpathy to Aus
tria, though So wed merited at the hands Of
every Hungarian, but true conviction
which makes me ~, that even Austria has
lost far more by her victory, gained through
Russian aid, than she would have lost IN
merled defeat through honorable arrange
ment Fallen from her position of Il first
rate power, she has forfeited her selt-conss-
tency, and has sunk INTO the obcuient III
struuet Of Russian ambition and of Rus
sian commands.
Russia only has gained at this sanguina-
ry game; she has extended and strengthen
ed her Influence in the east of Europe, and
threatens already, III fearful manner, with
outslreiched arms, not only the integrity,
bat the moral btsis Of the Turkish empire.
May 1t please YOU, my lord, to allow me
TO communicate to you a most revolving
condition which the Turkish government,
at the suggestion Of Russia, is about TO i'm
pose upon us, poor homeless exiles
|, tie governor'of unhappy Hungary, az
ter having, | believe, as a good citizen
and honest man, fulfilled to the last my
duties to my country, had no choice left me
between the repose of the grave and the
incxpresslble anguish Of expatrlaton.
Many of my brethren in misfortune had
preceded me to the Turkish territory.
followed thither in the hope that should
be permitted to pass to England, and there
under the protection Of the English people
"a protection never yet denied to persecu.
ted men-alowed to repose for awhile my
weared head on the hospltabe shore OF
your happy Island.
But even with these views rather would
have surrendered myself to my deadlest
enemy than have caused any difficulties tc
the Turkish government, whose situation
well knew how to appreciate, and therefore
did not intrude on the Turkish territories
without previously inqulrlng whether anc
my companions III misfortune would be viii
ling y received and die protection of the
sultan granted to us.
We received the assurance that we were
welcome cues S, and should enjoy the iul
protection OF his majesty the padlsha, VIII,
would rather sacrifice $4,000 men of hi
own subjects than allow one hair of ou
heads TO be injured.
1t was only upon this assurance that w
passed into the urkIsh territory; and &C
cording to the generous assurance, we wert
received and tended on our journey, receiv
ed IN Widdm as tie Sultul's guests, ant
treated hospitabl, during our eeks, Will,
waiting from COnstantluople further orders
as To the continuation ui our sad journel
to some distant shore.
Even the ambassadors of England ant
France, to whom | yenlured IN tne name u
humanity n appeal, were So kind us to as
sure me OF tnelr full sympathy. His ma
Jesty the sultan was also 30 gracious as t,
give decide negative to the inhumal
preleusions Of GU extraditon demanded b
Russia and Austria
But fresh let er from his majesty tn
Gar arrived in Constantlnope, aud il
consequence was the suggestion sent to u
by AN express messenger of tie Turks
government, that the Poles and Hungarian
aud in particular myself, Count Casini
BathIany, minister Of Foreign Affairs u
Hungary under my government, aud III
Generals Messaros ana Pcrczel Call preseu
here,) would be surrendered unless W
chose to ALLURE the faith of our loreiath,
IN the religion Of Christ and become Mus
sumans. And thus five Thousand CHRIS
tlans dre placed ia the terrible allernatlv
either Of faci"g The scliIold, or Of purcha
snug then lives BY Abandoning their faith
30 low is already fallen the once might
turkey, that she eau devise no other mean
10 answer or evade the demands Of Russl;
Words fail me TO qualify these astonlsl
ne suggestions, such JUS never have bee