Travels from Vienna through Lower Hungary; with some remarks on the state of Vienna during the Congress, in the year 1814 / By Richard Bright, M. D.

  • Bright, Richard, 1789-1858.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Travels from Vienna through Lower Hungary; with some remarks on the state of Vienna during the Congress, in the year 1814 / By Richard Bright, M. D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    walking, and are, on that account, greatly praised throughout the whole empire, are so little elevated above the carriage tract, that the foot passenger has no safety but in the judg- ment of the charioteer, who frequently risks an encounter with your feet, rather than with the wheels of a passing carriage. The coachmen, however, give some warning of their approach, by a species of unintelligible roar, a little in accent like the language in which a Lancashire carter converses with his team; but not less peremptory than the rapid “ by your leave” of a Bath chairman. When, by courage or good luck, I could snatch an opportunity to cast a look upwards, I observed that many of the houses were large, and handsomely built, and all of them very high; but, owing to the narrowness of the streets, there is a prevailing gloom, and it is only in a few of the more open parts that the real beauty of the buildings can de- velope itself. The shops display a considerable variety of goods, though frequently a square glazed case of patterns hanging at the door is the only mark by which the nature of the shopkeeper’s dealings is indicated. Besides this, a small board, projecting into the street from above each door, bears some painted sign, as the Golden Fleece, the Sceptre, the Schwartzenburg Head, or the Holy Ghost. It may not, perhaps, be improper, thus early in my narra- tive, to introduce a slight description of the general situation and character of this city. Stating, at the same time, a few of the principal events which have had an influence over its ex- ternal state and appearance, as they have forwarded or retard- ed its internal prosperity. The city of Vienna is situated on a plain where the Danube divides itself into several branches, upon the southernmost of which the capital is built. It consists of two parts perfectly distinct. The city, properly so called, is surrounded by walls, bastions, and a dry fosse, forming a complete fortification ;