Periodica Polytechnica 1983/2. [antikvár]

FESTIVE SPEECH OF RECTOR KÁROLY POLINSZKY AT THE BICENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BUDAPEST Honoured University Council! Honoured Guests! 200 years have passed since the Institutum Geometrico-Hydrotechnicum was founded within the University of Buda by the edict of Joseph II issued on August 30, 1782. This is how he motivated this measure: "If the studies of geometry, hydrotechnics and mechanics are highly necessary in general, this is particularly the case in the Hungarian Kingdom and its annexed provinces, where — namely after the wars and vicissitudes of the past centuries — the conditions of land property are in great confusion; whole tracts of land are under water and turning into marshland; milldams are in a bad state; most public roads are neglected. The need for teaching these sciences is obvious " The motivation proves that the foundation, two centuries ago, of the Institute of Engineering was by no means some improvised deed, no sudden flare, but a conscientiously prepared, deliberate action, a consequence of the concept of civil service in enlightened despotism. However, difficult periods followed the first decade of the Institute's life, since never was Hungary as far behind the general European level in sciences than in the first and second quarters of the 19th century. The country was isolated from abroad. It was only with great difficulties or not at all that gifted young men eager to learn were allowed to study abroad, for fear that they bring dangerous political ideas back with them. Books printed abroad were subjected to strictest censorship. Bolyai, for instance, had to wait 19 years till he finally received one of Gauss's mathematical works from Gottingen. Under such circumstances the level of teaching rapidly deteriorated at the University, and it was just at the science departments the lowest. University institutes declined, and — with a few exceptions only — the departments were headed by an overaged professorial staff. The Class of Mathematics and Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences had as little as six ordinary members among the scientists residing in the capital, and even as late as 1840 l*