Three autograph letters signed from August von Pulszky to Katharine Murray Horner, mostly on current affairs in Hungarian politics but also about the family’s well being and business. Sent from Szécsény & Budapest, 1868-1897.

1. Dated 4 December 1868: “As to general politics, we have reason to be satisfied. The peace seems assured for next spring; internally, the constitution of last year for the regulation of our relations to Austria is working well; Croatia is glad to accept the conditions of a reconciliation equally advantageous and honourable to her and to Hungary; the military question has been solved; the balance of the first two years of financial administration shows a real surplus of four to five millions of florins, the emperor has confidence in the nation, and the people is free to pursue its own policy without having to fear the intrigues of a reactionary court-party [...]”.

2. On political and personal matters, dated 15 March 1895: “However, there is no doubt we shall succeed; the principal object is to keep matters going until the clerical agitation, which here has no deep roots, has spent its fire. I have given up my professorship for the present, as parliamentary life, together with the work of organising and leading the party in the country of Nógrád takes up my time, and I am no more young enough to have energy for several pursuits at once. Still, I mean to do scientific work again, but I must take my time, all the more, as for the present the management of Szécsény gives some trouble too; your sons will surely know that a landed estate is no sinecure at the present [...]”.

3. Dated 19 July 1897: “My private affairs are in spite of all getting on beyond my expectation; I have a good deal of work with both my famers and my iron and coal undertakings, but it is interesting, and the only drawback is, that I am not as elastic as in former years, and cannot keep up scientific and literary [!] work easily as when I began. My father has aged very much, and I am uneasy about him for the winter, when the fog and cold comes on. [...] In Parliament we are in a momentous crisis. The radical and reactionary oppositions have joined hands and are obstructing all legislation and government [...]”. –

The portrait photograph was taken at the Budapest atelier “Ellinger Ede”, with gilt edges, and is dedicated to Mrs Lyell by Pulszky’s brother.