401. 1. 24 and 25. for Mr. H. asserts, p. 33, sometimes diminishes,' read Mr. H. suppo:es, p. 51, may sometimes diminish. 402. 1. 15. for 430.' г. 4204. 454. 1. 35. dele' bim.' 464. 1. 22. for bis own native tongue,” 1. another foreign tongue, is of English birth, 475. 1. 21. dele' with. Mr. F. Cohen THE MONTHLY REVIEW, For SEPTEMBER, 1797. ART. I. Travels in Hungary, with a short Account of Vienna in the Year 1793. By Robert Townson, LL. D. F. R.S. Ed. Illustrated with a Map and 16 other Copper-plates. 4to. pp. 530. Il. 135. 6d. Boards. Robinsons. 1796. EW Countries possess either more forcible or more varied claims on curiosity, than that which is the principal subject of these travels. However inaccurately it may be known to English readers, there are few whom the fame of its fertile soil, its productive mines, and its singular political relations, has not reached. Perceiving that this valuable portion of the dominions of the house of Austria was ground untrodden by any of our late tourists, we the more copiously extracted from the volumes of the honest but prejudiced Dr. Hacquet, in the App. to our xxist Vol. On that occasion, also, it fell in our way to speak by anticipation of the present work; and we now with great pleasure sit down to pursue with attention the track of the author, who may be expected to have viewed the productions of the country with intelligence, and the manners of the people with impartiality. Dr. Townson does not long detain us at Vienna. He speaks, however, of the superb collections in natural history, of the gluttony of the inhabitants, (particularly of their taste for snails,) and of other circumstances which, in general, are pretty well known, and which those who desire minuteness will find curiously described in one of the volumes of Nicolai's Travels through Germany. Dr. T. enlarges most on the imperial gardens at Schoenbrun; and we are not surprised that a naturalist should speak with rapture of the finest hot-houses in Europe, where the rarest palms, and shrubs peculiar to the tropics, grow in their native pride.' • What adds greatly to the pleasure of walking in these houses is, the sight of a variety of rare birds flying about as in full liberty, and the hearing them sing, perched on the very trees which afforded them food or shelter in their native country. How pleasing it was to see VOL. XXIV. B the the little Spittacus pullarius perched on a beautiful Mimosa in full flower, and the Astrild, butyracea, and other Loxia, playing under the great leaves of the Hernandia sonora and Helicteres apetala! The Astrild is very numerous, having bred here. Some Nightin gales are likewise kept. These birds destroy ants and other insects which are so noxious in hot-houses. Here is likewise a long-tailed Dove or two from the Cape. There are many more Loxia and other rare birds in cages, and two or three Simia, but chained. At the sight of such profusion of Nature's finest works, how could I not wish, whilst all without was congealed in ice, and covered with snow, to be transported to those highly favoured climates from whence they came, to see them in their native country, and enjoy their Sun! Yet so little does the happiness of nations depend on their natural advantages, not less than that of individuals on the smiles and frowns of fortune, that soon I might, probably, disgusted with the sight of human wretchedness, wish myself back in our foggy island. It was, I believe, when I took my farewell of these gardens, when the sap of trees had begun to move, that I met a pair just coming out of these buildings, whom sympathizing passions had hardly united, but probably disparity of fortunes. The beau seemed of a poor emaciated constitution, but anxious to make up to his fair one for natural deliciencies, by extraordinary attention. Her sparkling eye and rosy countenance indicated a temperament that ill adapted her to be the faithful mate of a worn-out fribble. As they ~ passed me, I heard him expatiating on the passion of the tender lover they had just left, the Dove. But what was her reply?Cutting to the quick!-O cruel fair! thus to treat his tender affection!--Looking him full in the face-" I don't love Doves that only coo." The list of foreign newspapers and journals, to be had at the general post-ollice, postage free, is curious:--but we must observe that, however flattering the distinction may be to us, the selection of English publications is much too scanty. It contains only Lloyd's Evening Post, the London Chronicle, and the Monthly Review. The catalogue is otherwise copious; and if the cheap introduction of foreign journals had for its object (as we must believe that it had) the dissemination of knowlege, this example of an arbitrary government deserves to be imitated by our own rulers. From Vienna, the traveller proceeds in his second chapter to Komorn, wisely disdaining those representations of the savage character of the Hungarians, by which his fortitude was assailed at Vienna. If he carried with him any apprehensions, they must soon have been dissipated by the hospitality which he experienced immediately on his entrance into the kingdom, and of which he afterward furnishes so many agreeable proofs. In the family of Count Szecheny, at or near Oedinburgh, he had an opportunity of observing what good linguists the Hungarian nobility nobility are. The Count's son, ten years old, spoke pretty correctly and fluently the Hungarian, German, Latin, French, and Italian languages, and in some degree, 1 believe, the Croatian,' In this chapter, we are told that, at Vienna, the French language, so general there, was laid aside on the news of the execution of Louis XVI. This expression of disapprobation was indeed only momentary, though the disapprobation still remained.' At Oedinburgh, Dr. T. was considerably mortified on hearing that there was neither a public nor a private mode of conveyance to Raab, the next town that he intended to visit. But Count Szecheny soon extricated me from this difficulty by procuring me a forespan. This is an order from the magistrates, to the judges of the peasants, to supply the person who obtains it, with horses to transport him to the next station, which is generally from fifteen to twenty English miles, for which 15 creutzers, that is, about sixpence, is paid for each horse. Sometimes you are allowed to travel with only two horses; but in general you must have four: which is still very cheap, being only two shillings for fifteen or twenty miles. It is a favour, and should be only granted to the military, and to those travelling in the service of the public; but in the more distant parts of Hungary it is the most common way of travelling, and, except in particular seasons of the year, is no very great hardship, as it is treble the price of a day's labour of a peasant and a pair of horses, as fixed in the Urbarium, which is 20 çreutzers, that is about eight pence; and if he brings, as he generally does, four horses, to make the work lighter to them, his day's work is still valued at only 30 creutzers.' Sixty creutzers make about two shillings. At Gran (Chap. III.) the traveller was surprised at finding an Englishman of distinction settled there,-Major Dormer, brother of Lord Dormer.-A tepid spring here preserves the frogs, its inhabitants, from hybernation; and the fact gives our author occasion to shew that this state of torpor may be supplied or prevented by warmth and food. In Chap. IV. we arrive at Bude, the capital. In describing the Sunday diversions,-the baiting of animals,-a speedy and humane method of destroying them by wounding the spinal marrow is justly recommended. In this manner the Oxen are killed by the butchers at Gibraltar, who, I am told, have learned it from their African neighbours. Might not the magistrates of towns recommend this method to their butchers, and, if found better than the usual manner of knocking them down, even compel them to adopt it? Every means of diminishing the sufferings of the brute creation should be recommend ed, not only from humanity towards them, but for the sake of our own society. Men accustomed to be cruel towards animals, will require but a small inducement to be so to their own species.' |