The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20
LETTER OF KoSSUTH TO THE MAYOR OF NEW
YORK
U. $. STEAM FR1cArr MISSISSIPPI

U. ). STEAM FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI
Bay Of Gibraltar, Oct II, 1851.
SIR: The United States ordered the steam
frigate DlssisSippi TO conduct me out of my
prison to freedom, and by freedom to life, be-
| cause 10 activity.
hailed this generous resolution rs the great
est honor which a man can meet. ! hailed it
as Il ray of hope and consolation to my down
trodden, TO my bleeding but still mot broken
native land hailed 1t a. a highly encourag,
ing manifestation of your glorious peoples SYM
patty TO that principle which was and will
ever be the aim of all the endeayors of all my
life
And when, with the noble-minded consent
ment of the Sultan, | stepped on board the
Mississippi frigate, once more free because under
your glorious iag-hcard the warm, generous
welcoming cheer of the officers and crew-these
frank, loyal. gallant men, the true representa-
tiyes of American freedom, American greatness.
American generosity, | could not forbear to
have the impression that the spirit of America S
young giant has shouted over the waves 10 Old
Europe's oppressed nations Don't despair
here is a brothers powerful hand to your aid :"
| These being my sentiments You can Judge by
them, sir, how teryently must have wished To
~. s6Iao~A0hsr % ~, "~>>>,,,~.sl ~ .@is W.,
5 ,rlg;R f-t@,s i,Si>p} SrN,-S 80
Butt know that the sympathy Of the United
States is not given to any man in the world Tor
his own sake, but for the principles sake that
he represents. And 80 felt convinced that |
would prove unworthy to this sympathy, this
highest treasure of my liie,) should neglect for
n single moment the duties which Divine Proyi-
dence has assigned to me; should | neglect t.
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 10 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 II patriot, n
father, and man. impose upon me the necessi-
ty to stop for few days in England before
continue my passage to the United States.
Com. Morgan, at Spezzia and aftcrward
Capt. Long of the Mississippi, here, did, with
the noble kindness of n true American heart
| appreciate the motives of this necessity, and
| generously consented to wait with the Missis-
| NpVl III Day VI iul my ItluIi nuu
| England with the packet-boat which leaves
Southampton on the 9th inst
But the Government of the French "Repub-
licp 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 suffcrings to my
vfeonre ,aiss sA,v,aur 0'n'"s.er .,.y
is only IA packet boat expected Tomorrow t.
! 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
4 only my associates, but also the officers ant
: crew of the Mississippi, liable in approaching
y the coast of the United States ut late scaso
: to many suficrings by having to endure exccs
: sively severe cold nnd stormy weather
SO considering, on the one side. that the mos
sacred duties force me not to leave Europe ia
some time before providing for my affairs il
England, and considering on the other side thu
only staying eight or ten days in England,
were entirely impossible to JOIN again the Mis-
sissippi here before the 18th of November, ~
that of course we could only arrive in the secon,
half of December ON your hospitable shores j
became absolutely duty of honor to me not t.
cause any augmentation in the hardships ant
sutierings 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 il
their passage to the United States
These are the motives, sir, which deprive IN,
of the honor to be conducted to your glorious
shores on board the Mississippi irigate but
feel consoIed 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 enjoy the
happiness of landing NJ New York, AZ | am de-
cided 10 leave England on board of that steam
er 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 10 honor, with generous
reception and hospitality in my undeserying
person the cause and principles ! represent ]
regard it to BIO 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 mperious necessity Of this
course from you and your peoples sympaihies,
| which, though conscious not 10 have merIted, |
consider the greatest honor Of my life, the high
est reward for my s,iilerings, and the most hon
oring encouragement steadily to go on toward
that noble aim which the people of the United
| States has sanctioned and sancti6ed 10y its sym.
pathy.
BE pleased SIR to accept the expression o.
my highest regards, lasting gratitude and mos
distinguished consideration, with which ] have
the honor 10 be your most obseqnions servant,
, kossUTH.
i To his Honor 4. G. Kiagsidnd,