Page:Lectures on The Historians of Bohemia by Count Lutzow (1905).djvu/102

 of the older Slavic scholars, and a man who was on good terras with the authorities—an all-important matter in Austria during the Metternich régime. It was here that Palacký formed the plan of his vast historical work. Palacký was introduced by Dobrovský to the not very numerous Bohemian nobles who were interested in the history of their country. Among these were Count Sternberg and his younger brother, Count Francis Sternberg. The latter had a few years previously, in conjunction with Count Klebelsberg and my great-uncle, Count Kolowrat, founded an association that was known as the Society of the Bohemian Museum. This at first modest society endeavoured to collect all objects and documents connected with the history of Bohemia, hoping to revive the national feeling by recalling to the Bohemians their glorious past and their national language that is so closely connected with it. This society and the small collections which it at first possessed were then housed in a small house belonging to Count Sternberg. After having been for some time removed to more extensive premises, the Bohemian Museum and its now vast and valuable collections found a home in the place of St. Venceslas, that is known to all visitors to Prague.

The Patriotic Association at first met with a great deal of opposition. The Austrian government assumed an attitude of veiled hostility, and considerable indifference was shown even by those of Bohemian birth. At a meeting at Count Sternberg’s house, which took place in 1825, both the Count himself and Dobrovský bitterly complained of the want of interest shown as regards the new national institute. Young Palacký, however (I quote from a contemporary account),