Austria in 1848-49: being a history of the late political movements in Vienna, Milan, Venice, and Prague; with details of the campaigns of Lombardy and Novara; a full account of the revolution in Hungary; and historical sketches of the Austrian Government, etc

Front matter

AUSTRIA II 1848-49: being a history ok rut: LATE POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN VIENNA, MILAN, VENICE, AND PRACl'E: W I T H DETAILS OF THE CAMPAIGNS OF LOMBARDY AND N O V A R A ; A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE REVOLUTION IN HUNGARY; AND HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF NE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCES OF THE EMPIRE. BY WILLIAM II. STILES. LATE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES OF THE UNITEO STATES AT THE COURT OF VIENNA- W I T II "■portraits of tlic Emperor, JWEtteviifclj, Hatjctjva*, Kdlacfc, anli Hossuti). IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. N E W YORK: HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, 3 2 9 & 3 :i 1 PEARL STREET, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1852. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, by Harper & Brothers, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. P ft E F A C E. In the following pages the aim has been to afford the reader a just, however inadequate knowledge of one of the most im portant series of events which have occurred in our oivn times.

Such an attempt is always perilous to the reputation of a writer for impartiality, and in the present instance this is es pecially liable to be the case, since the events recorded have given rise to many conflicting opinions. Admonished by such considerations of the difficulty and delicacy of the task, the author has been encouraged to undertake it, on account of the favorable opportunities he has enjoyed, both for accurate ob servation and candid judgment. Honored with the office of representative of the United States government in Austria, he witnessed the rise, progre3%*nd!<d5y*ial catastrophe of the revolution. He embraced* theNB-Tgitrs ..which his official residence in Vienna afforded to collect materials from all sources to il lustrate the general history of the times. By constant refer ence to official documents, some of which were only to be found in the imperial archives, as well as to more public authorities, and by means of his own personal observation, he has endeavored to present a faithful picture of the eventful struggles in Vienna, in Milan, in Venice, and in Prague, as well as full details of the campaigns in Lombardy, in Piedmont, and in Hungary.

To understand the causes, as well as to appreciate the facts of the recent political convulsions in Austria, the author has conceived it essential to present some preliminary considerations on the condition of the empire prior to the revolution. He has, therefore, reviewed at some length the history of the Preface. IV races which inhabit the provinces now composing Austria, the manner in which they became subject to the sway of a com mon sovereign, as well as considered the wholly different cir cumstances through which they have respectively developed ; subjects little understood, yet indispensable to a correct appre ciation of subsequent events. No one who has not had occa sion to investigate the obscure early history of the various races of Eastern Europe, or who has not attempted to recon cile the contradictory statements of those whose sole aim, in relating more recent events, appears to have been that of ex tolling one party and ascribing the worst motives and the foul est crimes to their opponents, can have an adequate idea of the obstacles in the way of arriving at truth.

Book II. Chapter

I. The Revolution in Vienna on the 13th of March, 1848. — The Triumph of the People, and fall of Metternich. — Subsequent Escape of the Emperor from Vienna, aud Reign of Terror which followed 97

CHAPTER II.

Insurrection in Milan. — Radetzky aud his Army driven from the City. — Invasion of Lombardy by the Piedmontese, Tuscans, Romans, and Neapolitans. — Their Overthrow and Expulsion by Radetzky, and his complete Subjugation of the revolting Kingdom 180

Chapter III

The Political History of Venice, from its Origin to the late Revolution. — The Expulsion of the Austrians, and Proclamation of the Republic of St. Mark. — Its Existence for upward of a Year, and final Overthrow. — Besieged by Land and Blockaded by Sea 261