literary men, and particularly those who wrote on Slavic subjects, with intense suspicion. Palacký also, through his personal acquaintance with some of the great nobles of Bohemia, obtained permission to study the valuable historical documents contained in their libraries and archives. The study of the treasures contained in some of these archives, particularly in those at Třeboř or Wittengau, convinced Palacký that the history of Bohemia had still to be written. Though he may have had some such intention previously, it was only then that he resolved to write an extensive history of Bohemia. The difficulties that beset his path were very great. I cannot define them better than by quoting Palacký’s own words[1]. He writes: ‘While the system of imperial censure existed, it was quite impossible plainly to state that the action of the government rendered impossible the progress and development of historical study and research. The government authorities, no doubt, well knew that the former attitude of the Austrian government with regard to Bohemia would find no mercy before the judgement-seat of history, even though the sufferers could no longer make their grievances known. What happened in the interior of Bohemia during the Thirty Years’ War is even now one of those secrets of history that make the few who have attempted even slightly to lift the veil, tremble. I was some time ago asked by men of some importance whether it would not be better if the unhappy and melancholy events of the past were consigned to complete oblivion, rather than that an attempt should be made to incite men’s minds by recalling these events, thus disturbing the happy peace
- ↑ Zur böhmischen Geschichtschreibung, p. 2.
