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    colours , the most conspicuous being wh ite holly ; and on a silver tablet , over tlie centre window , was inscribed these words : — "Purchased with 9 , 215 pennies , subscribed by English men and women , as a tribute to Louis Kossuth , who achieved his noble mastery of the English language , to . lie exercised in the noblest cause , froni the page of Shakspeare . " The Cuairmax said they were assembled for the purpose of carrying out and completing a design formed a year or two ago by the working classes of this country , at ' the suggestion of his friend , well known to them and to the world—Mr . Douglas Jerrold [ loud cheersi . Mr .

    Douglas Jerrold suggested ,-for reasons which were known to them , that there could not be a more appropriate testimonial to be presented by the working classes to Louis Kossuth , than a copy of the works of Shakspeare j and accordingly a subscription was entered into by several thousand persons , and a copy of the works of our immortal poet was procured and placed in this model of the house of Shakspeare , with a view to its being presented by Mr . Jerrold , in the name of the workingclasses of England , to the illustrious Kossuth [ cheers ] . Mr . Douglas JuitrtOLD then rose to present the testimonial to M . Kossuth , and having paid a high trib \ ite to his genius , he

    said—Sir , on the part of thousands , I herewith , present to you this testimonial , in tribute of their admiration , their sympathies , their best wishes . And , sir , hoping 1 , believing , knowing that the day will come when you shall again , sit at your own fireside in your own liberated Hungary , we further hope that , sometimes turning the leaves of these word-wealthy volumes , you will think of Englishmen as of a people who had for you and for your cause the wannest admiration and the deepest sympathy , and , animated by these feelings , resented with scorn , almost unutterable , the dastard attempts to slander and defame you . The day will come—for it is to doubt the solemn purposes and divine end of human nature to doubt ifc—the day will come when the darkness that now benights the greater part of continental Europe will be rolled away , dispersed

    by the light of liberty , like some suffocating' fog . The day will come , when in Erance men shall re-inherit the right of speech ; the day will come , when in Austria men shall take some other lesson from their rulers than the stick ; and the day will come , when in Italy the temporal power of the Pope , that red plague upon the brightest spot of God's earth will have passed away like a spent pestilence . That day must and will come . Meanwhile , sir , we wish you all compatible happiness , all tranquillity , all peaceful enjoyment' of the sacred rights of private life in England—in . this England that still denounces the political dictation of a foreign tyrant , as heretofore she has denounced and defied his armed aggressions ; for to submit to the one is to invito the other . ( Enthusiastic cheeririff . )

    M . ivossiiTH , who on rising to speak , was greeted with deafening cheers , which lasted for several minutes , began as follows : — " . 1 Caving , upon serious consideration of time and oircunistuncos , already before my return from . America , decided not to . speak any more publicly in England , I lost so much the ease of stylo and the habit of oratory , that I scaivoly can forbear to feel embarrassed like a debutant , in venturing with niy broken English oneo more to offend the language in which a Shukspeure wrote , and Douglas Jerrold has just charmed your ears . ( Cheers . ) I fear the

    melody ot its tones will break at the fibres of my unwieldy tongue , like the chords of a liar ]) under the metallic fingers of an iron hand . Still tin ; honour conferred on me on this occasion , the gift which I receive , the men by whom , the time when , and the manner in which it is offered mo , requires from me sueli a respectful acknowledgment and such gratitude , that you were indeed entitled to charge , mo with puerile affectation should I neglect to manifest ; my deep emotion at receiving this delicate testimonial of kindness , consolation , and regard , and to say a few words of warm and sincere thanks . " ( Cheers . )

    Passing to another topic , he said , that this testimonial was some evidence of public opinion on behalf of Hungary ; and alluding to the lute proceedings of Government , he said" 1 lived a retired lifo for many montliH . The sympathy of public opinion was still with me for my country's Hake . 1 wiih mire of it ; the straight , upright , holiest heart of the people of England does not chmigo in its moral affections like a weathercock ; but men have , of course , other things to do than to Hpeak always of poor downtrodden Hungary , when there is no occasion for it ; and my name was f-enrccly named for months . And they thought , now is the time there is no public opinion more to support him -let us strike noun ; blow ill , him . Well , they wanted public opinion manifested again . Therotliey have it nndenn have more of it- ( cheer *) -if they pleiiNo ,

    without any co-operation of mine . Old Knghmd ' H kciiko of justice will do what is right . Hut what in the clue of this public opinion ? What in the essentinl meaning of the honour conferred on mo to-day ? Hut my lord , what is ( he chin to I he honours I met juid to tint public opinion I elicited in this country p It is that I lout-lied a chord lo which there is a thrilling echo in I he breast of ovory honest man . It is because my theme wan liberty , the very word of which id enough to electrify iuiui ' h heart , and to bring tears ol joy or tears of compassion to liin eyes . It was Ih'ciuiho 1 H ] io | u ! of my counlry ' H virtues and of i ! s urimevitid mmi ' oilime , and ' held up iln Weeding iuuign lo ( l-o world . a Ihemo which c ; nmot fail to movr mini ' s heart , t . O llialui Inn l , |( M 11 l | )() i | , „ , wi |) l ( . . ( . , ( j ( , u . rMiMst . | r , n , | M , ami with lmt , , d umiiiiHl . injustice and despotism—a " < he-no hiwi <» i . ni l > to niukn Mm yi ] ry Hlolloi j n tho slroot cry out ior couipu « aum uud fOJf Bympatby .

    " Indeed , ray lord , weighing thus the value of those 9 , 000 votes of sympathy , there is something of public opinion in the act , and that at a moment , too , when some would fain believe , and act upon that belief , that there is no such public opinion any more in England at all . No public opinion ! Why , the very fear which the continental despots but too clearly manifest—keeping the hangman and their martial courte , and their host of spies incessantly in move—that very fear but too clearly shows that there is such public opinion condemning them all over the world . They knoiv it too well , that , though supported by millions of bayonets , many of them think that no power on earth can last long which the public opinion of the world condemns ; they knovv it too well , that no cause has to despair of its ultimate triumph , which the public op inion of the

    world supports . Yes , here I say it , and history will prove it to be true , so long as we have the sympathy of public opinion , our oppressed nations will never despair ; and they want but not to despair , and sooner or later they will become free ( cheers ) . They have , by not despairing , but to stand prepared to profit of the coming opportunities ; and so sure as there is an all-watching eye there above , the opportunity will not fail to come . As well could a child reverse the wheel of the rolling worlds , as well could you bring- to rest the quaking earth with fastening it to a wooden pole , stop the foaming flood with a sieve , or break the hurricane with a sheet of paper , as arrest the rolling course of time . The opportunity will come , and the oppressed nations , supported in their untired resolutions by the public opinion of the world , will and shall become free . Amen ( cheers . )"

    After alluding to the persecutions , to the deaths of Juhbal and others—judicial assassinations ; after describing in moving terms the oppression exercised by Austria , he thus eloquently broke out in defence of the open conspiracy of liberty : — Conspirators ! But in the name of all that is sacred to man , those oppressors there , they are the conspirators against God , against humanity , against the peace of the world . It is they who make Europe boil like a volcano , and the continent quake to the very foundation of society . Conspirators ! Would you call a conspirator the worm which is writhing beneath the foot which tramples it to death ; the insect a conspirator , which stings towards the heel which crushes him ; or the spring- a conspirator , that it dares to melt the winter ' s ice , and push nature to new blooming life ? But liberty is life to man everywhere : it is doubly so to a Magyar ' s heart . We Magyars love

    liberty . We are familiar with it—we have tasted it—we have purchased it with our best heart blood , and having been berdft of it by the grossest violation of divine , human , and national law , we shall strive for it so long- as we live by every honourable means . The very dead of us , like Ziska of Bohemia once , will aid the living to strive for liberty . If \ that they call conspiracy let them do so . That conspiracy they shall never arrest . I for one declare , in tho face of high heaven , that enjoying your couutry ' s protection , I certainly desire to respect scrupulously your country ' s laws , but so long as there is life in me I will love freedom , I will remain faithful to my fatherland , and never despairing of its future , will continuo to watch with intense solicitude tho electric spark of opportunity from the hands of bountiful Providence , to catch from it tho sacred flame of emancipation from lawless oppression which my country is suffering . I should bo the meanest wretch could I act otherwise .

    He concluded thus : —• " Finally , as to those recent occurrences to which your honourable orators have alluded , I think tho most proper course for mo will bo not to enter upon that subject on the present occasion . I believe it is duo on my part to bring soino facts to tho knowledge of public opinion , but it is equally due from mo to leave it to Englishmen to judge , to define , and to guard English liberties . And ho much even I , in my humble condition , maybe permitted to nay , that even what last evening occurred in the House of Commons , the report of which will carry a thrilling joy to the heart of millions , is a new glorious evidence thut the liberties of England , that , cheering hope and consolation to the oppressed , are sure , because guarded by such

    Englishmen . ( Cheers . ) It is your part to fix the conditions upon which England is to remain an asylum to political refugees ; ours is to v / ish to know thoso conditions , and shape our course accordingly , thankfully accepting or thankfully declining to accept tho iisylum which tho institutions of England profl ' or to political refugees . 1 nay the institutions of England , because it i » not from any special favour on account of my name being Ivossutli , or on account of our having tho honour to bo Hungarians , that this asylum is granted to us . Francis . Joseph of Austria , once driven away from Vienna , or the I ' opo himself [ cheers and laughter ] may claim that asylum , may bo they will , and get perhaps something more besides , which we poor victims of liberty never would imagine to aspire lo at all . All we would venture to desire in , that , tho world renowned reputation of English institutions and English liberties should answer their glorious renown also in our

    . special caso : and that , while wo sincerely desire to respect your laws , itnd 1 for one will never violate them knowingly , on the other , hand we should not bo desired to abjure tho Haered aspirations of our hearts , and to abdicate the duties of our patriotism . But . against this wo fool . sure under the protection of your Parliament arid the watching uyo of ' public opinion of England . Wo are miro , sir o \ ouso mo for quoting your words---wo arc mire never to have occasion to way in Kn ^ Luid , that pooplo that live in othor people ' s houses must bo content with what they get , and that , people Mint livo in other people ' s houses m ust , not . expect to he treated as ono of tho family ; tliitt will never bo ourruHO hero , and thus we rely upon it I but public opinion will not only protect uh , but will also , with I ho mighty power of its sympathy , conlinuo to imcomago us not " to do . spair of tho fuhirn of our oppressed rial ion ; arid thus I hope wo will boo yet tliat 'fcimo worku wonduru' oyou to opprossod nations , and uofc only

    to pretenders ; because to use a phrase of Daniel Webster , the public opinion of the civilized world is such an impassable , unextinguishable , enemy of mere violence , oppression , and arbitrary rule , that like Milton ' s angels , public opinion , vital in every part , cannot , but by annihilation , die . With this I will end ; assuring you once more ot my sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude . ( Loud and protracted cheering . ) " , Mr . ^ Alderman Wire , Sir Joshua Walmsley , and Mr . Cobden , addressed the meeting . Mr . Cobden was very spirited . He said , when Kossuth first came to England , he had joined in demonstrations of hospitality to him as a guest ; but when he returned from America , Mr . Cobden looked upon him not as a guest , but as a neighbour .

    They had , however , lately heard—he had heard it with humiliation and shame , which he could scarcel y expressthat that distinguished man , instead of finding a quiet home in this country , had been placed under the espionage of the police . ( Groans . ) Was that England—was that the country in which statesmen and orators were apt to thank heaven that they were not as the Austrians , the Erench , or other men . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He came there because he was opposed to foreign intervention in these domestic affairs —( cheers)—and he was equally opposed to intervention in the affairs of foreign countries . He believed that Lord John Russell said in- the House of Commons that Austria had not made any request , for a surveillance to be exercised over the refugees . that lishmen

    Why , Austria knew , or ought to know , Eng would not consent to become the spies or gaolers of the Hungarian refugees ( cheers ) . What then , if Austria thought that any such demand would be resented with scorn , was the English Government or police to be allowed to dog the steps of a resident in the land , and to play the contemptible part that even Austria would not give them credit for ? Now , he said it unhesitatingly , this espionage must bo nipped in the bud ( cheers ) . This attempt to transplant into England the worst principles of continental government must be destroyed by the exertions of the people . He was glad to see the people of London up to' defend the rights of the residents of England . He had seen greater determination in the north of

    England in defending and working for measures beneficial to their commercial , interests ; but for any question in which the liberties of the people were concerned , give him the citizens of London ( cheers ) . So long as they could assemble in meetings like this—so long as they had Parliament sitting , and they could put a Home Minister into the crucible —( loud cheers)—so long as they could do that , and distil from him , drop by drop , reluctant admissions , or , what was equally valuable , reluctant evasions , They would not have things like these repeated in a hurrv . ( Cheers . ) They had not got to the bottom of the

    matter yet , but they were determined to have it all out , for the benefit of future Homo Secretaries . ( Cheers . ) And yet , after all , nothing had been said or proved against their distinguished friend which could warrant his being put under this surveillance or espionage ; for , thank God ! the practice was so unfamiliar to Englishmen that they had no word to describe it . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Ho wished to know who went to this needless expense , and what good was expected to come out of it ? Suppose , as they had read in some Gorman papers , that the police of the Continent were in communication with thoso of London ,

    what good could they do by employing spies in tins country to watch M . Kossuth or other refugees ? They ' could not enter M . Kossuth ' s house , or , if they did , ho imagined they would bo soon bundled out again— - ( cheers)—they could not go and rifle his property—they could not demand his passport . ( Cheers . ) If the police had got their eye upon a pickpocket or a burglar , of course- they ought to watch him , but they did not require a Homo Secretary to tell them to do that , nor had they heard that their illustrious guest was suspected of being either a pickpocket or a

    burglar . ( Cheers . ) They were bound to defend tho rights which their ancestors hud handed down lo thorn , though they had been deprived of some of those rights which had been promised them on the abolition of the feudal system ; and foreign nations possessed rights which they had not , Amongst tho rights , however , which England did possess , and which they , alway ' s had been justly proud of , was that of personal and domestic liberty , nnd thoy would bo miserable and craven individuals indeed if they did not determine to maintain them . ( Cheers . ) -

    Mr . Cobden concluded by calling attention to the fact that Madame Kossuth and her two * soiim and daughter were present on the occasion , and the coiinl . i-y would take care of the family so long us they continued amongst them [ loud cheers ) . A vote of thanks was then passed to this chairman , mid this meeting . separated , with three limes three cheers for Koh . suI . 1 i .

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    Till- ] ROYAL ACADUMY DINNKR . AitT hurt its annual festivity on Saturday , usual on tho opening of fho Inhibition of IVmfing . s of the Royal Academy . Sir Charles Kastlake , President , received a « guests ( he ueeuslonied troop of distinguished men of State and letters ; and in the familiar niimnor short , sympathising speeches and genial " cheers" followed in KiicccMsion for hoi no bourn . Tlicro w ; ih an incident

    honourable ulilui to both tho distinpuishod soldiers who wore actoi-H in it . Sir Charles wished to propose Lord Hurdinge as tho representative of the army ; hut l ., ord Anglesey being present , Lord Jlurdingo requited , privately of course , flint tho post of honour might , ho given to the veteran . It . ended in fho names of both being coupled with the Army . As no nea officer wiih a guest , Sir James Graham' hud to do tho honours for tho Nuvy . Chevalier . Bunucn , who haa boon so long- with

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    440 THE LEADER . [ Satprpajt ^

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 7, 1853, page 440, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1985/page/8/