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page 7 ---Munich to Vienna----February
5, 1817
The historical and philosophic-philological classes of the university recommended attention to the different languages,
national peculiarities, religious and historical traditions, ancient and
modern monuments; such as writings, coins, idols, and in general, whatever
might throw light on the state of society, and the history both of the
aboriginal and other inhabitants of Brazil,
or which concerned the topography and geography of that hitherto so imperfectly
known country. In order to satisfy to the utmost of their power, these
duties and wishes, the two travellers exerted themselves to provide every
requisite for so great an enterprise, and to make, without loss of time,
the necessary preparations. After everything possible was got ready, and
the books, instruments, medicine chest, and other travelling equipage,
sent off direct to Triest,
they set off from Munich on the 5th day of February, 1817, for Vienna.
In this imperial capital, where they arrived on the 10th of February,
they  were favored with the most active and generous support, by His Highness Prince Metternich, and by His Excellency Baron von Stainlein, the Bavarian
ambassador, in the further preparations, and in collecting what was necessary
to accomplish the scientific objects proposed by the enlightened sovereigns.
Mr. von Schreibers, director of the Imperial Museum of Natural History,----as
honorably distinguished in the learned world by his writings, as amiable
in private life, to whom the organization of the Austrian scientific expedition
to Brazil was confided,--- had the goodness immediately to introduce them to the
learned gentlemen selected by the Austrian government, who were to be
their fellow travellers.
page 8 ---expedition members---Professor Mikan, from Prague, was appointed for the departments of botany
and entomology; Dr. Pohl, M.D., for mineralogy and botany; Dr. Natterer,
assistant in the Imperial Museum of Natural History, for zoology; Mr.
Thomas Ender, to be landscape painter; Mr. Buchberger, botanical painter;
and M.H. Schott, son of the worthy superintendent of the University Garden,
to be gardener; the last two were assigned as assistants to Professor
Mikan: there being besides with the company a huntsman and a working miner.
Rejoiced at the acquaintance with our future companions, we longed for
orders to set out together for Triest.
But as several circumstances left it doubtful when the two Austrian frigates
would sail, we employed the time that we had remaining, partly in further
preparations for the voyage, especially in procuring maps and other things
that could not be purchased in the New World, or only at a great expense,
and partly in visiting the learned men residing in the capital.
 
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