10 JANUARY 1914, Page 16

THE EMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH AND KOSSUTH. [To ass Maros or

Tar "Sreararoan

Sra,—Last week, in your summary of the articles in the January Fortnightly Review, there is a reference to an alleged remark made by the Emperor Francis Joseph to Kossuth (sic!) regarding King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, then a young Austrian ofdcer•. It is difficult to conceive how so astonishing a fable could arise. As is well known, Louis Kossuth pro. claimed the deposition of the House of Habsburg in April, 1849, and was Governor of Hungary until forced to fly the country in the following August. After his memorable tour through Britain and America to kindle sympathy for the Hungarian cause, Kossuth remained in exile till his death in 1 4. He never again set foot on Hungarian or Austrian soil, and resolutely declined to avail himself of the amnesty pro- claimed under the Dual System. 'few, then, could he nav411 conversed with the Emperor at a window of the Hofburg in Vienna ? Nor can the story be applied to his eon, Mr. Francis Kossuth, who only returned to Hungary after his father's death, when Ferdinand had already reigned for some years in Bulgaria. Are there no limits to historical inaccuracy P—I