The development of Budapest has surpassed even the most sanguine hopes that national enthusiasm could foster; for at the beginning of the eighteenth Century, when Paris had already three quarters of a million inhabitants, Pest had hardly more than two thousand, which number even a hundred years later had only increased to 54,000. Also in the following half century this number only rose to 180,000, and when the Hungarian Constitution was restored, the three Danube towns together numbered 280,000, inhabitants.

Then, however, the population increased rapidly.

From decade to decade it increased in truly American proportions.

In 1890 the half million was reached, in 1900, 732,000 souls were numbered, and at present, the number of inhabitants already amounts to 930,000, without those of the neighbouring villages, which number over 150,000 inhabitants and, although independently governed, must nevertheless be regarded as belonging to the sphere of economic interest. Budapest however, has not only attracted large masses of people, but has understood how to absolutely absorb them into the nation. The national spirit which permeates its population, is truly worthy of admiration, for, in spite of a continual influx of foreign element, it has created out of Budapest, of which the population in 1850 was only 36% Hungarian, a city which is now 86% Hungarian. It is therefore also in a national respect, the centre of the Hungarian state, whence issues every pulse beat of the national life.

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Adapted from Illustrated Description of Hungary and its Capital