EXCERPTS FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE TELEKI AND RÁDAY FAMILIES IN THE 18TH CENTURY

Abstract

The connection between the Teleki and Ráday families began with the marriage of Eszter Ráday and László Teleki in 1732, this marriage laying the foundations for the subsequent settlement of the Teleki family in Hungary. The family network symbolizes a close connection between Transylvania and Hungary, both culturally and politically. Studies of literary history so far have recorded some essential facts about this relationship, but the context and reality of everyday life have not yet been presented. Family correspondence gives an idea of these connections and provides a lot of new information. In the current phase of the research, we have processed part of the correspondence between Gedeon Ráday and his wife (RL C/64–8 and C/64–9) in the Ráday Archives in Budapest, while the correspondence of all members of the Ráday–Teleki family is currently being processed. The excerpts presented clarify the circumstances of Pál Teleki's death; these also provide new information on the growth of Gedeon Ráday's medals collection (which has since disappeared). One of József Teleki's letters from 1768 reveals that György Dujardin also accused Gedeon Ráday in the Dujardin trial (Gedeon Ráday's self-explanatory statement to the chancellery also survived). Finally, a letter from 1771proves that József Teleki and Gedeon Ráday joined, through the intercession of Dániel Cornides, in the discussion on the correct reading and interpretation of Halotti Beszéd és Könyörgés (Funeral Discourse and Prayer), the first text written in Hungarian,discovered and published in 1770.