Fundamental Laws of Hungary.-1. The golden' bull of Andrew II., given in the year 1222, upon the return of the king from Palestine, contains 31 articles, of which article 2 is a kind of habeas corpus act, but for nobles only. One clause of article 31, declaring armed resistance to any illegal acts of the king not punishable by law, was canceled by article 4 of the diet in 1687.
2. Treaty of peace of Vienna, 1606. It was concluded on June 23, between Mathias H. and Stephen Bocskay. Article 1 enacts freedom of worship to Protestants, as far as is consistent with the established rights of the Homan Catholic church.
3. Treaty of peace of Linz, enacted during the diet of 1646-47. Public worship is once more secured to Protestants, such freedom being for the first time extended also to the peasants. Protestants were to be admitted to public functions on an equal footing with Catholics.
4. The pragmatic sanction, contained in article 2 of the diet of 1722-23. In case there should be no male issue in the dynasty of Hapsburg, the females and their descendants are to succeed to the Hungarian throne. The king must be a Roman Catholic, must take oath to the constitution, and sign the so-called diploma inaugurate, thus confirming the rights and privileges of the nation. Should there be no descendant, male or female, of the reigning house, the freedom of electing their king belongs to the nation.
e Article 11 of 1741. Maria Theresa, abandoned by her allies, surrounded on all sides by fearful dangers, won the love of the Hungarian nation by acceding to their just and . legitimate claims. The government of Hungary was confided to Iltingarians only; in 'public affairs, the primate, the palatine, and the ban were to be consulted. Hungarians were to be eligible for seats in the ministry. Article 17 of 1790-91 renews those enactments.
Article 10 of 1790-91 establishes the independence of the Hungarian kingdom with its annexed parts. Article 12 of the same year declares that the power of making, changing, and interpreting laws in the kingdom. of Hungary belongs to the sore reig n legitimately crowned, together with the diet legally convened. .NOthing can be done in Hungary by means of royal letters patent. Article 13 orders that the diet shall be convoked at least once every three years.
Article 16 guarantees the nation the use and culture of the Magyar tongue.
Article 19 secures to the diet the right of voting taxes and of fixing the number of recruits.
Up to the year 1848 the nobles were free from contribution and military service; they occasionally gave subsidies; and in case of extreme necessity, rose in arms for the defense of the country. Article 8 of 1847-48 enacts the great principle that all classes
are to participate in the public burdens of the realm. Article 9 aboltslies statute labor; the peasant could henceforward become owner of real property; and indemnity was given to their former masters. Article 5 of 1847-48 establishes the principle of popular representation upon the basis of taxation.
In 1860 the decree of 1849, declaring that Hungary had by the rebellion forfeited its national constitution, was formally repealed, and the old constitutional system was restored. And in June, 1867, the emperor of Austria solemnly swore to maintain the constitution, and was crowned king of Hungary.
The Hungarian reichstag or diet consists of the house of magnates and the house of representatives. In 1879 the former counted nearly 800 members. Of the 444 members of the latter, 334 represent Hungary proper, 1 Fiume, 75 Transylvania, and 34 Croatia and Slavonia. The lower house is composed of representatives of the towns and rural districts. It is elected by the votes of all citizens of age who pay direct taxes to the amount of 16s. a year. Neither electors nor their representatives are affected by any distinction of race or religion.
Hungarian Language and the general sympathy that prevails for Hungary, many are of opinion either that the Hungarians are but a half civilized people, or that their language and literature are in sonic sense or another Germanic or Slavonic. The Magyar tongue is as much distinct from German or Slave as is the French or Italian. The language of the Hungarians is called Magyar, and forms, together with the Mogul, the group Ugri, belonging to the great Finnic family. As to its syntax, the language is nearest to the Turkish. Among its characteristics may be noted that the Christian name occupies always the second place, as, for instance, Hunyady Janos = John Hnnyady. How rich in expressions, how abundant in classic beauties that language is, may be collected from the circumstance that although it was excluded from public life during 8 centuries (Latin being used in schools, legislation, and administration), Hungary possesses to-day a literature which, both in regard to its quantity and quality, will sustain a comparison with that of the most civilized among the western nations. Especially as regards poetry, the names of Kisfaludy, Vorosinasty, Pet6fi, Arany, etc., are well worthy of ranked with the best in other lands. Those who are desirous of further information on this interesting subject should consult Toldy's admirable Handbook of Hungarian Literature, published both in Magyar and German.