The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20
LETTER OF KoSsUTH TO THE MAYOR OF NEW
YORK
u. :. STEAM FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI.
Bay of Gibraltar, Oct. II, 1851.

| L. ). STEAM FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI.
Bay of Gibraltar, Oct II, 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 n man can meet ! hailed il
"a IA ray of hope and consolation to my down
troddcn, to my bleeding but still not broker
native land hailed it az a highly encourag
ing manifestation of your glorious peoples sym
pathy to that principle which was and vii
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 frigate, once more free because under
your glorious iag--heard the warm, generOu,
welcoming cheer of the officers and crew-these
| frank, loyal. gallant men, the true representa-.
| hyes OF American freedom, American greatness
American generosity, ! could not forbear tc
have the impression that the spirit Of Americas
young giant has shouted over the waves to Old
Europes oppressed nations Don't despair
here is a brothers powerful hand to your aid .
These beng my sentiments, you can Judge by
| tLl ~ y eerYcntly must bis -
: have the honor 10 be conducted ~ this vcf,
= , d. ...
I 5r< v'q's ,pnt ,,s - p,ea.,. T.. ~, ;, ...,,,.
States is not gwen 10 any man in tho Myr{o ior
his own sake, but for the principles sake that
he represents And so felt convinced that
would prove unworthy to this sympathy, this
highest treasure of my life,) should neglect for
a single moment the duties which Divine Proyi.
dence has assigned to me should | neglect to
provide according to the exgences of circum
stances for the interest of yonder cause, which
the glorious Republic of the United States
honored with its appreciation and its sympa.
| thy
it 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 imperious duties Of patriot n
father, and man, impose upon me the necessi-
ty to stop for IL few days in England before !
continue my passage to the United States
Com. Morgan, ut Speuia, and afterward
Capt. Long, of the Mississippi, here did, with
the noble kindness OF II true American heart,
appreciate the motives Of this necessity, and
generously consented to wait with the Missis-
sipp in the Bay of Gibraltar for my return from
England with the packet-boat which leaves
Southampton on the 9th inst.
But the Government of the French "Repub.
lic," mot the French nation, but its present Gov
ernment) refused to grant me permission to pas
rapidly through France, by which passage
! might have spared time and suilerings to m
, is only IA packet boat, expected tomorrow t
5 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 nc
d only my associates but also tho officers an
: crew Of the Mississippi, liable in approachin
y the coast of the United States at II late scaso
TO many suficrings 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 70
some time, before providing for my affairs il
England, and considering on the other side thu
only staying eight or ten days in England, i
were entirely impossible to join again the Mis-
ssspp here before the 18th of November sc
that of course we could only arrive in the second
half of December on your hospitable shores il
became absolutely duty Of honor to me not Ia
cause any augmentation in the hardships and
| suherings to the officers and crew of this ship,
and not to embarraSs them in their public SER
vice, AZ also to alleviate my own associates in
their passage to the United States
| These are the motives, sir, which deprive me
of the honor To be conducted t0 your glorious
shores on board the Mississippi irigate but |
| feel consolcd ut the idea that IN adopting such
u 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 enjoy the
happiness of landing NJ New York, IA | am de-
cided 10 leave England ON board of that steam
or which leaves Liverpool ON the 9TH November
for New York.
Having had the inestmabe pleasure to read
reported in the public papers that the city of
New York resolved to honor, with 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 gen
erous city of New York about these accidents
and about my intention To 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
t. adopt.
Let me hope, also, sir, that might nothing
have lost by the imperlous necessity of this
course from you and your peoples sympathcs
which, though conscious not TO have merited, |
consider the greatest honor Of my life, the high
est reward for my suilerings and the most hon
oring encouragement steadily Ia go on toward
that noble aim which the people OF the United
States has sanctioned and sanctilied by it, sym
pathy.
BE- pleased sir, TO accept the expression Of
my highest regards, lasting gratitude and most
Distinguished consideration with which have
the honor to be your most obsequions servant,
k0ssUTH.
To his Honor 4. C. Kingsidnd,