WE remained at the police prisons, awaiting the arrival of the imperial
commissioner from Vienna, who was to accompany us to the confines of
Italy. Meantime, we were engaged in providing ourselves with linen and
trunks, our own having all been sold, and defraying our prison expenses.
Five days afterwards, the commissary was announced, and the director
consigned us over to him, delivering, at the same time, the money which
we had brought with us to Spielberg, and the amount derived from the sale
of our trunks and books, both which were restored to us on reaching our
destination.
The expense of our journey was defrayed by the Emperor, and in a liberal
manner. The commissary was Herr Von Noe, a gentleman employed in the
office of the minister of police. The charge could not have been
intrusted to a person every way more competent, as well from education as
from habit; and he treated us with the greatest respect.
I left Brünn, labouring under extreme difficulty of breathing; and the
motion of the carriage increased it to such a degree, that it was
expected I should hardly survive during the evening. I was in a high
fever the whole of the night; and the commissary was doubtful whether I
should be able to continue my journey even as far as Vienna. I begged to
go on; and we did so, but my sufferings were excessive. I could neither
eat, drink, nor sleep.
I reached Vienna more dead than alive. We were well accommodated at the
general directory of police. I was placed in bed, a physician called in,
and after being bled, I found myself sensibly relieved. By means of
strict diet, and the use of digitalis, I recovered in about eight days.
My physician’s name was Singer; and he devoted the most friendly
attentions to me.
I had become extremely anxious to set out; the more so from an account of
the _three days_ having arrived from Paris. The Emperor had fixed the
day of our liberation exactly on that when the revolution burst forth;
and surely he would not now revoke it. Yet the thing was not improbable;
a critical period appeared to be at hand, popular commotions were
apprehended in Italy, and though we could not imagine we should be
remanded to Spielberg, should we be permitted to return to our native
country?
I affected to be stronger than I really was, and entreated we might be
allowed to resume our journey. It was my wish, meantime, to be presented
to his Excellency the Count Pralormo, envoy from Turin to the Austrian
Court, to whom I was aware how much I had been indebted. He had left no
means untried to procure my liberation; but the rule that we were to hold
no communication with any one admitted of no exception. When
sufficiently convalescent, a carriage was politely ordered for me, in
which I might take an airing in the city; but accompanied by the
commissary, and no other company. We went to see the noble church of St.
Stephen, the delightful walks in the environs, the neighbouring Villa
Lichtenstein, and lastly the imperial residence of Schoenbrunn.
While proceeding through the magnificent walks in the gardens, the
Emperor approached, and the commissary hastily made us retire, lest the
sight of our emaciated persons should give him pain.