• pupils of the Prague Seminary Institute for the Blind: participating institution, vv

Tagesbote aus Böhmen 25/4/1854 published news that ‘In the Seminary Institute for the Blind on Hradschin [Hradčany] was celebrated yesterday a solemn religious service, after which a Te Deum was sung and the new national anthem performed. At noon a banquet was given by the Institute’s Director von Ottenkron for pupils and personnel.’ No further details about the event were given by the source.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 27/4/1854 reported that ‘In St Raphael’s Church [chapel] the Seminary Institute for Adult Blind gave on 24th April for the wedding day of the Austrian monarch at 8am a celebratory religious service with a Te Deum, and in which the blind pensioners performed with astonishing accuracy a Requiem with organ accompaniment by M. Haydn.’ In the aftermoon, following Vespers at 3pm, the blind members of the Institute processed into the garden where two ceremonial trees were planted [Kaiserbäume]. After this the national anthem was sung.’