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PROPHECIES OF COUNT SZECHENY.

In

bridge at Buda-Pesth, Szecheny deserves the gratitude of his countrymen for the regulation of the Theiss, the largest river in Hungary after the Danube, and the establishment of a Theiss steam-boat company. his last book, entitled, "The Political Programme, published in 1847, Szecheny proclaimed war against the whole reform party, mingling in his usual way his political argumentations with visions and strange prophecies. Some of his predictions, though in consequence of events not surmised by him, were fulfilled with a precision calculated to fill the heart of every Hungarian with awe; while in some other cardinal points the noble count proved a false prophet. Szecheny beheld in the visions which he so glowingly described the rising of the Hungarian peasantry against their masters, and proclaimed the Hungarian sword to be blunt and rusty. In both these points he was signally mistaken, for during the course of the memorable events that soon followed, the Hungarian peasant showed himself magnanimous, and the safest defender of public order; and the Hungarian sword proved bright and trenchant, more powerful than it ever had been since the days of Matthias Hunyadi.

Thus did Hungary draw near to the unexpected drama.

Compared with other civilized countries of Europe, Hungary stood far behind in art, science, and general culture, a circumstance sufficiently accounted for by its geographical position and peculiarly tragic history. It had, however, many things to boast of, which might be looked for in vain among the more cultivated neighbouring nations. While in other more advanced countries life became reduced to the operation of arithmetical calculations, in Hungary it flowed in its natural

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channel, free alike from artificial refinements and their concomitant vices. Virtue needed there no stimulus from conventional rules, nor relied for support on the scaffoldings of outward ceremonies and decorum, but lived on the spontaneous and fresh running fountain of the heart. One of the first ornaments of life, hospitality, which had become well nigh extinct in other nations as they progressed in power and riches, still remained in Hungary undiminished, and, so to speak, a vital element of society, whether among lords or peasants, affording an undeniable proof of inherent nobleness of mind in the people. By this hospitality must not be understood merely that inclination which makes man now and then desirous of sharing his meal with his friends, but that irresistible impulse which causes the heart of man to long for the intercourse of his fellow creatures, and to find delight in opening to his guest without restraint the thoughts of his mind and the feelings of his heart. Openness speaks well for individual character; and what a criterion is it not, if it constitutes the prominent characteristic of a whole people?

CHAPTER X.

THE DIET OF 1847-8-NOMINATION OF A HUNGARIAN MINISTRY-THE REFORM LAWS-COMMENCEMENT OF INTERNAL TROUBLES-CONVOCATION OF THE DIET AT PESTH-OPEN WAR-PESTH TAKEN BY THE AUSTRIANS.-(1847-1849.)

THE year 1847 was chiefly taken up with the elections, which, as in Britain, were not always the result of conviction, and which were rendered particularly lively in Hungary from the large quantities of wine consumed on such occasions. Both parties, conservative as well as liberal, exhibited a like activity in their efforts to secure the return of their respective candidates. And though the former commanded much influence by the aid of the royal administrators, it became nevertheless evident that in the coming Diet the liberals would have the majority in the Lower House, in carrying at least some of the intended reforms. Several of the most prominent of the liberal aristocracy, as the Counts Louis and Casimir Batthyany, and Count Raday, threw all the weight of their influence into the scale to obtain the return of Kossuth for the county of Pesth. In this effort they succeeded, despite the counter endeavours of the court party. Szecheny also preferred to sit in the Lower House,

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but was disappointed in his expectation to become the head of a party.

The Diet was opened at Presburg in November of the same year, the liberals numbering almost all who were known for their exertions in the cause of progress, besides being strengthened by the union of the Kossuth party and the so-called centralists. The conservatives, consisting of many high officials and obsequious courtiers, put forth their political creed in a programme. The liberals straightway followed their example. In the manifesto of the latter party, the necessity of the following reforms was set forth :— 1st, General taxation without any distinction between nobles and non-nobles; 2d, Further reforms in the laws relating to the feudal system; 3d, Equality of all classes of the population before the law; 4th, The establishment of a responsible Hungarian ministry instead of the two irresponsible central courts of BudaPesth; 5th, The liberty of the press, as well as the union of Transylvania with Hungary. "We shall continue," thus runs the concluding part of this programme, we shall continue with unwearied zeal to make use of every effort in our power for the attainment of these objects, without being unmindful of the relations which, in accordance with the Pragmatic Sanction, exists between Hungary and the Austrian hereditary States. But, while we shall carefully avoid placing the interests of Hungary in opposition to those of the entire monarchy, or rendering them incompatible with its unity and safety, we shall not suffer these interests to be rendered subservient in an unreasonable and illegal manner to those of the other States of the empire, as is actually the case, in respect to our manufacturing industry and our commercial relations. We

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PROGRAMME OF THE LIBERALS.

cannot tolerate a system that would sacrifice our interests, and even our constitution, to the so-called administrative-unity. It was in the last quarter of the past century that the government by acting on this system, and by offering us material advantages in exchange for our constitutional rights, attempted to subvert the nationality and independence of Hungary. It is to this system, developed as it has constantly been, on the principles of absolutism, that all the free institutions of the Austrian hereditary States have been sacrificed. Our constitution is, however, a treasure which we cannot sacrifice for any advantages what

soever.

"We are convinced that if the old constitutional rights and liberties of the Austrian hereditary States still existed, if these States in conformity with the demands of the age, and the principles of equity and justice, could be ranked amongst the constitutional nations of Europe, we are convinced, we say, that our interests could then be easily combined with those which are at present in conflict with, and even inimical to, them; and that by a greater unity of interests, and a greater degree of confidence being thus established, every part of the empire would be invigorated, and knit together by a common tie, and the united monarchy, by a guarantee being thus afforded for its material and intellectual development, be enabled to brave with impunity the storms and convulsions by which it might hereafter be assailed."

The first act of the Diet, which was opened by Ferdinand V. (who produced no common joy by pronouncing his speech in Magyar), was the election of a palatine in the person of the Arch-duke Stephen, son of the palatine Joseph, who had shortly before died.