13 [2] 



By a despatch of my predecessor you were instructed to offer to the 

 Sublime Porte to receive Mr. Kcssuth, and his companions, on board of 

 one of the National Ships of the United States, to convey them to this 

 country. 



It would have been extremely gratifying to the Government and people 

 of the United States, if this proposition could have been, at that time, 

 accepted ; but it is understood, that its not having been complied with by 

 the Sublime Porte, did not arise from a wish, on His Imperial Majesty's 

 part, to detain them, or from any unwillingjiess, that they should proceed 

 to the United States, but was in consequence of the Sultan's offer to Aus- 

 tria, to detain these persons for one year, at the expiration of which 

 time unless further conventions should be entered into to prolong their 

 detention, they should be at liberty to depart. 



If this be so, the time is near at hand, when their release may be ex- 

 pected, and when they may be permitted, to seek an asylum in any part of 

 the world, to which they shall be able to procure the means of transpor- 

 tation. 



It is confidently hoped, that the Sublime Porte has not made, and will 

 jiot make, any new f».tipu!ation, with any power, for their detention; and 

 you are directed to addi'ess yourself urgently; though respectfully, to the 

 Sublime Porte on this question. 



You will cause it to be strongly represented, that, while this Govern- 

 ment has no desire or intention to interfere, in any manner, with questions 

 of public policy, or international or municipal relations of other Govern- 

 ments, not affecting the rights of its own citizens, and while it has 'entire 

 confidence in the justice and magnanimity and dignity of the Sublime Porte, 

 yet, on a matter of such universal interest, it hopes, that suggestions, pro- 

 ceeding from no other motives, than those of friendship and respect for the 

 Porte, a desire for the continuance and ]:)erpetuity of its independence and 

 dignified position among the nation of the earth, and a sentiment of com- 

 misseration for the Hungarian Exiles, — may be received by the Porte in 

 the same friendly spirit , in which they are offered, and that the growing 

 good feeling and increasing intercourse between the two Governments may 

 l)e still further fostered and extended, by a happy concurrence of opinion, 

 and reciprocity of confidence, upon this as upon all other su])jects. Com- 

 ])liance with the wishes of the government and })eople of the United States, 

 in this repect, will be regarded as a friendly recognition of their intercession, 

 and as a juoof of national good will and regard. 



The course which the Sul)lime Porte pursued, in refusing to allow the 

 Hungarian Exiles to be seized upon its soil by the forces of a foreign state, 

 or to arrest and deliver them up itself to their jnirsuei's, was hailed with uni- 

 versal approbation, it might be said with gratitude, every where through- 

 out the United States, and this sentiment was not the less strong, because 

 the demand upon the Sublime Porte was made by governments confident 

 in their great military power, with armies iu the field of vast strength, 

 flushed with recent victory, and whose purposes were not to be thwarted, 

 or their pursuit stayed, by any obstacle less than the interposition of an 

 Em))ire, prepared to maintain the inviolability of its territories and its 

 absolute sovereignty over its own soil. 



Tliis govenment, jealous of its own territorial rights, regarded with 

 great respect and hearty approbation the firm and lofty position, assumed 

 ^y His Imperial Majesty at that time, and so proudly maintained, under 



