To Vienna

Abstract

On the way to Vienna, Abel reported:

From Prague we travelled onwards by means of ein Lohnkutscher [a hired carriage]that was to take us to Vienna for about 24 Speciedaler which is not so expensive as the distance is almost 40 Norwegian Miles [ca. 450 km.¹⁵]. The drive was particularly comfortable in our Glaswagen [closed carriage]. When we were some Miles from Prague we came right along beside the Elbe, and could at the same Time see Riesengebirge which was bedecked with Snow. We had Warmth of almost 20 Degrees [on the Reaumur temperature scale; or 25°C], that particularly bothered us with our magnetic Observations which, for the most part, we undertook twice a Day, at Noon and in the Evening. One sees an enormous Number of Cities and Towns on the way from Prague to Vienna, the like of which would, at home [in Norway] be considered not so insignificant, but here they are considered Unremarkable. At the inns we came to we were treated in the Common fashion: well and cheaply, though one found things far from the state of Cleanliness of North Germany. The country South of Prague is not as flat as the northern Portion, but extremely fertile. On the other hand, when one comes into Mahren, one has a terribly sterile view that ressem-bles many Regions in Norway. But all at Once it changes when one crosses into Austria.