AUSTRIA IN 1848 AND 1849. THE POLITICAL MOVEMENT IN AUSTRIA. DURING THE YEARS 1848 & 1849. BY BARON PILLERSDORF, Late Minister of the Austrian Empire. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN BY GEORGE GASKELL. "Pauci prudentiâ honesta ab deterioribus, utilia ab noxiis discernunt; plures LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY. Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1850. 12. Xoves 3-306698 NOTE BY THE EDITOR. BEFORE introducing the following pages to the public, a short resumé of those events which constituted the Austrian movement of 1848, and are here principally referred to by the Author, may not be unacceptable to the reader, whose continued attention may not have been directed to the origin of a struggle which has now to all appearance subsided; or whose first impressions, excited by the novel and startling occurrences of that memorable year, may have yielded to the more absorbing interest of recent transactions. It will be remembered, that as early as in March, 1848, the disturbing influence of the French Revolution of February manifested itself in Vienna. On the 13th of that month, the day appointed for the meeting of the Session of the States of Lower Austria, a widely-spread and undefined excitement prevailed in the city, to the alarm of Prince Metternich, who, after watching with his habitual self-possession the troubled aspect of affairs, thought it prudent to retire at once from his post as Minister and from the capital. On the 16th was issued an edict from the Emperor, announcing that the censorship of the Press was thereby abolished, that a new law would be immediately prepared, that a National Guard was already established, and an immediate convention of delegates from all the States of the German and Sclavonian kingdoms, and from the central congregations of the LombardoVenetian kingdom would be summoned. To this document was affixed, among other names, that of Franz, Baron von Pillersdorf, Court Chancellor. These promises were each in its turn fulfilled by the Government, which was hastily summoned to supply the place of that of Prince Metternich. In the first Provisional Cabinet of Six, called together by an Imperial rescript of the 17th, Franz, Count von Kolowrat, was appointed His Imperial Majesty's Minister of State, as Prime Minister ad interim; Count Fiquelmont, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Baron Pillersdorf, Supreme Chancellor, Minister of the Interior; Count von Taaffe, Minister of Justice; Baron von Kübeck, Minister of Finance; and the Department of War, for the present vacant, was afterwards filled by Baron Zanini. Shortly after, Baron Pillersdorf became Chief of the Administration, an office which in Austria is usually attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Baron Dobblhof joined the Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, and Baron Sommaruga of Instruction. An edict of amnesty towards political offenders was one of the first acts of the Government; |