New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-10-03
LETTERS FROM HUNGARY. No VIII.

Tome Editors Of The Nev York TrlbH~
Our Journey up the Thesis continued
through very much the same scenery as that near
Szolnok. Banks fringed with willow bushes, vast
.wamps filled with focl.s OF water fowl, and the
peculiar Pralrtes or Puztas OF Central Hungary,
stretching as Tar as the eye could reach, were
the only objects to vary the view Occasionally
immense herds of horses or OF white cattle could
be seen on the banks or the low, white houses
oi Hungarian village; but, throughout, the
whole left an impression OF solitude, OF monoto-
nv though of grandeur Also upon the mind.
Tired at length, of a scene so unyarylng and al
most desolate, went forward to see what com
PAW we had on the foredeck. There were
few common Austrian soldiers there, and several
peasants stretched out asleep on the deck, In
their sheep skins, and one or two standing about.
As | was watching them-thelr bSonzed, strong
Unmarked faces, and long black halr streaming
over the flooring as they slept-a full, friendly
voice near me, asked Where thought the poor
creatures where going ?" turned and saw
stout, hearty-looking man, with something OF
farmers dress. 81 had no idea told him
"perhaps to get work in the mountains" "Per-
another part of the land. great many go up
the Thesis for that but it S hard thing for a
workipgman TO begin life all over, in new place
wonder what they are hoping and wishing Tor ~
There was something so friendly and pleasant
in the mans voice that | could not avoid getting
at once into conversation with him. asked him
soon whether the Bauer (peasants) IN that part OF
Hungary were at all hard-pressed to get along
comfortably. mo" he said, the Hungarian
peasants everywhere live well. They work
hard, but they get the best for their work. Then
their wants are very few indeed
Inquired how the freedom from the Robot
had worked there This Robot, by the way, is
the old feudal exaction on the peasants, 10y
which they must work a certain number OF
DAYS foI their masters, IN return for occupying
his land-one of the greatest burdens and griev-
ances of the old Constitution of Hungary. We
will detail the particulars more hereafter In re-
ply, he SAID that the first effect now was very bad
for the masters, or the and-holders. 1.-The peas
ants will no, work at ALL except for themselves
The Robot they looked on as an old duty, land
by the Government on them, and they would
work faithfully under IT. II was something
pubhc-estabiShed by the laws But now, to
work for wages-and when kossuth had made
them Independent, land-holders-how could
they Besicc, the peasant says, Why should
be working for others Here | have my little
FARM can raise wheat enough for winter, and
wine more than can possibly use, and have
hogs enough for all the speck (porkiaD shall
want during the year-what Is the need OF
working
1.-THE fact is they want very httle-theSc
peasants Their sheep-skin, which Is their only
cloak or coat, will last them summer and WIN
ter eight or ten years. Give them their pork
tat, and bread, and wine, and tobacco, which
they themselves grow, and they Will ask Tor
nothing else Perhaps, after while, when
they find they can get more, they VIII begin to
want more; hut now II is not SO.
found had stumbled on a very intelligent
man. and followed up The conversation eagerly.
Ii appeared soon, my companion was a small
farmer from the ncighhorhood OF Szolnok, and
IN the course of the conversation | asked what
was the feeling of the Bauer IN that section to-
ward kossuth. | wish could ~ any way give
the full, iiCh, eloquent tones III which ne re-
phed He said could not imagine the devotion,
the love ot the people 10 HIM IN ms exile ana
disgrace they remember HIM with prayers ana
tears The poor creatures, some OF them, think
ne WAS insured from Heaven, and they talk OF
HIM as II he was their prophet, when they meet :,
and they believe he Is coming wHk faf NpriTs,
sRder The earth, to free the land Those who are
more intelligent think he will come back from
Asia, with host OF their Wild ioreta,hers, the
Huns They pray for HIM IN then houses, and
though his picture IS forbidden. mos, OF them
have IL concealed He Is almost worshlpped. "
had not al all, az that time, expected 10 md
kossuth's name So loved among the peasanITy,
and expressed TO HIM my astonshment, and
asked him how he explained such passionate
attachment lie saidhe thoughtnwas partly irom
al .,tf hon
sand he. "eyery peasant remembers what Nos
suth's Government gave them | nder that, Tor
the Arsl time, the Bauer could choose their own
rulers They had elections Tor their Judges and
BnygsrmsiSier. They could vote for their Repre-
seu,atives 10 Parliament To be sure, some OF
them had had these rights before but the ma
iori,y had never possessed any share IN the elec-
mons for the National Assembly. Then, under
Kossuth, thew began. for the first time, 10 be m
dependent free lanSholderS. They knew how
long he and his party had been STRIVING 10 naAe
Hssa of them and when, at length. he succeeded,
OF course they were grateful. But Il was Nos
suth's sympathy with them-kosSutn elo'
qucnce, aS he spoke OF freedom ana me wrongs
Of Hungary-whlch helped all this influence
But why," sand | " do they not ascTloe some
thing OF their present freedom 10 the Austrian
Government You know the Emperor also de-
creed IN the course OF the war, the manunnSSloh
of the sers. a,
"PeThap>, said he. "thS GoNcrninehi ON
GERS might have made them believe that, I; they
had been shrewd enough But instead, they
have taken away everything which the Bauer
had under the Hungarian Ministry. In place of
MS being allowed them to elect their own magis'
rates the pettiest ,own.clerk IS appointed by
the Austrian Military Board. All the chIei ON,
Gers of = town are either foreigners, or appointed
from men whom they deSplSe: They nave no
tolce or hand IN the matter. Inc taxes 700 are
hosy,er and more yexatious than ever The old