The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-20 00:00:00

work already noticed, Madame Pulsky has preceded
her narrative by a.. historical introduction, divided
into three periods--the first embracing the history of
Hungary under the House of Arpad, the second under
the houses of Anjou, Luxembourg, Austria, Hue-
yady, and Jaghello, the third under the houses of
Hapsburg and Lorraine. What appears to us to be
the principal merit and attraction of the work under
review is of all things, perhaps, the very one
which many might erroneously regard as su-
perfluous -- we mean such chapters as those
in which the writer, forsaking the regions
of intrigue and bloodshed, describes to us the
first impressions produced by her mother country,
depicts in graphic colours the Castle of Szencseny,
and draws with her graceful and womanly hand a
picture of the provincial life of the Hungarians. It
must not be imagined, however, that while thus oc-
casionally discursive, the authoress in any way de-
preciates the importance of those great events which
have lately convulsed the whole of the Magyar
community, slurring over them as matters of subor-
dinate interest and comparative indifference. Oa the
contrary, these occurrences occupy the prominent
positions in her narrative; only, as we have en-
deavoured to intimate, the historical figures and me-
morable localities introduced on her canvass are
brought forward yet more conspicuously by the fill-
ing up the background us it were with the landscapes
of Hungary. In testimony of this we would especially
direct attention to the accounts here furnished of the
imperial city of Vienna in 1848, of the invasion of
Jellachich, and of the October insurrection. After
an earnest vindication of Count Louis Batthyanyi, in
which Madame Pulsky pencils the principal features
of his patriotic and constitutional character, come—
the battle of Schwechat, the advance of Windisch-
gratz, the flight to the mountains, the war scenes of
the winter campaign, and that ever memorable and
1 glorious epoch which was embellished by the valour
and victories of the Hungarians. Then follows a rapid
narrative of disasters, the progress from Pesth to
I Debreczin, the escape, and the catastrophe. A touch-
ing anecdote is given immediately after we have been
Itold how Gorgey consummated his treason to the
Magyars. Among his attendants was the young Re-
-1 menyio stripling remarkable for his skill as a violinist.
Calling this youth to him previous to his departure
from, the camp, Gorgey, who had often been soothed
by his harmonies, as Paul was by the harp of David,
emptied into his hand all the coins in his purse, and
untied the golden toys fastened to his watch-guard,
saying, " Take this, my lad, in remembrance of me I"
Reinenyi, however, perceiving among these jewels a
small silver key, returned it to his General, remind-
ing him that it was a love-gift from his wife—" Take
it," said Gorgey ; " after what I have done to-day
my wife in no case will smile any more upon me!"
Well does the writer of these sorrowful memorials,
after depicting the desolation caused by Austrian
vengeance, exclaim "Solitudinem faciunt, pacem ap-
pellant." In a copious appendix, comprising, among
other documents, the famous pragmatic sanction, is a
most admirable and interesting letter, addressed to
Francis Pulsky, by the author of " Revelations of
Russia." This letter contains a number of curious
details in regard to the Hungarian emigration
at Widdin, the writer having been an eye-
witness of the facts recounted. So far from regarding
any of his remarks as "disrespectful" to the most il•
lustrious of the Magyar exiles, we cannot but view
the estimate formed of the character of Kossuth by
this correspondent as, perhaps, the most eulogistic
which has yet fallen under our observation. Even
when the writer is, according to his idea, condemning
the ex-Dictator of Hungary, be is only endorsing his
previous eulogiums. For example, when he says
(Vol. 11., p. 356), " .1 am perfectly awaketo Kossuth's
faults, which are serious and many"—the most serious
which he can bring against him in accusation is this—
"he is too soft-hearted ; he could never sign a death
warrant; he was hardly ever known to punish." In
illustration of his meaning in this particular, he ob-
serves immediately afterwards—" I believe that if Kos-
suth had a servant who would not clean his boots, he
would never think of superseding him, but clean the
boots himself." Pure and glorious must be that
character which yields no more heinous blemishes
than these to be stigmatized. Quite in
consonance with this beautiful amenity of
disposition is the circumstance recorded shortly be-
fore by the same intelligent writer (Vol. IL, p. 335),
where be says that even in exile, " Of Gorgey, Kos-
suth spoke with much and, perhaps, studied modera-
tion." Magnanimity such as that is, perhaps, little
short of being criminal, yet, while blaming the fallen
chieftain for his culpable lenity to a traitor, we can-
not but view that act of weakness as one, in spite of
everything, entitled to admiration. With such in-
teresting particulars as those here referred to by our-
selves the present volumes are crowded throughout,
possessing no less the value of what is historical and
the fascination of what is romantic.

THE "WAR in HUNGARY, 1848-1849. 2 Vols.
By Max Schlesinger. Translated by John Ed-
ward Taylor.
Like the publication just passed under criticism,
the present work is edited by Francis Pulsky, being,
moreover, accompanied by him with notes, and an
hitorical introduction. This circumstance cannot fail
to enhance very materially the value of the
narrative inasmuch as its authenticity and perspi-
cacity are concerned ; and this not merely from the
high repute of Mr. Pulsky, but also from the recol-
lection of that office the temporary occupation of
which has in a great measure qualified him to become
the chronicler of the Magyars, namely, that of
Secretary of State to his Majesty Ferdinand the
Fifth, King of Hungary. Besides what we have
already remarked in regard to it, this translation
from the original of Schlesinger is adorned with an ad-
ditional and adventitious decoration—just as Madame
Pulsky's " Memoirs" are preceded by a charming
dedication to the Marchioness of Lansdowne, or as
the " Memoirs" by General Klapka are embellished
with engraved portraits of himself and of Kossuth.
The adventitious decoration to which we would here
direct attention as having been appended to the pre-
sent version of the work of Schlesinger, is a most
masterly analysis of the character of Arthur Gorgey,
by the hand of Francis Pulsky. This admirable
supplement to the second volume may be found at
pp. 269-295, and the value of such an estimate may
be somewhat more readily appreciated when it is re-
membered that the writer of it, Francis Pulsky, was
not only acquainted with Gorgey's family (whose
estate was situated in a neighbouring county), but
that he was for some time his schoolfellow and a
friend of his brother. For these and for other reasons
he was possessed, as he himself professes in the pre-
face, of peculiar opportunities of gaining an insight
into the traitor's character. A glance at the close of
this remarkable analysis will show what are the de.
ductions drawn by Pulsky from the facts enumerated
by him at its commencement. Having quoted from
the words of the traitor himself, Mr. Pulsky observes,
" Gorgey thus himself acknowledges his motive for the
surrender to have been a personal one—of hatred and
revenge against Kossuth, because the Governordid not
confide in him, and would not make him the arbiter of
his country's fate. By this confessioa he has condemned
himself, and yet this is the patriot of the apologists
of 'Austria ! He is now living in Klaginfurt, upon
an Austrian pension, while his friends and comrades
in victory have ended their lives on the gallows."
To exhibit the atrocity of this criminal yet more vi-
sibly in all its blackness, reference should be made to
the magnanimity with which his name was men-
tioned by Kossuth at Widdin, as we have already ob-
served when alluding to the author of the " Revela-
tions of Russia." What was the origin of this diabo-
lical hatred against Kossuth has been half indicated
by Pulsky ; it is more clearly disclosed by the
latter in a previous portion of his analysis, where he
remarks ( 01. 11., p. 289).that " Kossuth's name still
remained the watchword of the country, Giirgey's
being second, coupled with that of Bem. ' It is out
of this infernal jealousy that sprang the hatred of
Gorgey to the Dictator of Hungary, to revenge him-
self on whose unoffending greatness he sacrificed
their common fatherland. " Characters like that of
GOrgey,", says Mr. Pulsky, in conclusion, "may
brook disdain and even insult, but they cannot en-
dure a sense of obligation ; of all feelings, gratitude
is to such men the most insupportable ; ' a remark
which reminds us of the saying of a great English
writer of the last generation, that of all hatreds that
is the most bitter which is entertained towards an
injured benefactor. Although we cannot refrain
from characterizing this supplement from the bands
of the editor as being the best portion of the work
before us, we must, at the same time, declare that
those sections of the two volumes which have been
translated from the original of Schlesinger are
fraught with excellences of no small consideration.
Every chapter has its cluster of anecdotes, all tend•
log to elucidate in the most vivid manner the cha-
racter and development of the late Hungarian revo-
lution. A multitude of most interesting particulars
are given, for example, of Kossuth, of hie family,
of his residence, of his eloquence, his aspect, his
daily occupations, and his popularity. Here we follow
Bern while he escapes from Vienna. There we ob-
serve the movements of Dembinski, when be lived
under the disguise of a wine-merchant. Now we
are introduced to Guyon, in the character of a pedlar;
now again we followed the brave Batthyanyi to the
place of execution. But that the work is authenti-
catedwag
buoctlhhe, e beyondnhpoarrvhowever,
ac.
etevieve
der ts: h
is thel lucidity e limits of all doubt, we should be
disposed to view some of its more romantic incidents
Such, onf t AtaoxneS c hand eBarrangement,
rnargnaed nrg'se m candourr)t,that
o imagination.
f the
s
we
are compelled, as it were perforce, to yield to the
author an implicit credence, encouraged, while so
doing, by his association with the name and repute
of Francis Pulsky. Having once commenced a
perusal of the work, the reader is carried along the
course of its voluble descriptions as unresistingly as
Byron's rider of the wild horse, Mazeppa.