The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-04
FOREIGN MISCELLANY.


The CaIumnics against Kossuth.
The Daily Ne,os has published two very interest
ing letters by the author Of Revelations of Russia
completely refuting the sanderous accusations
which have from time to time been circulated re-
specting that distinguished patriot and statesman,
Ludwig Kossuth. Our space does not permit US to
quote them entire, but we have selected from the
letters such points tend TO show how ipiquitous
have been the charges SO, deliberately and falsely
made. The first letter, which, the writer states,
to calumnious statement which appeared in that
journal the 26th ult. affecting the character of
Kossuth and the Countess Dembinski. The grava-
men of the charge, made on the authority OF the
Vienna correspondent Of the Times, arose out OF a
pretended correspondence from Shumla, which
overtly accused Madame Dembinski ofan improper
Intimacy with the late President Governor of Hum
gary, alleging that she travelled with him under
false name in mans attire; that Kossurh had lost
in consequence, the command OF the eInigrants,
which had been given to Perczel; that Perczcl re-
presented the democratic, Batthyani the aristocratc
party; that they were both at variance with Kos
suth, and that the correspondent recognised fe-
male in the disguise Of military rank and Uniform
The writer, in Indignantly denying these accusa-
tons, which he is able, from personal opPortuni-
ties, to refute, says:
81 have the honor of the acquaintance of nj. Kos
suth, of Madame Dembinski and her husband, of
Count Batthyani, and of General Perczel. Ispent
(with the exception of occasional absencos) two
months with the Hungarian emigration at Widdin,
and accompanied il part of the way on its march
to Shumla. During the chief part Of that time
was lodged in the house of Kossuth. There were at
Widdin, besides myself, three Englishmen, to whom
can appeal for the strict accuracy Of my state
mcnts that is to say, General Guyon, the corre-
spondent of the Daily Ne,cs, and your own CORE
spondent, respecting whom you will perhaps ap-
preciate my silence, II am not here more .expii-
cit."
He denies, in the first place, that any partes ars-
tocratic or democratic, existed at all amongst the
refugees; and declares that Kossuth, Batthyan and
Perczel, whe had contracted the closest intimacy,
pledged themselves in the writer's hearing, on the
night of his departure, to the most perfect concert
during the continuance Of their exile, and that the
latest accounts received from Shumla indicate ra-
ther an increase than any diminution Of this good
understanding. With regard to the deprivation of
Kossuth's command over the emigration, he says
that the ex- president governor never attempted to
assume any civil or military control or other pre-
eminence whatever, the emgrants, beyond the
spontaneous difference conceded to his late supre-
macy, antecedents, and renown. General Guyon
had the military command OF the emigration On
his departure for Constantnople 1t was assumed by
Mourad Pacha General BENZ And Mourad Pa
cha having Quilted Widdin in armed steamer,
before the emigration commenced its march, the
command of the Hungarians devolved naturally on
General Perczel. Besides a few canteen- women,
there were but two females-the Countesses Batthy-
ami and Dembinski-accompanying the emigra-
ton. The story of the lady in uniform is sheer
fabrication OF the Countess Dembnski the writer
gives the following account:
Madame Dembinski is the daughter of mer-
chant of Arad, and the wife of Count Dembinski,
Gallician nobeman, and relative TO the general OF
that name. Madame Dembinski, who has been
some months married, may be eighteen, her hus-
band five-and-twenty years of age. She was mar
ried before she ever saw kossuth followed her hus
band to the camp, and ! have heard both him
and herself relate that, excepting during the
continuance Of an engagement, they had never
since their marriage been even for day separated
from each other. Madame Dembinski is of an al
most infantine simplicity, and has never attempt
cd " init In tif-R
being attached TO the person Of Kossuth spends his
whole time under Kossutlrs roof, and, since the
late President Governor has kept a table, the
Countess Dembinski presidcs over it, kossuth,
during the first part of his sojoufn at Widdin in-
habited the house of the chief of the police in which
he occupied single room, together with an aide
de-camp and his interpreter. Here, being without
convenience for the preparation of any regular re-
past, found him eating his solitary meal out OF
rude earthenware with an iron spoon"
The writer goes on to say that during the latter
part of his stay at Widdin, when the best house in
the place was assigned him, he lived the ground
floor with a large suite in four chambers, which
were open at all hours 10 all comers, and could
only be closed by curtain drawn across the door
lodge in the same house with Kossuth, except on
two exceedingly cold nights, when, in consequence
Of their state Of health, room was ceded to them,
its former occupants being quartered for the time
upon Kossuth.. On leaving widdin, when the
writer accompanied the march he saw Kossuth on
horseback, with Count Batthyani on one hand and
General Perczel on the other, and Count Dembin-
ski with his lady following in the carriage; and he
adds that, TO the best OF his belief, Madame DEM
binsk never arrayed herself in male attire in her
life. In postscript to the above described letter,
mund Zchy to the Tines, ,in. which il is asserted
that {" Kossuth, on enter Turkey, refused to
allow his baggage TO be sc} ched," and the spurs
"a pair of emerald spursl sre offered BY Kossuth
himself at Widdin, on the feast Of the Beiram, 10
the Pacba, who refused the gift" The writer says
81 cannot believe that any attempt was made 10
search the baggage Of Kossutb, but know that
that baggage consisted of one small portmanteau
and pair Of saddle bags never locked, and the
whole contents Of which were often untidily dis
played 20 the inspection Of all visters. On the
cason Of Kossuth's only visit 20 the Pacha Of Wild
din during the feast Of the Beiram, also visited
tho Pacha, and was present during the whole in
terview. M. Kossuth was accompanied by Count
Casimer Bathyani, and by five Or six officers; and
can vouch for the fact, that he never offered 10
the Pscha any thing beyond the compliments OF
the season."
Referring TO the confiscation Of Count Zichy's
jewels and other property, which Kossuth had been
accused Of aPpropriating TO himself, the writer
Diet, and Kossuth prosecuted and punished the at
tempted appropriation Of IL by the police:
"During the in Transylvania, Bern made
bribc ncighboring authority. Some Of Count
Zichy's jewels, as the most portable articles Of
value, sent from the treasury on due receipt,
through the intcrmedium Of Wailachian agent,
but defy Count Zichy 10 show that Kossuth ever
retained, received, handled any portion Of this
or any other national property"
Another series Of calumnies against Kossuth, Sze-
mere, and Perczel, is thus described by the same
writer in second letter Kossuth, he says, IL ac-
cused, trustee, OF having fraudulcntly sold the
property Of orphans, and Of only having been saved
from criminal prosecution by an arrangement with
the prosecutor. Il is further alleged that 80 little
made Of Roth, (the prosecutor,) as TO whether the
signature 10 his receipt was genuine. The number