Chapter VII

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._