August 1855

    My dear Martineau,

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        I do not think you see truly the treachery of our Government (I cannot use a weaker word), nor know truly what Kossuth has always demanded. To my first question, "Do you expect us to drive Austria into hostility?" he replied (probably in November, 1853), "Certainly not; but I claim that you shall not try to hinder our fighting our just and necessary battle against Austria." This is the turning point. We did try to hinder it, hoping thereby to seduce Austria to our side. To whisper to Austria the words "H. P. I." would not have been to strip up those countries to insurrection, but to compel Austria not to threaten Turkey with her armies. Our Government encouraged her in it, and aided her to occupy the Principalities, forcing the Sultan to take pliable Ministers. . . . We reap the bitter fruit, as Kossuth from the beginning told us we should. I, however, still hope that we shall regain a morally right position, and that if we far the worse Hungary may be the better; for then Austria might have been neutral, now she will be our enemy.