24 M. Beudanfs Travels in Hungary. 



crown is declared 'hereditary in that family, and Hungary 

 forms a part of the Austrian states, while the family remains 

 on the throne ; in the event of its extinction, the Hungarians 

 would recover their right of election. At his accession, the 

 hereditary prince is installed and crowned king of Hungary, 

 independently of other states subject to his dominion. The 

 coronation has its particular ceremonies, in accordance with 

 the privileges of the nation, and is performed in presence of 

 the states, consisting of the clergy, the noblesse, and the bur- 

 gesses of the free cities. 



Excepting the palatine of the kingdom, who is elected by 

 the states conjointly, the king may dispose of the principal 

 places and offices, but the person nominated must be noble 

 and an Hungarian. He can also grant titles and letters of 

 nobility, and the right of denizenship to noble foreigners. He 

 disposes of all the ecclesiastical benefices, nominates to the 

 abbeys, chapters, bishopricks, and, in the vacancy of any see, 

 has the profits till the next installation. In all matters con- 

 nected with public instruction, his power seems to be unre- 

 stricted. He can declare peace or war, dispose of the military 

 force, and order a levy, in mass, by the nobles (called here an 

 insurrection). In other respects, he retains only the executive 

 power, which he is to exercise according to certain forms, with 

 the right of proposing measures adapted to various exigencies. 

 None of the existing laws can be modified, nor can any new 

 law be established, without the consent of the nation. No 

 extraordinary contributions, no levy of troops in a word, 

 nothing can be done without an assembly of the states, or 

 diet, wherein the clergy, the noblesse, the great officers of 

 state, the chapters, and the free royal cities have the right of 

 sitting, or of being represented. 



This numerous assembly, which the king can convoke, 

 prorogue, or dissolve at pleasure, but which must be convened, 

 at least, once in three years, is divided into two chambers. 

 The former, or upper chamber, consists of magnats, that is, 

 of the archbishops and bishops, the princes, counts and barons, 

 and the governors of counties. The second comprises the 

 abbots, and others of the higher clergy, with the deputies of the 

 counties, of the chapters, and of the free royal cities, and the 

 representatives of the magnats who cannot attend in person. 

 These two chambers form, in reality, but one body, which has 

 no other interest but that of the nation at large. 



In this assembly, all the wants of the state are discussed and 

 provided for. The king is there either in person or by com- 

 missioners. His propositions are considered, the levy of 

 troops is fixed upon ; the noblesse tax themselves with such 



