Kamody Miklós: Észak-Magyarország hírközlésének története (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 22. Miskolc, 1985)

Until last decade of the 18th century Miskolc was kept out of the postal routes. Tokaj and Ónod were two most import ant places of this district. Postal routes were led to four directions from Tokaj, while Ónod served as postoffice for Miskolc. Working, documents of this post is often mentioned in present study. The privileges and necessary conditions (maintenance of roads, bridges, ferries) in order to perform the duties ordained in decrees were not assured by local authorities and landowners. For this end the postmasters at Ónod and Keresztes appealed to the monarch, but without success. In last third of the century under pressure of trading interests the sub-prefect of Borsod county submitted a request to the council of governor-general and applied for establishment of a post-station in Miskolc. The correspondence was cut short, since the higher organ would not find the condition for operation of the post ensured. As a result of renewed correspondence in 1784 Bakos István opened the new post on September 1st 1790. Very soon it became apparent that conditions for proper operation were not ensured yet, placing of the station was provisional, so the postmaster resigned. A hired land of suitable size was given to his heir from the country for 1 gold coin nominal rent (1817). The new route was led from Pest to Miskolc through Hatvan-Gyöngyös-Kápolna-Eger-Mezó'kövesd-Harsány and from Miskolc to Kassa through Szikszó-ForróHidasnémeti. In 1791 also Zemplén county urges on putting the important places intouch with the postal route. In the suggestion Weber András was proposed for postmaster at Olaszliszka. Weber's daughter was married by Kossuth László, manorial attorney at Monok and from their marriage Kossuth Lajos, the leading figure of the Revolution 1848/1849 was born. Another post with heavy traffic in the district was in Eger, where the post was directed by Só'tér Antal and his family in the years 1790-1810. In 1796 he issued a public information that can be considered a valuable description of the age. In first half of the 19th century aristocratic persons showed preference for obtaining post-station in seat of their domain with right of inheritance where clerks were employed. The study deals with the poor road conditions of the age making the journey by post - chaise slow and unconfort - able. Privileged persons charged the pupulation of villages with the maintenance of roads, however they were unable to carry out this job. Board and lodging for travellers was often criticized. Reports of famous persons' experiences of voyage are mentioned in the study. It was characteristic to the era that income produced by cartage was not collected (regale) to the monarch, thus haulage-companies and private hauliers were permitted to function. The Pest-Eperjes Mail-Coach-Company was rivalry against the post in this area Hungarian was accepted for official language at the post in the reform period (1844). Cancelling stamps of Hungarian language were made, official oath was taken in Hungarian as it is documented in an oath-protocoll of post office at Tokaj. The Revolution 1848/1849 emphasized the Hungarian character of the post mostly in outward appearance. In consequence of turn taken the planned great changes could not be realized. After suppression of the revolution 1848/49 Hungary was managed as permament Austrian province, the regulations for post of Austrian Empire had to be applied. Because of passive opposition the nation at first refused to utilize the post turned strange, even if 147