Item 168 - Letter from A. Nicolson to Henry Sidgwick, with MS copy of passage from Elements of Politics

two docs: letter

Declares that he hopes to be in correspondence with HS 'on a widely different subject' from that on which he writes in this letter. He is trying to collect some data for the [Census] of Hallucination. Reports that he is also reading HS's 'admirable work on Elements of Politics.' Refers to a passage [MS copy enclosed, 94/168/2], on which he makes a few remarks.

Corrects Sidgwick's assertion that the Magyars of Hungary do not form an independent nation, and are united under one government with the Austrians and other nationalities of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy; states that, in fact, since 1867 Hungary has had an independent government absolutely distinct from that of the other portions of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Explains that there are certain areas, such as joint army and foreign affairs, which are in common, and which are regulated by the Compromise [Ausgleich] of 1867, and that 'the Delegation from Hungary and Austria...assemble annually and separately to discuss the arrangements concerning [those] common affairs.' Apart from these common affairs, he explains, Hungary is a nation 'with a distinct legislature, distinct laws, state language [and] absolutely sovereign within her own territory'; there is a Customs and Commercial Union with Austria renewed every ten years, and 'the same personage is sovereign over both countries.'