"I doubt whether his union with Ledru Rollin is approved by any eminent
Hungarian in England.

"While I regret all this, I yet expect Kossuth to be great again whenever
action in Hungary recommences; but he cannot bear _in_action well; and,
alas! I make no doubt his private resources cannot bear delays. I almost
begin to fear that he _covets_ to be driven publicly to America by our
Government, as less ignominious than being starved into the same step. I
cannot understand ... how he fails to see that _if_ we weaken Russia we
strengthen the chances of liberty, though Aberdeen would not allow his
particular policy in 1853-4. We are doing _so very much_ more than he
asked of the Americans in 1852 that the tone he assumes is wonderful. And
then to scoff as he does, as though we had done _nothing_ in destroying
the Russian Black Sea Fleet and overthrowing the whole prestige of their
military superiority. To have been beaten by the Turks is still _more_
humiliating.... I wonder whether you have any alarm about America. I
_should_ have some alarm if Nicaragua and the Mosquito land were the topic
of quarrel; for I think the Americans would really fight us as a single
nation to hinder us establishing ourselves on American soil _south_ of
them. They sufficiently dislike our _northern_ position....

"Very cordially yours,

"F. W. Newman."

* * * * *

We now pass to Newman's letters in the year 1856; and the first of this
series speaks of the "Harry" who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, as