Hungarian reforms--Security of property--Orders of nobility--Advantages
of steam navigation--Reformers--Auxiliary improvements--Club-house--
Newspaper--System of Entails--Censorship--Sybaritism--The Count’s
pursuits--Hungarian language--Verses on the vintage.
♦ HUNGARIAN REFORMS ♦
After coffee we rose from the table, and the Count and I walked to the
Lazaretto, a clean, airy building, about a mile from Orsova. As he
was about to go to Bucharest, and on his return from Wallachia would
be obliged to perform quarantine in that edifice, he was desirous of
examining the apartments which he was destined to occupy. We found the
establishment in excellent order, clean, healthy, and very pleasantly
situated. The wife of its medical superintendent was one of the most
beautiful women I had ever beheld. She was sitting alone at a window,
melancholy as if she were a captive, and indeed, as she observed to the
Count, how could she be otherwise, exiled as she was in this solitude
from every chance of society? She was pale and downcast; her voice came
in touching tones from her heart; and though she brightened up for a
while, while we were speaking to her at the casement, the too bright
lustre of her black eyes indicated that her health was deeply undermined
by consumption. She spoke French very well, and the Count informed
me that she was an intelligent and accomplished woman, but that the
solitude of the place had broken down her spirits.
♦ SECURITY OF PROPERTY ♦
In the course of my stay at Orsova I had an opportunity of hearing from
three or four Hungarian noblemen, who were passing through on their way
to Pesth, that opinions differ very much with respect to the propriety
of giving education at present to the people, because, as the country is
still and must be for some years under the feudal system, if the people
were educated, they would see too plainly the position in which they
are placed, and would most probably seek to attain their liberties by
means of a sudden and sanguinary revolution. There is no objection to
their being properly educated as soon as they are fit for that stage
of improvement, and other things are brought up to its level. But it
would be necessary first to give knowledge to the nobles, with a view to
liberalize their minds, and through their instrumentality to bring about
gradually and safely the changes which may be deemed essential to the
welfare of the whole community.
In the next place, the reformers are anxious to see security given to
the titles of those who acquire property by purchase. As the law now
stands, or rather in the absence of all law, if an individual buy an
estate, he may possess it for twenty years, and then somebody comes
with an old piece of parchment in his hand, who says that he has a
better right to the estate than the purchaser. Litigation immediately
commences--the suit goes on in the courts for years--and both parties
probably spend twice the value of the property in law proceedings before
the right of ownership is decided. Again, when an estate is announced
for sale, the next neighbour has a privilege of pre-emption. If the
property be purchased by another person, and it be discovered after
a lapse of thirty or even forty years that the slightest formality
was omitted in giving the next neighbour notice of the intended sale,
the privilege of pre-emption again accrues, and he may buy the land,
together with all the improvements bestowed upon it in the mean time,
for the price which the occupant had paid. This uncertainty about titles
to property is one of the greatest grievances of which Hungary has to
complain.
♦ ORDERS OF NOBILITY ♦
The orders of the nobility also require limitation. At present the
classes of nobles are too numerous, and are becoming more so every day;
for, if a nobleman have fifty sons, they are all as noble as himself. In
some few of the higher families distinguished as magnates, _majorats_
are established by prescription. Some families have as many as three
or four estates entailed upon each of the sons, and by this system
their paramount rank and influence has been sustained. But, generally
speaking, the estate of a nobleman of the second and inferior classes
is divided, upon his death, amongst all his sons; the result of which
division is to produce a swarm of pauper nobles, by whom the country is
literally infested. This indiscriminate descent of title and perpetual
subdivision of property, if not corrected in time, must eventually throw
the whole fabric of society into confusion; or rather, they must prevent
that fabric from ever being settled upon a safe foundation. These two
evils cry aloud for amendment.
♦ ADVANTAGES OF STEAM NAVIGATION ♦
Another very serious grievance is, that the laws and law proceedings
are all framed in the Latin language, which prevents the language of
Hungary, in itself a copious and most expressive dialect, from acquiring
all the perfection of which it is susceptible. Some years ago the
members of the diet all spoke in Latin. Count Szechenyi was the first
to address the assembly in Hungarian, and most of the better informed
magnates have since followed his example.
Hungary will undoubtedly derive great commercial advantages from the
steam navigation of the Danube: but, although enlightened men are
not indifferent to that result, yet they look upon the enterprise
rather with the hope of seeing their country derive from it a European
position. When the people come more in contact with foreign nations,
their emulation will be naturally excited; they will be induced to
improve their roads, to build bridges, to excavate canals, to improve
their towns, to give a style to their houses and public edifices, and to
civilize their manners.
♦ REFORMERS ♦
These are the views of prudent and thorough reformers, who, avoiding the
ordinary clash of interests and prejudices, work upon a comprehensive
plan, more for the future than the present, and addressed to the
improving intelligence, not to the passions, of the people. To check
every impulse that would lead to precipitate changes, which could only
be brought about by the effusion of blood, and to prepare the minds of
men by a slow but indefeasible process for the blessings of rational
freedom, are the leading principles of their policy. The Austrian
government perceives this clearly, and although Prince Metternich fears
the reformers, there are no men in the imperial dominions for whom
he entertains a higher respect. Such men indeed are amenable to no
government jealousies--each in his own sphere is a _fate_ that overrules
them.
♦ AUXILIARY IMPROVEMENTS ♦
While from their familiar acquaintance with the institutions of most of
the countries of Europe, especially with those of England, which they
admire almost to idolatry, the reformers plainly see, and lament, the
numerous deficiencies by which Hungary is still detained in the back
ground of civilization; nevertheless, they are thoroughly convinced that
fundamental changes must be the work of time, if they are to be useful
and permanent. They are perfectly conversant with the character of their
countrymen: allow for their ignorance and their prejudices; which,
however, they never lose an opportunity of rebuking, when they can do so
with effect, and without giving personal offence. They listen calmly to
objections, from whatever quarter they proceed; weigh them patiently;
admit them for what they are worth; and profit by them, if they can, in
their further proceedings. If an obstacle cannot be conquered this year,
they are contented to wait until the principle makes further progress,
and a more favourable opportunity may arrive for further consideration.
Several influential magnates in the diet are disposed to coincide
in these opinions: they are, certainly, resolved on some important
alterations; but they will not attempt to carry them into effect until
Hungary shall be better prepared for them than it is at this moment.
♦ CLUB-HOUSE ♦
In the mean time, all practicable measures of an _auxiliary_ nature are
in progress. For instance, a club has been established at Pesth, upon
the London system; of which all the magnates, most of the deputies,
and of those whom we would call the principal gentry, are members. They
assemble frequently in groups, and freely discuss political topics
at their club-house, which they call the National Casino. The very
epithet, “national,” is not without its spell upon these conversations.
The English, German, and French reviews, magazines, and newspapers,
and popular publications of every description, are found in their
reading-room: they have also lectures on the sciences and fine arts;
and are thus beginning to Europeanize their minds. Some time after
this club had been established, Prince Metternich of course turned his
attention to it, and felt no small alarm, when he perceived its natural
tendency. He required an explanation of its purposes from the Count
Szechenyi; and upon hearing him, decided that it required control. “If
you wish to control it,” rejoined the Count, “the only way to accomplish
your object, is to give us a good subscription, and become one of our
members. You will then have a vote, and your personal influence will, no
doubt, have its due effect.” The prince took the hint, and joined the
club, which is now in a flourishing condition.
♦ NEWSPAPERS ♦
Another of the _auxiliary_ measures of the reformers so characteristic
of their admirable sagacity and forecast, as well as of the prejudices
of the Hungarian nobility, which they have to contend against, is the
proposed bridge across the Danube, to connect Pesth with Buda, which I
have already mentioned. The steam navigation of the Danube will also be
a most powerful instrument of civilization; for it is quite true that
steam and civilization are daily becoming almost convertible terms.
Wherever one of these is found, the other cannot be far distant. A
newspaper also is published at Pesth, and that, too, in the Hungarian
language--a prodigious innovation, and one that promises important
consequences; for there is no _law_ of censorship in Hungary; and it
is not very likely that the diet will sanction any proposition of the
kind. There is, besides, an academy at Pesth, somewhat on the plan of
the French Institute, which publishes its transactions and papers in a
quarterly journal. To that journal, as well as to the newspaper, the
reformers frequently contribute articles, written generally for the
purpose of correcting some national prejudice, or inculcating some
wholesome principle of legislation. These articles they sign with
their names, as they are determined to carry on all their plans of
improvement in the face of day, and upon the system, of keeping “within
the law,” which they perfectly well understand.
♦ SYSTEM OF ENTAILS ♦
Count Szechenyi has written two very elaborate and able works, one on
credit, with the view of doing away altogether the system of entails,
in those cases where the life-owner of an estate chooses to borrow
sums of money upon its security. In such cases, the writer contends,
that if the loan be not repaid before the death of the mortgagor,
the mortgagee should be at liberty to sell so much of the estate as
may be sufficient to meet the debt. The evils which grow out of the
present system in Hungary are enormous, as the nobles retain so much of
the old feudal influence that they borrow money in the most reckless
manner; and having no more than a life interest to pledge for the
funds so acquired, the creditor is often defrauded of his just demand.
If the whole estate were liable to it, the younger children would be
interested in checking the wild extravagance which now prevails in most
of the higher noble families of Hungary; and they would themselves
learn betimes the value of economy, without which they never can be
truly independent. The Count’s second work is of a more miscellaneous
character--it discusses the various reforms of which Hungary stands
in need, with a view to the amelioration of its institutions, the
construction of roads, bridges, and canals. He shows, from a careful
survey, that the interior of the country super-abounds in natural
wealth, which only requires practicable communications with the
frontiers, in order to convert it into gold.
♦ CENSORSHIP ♦
The manner in which one of these books found its way to the light is
worth mentioning. The Count, by way of precaution, although he was
aware of there being no _legal_ censorship in Hungary, submitted his
work to the censor appointed by the Austrian government. The censor in
the first instance licensed the publication; but while it was going
through the press, the eleventh sheet having been already printed, an
order was issued putting a stop to its further progress. By some means
or other the sheets which were printed, together with the remainder of
the manuscript, found their way to Leipsic, and back again to Pesth in
the shape of a neatly printed volume, of which a thousand copies were
sold before the government knew of its arrival! Previously to that event
the Count sought in vain for an explanation of the reasons upon which
the licence had been withdrawn; but when the book could no longer be
suppressed, apology after apology was made for the stupid blunder of
some of the authorities, which alone had been the cause of the delay!
Inquiry was made as to the particular officer who had issued the order,
but no such officer could be found, no such order was in existence,
and the mystery attending the prohibition of the work became just as
difficult to be solved as that of its publication.
Another Hungarian magnate had written and printed at Pesth a very strong
tract indeed in favour of reform. But it could only be purchased at
Bucharest, whence it returned, as if upon the “viewless winds,” whenever
it was ordered. These transactions led to the settlement of the fact,
that there was no _law_ authorizing a censorship in Hungary, and the
first offspring of this advance in knowledge was the establishment of a
newspaper. Other newspapers doubtless will follow, and as there are an
English manufacturer of paper at Pesth, and a type-foundry upon the most
improved system, the press will, in due time, accomplish its wonders in
that region.
♦ SYBARITISM ♦
If the diet could be induced to take upon itself the whole of the
expenses required for improving the navigation of the Danube, such an
act would be a virtual declaration of independence. I have no doubt
that this measure will be soon adopted, and that the day is not distant
when the crowns of Austria and Hungary must be separated. There is at
present no indisposition in Hungary to accept a king from the imperial
family--but he must fix his residence at Pesth, and be contented to rule
under the control of the ancient constitution of the country, which
requires very few alterations in order to accommodate its provisions to
the modern condition of society.
♦ THE COUNT’S PURSUITS ♦
Count Szechenyi was so good as to translate for me one or two of his
articles in the Pesth newspaper, the principal object of which was to
reprove and correct the very general disposition of his countrymen to
Sybaritism. They are in general, like the Germans, fond of the pleasures
of the table, and extremely indolent. His style of writing is piquant
and goodhumoured, wholly free from pedantry, and his admonitions, which
are pregnant with good sense, are conveyed in a friendly and even
parental tone, which shows how deeply this excellent man has the welfare
of his native land at heart. Personal ambition appeared to me to have
no share in his motives of action; they seem to spring exclusively from
a fervent, I might almost say, a romantic affection for his country. He
loves Hungary as a youth loves the first mistress of his heart; indeed
he familiarly calls his country his “wife,” and he looks upon all its
inhabitants as his children. He is perfectly aware that nations never
profit by historical experience, that they must purchase it by a series
of trials for themselves; at the same time he labours incessantly by
his writings to diffuse amongst his countrymen the ample treasures of
information which he has collected during his travels and a regular
course of study directed entirely towards that object.
The Count, as I have said, is now in the bloom of life, yet I regret
to add that his health is occasionally interrupted, I sincerely trust
not yet undermined, by some inexplicable derangement of the digestive
organs. When not affected particularly by this malady, which is of a
periodical character, he appears to be a vigorous, strongbodied, active,
indefatigable, country gentleman; fond of rural sports in the season; a
capital shot, and an excellent horseman. He is of the middle stature, of
a good military figure, and a most intelligent and engaging countenance.
His manners are those of a perfectly well-bred gentleman: indeed if he
had not spoken English with somewhat of a foreign accent, I should have
easily mistaken him for one of my own countrymen, of that class who,
from talent and information, combined with high birth, possess influence
in the House of Commons.
♦ HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE ♦
Speaking of the Hungarian language he observed, that in his opinion,
its roots were Turkish. It was an extremely difficult language for a
foreigner to learn; but at the same time, peculiarly calculated for the
expression of noble thoughts, as well as for the familiar purposes of
society. By his writings, which are all in Hungarian, he has given the
tone on that subject, in consequence of the eminent station which he
holds from birth and property--and from being also the most popular man
in the kingdom. He showed me an “Annual,” with very good embellishments,
and one or two other books, which were printed at Pesth, in a style of
typography not excelled in any other country.
♦ VERSES ON THE VINTAGE ♦
The remarks of the Count upon the Sybaritism of his countrymen, induced
me to copy, upon returning to my hotel, the following Latin verses,
on the vintage, which I found in the Pesth newspaper of the 28th of
September, entitled “Gemeinnubige Blatter.”
_Dithyrambus in Vindemia horna._
Gaudeamus igitur,
Hungari dum sumus!
Nam dant vinum copiosum
Jam in uvis gloriosum
Almus sol et humus.
Cælitus vindemia
Tollit vinitores:
“Vinum vetus ebibemus;
Horno locum præparemus”
Clamant potatores.
Semiusti clausimus
Spatium æstatis;
Sed autumnus restaurabit
Debiles et Bacchus dabit
Novam vim prostratis.
Gaudeamus igitur,
Hungari dum sumus,
Vino patrio et more,
Jubilantes uno ore,
Cætera sunt fumus.
_Fr. Hanak, Dr._