Whenever the poets of Hungary are mentioned the name of Petoefy will occur, and he was second to none in originality of thought and poetic utterance.  An intense love of his native scenery, not excepting even the dreary boundless Alfoeld, afforded inspiration for his genius.  His poetic temperament and pathetic story give him a certain likeness to the brave young Koerner, dear to every German heart.  Petoefy was engaged in editing a Hungarian translation of Shakespeare when he was interrupted by the political events of 1848.  His pen and sword were alike devoted to the cause of patriotism, and entering the army under General Bern, he became his adjutant and secretary.  During the memorable winter campaign in Transylvania he wrote proclamations and warlike songs.  We all know the story of the Russian invasion of Transylvania at Austria’s appeal, and how the brave Hungarians fought and fell at the battle of Schaessburg.  This engagement took place on the 31st of July ’49.  Petoefy was present, and indeed had been seen in the thick of the fight; but in the evening he was missing from the roll-call, and, strange to say, his remains, though searched for, were never identified.  The mystery which hung over his fate caused many romantic stories to be circulated, and not a few claimants to his name and fame have arisen.  Even within the last three months a report has reached his native village that he had been seen in the mines of Siberia, where he has been kept a prisoner all these years by the Russians!

The language of the Magyars was heard not in poetry alone, but in the sternest prose.  “Hungary is not, but Hungary shall be,” said Count Szechcnyi.  The men who worked out this problem were politicians, writers, and orators.  Foremost among them may be reckoned Baron Eoetvos, one of the most liberal-minded and enlightened thinkers of the day.  His efforts were specially directed to improving the education of all classes of the community.  With this end and aim he worked unceasingly.  He held the post of Minister of Cultus and Education in the first independent Hungarian Ministry in 1848, but withdrew in consequence of political differences with his colleagues.  Again in 1867 he held the same porte-feuille under Count Andrassy, but died in 1870 universally regretted.  His best known literary productions arc two novels, ’The Carthusian’ and ‘The Village Notary,’ The latter highly-interesting, indeed dramatic story, may be recommended to any one who desires to know what really were the sufferings entailed upon the peasantry under the old system of forced labour.  It is one of those fictions which, as old Walter Savage Landor used to say, “are more true than fact.”  It was the ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ of that day, and of the cause he had at heart—­the abolition of serfdom.  In reading this most thrilling story, one can understand the evil times that gave birth to the terrible saying of the peasant, “that a lord is a lord, even in hell.”