Ferdinand, Emperor of Austria, was the first compelled to give a constitution.  I read it on the 18th, April, 1848, and was inspired to write on the 19th, April, or, on his birth-day a letter to him and an appeal to the inhabitants of the Austrian Empire, assuring them, that the calamities came, because the contents of our publications had not been regarded, although our mission had been superabundantly proven by signs according to prophecies.  I confessed also, that I was ready to go instantly to Vienna, and to show practically, how to make the right use of that constitution for the commencement of the new era of harmony and peace, if the emperor would publish directly my appeal to the inhabitants of his empire, and write to me, and give the security to support the constitution, which was such as the inhabitants of the empire had a right to demand, as well as the emperor had a right to watch against the abuse and to apply the proper means for the right use of the constitution.

My former applications and my volumes have been sent by me directly through Triest to Vienna, but that my last document to emperor Ferdinand was sent to his minister in Washington city with an urgent exhortation to the minister, to forward it to the emperor, and with the remark that in the time in which an answer could be expected, I would send to the minister my direction, to which post office he had to send the answer; because I wrote to the emperor from the State of New-York on my journey to other States.  I wrote at length to the minister, that if he receives an answer to my documents from the Emperor Ferdinand, he should send it to the post office of Nashville, capital of the State of Tennessee.  I urged the Emperor to send an answer as soon as possible, and I assured him, that it was impossible, to prevent new revolutions without the use of the remedy contained in our message of peace.  But knowing the slowness of the business at the Austrian government, I now on the 14th September 1848, at noon time to the post office of Nashville to ask for letters.  When I was approaching the post office, fire bells commenced to arouse people who were asking where the fire was.  Some answered, that it was in the Presbyterian Church on Church street; but others remarked, that they should not be mocked in this manner; because it appeared to be quite improbable that fire should break out at that hour in that season in a church without being struck by lightning; and that was a very clear day.

I asked in the post office for letters.  But there was no letter for me there.  On my return from the post office, the whole presbyterian church the largest in that city, on Church Street, was enveloped in awful flames, by which it was entirely consumed.