My retreat is somewhat longer, to be sure, but then our struggle went on from the first on a far greater scale; and again, the success of Franklin was aided by the hatred of France against England; so I am told, and it is true; but I trust that the love of liberty in republican America will prove as copious a source of generous inspiration, as hatred of Great Britain proved in monarchical France.  Or, should it be the doom of humanity that even republics like yours are more mightily moved by hatred than by love, is there less reason for republican America to hate the overwhelming progress of absolutism, than there was reason for France to hate England’s prosperity?  In fact, that prosperity has not been lessened, but rather increased by the rending away of the United States from the dominion of England; but the absorption of Europe into predominant absolutism, would cripple your prosperity, because you are no China, no Japan.

America cannot remain unaffected by the condition of Europe, with which you have a thousand-fold intercourse.  A passing accident in Liverpool, a fire in Manchester, cannot fail to be felt in America—­how could then the fire of despotic oppression, which threatens to consume all Europe’s freedom, civilization, and property, fail to affect in its results America?  How can it be indifferent to you whether Europe be free or enslaved?—­whether there exists a “Law of Nations,” or no such thing any more exists, being replaced by the caprice of an arrogant mortal who is called “Czar?” No! either all the instruction of history is vanity, and its warnings but the pastime of a mocking-bird, or this indifference is impossible; therefore I may yet meet with Franklin’s good luck.

Franklin wrote to his friend Charles Thompson, after having concluded the treaty of peace—­“If we ever become ungrateful to those who have served and befriended us, our reputation, and all the strength it is capable of procuring, will be lost, and new dangers ensue.”

Perhaps I could say, poor Hungary has well served Christendom, has well served the cause of humanity; but indeed we are not so happy as to have served your country in particular.  But you are generous enough to permit our unmerited misfortunes to recommend us to your affections in place of good service.  It is beautiful to repay a received benefit, but to bestow a benefit is divine.  It is your good fortune to be able to do good to humanity:  let it be your glory that you are willing to do it.

Then what will be the tidings I shall have to bear back to Europe, in answer to the expectations with which I was charged from Turkey, Italy, France, Portugal, and England?  Let me hope the answer will be fit to be reanswered by a mighty hallelujah, at the shout of which the thrones of tyrants will quake; and when they are fallen, and buried beneath the fallen pillars of tyranny, all the Christian world will unite in the song of praise—­“Glory to God in Heaven, and peace to right-willing men on earth, and honour to America, the first-born son of Liberty.  For no nation has God done so much as for her; for she proved to be well deserving of it, because she was obedient to his Divine Law—­She has loved her neighbour as herself, and did unto others as, in the hour of her need, she desired others to do unto herself.”