Publications concerning the Hungarian war for freedom
[The advocates of constitutional freedom, and the early personal friends of General Guyon in England, duly appreciating. his heroic services, and sympathising in his present neglected military position, are desirous of presenting him with a sword of honour, or some other testimonial, dependent on the degree of public interest which this appeal may call forth Communications on this subject may be made, and subscriptions paid, to the compiler of this memoir until a committee be duly formed and organised for carrying out the above intended object.]
[The following is from a report relative to the present condition of the Chardetook Patriotic Orphan School:—"It will rejoice the hearts of many of our earliest friends to find that the school they helped us first to build, and then to enlarge, is extending its usefulness in this sad season of warfare and suffering, and affording an asylum to the children of many a bereaved widow. When the Royal Commission put forth its claim upon the country's bounty, last winter, an effort was made amongst a few friends to open our school for the reception of 24 orphans of our brave defenders, whether in the Crimea or in the Baltic. The idea was that we would take them for 3 years, provided funds could be secured for that period. Our numbers have gone on increasing during the spring and summer, until our orphan family amounts to 50-38 boys and 12 girls. The Patriotic Fund supplies £14 a-year towards the maintenance and education of each child, not for 3 years only, but until it is of an age to be apprenticed or to go to service; and, moreover, affords every mother the means of seeing her child once a-year The boys are lodged for the most part in a hired house in the village, while 16 are slung in hammocks in the school-room. The girls are under the Matron's roof. A master, educated at the Winchester Diocesan Training School, and highly commended by the Bishop and Clergy for his management of the school at Farnham is engaged; and a drill-sergeant (who is also a shoemaker by trade) has the charge of the boys whenever they are out of school. But how are we to provide for the daily wants of such a family (which as the war progresses may any day be increased to 100), when accommodation was only made for 10 girls and a matron ? The question is easily solved, and we are sure that He who has hitherto opened so many hearts in sympathy towards us, will move many more to help us in our need. We require, and that immediately, better-ventilation and some alterations in our school, to meet the requirements of the Committee of Council,—proper dormitories on the upped floor,—a sufficiently roomy wash-house,—an ironing-room capable of accommodating 6 learners and 2 teachers,—a larger kitchen, sculler, larder, and sundry other offices (from the need of which we at present suffer much inconvenience and disorder), a shed for the children in wet weather, a workshop for boys, and lastly, the conversion of our present kitchen and scullery into an Infant School and Work-room for girls."]" The deeds of General Guyon are the subject of imperishable history. His military career in Hungary is full of Glory, attached to unsurpassed bravery, undaunted courage, perseverance, and devotedness; he is proved, in a word, a Patriot and a Hero, from the Battle of Schwechat down to that of Temesvar; but particularly the glory of his name is connected with Mannsworth, Branyizko, Heyges—Branyiszo being the culminating point.''—Kossuth
"Had a Williams or a Guyon commanded our Armies, how many thousands had now filled their ranks who now fill their graves? General Guyon was always held in high estimation for courage and conduct. He had two uncles in the British Navy, who merited and obtained an equal reputation. The campaign of the general in Translyvania is celebrated in the whole of Europe, and acquired for him a high rank in Asia. Turkey has been induced, by the threats of Austria, and the machinations of Russia to divest him of command?"—Walter Savage Landor.—Times, Nov. 1855.
"Guyon! The Bayard of the Hungarian Army!"
"Had General Guyon been placed at the head of this Army in an independent position, and supported by General Kmety, I fearlessly assert that within two months of the above period Tiflis would have been captured, and the Russian force in Georgia cut to pieces, or driven beyond the Caspian.''—Campaign with the Turks in Asian by Duncan.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, 16th JULY, 1855.
Col. H. Herbert believed the noble lord (Palmerston) was perfectly familar with the name of General Guyon, who was conspicuous for his brilliant services in Hungary. That gallant officer wad employed in the Turkish army at Kars last year, but by means of intrigues of the Turkish generals he was removed. from his position. He begged to ask the noble lord whether he had any objection to instruct the British Ambassador at Constantinople to procure a military command for General Guyon?
Lord PALMERSTON—In answer to the question of my honourable friend, I have very great pleasure in bearing my testimony also to the gallantry of General Gyon, and to the very important and beneficial services which at gallant officer has rendered to the Turkish Government since he has been employed in that service. That officer was for a considerable time employed in the Turkish army in Asia. Circumstances led to a temporary cessation of that employment and he is now at Constantinople. I can assure my honourable friend, that it would give great pleasure to Her Majesty's Government, and would be a source of considerable satisfaction to us, if we could find circumstances leading to the re-employment of that gallant officer in some important position in the Turkish army.
"Austria is a hollow name. We meet with Hungarians, Bohemians, Germans, Italians, Poles, but no Austrians. A native of the province of Ducal Austria Proper, who ought to be the most proud of his name, will say, I am a Viennese ! or speak of some other town or district as his place of birth, but he will never boast of his great Austrian fatherland. Despotism may exist, if based on nationality. The proud Civis Romanus sum was the link which kept together the Empire of the Caesars. The autocracy of Russia stands on this foundation, but what has Austria given wherewith to inspire her subjects ? bombardments, massacres, and executions "—Edinburgh Review, 1853.
"Look how the House of Austria on both sides of Christendom are armed and prepared to destroy the whole Protestant interests.... Is not the king of Hungary (Ferdinand III., grandson, not son of Ferdinand II.) the son of a father, whose principles, interest, and personal conscience guided him to exile all the Protestants out of his own patrimonial country—out of Bohemia with the sword, out of Moravia and Silesia! and it is the daily complaint which comes over to us...that the Protestants are tossed out of Poland into the Empire, and out thence, whither they fly to get their bread. But it may be said—'This is a great way off, in the extremest parts of the world; what is that to us?' If it be nothing to you, let it be nothing to you! I have told you it is somewhat to you. It concerns all your religions, and all the good interests of England."—Speech of Oliver Cromwell to the English Parliament, upon the state of the Protestant interest in Hungary, and the Austrian Empire in 1658.—Carlyle's Life of Cromwell, vol. ii., p. 625.
[The Protector's prophetic sentiments, uttered in 1658 on the political and religious policy of' Austria, hare been truly realised by the Austrian Concordat with Rome in 1855.—Note by the Compiler.]
"The interests of Europe, of humanity, require that the ambition of Russia should receive a check.... She is preparing the way for future conquest in the south of Europe, and to these conquests Wallachia and Moldavia are the high road. These countries have no force which could enable them to resist her invading army a single day, nor is it possible that for centuries they can have.... Independent, therefore, these provinces cannot be; the question then is, to whom shall they belong?... Hungary (the only great nation in continental Europe whose people can boast of a constitution of eight centuries) is the only power which could hold them with safety to herself and others. Let Hungary offer the principalities a frank union, a fair share in the advantages of her constitution, and an equality of rights and privileges, and I have no doubt the Wallachians would gladly join themselves to a country which could guarantee them a national existence, civil and religious freedom, and an identity of material interests. Hungary, too, would gladly accept a share in the trade of the Black Sea, and might probably be induced to give up her claims on Galicia for such compensation—and then with Constitutional Poland reinstated in her integrity on the one side, and Constitutional Hungary intervening on the other, the fears of invasion from absolute Russia would be an idle bugbear, unworthy a moment's fear; but from no other combination can Europe ever be safe."—Payet's Hungary, 1849.