The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20
LETTER OF K0SsUTH TO THE MAYOR OF NEW
YORK

Bay Of Gibraltar, Oct. IL, 1851.
SIR The United States ordered the steam
frigate Mississippi to conduct me out of my
prison to freedom, and by freedom to life be.
cause to activity
hailed this generous resolution as the great.
est honor which man can meet. | hailed il
as u ray of hope and consolation to my down
trodden, to my bleeding but still not broker
native land ] hailed it as "a highly encourag
ing manifestation Of your glorious peoples sym
patty to that principle which was and viii
ever he the aim of all the endeayors of all my
life.
And when, with the undetermined consent
ment of the Sultan, | stepped on board the
Mississippi frigatc, once more free, because under
your glorious iiag-hcard the warm, generous
welcoming cheer of the officers and crcw-these
frank, loyal, gallant men, the true representa-
tiyes of American freedom, American greatness
American generosity, ! could not forbear Ia
have the impression that the spirit of America
young giant has shouted over the waves to Old
Europe's oppressed nations "Dont despair
here is brothers powerful hand to your aid .
| These being my sentiments you can Judge by
them sir how fervently must have wished to
"'--. ~" |,'""r =" y" ~ .t,rta1 lax this very
| trigate, To the United States.
) Bui know, that the sympathy Of the United
/ otau~ ls iUt gwen 10 ~, n,a, wi ~ $40 ~,
his own sake, but for the principles sake that
he represents And 40 felt convinced that |
would prove unworthy to this sympathy, this
highest treasure Of my liie,) should neglect for
a single moment the duties which Divine Proyi-
dence has assigned TO me should | neglect to
provide according to the exigences of circum-
stances for the interest of yonder cause, which
the glorious Republic of the United States
honorcd with its appreciation and its sympa-
| thy.
1t became, therefore an impcrious duty of
| honor and conscience to me not TO leave Europe
without arranging my public and private affairs
and carefully providing against any harm to
the sacred aim of my life, for that time which
shall have to enjoy the honor of the hospitality
of your glorious land.
SO the most impcrioms duties Of u patriot
father, and man. impose upon me the necessi-
ty to stop for II few days in England before |
continue my passage to the United States
Com. Morgan, Mt Spezza, and atterward
Capt. Long Of the Mississippi, here, did, with
the noble kindness OF true American heart
| appreciate the motives Of this necessity. and
generously consented to wait with the Alssis-
sippI in the Bay of Gibraltar for my return from
England with the packetboat which leaves
Southampton on the eth inst
| But the Government of the French "Repub-
ic," mot the French nation, but its present Gov
ernment) refused to grant me permission to pass
rapidly through France, by which passage
might have spared time and sufferings to my
ipvnrs .Jsisss-,- sssis,. my ssr.
is only packetboat expected Tomorrow T.
J arrive from the Orient and this, too, making
! days to England from here.
On the other hand, Capt Long informs M
: that any longer delay here would render no
only my associates, but also the officers an,
crew of the Mississpp, liable in approachin,
7 the coast of the United States mt late season
to many suflerings by having to endure exccs
sively severe cold and stormy weather.
So considering, ON the one side that the mos
sacred duties force me not to leave Europe lo
some time before providing for my affairs il
| England, and considering on the other side thai
only staying eight or ten days in England il
were entirely impossible to join again the Mis-
sissippi here before the lSth of November, No
that of course we could only arrive in the second
half of December on your h0sptable shores it
| became absolutely a duty Of honor to me not to
cause any augmentation in the hardshiIs and
| sutferings to the officers and crew of this ship
and not to embarrass them in their public SER
| vice. as also to alleviate my own associates in
their passage 10 the United States.
These are the motives sir. which deprive me
Of the honor to be conducted tn your glorious
shores on board the Mississippi irigate, but
feel consoed at the idea that IN adopting such
n course, ! not only have relieved those who
are ON board the Mississippi from some suffer
ings. but myself also will have the high salts
faction an entire month sooner 10 EMO the
happiness of landing AT New York AZ | am de-
cded 10 leave England ON board of that steam
or which leaves Liverpool ON the 9TH November
TOR New York.
Having had the inestimable pleasure to read
reported in the public papers that the city Of
New York resolved to honor, with a generous
reception and hospitality in my undeserving
person, the cause and principles ! represent, ]
regard it to be my duty respectfully to inform
you sir, and by your kind interference the gem
er0,is city of New York about these accidents,
and about my intention Ia leave Liverpool for
your city on the 9TH November.
confidently hope that the people and Gov
eminent of the United States will appreciate
my motives, and approve the course was bound
10 adopt
Let me hope, also, sir, that | might nothing
have lost by the imperous necessity of this
course from you and your peoples sympathies,
which, though conscious not to have merited, |
consider the greatest honor Of my life, the high
est reward for my suferings, and the most hon
oring encouragement steadily to go on toward
that noble aim which the people Of the United
States has sanctioned and sanctified by its sym
pathy.
BE pleased, sir, to accept the expression Of
my highest regards, iastng gratitude, and most
distinguished consideration, with which ! have
the honor TO be your most obscquious servant
kossUTH
To his Honor 4. e. Kiagsiand