Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-14
The Secretary of State to Mr.. Bro,cn.


DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 90, 1851
SIR Being DESTROYS to know the exact condition ir
which the hungarian exes are, and what the inten-
tons of the Turkish Government aresupposed to be in
regard to them, would be obliged TO you it you would
possess.
Yours, respectfully, ,,
DAN'L WEBSTER.
JOHN P. Brown, Esq.
Dragoman of the u. S. Legation at Constanlinople
Mr. Bropn to the Secretary Of State.
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 90, 1851.
Sir: have had the honor to receive your letter OF
the 22d instant, in which you are pleased to request
that should communicate to the Department what
ever information | may possess respecting the circum-
stances connected with the detention of MIR. Louis
Kossu,h and his companions, in Kuayish, in Asia
Minor and consequently beg leave to lay before the
following statement When in September, l849, Mr..
Kossuth and his companions fled from Hungary and
found safety in the domnions OF the Sultan OF Turkey
from the united forces of Austria and Russia they he
Poles and Hungaiians ogeher) amounted to some four
thousand in number. on are aware that the Empe-
of Austria and Russia demanded that the Sultan
of Turkey, whose protection they had claimed shout
deliver them up and that the Sultan generously refused
to aCcede to their demands The Sultan, however,
matter of friendly compromise addressed TO each OF
these Sovereigns autograph letter offering to expe
from his empire, to detan in it under surveillance,
any OF the refugees whom they might designate. The
CIlpeTOr OF huSSld tlldl
be expelled from Turkey, and consequently the Sultan
sent to Malta some two hundred and fifty Poles, in one
of his steamers, and they have dispersed through
out France and Belgium. The Emperor of Austria
asked the detention ia Turkey of such of the Hunga-
ran chiefs he might name in list, which would be
given to the Porte by the Austrian Legation at Con-
stantinope. 10 the mean time large number of the
refugees escaped from Turkey, through the generous
connivance of the Turkish authorizes and made their
way the different parts of Europe and the Uni
ted States In this manner the original number OF abe
refugees soon became very much diminished
Ia the Sulians offer to deatn the Hungarian chiefs
he made auson 10 any period Of time, aud its dura-
ton consequently depends wholly upon himself Not
outstanding the pressing demands of the Austrian Co
vernnent that Mr.. Kossuth and the others named in
its list should be detained Tor life, the humane and ge
nervous Sultan promised only one gear The Austrian
Government subsequently diminished its demand to
20, IS, and ten and finally to years. but the Sultan
remained firm at his offer of year. 1t cues
toned previous to my departure from Constantinople
when the year offered by the Sultan should commence,
and when terminate; and as the refugees had crossed
the Danube and entered Turkey, in the month OF Sep
TENDER, lS49 it might commence with that event, and
end in the same month in the following year; or it
might commence with the date of the list OF the ndi
viduals whom the Austrian Government desired should
be detaned-thal is say, at the end of May, 1885,
(when the list was by mutual agreement to be cOsed
in which the period OF their detention would ter
inmate with the month of May of the present year -
In the meantime Mr. kossuih, with some twenty-five
thirty others named in the list, and about forty MORE
who at their own request were allowed to share in the
exile OF their late Governor, were removed by the Sui
tans orders from Shumla, in Roomelia TO Kutaysh
the place fixed upon for their residence and where they
yet remain under strict surveillance The Hungarans
who remain at Shumla fontnue to receive ratons and
small monthly stipend out of the Suan's treasury.
Those who escaped to the capital and did not leave the
country forfeited this pecuniary assistance and
quenty fell into very destitute circumstances
Macy OF the latter found employment in the service oil
benevolent MusSulmans; others employed in the
suItan's army, and good number embraced Islamsn,
in the hope of receiving military preerment. Contri-
buttons were made among the foreign legations and
among the foreign residents in Pera for the relief OF the
more needy, and the Turkish ministers failed to
aid those whose peculiar restitution was made known
to them
This was the position of the affair when left Con-
santinople May goth of last year aud in the expecta
ton that the year for which Mr. Kossuh was to be de-
tanned would terminate the month of last September,
fully believed that ne would, ere this, have been re-
leased, and in The enjoyment OF the blessing OF liberty
in the United States 1t was the Sultans promise, con-
tanned in his autograph letter to the Emperor of Aus
tria, which prevented his Government from accepting
the generous offer OF the late lamented President to
convey Mr.. Kossuth and his friends to the United
States in one ofour public vessels, which offer was
made in March last through the Minister resident of
the United States at ConStantnople. The Sultan, l
cannot but feel confident has no desire interest in
the detention OF Mr.. kossuth, and would be most hap
py believe, to be released from the expense and n
convenience which it occasions him. And whilst the
Turkish Government decided not to permit him to be
conveyed to this country in the steamer Mississippi
which vessel was proposed 10 it Tor that purpose, some
otthe Suan's ministers expressed the most positive
surances-in which still place confdence-that his
detention should not be prolonged beyond the period
OF one year.
During the last summer, the Turkish Government Of
Tered to the Minister resident to send the Hunga ans to
Liverpool in one OF the Sultans steamers, in case his
Government would provide means tor their conveyance
to this country, and from the circumstance thai the Pc
Rod Of their departure from Turkey would have heen
about the month OF September, gear from the date
of their entrance into the Sutans dominions am in
Oucpd q balieVa Mr. have heen II
their number The Minister resident, not feeling him
self at liberty to bind the Government from the of
any authority to DO so, the Hungarans were not sent
also apprehend that the Austrian Government at this
time made serious opposition to his release and that the
Sultan induced by it to defer it until favor
able opportunity should offer.
am privately informed from Constannope, under
date OF the llth ultimo that the Sultan had brought
three hundred of the refugees from Shuma to Consan-
nnope, probably all that remained there of the original
four thousand and was about to embatk them in ves-
sci chartered by him tor England and that he had given
to each one thousand pjastres, (S40 with which to
defray their expenses this country, where they
DESTROYS OF proceeding for the purpose of engaging
agricultural pursuits The same letter adds that at that
time there was nothing certain known about Mr.. Kos
suth's release
In view of the preceding would respectfully suggest
that the President direct the Minister resident at Con-
santinope to renew eary practicable, to the Tur
kish Government, the offer OF his late lamented prede
to convey Mr. Kossuth and such OF his friends
as may desire to accompany him. TO the United States
mer Mississippi, now in the Mediterranean squadron
might be ordered 10 proceed TO Constantinople. And
in the conviction which entertain that the Sultans Co
vernment will be disposed TO release Mr.. Kossuth and
the other exiles at Kutayish the end of next May,
also believe that this offer will then be very opporune
and enable the Sultan and his present enlightened MIN
listers TO carry their humane intentions into effect without
exciting the apprehensons Of the Austrian Government
which would not wish Mr. kossuth to be set at liberty
and be PERM tied to remain near to the Hungarian
frontier as Constaninope.
have the honor 10 be, sir with great respect, your
pbedent servant
JOHN P. BROWN, u. S. Dragomsn.
Hon. DANIEL. WEBSTER Secretary OF State u S.