my official capacity?  Now, as to your Minister at Vienna, how you can reconcile the letting him stay there with your opinion of the cause of Hungary, I do not know; for the present absolutist atmosphere of Europe is not very propitious to American principles.  But as to Mr. Hulsemann, do not believe that he would be so ready to leave Washington.  He has extremely well digested the caustic words which Mr. Webster has administered to him so gloriously.  I know that your public spirit would never allow any responsible depository of the executive power to be regulated in its policy by all the Hulsemanns or all the Francis-Josephs in the world.  But it is also my agreeable conviction that the highminded Government of the United States shares warmly the sentiments of the people.  It has proved it by executing in a ready and dignified manner the resolution of Congress on behalf of my liberation.  It has proved it by calling on the Congress to consider how I shall be received, and even this morning I was honoured by the express order of the Government with an official salute from the batteries of the United States, in a manner in which, according to the military rules, only a high official personage can be greeted.

I came not to your glorious shores to enjoy a happy rest—­I came not to gather triumphs of personal distinction, but as a humble petitioner, in my country’s name, as its freely chosen constitutional leader, to entreat your generous aid.  I have no other claims than those which the oppressed principle of freedom has to the aid of victorious liberty.  If you consider these claims not sufficient for your active and effectual sympathy, then let me know at once that the hopes have failed, with which Europe has looked to your great, mighty, and glorious Republic—­let me know it at once that I may hasten back and say to the oppressed nations, “Let us fight, forsaken and single-handed, the battle of Leonidas; let us trust to God, to our right, and to our good sword; for we have no other help on earth.”  But if your generous Republican hearts are animated by the high principle of freedom and of the community in human destinies,—­if you have the will, as undoubtedly you have the power, to support the cause of freedom against the sacrilegious league of despotism, then give me some days of calm reflection, to become acquainted with the ground upon which I stand—­let me take kind advice as to my course—­let me learn whether any steps have been already taken in favour of that cause which I have the honour to represent; and then let me have a new opportunity to expound before you my humble request in a practical way.

I confidently hope, Mr. Mayor, the Corporation and Citizens of THE EMPIRE CITY will grant me a second opportunity.  If this be your generous will, then let me take this for a boon of happier days; and let me add, with a sigh of thanksgiving to the Almighty God, that Providence has selected your glorious country to be the pillar of freedom, as it is already the asylum to oppressed humanity.