6. There exists a great diversity in the constitution of the component parts of this extensive empire. It may be safely assumed, that the disadvantage from want of unity, already noticed, will infallibly continue to a considerable extent, until there be established a greater similarity in point of legislation. At present, each of the great divisions constitutes an unconnected body, and the whole resembles rather a federative as sociation than one compact consolidated state. In the Austrian provinces, the constitution is understood to be founded on a great charter, passed so long ago as 1156. In Bohemia, the principal laws are of more recent date, and hardly go back two centuries. In Austrian Silesia, there exists a great complexity of public regulations, while Galicia, differing still more essentially from the other provinces, traces back the basis of its constitutional dependence on Aus tria no farther than 1773.
Hungary is wholly distinct from the other di visions of the monarchy, and claims to be governed by laws altogether different. The first of these is traced back so far as the end of the ninth century ; others date from the thirteenth, and confirmations of the privileges of the nobility, with limitations of the imperial power, were successively passed during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Here emperor exercises the supreme power, only through the medium of the States or Parliament. He may dispose of the great offices of the kingdom, but under the restriction of giving them not only to na tives of Hungary, but to men of a certain rank. In this land of aristocracy, no plebeian, of whatever ta lents, is entitled to rise in a public office above the humble station of a clerk. The Emperor is account ed the constitutional President of the Diet, but he may delegate a representation to one of his great " officers. A general levy, or " insurrection," as it is termed, must, like other measures, proceed from the legislative assembly.
The States, or parliamentary meetings, differ in different provinces of the empire, bat are generally into nto four classes ; the prelates, the higher nobility, the knights, or gentry, and the deputies of the boroughs. It is a general meeting of these classes that constitutes the Hungarian Diet. The prelates have the right of voting first. The nobility possess not only an exclusive title to public ap pointments, but the daughters of the less affluent fa milies among them are admitted to an establishment in convents, on proving their rank, or, as it is called, the number of their quarters, in the manner pointed out by law. The Diet of Hungary is generally con
vened once in three years, and meets at Presburg or Buda. The Prince Palatine, or, in his absence, the noble of highest rank, presides at the Tabula procerum, having on his right the primate, along with the archbishops, bishops, and other dignitaries of the church. The second board, or Tabula indytortirn, has for its president the imperial representative, while the third division of the Diet comprises the deputies of towns, the secretaries, and other inferior officers. The deliberations proceed either on the propositions of the sovereign, or on the bill of griev ances of the subjects. The Diet is generally divided into chambers, who discuss business separately, and communicate with each other by the medium of members. In case of non-agreement, the whole are made to constitute one assembly, in which a decision is made by plurality of votes. An act of the Diet receives the force of law when sanctioned by the Emperor, or King, as he is invariably termed in Hungary, and it seldom happens that any serious division takes place between the Diet and the execu tive power.
Such was formerly the extravagance of aristocra• tic notions in Hungary, that no plebeian, or person engaged in trade, could carry on, in his own name, a law-suit against one of the gentry. It was neces sary that the town where the plaintiff resided, should come forward and assume the cause of its citizen. This absurd usage was abolished in 1802. Still, however, a peasant or farmer can seldom bring, in his own name, an action against one of the gentry; he must generally do it through the medium of his superior or landlord. The right of possessing land in Hungary being confined to the privileged classes, it follows that a donation of land by the Sovereign is tantamount to conferring a title of nobility. The land cultivated by the vassal is, of course, altogether the property of his superior ; but arrangements are made for allowing the former to reap, as far as that is practicable, in so ignorant a country, the fruit of his labour. The corvees and taxes on the tiers etat, so much-complained of in France before the Revo lution, prevail here in all their extent. Hence the importance to the boroughs of acquiring the privi leges of free towns, and enabling their inhabitants to possess land without a title to nobility.
The Hungarian landholder is exempt• from all imposts. Tithes, toll-dues, a tax called the.thirtieth