Nyakas Miklós szerk.: Hajdúsági Múzeum Évkönyve 8. (Hajdúböszörmény, 1994)

Official Commemorations of István Széchenyi's Death in the Hajdú Towns

of the day were again recorded by Pesti Napló. Starting in the Greek Catholic church, the ceremony was continued in the Protestant church. It was decided over dinner that the Hajdú towns would unite to express their condolence to the Countess and her two sons. Some days later, the hillock in the fields of Hajdúböszörmény by which the Count had met the representatives of the town to discuss matters relating to the regulation of the river Tisza was christened "Széchenyi-mound". The letter suggested over the festive dinner did not take long to be written and sent to the Countess, dated May 10. It reflects the self-assurance of its authors: „for centuries, the Hajdú towns have been members and complementary parts of the nation that has never ceased to shower Széchenyi with reverence, admiration and blessing, as if he had been a leader appointed by God, in his majestic struggles and unflinching efforts to bring light to our beloved country and nation." Hajdúböszörmény informed the other Hajdú towns about the sending of the letter; the copy sent to Hajdúszoboszló may be read below. A copy of the letter of condolence itself is available among the Hajdúszoboszló records. The letter, the full text of which was published together with other condolences in a special column started by Pesti Napló after Széchenyi's death, was also available for the reading public of the whole country. Forced to show a less implacable attitude both by political circumstances in Europe and by developments in Hungary - including the public statements following the death of István Széchenyi -, the royal court in Vienna issued the so-called October Diploma which provided an opportunity for reorganizing the Hajdú district. It is probably accidental that the first general assembly was convened for April 8, 1861, the anniversary of Count Széchenyi's death. Inspired perhaps by this coincidence, Gábor Sillye, the newly elected district magistrate, suggested that a commemoration of the distinguished politician be put down on record. The members of the assembly supported the proposal, urging in addition that a second letter of condolence be sent to the Count's widow - this time on behalf of the restored municipality, the Hajdú district. Széchenyi was again compared by the delegates to a lighthouse on the seashore, guiding with its beckoning light the ship of the country on the "journey that would lead, after unending tribulation and suffering, to the safety of the sheltering haven". Széchenyi was also referred to as "a paragon of the noblest human virtues". The letter of condolence was posted on the very same day, that is April 8. The elevated tone, the refined style and the talent evident in number of details suggest that it was worded by someone well versed in the art of composition. Containing a reference to the memorial service held the year before, the letter makes it clear that this second tribute to Széchenyi was composed on behalf of the Hajdú district. It concludes by pledging that "We take it upon ourselves to cherish his undying memory in our haerts to impart it on this day as a talisman to our children and our nation, so that they can render from time to time the homage of love and veneration they owe him". 103