BOOKS.

THE BARONESS YON BECK'S PERSONAS. ADVENTURES IN HUNGARY.* THE Baroness Von Beck is a Hungarian lady of patriotic feelings and liberal ideas. Her husband was killed at a barricade in Vi- enna during the October insurrection of 1848: after the reduction of the city, his widow was applied to by " a few leaders of the Democratic party in the Austrian Diet to undertake the negotia- tion of an alliance with the Magyars, which was considered to be of the utmost importance to the Liberal cause." Although the frontier was strictly guarded by the Austrian troops, she willingly consented; and after various difficulties, delays, and disguises, she reached Presburg, and imparted her erran& with the observa- tions she had made, to Csanyi, the Government Commissioner, and to Gimpy. The address she displayed on this occasion induced Gorgey to ask her to undertake a reconnoissance to ascertain the strength of Simonich's force ; and this being successful, she was sent back to the capital with various communications, and a de- spatch from Kossuth " for the — Embassy at Vienna," which was evidently the British. (Volume I. page 313.) Her success led to further demands on her exertions, and to enterprises of greater difficulty, in which she figured in various characters,—as camp- suttler, fashionable milliner, actress demanding a salary too large for the means of the managers in a district apprehending inva- sion or actually invaded, and often changing her role with the necessities of the moment. In these undertakings she ran many risks of detection and death—many of robbery and vio- lence from detached parties of soldiery, had women been al- ways treated in war as Sir Francis Head says they are. She of course saw war in many of its direct aspects, and more of its effects upon the country, the towns, and the minds of the people where it was waged. By the success of her enterprises— some of which, like Satan's journey from Pandemonium to Paradise, must have been unattempted but for her— and by her judgment and penetration, she acquired a high degree of repute and consideration in the army, as well as among the Hungarian civil and military Aids. She was a medium of communication or organ between many of the officers and the heads of affairs • her advice vim asked for, and her opinions acted on—sometimes. Happy, she intimates, would it have been for Hungary hadit been so always. She detected the traitorous tendencies of Giirgey'a mind even before he had probably shaped them himself. But hers was the fate of Cassandra—nobody believed her, when belief would have availed. She sketched a plan of campaign, (an advance upon Vienna,) which had it been adopted in time would have saved Hungary. Nay, even when Gorgey had consummated his treason by the surrender at Villages, if Klapka had but followed her advice in reference to the capitulation of Komorn, the lives of those who were afterwards executed might have been saved, and better terms gained for the whole of Hungary. Such are the impressions left by the memoirs of the personal adventures of the Baroness Von Beck. Some allowances are pro- bably to be made everywhere, and ngood deal of allowance for her estimate of her own importance ; since she takes civil speeches, even when made with an obvious purpose, too much au pied de 1; lettre. She also exhibits the feminine character both in her pro- jects of action and her judgment of persons. What she wishes, that she sees. She overlooks the risks and difficulties in her schemes, and makes no allowance for difference of opinion in those who do. When she likes a person, she exaggerates his merits and overlooks his defects, or if she perceives them it is only critically, not to any practical purpose. On the contrary, if she dislikes a man, she reverses the process ; and we think her enmities, as is indeed unavoidable, have a wider range than her friendships. The greater part of the book, however, is very interesting. The matter is curious and new in itself, the style is lively, and the nar- rative full of movement. We are led on from adventure to adven- ture of a fresh but probable kind ; we see men under exciting or striking circumstances ; and we see war, if not altogether newly, from a new point of view. And it is curious how business goes on amidst it all. Buying and selling takes place pretty much as usual. The very fashions are in admitted demand ; for the character of a milliner enabled Madame not only to s freely, but to descend the Danube in the same steamer as Welden himself with a vast number of officers ; and she sold her whole venture of milliner/ at Pesth to a Jewess, for as much as she gave for it at Vienna. Even the idle calling of a player is sufficiently recognized by belligerents to be received as a business reason for travelling. No doubt, there are horrors sufficient on the battle-field, or in the hospital. These, however, concern those whose trade is war ; and in Hungary the Baroness on some occasions assumed the office of directress of hospitals and put all to rights. The statements of Sir Francis Head in his Defenceless State of Great Britain, as to the treatment of women in war, appeared to us to be greatly exaggerated, and these volumes confirm the opi- nion we expressed. Horrible atrocities were indeed perpetrated in towns given up to the soldiery, as at Loshoncz, by the Russians under Grabbe, because the inhabitants did not comply with an im- possible demand; and at Raab, by the Austrians, as a vengeful punishment. As respects the adventures of the Baroness herself, only is surprising to see how well-behaved regular troops are, not only • Personal Adventures during. the late war of Independence in Hungary; com- prising an Account of her Missions under the orders of Kossuth to the different. Posts of the Hungarian Armitednuring the Contest. By the Baroness Von Beck. In two volumes. Published by Bentley. that were refused, she resolved to g0 to ktir0 viwyetich seemed. He went at once to the Tiger Ho . • witli'mortificatian ;'• and to re- to offer a last Chance. . . "I had new, dime everything in my power to fulfil "toe triist confided to ler ibo andi e. %as hetyrinis, ,flek.4 Mie, and all had-rhOired'in vain ; there remained, thereforerne alteniative, -feircee sentlim act an acobun4 iniwhieheveryflibieliediiIVIStbeeker save to return as I canes: my prayers and entreaties were Wally disregard/id e Was-ellartreci finItniAnAnstna.ne Brice fati4heltteY4118nr_d4W by the rude soldiers. Ewent -butte my kind hostess at Miniehoff; whci took Crent, not dig incligniterpnt mpg% advantage of my fresh dimappointment to urge her formeroffe,r. upon ms-; 'and se .f-e llisleve fpr yi inlet vengean. again I had much difficulty in--declining it without giving-her -pazin. -Having whieli be her ee' th ' 91111is end "•taken leave of her a second time, I directed my Stein to Marehegg, =all the reninened Biiii'sifinit love addentaferin. Pesth; illeldeVagUiShaVie town, which lies at about four hours" distancefrom Schleeshof. Here I knew mirth of the.worthy citizens." • • the railway crossed the river, and hoped I might obtain a passage ; but here Paskewich; the Russian general, appears to have exhibited a good also I found the same ubiquitous Nassau regiment in possession of the bridge, deal of humanity, and much politeness to the Baroness, when after which was commanded by a battery of artillery. I was seized as on former the surrender o Tillagos she was stopped by Cossacks and robbed. occasions, and strictly questioned ; but having become wiser, or at least " I had arrived.within an hour's distance of Grosswardein - when my -car- more skilful in baffimg such inquiries, I told them I had come from Hoff, and was going to Marchegg. I was permitted to proceed, and met with no riage was suddenly stopped, and surrounded by a party of bossacks. They opened the doors, and made signs to. me to alight ; giving-me to understand further difficulty on my way to that town. "I arrived there on the 8th of November, weary in mind and body, and al- that the carriage was their prey. Refusal was useless ; gave myself up for most despairing of being able to render any service to my oppressed country, lost, and felt quite calm and indifferent as the savages pointed their spears at my -breast. It would, perhaps, have been a mercy if the sufferings which The Austrian troops were encamped before the town, and presented a highly picturesque appearance as I approached them just at nightfall: The country have been spread over the subsequent time had been concentrated in the sharp but momentary anguish of one spear-thrust, and then ceased for -ever. on all sides, as far as the eye could reach, was thickly studded with watch- sharp told the coachman to save the vehicle from demolition, if possible; as for fires, which gave sufficient light to render the various movements and occu-

pations of the soldiers perceptible. Some sauntered about, others were lying my baggage, it was beyond recovery.

down around the fires ; several groups were busy with their field-cookery, " I then proceeded on foot to the Russian camp. I had not gone far when others were playing at cards, and in many places large parties were amusing I met an officer, whom I begged to direct me to Prince Paskewich. He themselves with. dancing. The rude camp-music of the soldiers, and their offered, with much politeness, to accompany me himself ; and we sot out to- still ruder songs, were mingled with the hoarse challenge of the sentry, and gether for the city. where the ,Prince. had his quarters. It. as a -long and

the stern word of command ; and these various sounds were sustained by a w way. I arrived completely broken down with fatigue and sorrow.

strange, ceaseless, undefinable murmur, out of which they seemed to be pro- e Prince, a good, benevolent old man, received me with much kind- dueed, and into which they seemed to 'sink back again; whilst the striking ness. I told him I would not deny that I was endeavouring to make my uniforms of the soldiers, and their exaggerated shadows passing swiftly over way to Bern's army, 'where I had many friends ; and then narrated -the con- the white tents, gave an uncouth character to the scene. The red flames of duct of the Cossacks, who had plundered me of all I possessed. He-very the watch-fires, as they occasionally shot up higher into the air, and caused readily promised that my carriage should be restored, with' my ownhorses, the whole to come out for a moment into stronger relief, gave it an unearthly or others as good; but as for the baggage, he said, it was a mere imposes- aspect, nl%re like -the creation of some troubled dream than a living reality. butt' to obtamit from the hands of the Cossacks. He. pledged himself, how- The only interruption I experienced here was from a non-commissioned offi.- ever, to furnish me with everything necessary for my journey ; but dissuaded eer ; whose questions, being easily answered, left me to pursue my route me from undertaking it as, he said, I should run the risk a falling into the

towards the town. hands of the Wallachs. He spoke with great humanity of the new turn "Marchegg is a handsome town, pleasantly situated on the banks of the which affairs had taken in Hungary.

March, and surroundedwith beautiful verdant hills. It is a place of con- " His sympathy excited me, and I ventured to say—' Your Excellency siderable antiquity, and was of no mean importance at the period of the Turk- has a fatherland which you love. How would it have pained you had Hun- ieh when it was strongly fortified. The remains of the fortifications gar; sent its soldiers into Russia to slay your countryinen. and burn your still exist, and add much to the romantic beauty of the town. The place be- towns and villages. And in what have we offended that 'we should be ex- longs to Prince Palfy, who occasionally resides there. The Austrians had posed to such sufferings ? How have we provoked you, noble prince ? We posted a large body of men in the market-place, with a park of artillery. It nave been called rebels, but it is false : it is the Camarilla who have re- was highly amusing to witness the astonishment of the simple townsfolk belled against our rights, our privileges, our freedom, and have called us at the great guns ; which was only equalled by their delight at the music of forth in their defence.' the military fld, which was laying before the castle of Prince Palfy, where " The Prince listened to me calmly. Without entering into any explena-

the Colonel had his quarters." tion, he endeavoured very graciously to soothe my excitement. In his dis-

with impunity, the Baroness escaped. The following adventures Giiirgey was then in his house, but, said not one word from which his opinion occurred on another mission. concerning him could be gathered.. He did not once call us rebels, but said "We now clothed ourselves in dresses resembling those worn by the pea- every one must acknowledge that the Hungarians had throughout the war sentry of the district ; and, in accordance with our assumed characters, laid displayed the highest qualities of soldiers—bravery, magnanimity, and per- in a pretty good stock of brandy, liqueurs, &c. My papers, money, and severance ; and he trusted that Austria would respect their greatness, and everything of any value belonging to me, I intrusted to the care of General treat them as a heroic people, who had been brought under.' her power. Lazar, and mounting in a country cart, in perfect character, drove to Almatz ; "Another carriage was soon at the door, in obedience to the orders of 'where we arrived at midnight, and took up our lodgings at an inn. From thence Paskewich. I took leave of the tall, stately old Prince, with a feeling of we drove to Seen ; where we were obliged to relinquish our vehicle, and pursue profound respect and gratitude. He had given me a safe conduct; sign by our way on foot, lest we should arouse the suspicions of the Austrian out- himself. Thus furnished, and accompanied by an officer, I drove back to the posts, with which we expected to fall in every moment. For two long hours Russian camp. I trembled as I beheld again the wild Cossacks, and remem- we toiled over a wild heath, without meeting a single individual or ahuman bered that I had left my despatches in the cushion of the carriage which habitation. This suited me very badly, as I was obliged to carry my heavy they had plundered, and which they were .commanded to restore to me under hamper on my back all the way, 'which was too much for my strength ; and pain of severe punishment. I found it at last. The cushions were undis- the rough wickers of the basket out through my dress, and wounded my back tubed ; but, as Paskewich had said, the baggage was irrecoverably lost." French or British, it should be borne t i,lhey were not ririnthe

tachments ; and if the Geinians are beffeerindueted than either -

dealing with mere enemies, but in,141.4tig iii people whom tom* herd 'PA 1,9217Eduro .iii.? 7?:. they considered rebels. 7Fhen the "flarnfiesn ett 'Vienna on the j;Ife had the most profound faith in his, , ,,,,ailit, 1.1eyi

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first occasion, it was in the ' wise of a p t woman ; and her that such an o ie res.: he roust Preye ArFsera , object was to cross the river March,-7 . ;she finally aeeoni- plished in the guise of a youno. boatratahl I 'Iratious attempts any sanctity for them. They asked us, in the Croat language, whence we had come and whither we were going. I answered at hazard, in the Sclavo- nian, that we belonged to the inn just before us. With this they seemed sa- tisfied, and with a savage shout again started off at full speed ; whilst we, almost annihilated with terror, pursued our way to the inn, as it in truth proved to be. Here we found several Hungarians, who gave us a kind re- ception; but I was so discomposed by our meeting with this lawless band upon the wild moor, that I could neither eat nor drink for some time. At length our agitation subsided a little, and having rested and refreshed ourselves, we resumed our journey.

" We had not proceeded very far, when we were again interrupted ; but this time by human beings,—namely, an Austrian cavalry patrol, belonging to the Johann dragoons, and consisting of eight men, commanded by a cor- poral. With these we effected our first sale of brandy and cigars ; and having told them that we wished to go to the Austrian camp to dispose of our stock, the corporal, a German, directed us on the way with much civility."

Sir Francis Head does not directly say, in terms, but it is im- possible td misunderstand his meaning, that when the French army is quartered in a town, the French officers, from the generals downwards, force the ladies of the houses where they are billeted to become their mistresses. If this be so, it would be better to be a rebel against Austria than an opponent of France. The follow- ing story about Jellaohieh amused the people of Pesth. "They told me many things comic as well as painful ; amongst others, an anecdote of Jellachich was related with great zest. When he entered Pesth, he heard that the young Countess Sarolyi possessed a palace there, in which

so severely that the marks are still visible. "At length we descried upon the verge of the horizon what we concluded to be a small road-side inn. We were rejoiced at the sight, and hastened forward to avail ourselves of its hospitable shelter ; but before we could reach it another object appeared in view, moving rapidly towards us, which, to our great terror, we soon found was a company of Seressanera. On they came at a wild gallop, in their blood-red uniform, in a right line with us, and only melee, from which I could plainly discern the movements of the two armies. checked their horses when they came close to us. I was greatly alarmed at To those who have never seen large multitudes of men engaged in deadly the appearance of these desperate marauders. I had heard innumerable conflict it would be impossible to describe the sensations with which I looked tales of their savagery, and had seen something of their rude barbarity at upon the awful scene. The two armies were drawn up in nearly parallel Vienna. It was well known that neither human life nor female honour had lines ; and from each there issued a continued stream of fire, which was all

1••I•11 Veng1? liteese sent for his. t e might. pay the kkutifitOlarole Even when robbery and violence could have been perpetrated course, he showed-himself far above the narrow prejudices of race, exhibiting

genuine pity for the wrongs and woes of Hungary. He mentioned that

Descriptions of a bate by military men are numerous, and there are some by civilians ; but we think that the Baroness Yon.Beck's is the best of all, as regards general effect. To be sure, the lady- narrator had a good "point of view." •

"I ascended the tower myself, and obtained a position on one of the pin- the more dreadful from being partially obscured by the smoke, that rolled upwards heavily, and formed a dark canopy above the infuriated combatants. The wind occasionally swept away the sulphurous clouds, and revealed the straight lines of soldiers, like stone-walls, immoveableand brilliant with fire ; but the thick black vapour soon again hid them from our view. From

time to time we observed bodies of horsemen issue from out of the clouds of smoke and rush up to the opposing columns; sometimes they penetrated through them, and at others they were received with a frightful discharge of cannon, before which they were swept back like dust. This continued for about an hour, without any perceptible change having taken place in the re- lative positions of the two armies. We then noticed, that at each end of the Austrian lino the stream of fire was advancing, and the whole line assuming a concave form, whilst the Hungarian fire was withdrawing ,at the corre- sponding points, and the line becoming convex. - "After a little time, the two seemed to mingle together in undisting,uish- able confusion; the rolling of the musketry and the thundering of the cannon became indescribably furious, and then began gradually to relax, until at length the booming of the artillery alone was heard, at distant in- tervals, and then it ceased altogether. The battle was lost and won. The Hungarians, out of eight thousand men which they had brought into the field, lost one half in killed, wounded, and prisoners. The other half had been completely surrounded, and had cut their way through the enemy. It was this heroic and successful attempt which had kindled up afresh the vividness of the firing towards the close of the battle, and which gave the Hungarians the claim of superior valour, though victory had declared cn the side of the Austrians.

"The remains of our little army retreated in safety to the mountains; v7,'vtift alirrhi%„i• ernet•othmered oseeetailevt , bdt „Athol known to himiteand thought this a favourle q er " therefore, why e'y' Mit Countess 'did riot rewItiff, he .. mwaso utterliaconfoim. confounded when, wishing-to-have an interview with her, one rn*18, rnetnite BW8-4-.e /WM' lit being* him. thakbtbIteeunfieve

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1,c41, it where they had an opportunity of reposing and recruiting themselves after this hard-fought, and disastrous day."

When Kontorn surrendered and, all was lost, the Barontes deemed it time 1to depart,, and she tingly reached Hamburg; ,F.ront that city she embarked for London • where she was overtaken by :ill- ness, aldne a'Stratigeliiikt isherel