Levéltári Közlemények, 61. (1990)

Levéltári Közlemények, 61. (1990) 1–2. - FORRÁSKÖZLÉS - Vörös Károly: Egy francia diplomata Pest megye 1837. június 6–8-i közgyűlésén / 145–163. o.

Egy francia diplomata Pest megye közgyűlésén 163 A FRENCH DIPLOMAT AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PEST COUNTY HELD ON 6—8 JUNE, 1837 Károly Vörös The Diet-period of 1832—36 in Hungary revealed sharp conflicts and tensions which counterpointed more and more a forming liberal opposition group of Hungarian nobility to the bureaucratic centralized absolutism of the Imperial Court of Vienna and supporters thereof. In order to intimidate Hungarian opposition, after the closing session of the Diet, the Imperial Court took legal proceedings, under the pretext of high treason — however, presenting insufficient evidence —, against participants of a policy-making movement forming from the so-called parliamentary youth (primarily, in circles of the legal assistant staff of opposition delegates of the counties). Then, it suppressed Lajos Kossuth's attempt to publish a handwritten journal, commenting on political life of the counties (e. g. how general assemblies are held) from an opposition viewpoint, and thus suitable to organize resistance on an international scale. When Kossuth ignored suspension and continued to publish his journal, the government ordered to arrest him on May 5, 1837. In both cases, counties of the opposition protested in representations made to the government, however, without success. The most active county proved to be the opposition of Pest county, which is explained by the feet that its largest town Pest-Buda did economic, cultural and administrative central functions of the whole country. Therefore, standpoint of the county largely affected national policy, as well. The general assembly of the county, held on 6—8 June, 1837, promised to be very significant in this situation. This must have been the reason why baron Emil de Langsdorff, secretary to the French Embassy in Vienna, very familiar with situation in Hungary, stayed in Pest in these days. Langsdorff, who seemed to be influenced by count István Széchenyi made a detailed accout on the first three days of the general assembly of Pest county. By presenting events as a diary, the account describes very expressively me different political attitudes and representing persons and tempers, conflicting with each other at the general assembly. As a conclusion, the publication describes the discussion of Langsdorff with Széchenyi after the session, which well reflects the opinion and comments of the Hungarian politician on the events. Langsdorff s report is kept by the Archives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a collection entitled "Mémoires et Documents" (Fonds diverses), on pages 121—142 of Volume 51 of the series entitled "Autriche".