Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
RIESBECK’S TRAVELS THROUGH GERMANY. fo7
overnor mult confider himfelf as the mafter of a private family, who has no other view
than to promote the happinefs of his children, and his fervants.
The Jefuits, and fome Italian parvenus, introduced the fpirit of Machiavelifm into this
country. I do not know whether it is to be attributed to the humour of the nation, or
any other caufe, that it was not attended with the fame bad confequences here, as in
Italy, France, Spain, and even England, where the grofleft abufes of religion, friendfhip,
and love, were fanétified under the name of ftate neceflity ; and. treachery towards.
friends, with the murder of fathers and brothers, were only confidered as political feu
d’efprits. Although this court has not {tained itfelf fo deeply with royal blood, or even
with that of dangerous fubjects, as thofe above mentioned, it muft be confeffed that its
adminiftration, particularly what relates to Hungary, has had fome little appearance of
cunning and oppreffion about it. No doubt but that religious prejudices, from which
the Emprefs, amiable as fhe was, was not quite free, have contributed in great meafure
to this.
On the very afpe& of things, one fees that the government of this country is infidi-
ous. ‘Lhe interefts of the higher nobility are different from thofe of the reft of the coun-
try; their under tenants, which make the greateft part of the people, are not feudal
fubjeéts, neither have they any real property; they are farmers who may be turned out
of their farms upon the leaft diflatista€tion. The nobility contributes nothing but free
gifts to the neceflities of the ftate, though it is in poffeflion of half the produce of the
country. It is almoft the only order in the flate; for the higher orders of the priefthood
are chofen from the nobility, fo that the interefts of the two orders is in factone. The
cities are too {mall in number, and too infignificant in themfelves, to form any corps
capable of making head againft the other two. In fhort, the boafted freedom of Hun-
gary is only a privilege of the nobility and clergy, to live at the expence of the whole
country.
Taahert. the court have tried every artifice to deprive the nobility of this pernicious
preponderance. The contelt. between the fovereign and the nobles foon broke out into
feveral rebellions, the moft famous of which were thofe of ‘Tekely and Ragotzki. The
execution of Counts Serini, Nadafti, Frangipani, and Settenback, which followed clofe,
have been quoted ‘by fome, to fhew that the court of Vienna, though generally unwilling
to recur to them, is not incapable of ufing Turkifh meafures to free itfelf of troublefome
and dangerous dependants. I own | think that its condu& on other occafions fuflici-
ently juftifies it from thefe reproaches ; and indeed, if the teftimony of hiftory is to be
believed, it appears that thefe nobles were traitors. The ptan which the court has fol-
lowed for a leng time to reduce this overgrown nobility, promifes much more fuccefs
than any extraordinary atts of feverity, which only ferve to irritate the minds of men,
and fet them more upon their guard. The court of Vienna, confcious of the influence
luxury and pleafure have over the minds of men, allured the proud Hungarians: from
their freeholds to the court, or to the city. By diftinguifhed places, titles, and mar-
riages, they gave them opportunities to fpend their money in a brilliant way, to contract
debts, and finally, by the feizure of their lands for the payment, to furrender at difcre-
tion. ‘The deceived Hungarian looked upon it as an honour, to conneét himfelf with
the Auftrian, who made a greater figure than hinifelf at court, and took a greater fhare
in the government of the country. For this purpofe he chofe his wife at Vienna, and
fettered himfelf by this means. ‘The lady too, by introducing the court manners into
his houfe, finifhed corrupting him, and made him entirely dependant, There is hardly
an Hungarian noble, at this time of day, that is either free from debt, or that does not,
Eke the Auftrian one, look upon his debts as an honour. The cougt has confequently
Die) no
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
