The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-29
From the ". Y. Daily Times.
The Hungarian War.
DEFENCE OF HIMsELF--AN INTEREST
ING WORK.

GORGEYS DEFENCE OF HIMSELF-AN INTEREST
ING WORK.
A good deal Of interest has been excited by
the announcement that the celebrated Hunga-
rian General, Gorgey, had published work
containing full history of his own life, and
an attempted viudicaton of his course in the
Hungarian revolution. We find, in the foreig
correspondence of the Springfield Republican,
which is always attractive and valuable, the fol-
lowing interesting account of this work:
berlin, Tuesday, May a, 1852
Just as am sending off my letters by this
weeks steamer, | have received from my book
seller book which will be read throu RI out the
world with great interest. 1t is no less book
than Gorgey's vindicaton of his conduct during
the Hungarian war. There is no denying that
there have been books enough written on the
events in Hungary, during the years ls4S and
l849, but, as yet, we have had no work from
one who stood as high in authority as Gorgey !;
and, moreover, the faint which in public opinion
attaches to the name of Gorgey, as a traitor to
his country, renders his book of double interest
1t is in two very large-sized handsome volumes,
containing together between seven and eight
hundred pages. OF course, | have not had time
to read it, but have looked it through some
what carefully, and will give you, in discon.
IleCLeu ulliiilST, SOiie oi llb iHOSI important OF
the Statements reminding you that intend to
express no opinion as to whether Gorgey is sue.
cessfu in the vindication of his conduct, but
as the few minutes | have to spare will allow
me.
The preface opens as follows:
"The resistance of Hungary to Austria aud
Russia was closed. Kossuth and Szemere saved
themselves, with their followers, upon neutral
territory, as did the Poles. | refused to fly, and
the majority of the unhappy combatants in favor
of Hungary followed my example Whereupon
| was amnestied, and temporarily banished to
Corinthia; but the decision as to my fate and
that of my companions remained nevertheless,
il the hands Of Baron Haynau"
He then goes on to observe that the remarlta.
bic inconsistency between the grace which was
shown him, and tho executions of others, who
were, at the most, no more guilty than he, led
many to suppose that he had some influence
with the Austrian general, and to request him to
exert ii in their favor. But Gorgey had no in
huence, aud his pride forbade him to pray for
mercy for himself or others, so long as Haynau
remained the unlimited master of life and death.
At a somewhat later period, circumstances in
duced him to think that Haynaus power was
then limited, and he was on the point of sending
petition to the emperor, when he heard that the
latter intended to make journey to Corinthia
in May, 1850, and he determined to seek per-
sona audience, but this was denied him, and he
was referred to the minister, Won Bach, through
whom he presented petition to the emperor, a
copy of which, as well as the accompanying let
ter to the minister, are given in the preface.
The Tstiion urges that. when he laid down
his arms, he did it begging for mercy to his
o,I h., Al
himself to atone for what had happened; that
he refused to fly because he was determined to
share the fate of his companions, who had done
nothing to merit harder lot than his own. The
laying down of the arms wa, determined upon
in council at which he (Gorgey) was not pres
ent, and he only undertook to carry out this
determination; nevertheless, he was amnestied,
while portion of the council must atone for
their conduct with their lives, and Others with
their fortunes and freedom He (Gorgey) was
the chief, active instrument Of opposition to
Austria, and yet, he was pardoned while others
under him were executed. In vain did he seek
to reconcile these inconsistencies, and was tor
tured with the idea tina, the surrender of Villages
was considered as his work, for which service he
alone was amnestied. But this was not the case
and he therefore begs for others the same favor
which was shown to him, promising as the re-
ward OF such an act of grace the prayers OF
thousands in favor of Francis Joseph the Gen
erous." Four or five weeks later, many of Cor
gey's officers, who were in the same condition
a. he, were, in fact, pardoned, and this gave oc-
cision for letter OF thanks from Gorgey to the
Minister Won Bach, in which he takes occasion
to urge at some length that consistency requires
that the pardon should be still further extended
to other officers and soldiers. The preface
then closes with the remark that the very small
number of documents contained in the book,
arises from the fact that the anthor never ex-
pected to survive the termination of the revolr-
ton.
As for the body of the work, it is complete