it an honourable duty neither to offend nor to evade your laws.  I am told it is lawful.  There are two means to see this my humble wish accomplished.  The first is, by spontaneous subscription; the second is, by a loan.  The latter may require private consultation in a narrower circle.  As to subscriptions, the idea was brought home to my mind by a plain but very generous letter, which I had the honour to receive, and which I beg to read.  It is as follows:—­

CINCINNATI, O., Nov. 14, 1851.

M. LOUIS KOSSUTH, Governor of Hungary:—­Sir—­I have authorized the office of the Ohio Life Insurance and Trust Company, in New York, to honour your draft on me for one thousand dollars.  Respectfully yours, W. SMEAD.

I beg leave here publicly to return my most humble thanks to the gentleman, for his ample aid, and the delicate manner in which he offered it; and it came to my mind, that where one individual is ready to make such sacrifices to my country’s cause, there may perhaps be many who would give their small share to it, if they were only apprised that it will be thankfully accepted, however small it may be.  And it came to my mind, that millions of drops make an ocean, and the United States number many millions of inhabitants, all warmly attached to liberty.  A million dollars, paid singly, would be to me far more precious than paid in one single draft; for it would practically show the sympathy of the people at large.  Would I were so happy as your Washington was, when he also, for your glorious country’s sake, in the hours of your need, called to France for money.

Sir, I have done.  I came to your shores an exile:  you have poured upon me the triumph of a welcome such as the world has never yet seen.  And why?  Because you took me for the representative of that principle of liberty which God has destined to become the common benefit of all humanity.  It is glorious to see a free and mighty people so greet the principle of freedom, in the person of one who is persecuted and helpless.  Be blessed for it!  Your generous deed will be recorded; and as millions of Europe’s oppressed nations will, even now, raise their thanksgiving to God for this ray of hope, which by this act you have thrown on the dark night of their fate; even so, through all posterity, oppressed men will look to your memory as to a token of God that there is a hope for freedom on earth, since there is a people like you to feel its worth and to support its cause.

* * * * *

VIII.—­ON NATIONALITIES.

[Speech at the Banquet of the Press, New York.]