Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

When the wood is sold, two floats of three trees each are united; and receiving a load of planks above, they are navigated by two men each, with one large oar fixed at either extremity of the raft. In this way they pass as far down the Waag as Rosenberg, where the river becomes wide enough for two such rafts to be united. They now erect a little shelter of planks, and two of the raftmen returning, the other two conduct the double raft through the rapids of the Waag to the wide waters of the Danube, and so on to Pest, or even Semlin.*

As we returned from our walk, supper was already prepared. In Hungary, where people dine at one, supper is still the same cheerful meal it used to be with us, and it has always this advantage over the pompous dinner which now takes place nearly at the same hour, that it is free and unceremonious. As far as the composition of it is concerned, I never could distinguish any difference between supper and dinner; it begins with soup, passes through the halfdozen courses considered indispensable, and ends with dessert and liqueur.

Many were the questions our host put to us about England. Bulwer's “England and the English” is known everywhere, and Pückler Muskau has helped to spread an acquaintance with our manners. For

a

Some of the English ship-builders employed at Pest, spoke of this wood as of a very good quality ; but declared, that from a want of a regular business-like method, they could get it cheaper from Vienna than Hradek.

150

HUNGARIAN ESTIMATE OF

politics, the Algemeine Zeitung is the authority. It is wonderful how eagerly every one asks for information about our Parliament, and I could not help thinking that if some of the honourable members who occasionally make such melancholy exhibitions there, could guess how far and wide their reputation is spread, they would sometimes think twice before they speak. Many seemed to think the House of Commons must needs be the favourite resort of every one, and I have heard young men declare, that they would toil and slave a life long for the pleasure of once seeing, and hearing the debates of that house. Not a single great name in either chamber, but was familiar to our host. How did Lord Grey look ? What would the Duke of Wellington do? How could Peel hold with the ultra-Tories? Was O'Connell an honest man? Did Stanley really believe all he talked about church property? And Lord John Russell, “ der musz e' mord Kerl seyn, der geht vorwärts !” These and a thousand others were the inquiries we had to answer, and some of them, I must confess, puzzled us not a little.

I cannot help comparing the state of things at Hradek and elsewhere in 1836, with the account Dr. Bright gives of his experience in 1814; premising, however, that we visited Hungary after twenty years' peace had made the most distant parts of Europe know and sympathise with each other as inhabitants of the same country, while he visited it after a twenty years' war had torn

ENGLAND AND ITS POLITICS.

151

asunder every tie, and rendered the nearest neighbours ignorant of everything concerning each other, but that they existed, and were enemies. Dr. Bright states that a mining officer of Kremnitz believed “ that Mexico was an English island, and that other clever and agreeable persons could scarcely be convinced that coffee, sugar, and rice, are not the products of Great Britain.” Either, knowledge must have made most rapid strides, or the Dr. was unfortunate in his acquaintance ; for my own part, I should be less surprised to hear what is considered a well educated Englishman inquire in what part of Peru the gold mines of Kremnitz are situated, than to find even a moderately informed Hungarian ignorant of such facts as those specified. In truth, our ignorance of Hungary is bitterly complained of by the Hungarians : “ You are more interested in England about the cause of the South Sea Islands than about us Protestant constitutional Hungarians; you know more of the negroes in the interior of Africa than you do of a nation in the east of Europe.”

“ This is undoubtedly true, but how can we help it?” was my answer.

“ Neither your newspapers nor those of Germany dare give us any information on your politics; for if they do, they know that their Austrian circulation is lost, as they are stopped at the frontiers, and besides the difficulties of travelling in the country, it is by no means easy to procure a passport at Vienna for that purpose.” We

152

VALLEY OF THE WAAG.

both regretted that between two nations who had each so much that the other required, such mutual ignorance should prevail, and we could only hope that steam-navigation would break down the barrier which had hitherto been found insurmountable.

We spent the greater part of the next day at Hradek, and a pretty little place it is, regularly built, with double rows of trees along the street, and a neat grass plat before every house; nor did we leave

e our hospitable friends without sincere regret—their kindness and attention to us could not be exceeded.

And now, gentle reader, we must take leave of the Waag; for a little above Hradek it is divided into two streams, called the White and Black Waag, both inconsiderable brooks, which take their rise in different parts of the Carpathians, and here unite to form the river we have so long followed. I know not whether I have infused into you any part of the affection I myself feel for this lovely valley, this wild and wilful stream, these blue mountains, and these legendary castles; to me they offered scenes so fresh, so romantic, and so unexpected, that I hardly know now whether I judge soundly of what I saw.

But when I turn to H—'s sketch-book, I cannot help flattering myself that he fully justifies my passion for the valley of the Waag. Reader, may you be of the same mind!

THE DIET.

153

CHAPTER VI.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HUNGARIAN CHAMBERS.

.

[ocr errors]

Functions of the Diet. History of the Diet under Maria The

resa - under Joseph II.- his revolutionary Measures opposed and defeated—under Leopold II.—under Francis I.-Gravamina and Preferentialia. Reform Party. — Diet of 1832.- Urbarial Reforms. - Chamber of Deputies. - Sessio Circularis. - Peti. tion in Favour of Poland. - Deputies' Salaries.—Composition of

· the Lower Chamber. - County Members.--Delegate Systemits Advantages in Hungary. - Borough Members. – Members of the Clergy - of Magnates, and of Widows of Magnates.

. Business of the Diet. - Proposed Reforms in the Lower Chamber. Chamber of Magnates. The Palatine. Debate. Ferdinand the First or Fifth ?_Trick of the Government.-Character of the Chamber composed of Prelates, Barons, and Counts of the Kingdom, and titular Nobles. Anomalous Position of the Chamber. Reforms essential to its Independence and Usefulness.

On our return to Presburg from the Waag, the Diet was again assembled, and we were once more launched on the troubled sea of Hungarian politics. To such as are anxious to know something about these matters or of the institutions with which they are connected, this chapter will not be without its interest; but, to such as read only to kill time and

« PreviousContinue »