the doctor’s incapacity, on account of his late indisposition: His last fit having been so severe, that he was under the necessity of employing medical assistance; and had been bled and blistered several times, but he was then somewhat better, though weak.
“Our passport for Trieste was at this time making out, and in half an hour we were to return for it. In the mean time we went hack to the tavern to make the necessary preparations, and get some breakfast. It was a luxurious meal. The moment we entered, the landlord presented us with an answer to Mr. Hewson’s letter from his friend at Vienna; and what joyful news did we receive in that letter! It informed us of the success that had attended our application at that city, with respect to our passport, and contained an order on his banker at Salztburgh, to supply us with what money we might deem necessary to defray our expences, and enable us to travel with case and comfort – a mode of conveyance that we had hitherto been strangers to. Providence appeared too bountiful. We waited on the banker, got the sum necessary, and called on the director, to give him the intelligence, he appeared much pleased, congratulated us on our success, and ordered our passport to be made out to go by the diligence. This proved very fortunate for our sick companion, who feared much we should have been separated had we been obliged to walk.
“The wished for morning at length arrived; we took a grateful leave of the director, and placed ourselves in the diligence. The first night we had a most intricate and difficult road to pass, through immense mountains covered with snow. Nothing particular occurred. The conductor of the vehicle was inclined to be insolent, and assisted the innkeepers to extort from us; however, at the fourth stage we fortunately got clear of him, and were placed in a waggon that took us to Villach, and thence to Clagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia. There we were apprised that we had better perform the next day’s journey on foot, as the mountains were so excessively high, that if even we had a carriage we should be obliged to walk the greater part of the way. Next morning (Sunday, 30th Oct.) we rose at day-break, and commenced our journey. We walked twelve leagues before 7 p.m., six of them ascending almost perpendicularly, and the rest descending in the opposite direction. After undergoing a strict inspection at a small post town, we took carriage for Laubach, the capital of Carniola, and travelled all night. On the 31st we departed thence for Trieste, where we arrived on the 4th Nov. 1808.
“I need not dwell on the pleasure we felt this morning at beholding the gulf of Trieste, and the ships and vessels lying in the harbour, among which was a Russian squadron, consisting of four sail of the line, one frigate, and a store-ship. We also discovered a ship at anchor, some leagues out, which we were informed, was his Britannic Majesty’s frigate, l’Unité, Captain (Patrick) Campbell, who, they said, blockaded that port. This was the most welcome news imaginable. We were now certain of being able to get entirely away from the clutches of tyranny and oppression.
