T R A V E L S THROUGH
TiiiiRE are fcvcral otlier public edifices that merit attention, the New Palace in particular,
which has been lately repaired, belonging to the aunt of the prefent King of
Hungary, and filler to the late Emperor Leopold.
THE State I-Ioiife and the Regent's Palace are magnificent. The Religious Houfe
belonging to the CanonclTcs, inftitiited by the Emprefs Maria Thercfa, after the death of
her hulhand Francis L the Opera-Houfe, the grand Manege, or Riding-Houfe, and the
Arfeiial ought not to pafs unnoticed.
T i n s city cannot boaft of its great antiquity; for, in 1234, it was only a large
borough. Otto L gave it the rights of a city, and granted moft of the privileges it now
e n j o y s : the city of Mcran, in the valley of Venofta, being till tlien the capital.
THE Univerfity, which bears the name of Csfarea Leopoldina, was built by the
Emperor Leopold L in 1672; but Auftria is indebted to Maria Therefa (who may
l i t e r a l l y be ftyled the patronefs of arts and learning), for the rapid progrefs they made
in that Archdutchy; as it niuft be attributed to the great encouragement they received
from lier. She formed the library of Infpruck, and caufed the books that were in the
c a f t i c of Ambras (whicli were numerous, and confifted of feveral valuable manufcripts)
to be removed to that imiverfity. In order to enlarge the colledUon, and make it ftill
more complete, feveral ^ re fent from the library of Vienna, which added confiderably
t o its value. It is worth notice, and is open at all hours; accefs is eafily obtained by
a p p l y i n g to one of the direftors.
I MUST now mention fome few excuriions I had occafion to make in the neighbouriiood
of that city, which I always recollect wi th infinite fatisfaflion, and which enabled
me to judge of the goodncfs and hofpitality of the inhabitants.
THE firft place I intended vifiting was the city of Hall, in order to examine the
fait mines, and then proceed to Mount Salzberg, or Mountain of Salt; at the foot of
w h i c h that city is built. In my way thither I croiTed the Inn, immediately on leaving
I n f p r u c k ; and, following the courfe of the river, I pafled through feveral rich and
beautiful meadows, adorned with fruit trees, and watered by a number of fmall rivulets,
w h i c h defccndcd from the adjacent mountains. At other times my road led me acrofs
extenfive fields of hops and flax intermixed; for the valley of Inn not containing any
vineyards, the inhabitants, inftead of wine, drink a kind of beer, made in the country,
not of fo deep a colour as what is brewed in London, but nearly as ftrong and as
palatable.
THE diftance from Infpruck to Hall being only feven or eight miles, and the road level
all the way, I was not long before I reached it.
T H I S
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