The southern press., 1852-01-06

menS on nppHcatloH Nv tile OhiCe Vi Vic wing
Rauenna Wing
KossUTH's ORAToRY-The English press,
having taken time to reflect, are beginning to
speak out their admiration Of kossuth's elo-
quence without reserve.
/. Walter Savag, Lander says that "Since the
days Of Demcsthenes, no equal or simar~elo-
quence has ever been heard on earth us Kos
suth's.
In review Of the life of the great Magyar,
just published in London, the AthenGun gives
the following striking notice of his oratory.
"Of the minor merits of this remarkable man,
his command of the English language Isl per.
haps, that which creates the largest amount Of
wonder With the exception of an occasional
want of idiom, the use of few words in an OBJ
solete sense, and habit of sometimes carrying
German fashion, the nfnitive verb to the end
of Il sentence,-there is little to distinguish NJ.
Kossuth's English from that Of our great mas-A
ters of eloquence. Select, yet copious and pic
turesque it is always The combina,inns--we
speak Of his words as distinct from the thoughts
that lie in them-are often very happy. We can
even 90 so far as to say that he has enriched
and utilized our language: the first by using
unusual words with extreme felicity, the latter
by proving to the world how well the pregnant
and flexible tongue of Shakespeare adapts itself
o the expression f genius and n race so re-
mote from the Saxon as the Magyar
"Most Of our readers know the story told by
Kossuth himself Of his Fl st introduction to our
language and literature. The story runs, that
when, fourteen years ago, he was thrown into
an Austrian dungeon for daring 10 publish the
debates in the Hungarian Parliament, he was
kept for some time in solitary confinement with
out books or papers-but that afterwards, in
consequence of the representations of the Diet,
his jaors allowed him to have few books OH
condition of his not asking for works on politics.
He chose a copy of Shakespeare and an English
dictionary. Out of the great dramatist he learned
our speech, our modes of thinking our national
sentiments Certain it is, that his extraordinary
mastery over our tongue has proved power TO
the exile and to his cause.
sit was sad blunder of the Austrian police
to give him Shakespeare for prison companion!
To this circumstance, however, we owe 1t that
we are now able to understand, in vague and
reflex way perhaps, but still with no little vivid
ness and life, what must have been the charm
and power of the great Magyar's eloquence when
it was appealing in a national cause, in its native
idiom, and under circumstances of great excite
ment to minds kindled at the same source, and
hearts beating with the same blood rs his own.
This interesting story, too, gives peculiar APP
propriateness to proposition that has emana'ed
from Mr.. Douglas INrold, looking on the Ma
qyar chief in his character Of literary man-,hat
a subscription from Englishmen of all parties
shall produce testimonial taking the form OF
fine copy Of Shakespeare, inclosed in shrine OF
whatever cost the surplus amount of subscrp
tons NAV Justify. The thought is in no degree
poltical-but POUNDS a literary memorial on 8
highly interesting literary fact.
we have heard NJ Kossuth, and We have
carefully read the reports or his speeches. His
style is new and personal. Compared with the
men whose speeches have teen received as the
best specimens of oratory in recent times-such
as Brougham, Lacordaire, Blum, Theirs, GA
vazzi, aud OConnell-kossuth is calm and
grave. He has no sophisms, no verbal dexter
ties. All is with him clear, secuent, logical
He never mouths his pas-ion-never wrings
his hands or stamps his feet-never gesticu
lstes his violence, or resorts TO the cor mon
tricks of the orator to impress hi. audience with
an idea of his earnestness. As rhetorical
weapon he uses scorn very rarely, and we have
not read sneering sentence from his lips. He
neither mocks his enemy like Gavazz nor in
suits him like O'Connell. His appeal is made
directly to the intellect of his hearer. He seems
Warmth Of fancy and of feeling he undoubtedly
possesses, and his passion sometimes breaks
into sudden explosion. But in these qualities
he has had many equals-Chatbam, Mirabeau,
Patrick Henry, and others of all nations. What
seems more particularly Kossuhian-tnat is,
personal-in bis eloquenre is, its moral under
tone. Master Of his subject, he speaks to other
nations with the energy, but also with murh OF
the gravity Of history. lie halters no prejudice
appeals TO no passion--yet, bis discourse
adapis itself with singular art TO its immediate
audience. Perhaps next to his excellent Eng
lish, the thing which is most curious about N
Kossuth In England, is the extraordinary genius
which he has for saying the right thing in the
right place Ofth speeches now reported not
one could change its locality without manifest
disadvantage. The city speech was precisely
adapted to the city-the Manchester speech
would not have done at Winchester--nor that
delivered al Southampton at Copenhagen Fields.
Not that the views and opinions are in any re-
spect contradictory, butin each there is special
tone, particular line Of argument, exactly cal.
culated TO suit the audience before him. II NJ.
Kossuth bad lived in England all his days, we
do not see how he could have displayed nicer
knowledge Of our local peculiarities, pursuits.
and character, than he now does"