The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-06-18
Compliment to Vim. SIDNEY Smith, Esq.


Below will be found an interesting correspondence
between committee Of our citizens dcputed to ten
der public dinner to the Secretary to her British
Majesty's Consul at Havana, now in this city, for
his manly, and humane and noble conduct towards
our unfortunate countrymen, known as tho Cuban
prisoners Ho it was who administered to their
wants, interested himself in their behalf, and cheer
ed them with comfort, when our own Consul turned
deaf ear to their entreaties and shut0fs eyes to
their necessities. Mr.. Smith has been greeted with
welcome from the time he landed on shores, and
gratifed arc we that Louisville is not backward in
acknowledging the high obligation we are under for
his noble conduct to distressed country men
fined in foreign dungeons, and the admiration we
have for that heart that makes distinction in The
field of disnterested benovoence:-
LOUISVILLE, June 2, 1852.
DEAR SIR-A large numbered the oitizens Of Louis
vile, who remember with warm and abiding adj
mration your generous efforts in behalf of their UNI
fortunate young countrymen, made prisoners in the
late Cuban expedition and detained in the dungeons
OF Havana, desire to testify to you their sense of
your noble conduct on that occasion, and have APP
pointed the undersigned committee for that object.
Allow US sir, in tho discharge Of this agreeable
duty, to express to You the pleasure with which we
have learned your arrival in our city, and bid you
warmly welcome to its hospitalities. stranger,
and the official of foreign government, whilst the
representative OF country, recreant to every i'm
pulse of national feeling and Of nature, basely
turned his back upon his distressed countrymen;
you, sir, obeying the dictates Of a noble humanity
that hooded no cold suggestion Of policy and knew
no national determinations when your suffering fell
low,men claimed your sympathy, promptly yolun-
tarlly. magnanimously extended your hand to re-
lievc and comfort and assist the brave. though mis-
guided, young men referred to. Such generous con-
duet cannot be too extravagantly acknowledged in
this country. We assure you it will ever BIO rcmem-
bered by US, and we may safely say, by every Ame-
rican with the highest admiration and the lyeliest
gratitude towards yourself.
IN addition to these expressions of regard and
gratitude we have Also been deputed to tender you
tho compliment of public dinner, to be given at
such time may suit your pleasure or conye nence
BE pleased to say when it will be in your power to
meet at the festive board, and receive tho cordial
greetings of the many warm hearts that welcome
you here, and that will never to cherish your
name among their most grateful rcmcmbrances
We are dear sir, very respectfully,
Your most obedient humble servants,
William Preston, Howard Christy,
JAS. S. Speed Robt Johnson
Geo ID Prentice. Hamilton Pops
James Ga1yin, Theodore O'Hara,
WV. SYDNEY SMITH. Esq Secretary to II. b. NJ. 5
Consulate at Havana.
GAIT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE. Ky,}
June 2, 1852 {
GESTs-l have received with feelings Of profound
gratitude, your very kind and complimentary note
OF this morning, conveying the too nattering com
mendatlon with which you and your warm hearted
constituents are pleased to regard my poor exertons
III behalf OF your countlymen, who had the msfor-
tune to be captured in the late expedition to Cuba
and rendering me the compliment Of public dinner
as token OF your sense OF my conduct to those
young men while detained prisoners in Havana.
Although am sensible that my conduct on the oc-
cason referred to. impclled only by The natural
sympathy which every man Of human Impulses vii
always feel for brave and well designing men in
difficulty and distress, does not deserve such ap
plause as that with which your politcnoss and hos
pitality prompt you to acknowledge it. ! would do
injustice to my own heart, if ! did not respond to
the warm and graceful expressions Of your regard
with the kcenest sense Of your courtesy and kind
ness. regret extremely. gentlemen, that crcum-
stances prevent me from accepting the compliment
you so kindly profer me Of public dinner Visit
ing your country, on q brief leave Of absence, now
nearly elapsed, for the improvement Of my health
find myself obliged to proceed tomorrow to try the
restorative efficacy Of your Graysop Springs whence
shall be compelled sooner doubtless than the con-
dition of my health will render advisable to return
to my post.
shall never cease, however, gentlemen, to retain
the lveliest remembrance of the excessive kindness
which has been shown me at every stage of my rapid
tour through your country, and nowhere more
agfeeably and gracefully than at Louisville.
beg you to convey my heartfelt thanks to your
hospiablc constituents, and to accept for yourselves
the warmest sentiments of regard Of
Your very obcdient servant,
WM SIDNEY SMITH.
WI. Preston, and Others, Of the Committee