The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-07 00:00:00

STATE OF .HUNGARE

A letter from Pesth, dated July 29, says—" The
way in which the vapid and insolent imperial re-
script got its present form has at last come to light.
The Hungarian Councillor of the Chancery, Ed-
ward Zsedenyi, drew up an answer to M. beak's ad-
dress, trying to get a basis for the reconciliation
with Hungary. He expressed the view that the
union between Hungary and the hereditary pro-
vinces was something more than a personal union ;
still he admitted that since the German hereditary
provinces belonged to the German confederation,
Hungary must have an entirely independent
administration. He declared that the diploma of the
20th October is to be the means by which the
interests of all the monarchy are to be reconciled to
the old institutions of Hungary, and therefore, ac-
knowledging the formal validity of the laws of
1848, he summoned the Diet to revise those laws
which break the unity of the army and hinder the
supreme direction of the imperial finances, and for
that purpose he insisted that a deputation of the
Hungarian Diet should enter into a conference with
a deputation of the Council of the Empire on that
point. The draft acknowledged further the legality
of the union with Transylvania, and promised
that immediate steps should be tall en to call
together the Transylvanian members, insisting at
the same time on a bill regulating the rights of
the different races as regards the official use of
their languages. Their draft would scarcely have
satisfied the Hungarians ; still it might perhaps
have given a basis for further negotiations. The
German ministers, however, found even these
concessions as they call them—we should have called
them usurpations—far too fargoing, and after hav-
ing read the draft in the German translation, had
it altered by the pen of M. Perthales, in the sense
of Austrian centralisation, forgetting that not only
some arguments but even several of the laws quoted
by M. Zsedenyi, came into a jarring opposition with
the new rescript. They did not even take the pains
to see whether the laws were correctly quoted, and
allowed some ridiculous mistakes to creep into the
imperial answer, in which, for instance, by a cleri-
cal error, a law is quoted as proving the real union
between Austria and Hungary, which simply speaks
of the punishment of incendiaries. Baron Vay, of
course, refused to sign the altered draft. But Count
Forgach did not refuse to sign it ; his name was the
price of the chancellorship. The rescript was re-
ceived with indignation and contempt. Count
Apponyi could not believe that it was possible to
send such an answer to the Hungarian Diet, and
telegraphed to Vienna to ask whether he should
really publish it; the reply convinced him that com-
mon sense had departed from the councils of the
Emperor. The Diet adjourned after the publication
for a few days to discuss the further proceedings
in secret conference, and the two parties, after
having heard the advice of Deak, elected each
seven members to meet in a preparatory way for
the purpose of concerting the answer to be given
to the Imperial Council. The moderate party de-
puted Count Julius Andrassy, who was, in 1849,
ambassador of the independent government at Con-
stantinople, and later for many years an exile in
England and France ; Gorove, the secretary of the
National Convention at Debreczin, and likewise for
many years an exile; Szalay, the historian, the
Hungarian ambassador at Frankfort in 1848 ;
Klanzal and Baron Eotvos, the ministers of 1848 ;
Melchior Lonyay, distinguished as a political econo-
mist ; and Gabriel Kazinczy, whose speech in the
address debate ranked next to that of Deak. The
great leader of the moderate party directs his friends
without taking part in the conference. The so-called
party of independence, which represents Kossuth's
views as far as they are in opposition with Deak,
sent Bonis and Nyary, both of them for several
years prisoners of state at Josephstadt ; Csernovics,
the leader of the Serbs ; the Baron Podtnawiczky,
M. Komaromy, M. Varady, and the leader of the
party, Columban Tisza. These 14 gentlemen have
as yet not been able to come to an unanimous agree-
ment, but it is probable that they will unite on the
present all-important occasion ; and about the 3d of
August the Diet will meet to expose the flimsy ar-
gument of the German ministers and to expound
the Hungarian claims before all Europe. Everybody
feels now that we are on the eve of great events,
and the dissolution of the Diet is inevitable. The
German ministers, are, however, strongly mistaken
if they believe that the indignation of the Hunga-
rians will prompt the patriots who are in offiJe,
especially the lord-lieutenants, to give in their
resignation. It is said that M. Schmeriing had
already drawn up a list of persons who might be
willing to take the place of Baron Vay's
nominees, but his pains were quite superfluous.
At a private meeting of all the high officials it was
resolved unanimously that since those nominations
were for life, nobody should give up his place, but
cling to it until he were expelled by force, protest-
ing against any illegal order, and refusing to exe-
cute it. This passive resistance is to be carried to
the utmost point in all the muncipalities, which for
the present are in the hands of elected magistrates,
and if the Diet is dissolved every county is to take
up the cause of the constitution, each county meet-
ing will form so many provincial diets. Against
such a stubborn resistance the Vienna centralists
will scarcely be able to contend very long. They
may see from the still continued distraint by mili-
tary execution for the arrears of the taxes how
tough the Hungarians are who rather submit to
all the exactions of the soldiery than pay the Aus-
trian taxes. The people are ruined, but Plener, the
Minister of Finance, cannot fill the treasury. It is
a measure well calculated to exasperate the Hun-
garians, and to unite all the different races in the
hatred of Austria; but from a financial point of
view it is of no avail.

EEST INDIA IRRIGATION CoMPANY.—The di-
rectors of this company have issued their first report. It
shows that, as stated the other day, Sir Charles
Wood has
conceded to the company the interpretation which they, in
common with every one outside the India .office, placed
upon the terms of arrangement originally made. As by
this concession the only obstacle which threatened to prevent
the satisfactory settlement of a contract at Calcutta has been
removed, the establishment of this (the first) unguaranteed
company for the construction of reproductive works in India
may be said to be accomplished. Lord Canning has already
perused the draft contract which was drawn up on the com-
pany's behalf, and those portions which he suggested should
be amended have been amended so as really to meet his
views ; moreover, all in authority at Calcutta are desirous
of lending a helping hand to the enterprise, the prospects
of which are therefore much improved. Should it, inde-
pendently promoted, achieve success, as is greatly to be de-
sired, a great encouragement will be given to the flow of
unguaranteed capital to India. This is an object for which
Government assistance ought surely to be forthcoming at
every pint,