Mezzofanti is introduced to the Emperor of Austria. The Emperor arranges for Mezzofanti's language skills to be tested by members of his court. Austria covered most of Central Europe at that time and they could verify that Mezzofanti spoke fluently German, Hungarian, Czech, Romanian, Albanese and Polish.

The visit of the Emperor Francis I. of Austria to Bologna in 1819, contributed still more to establish the reputation of Mezzofanti.

Having appointed an interview with him, the Emperor took the precaution of securing during the audience the presence of a number of members of his suite, carefully selected so as to represent the chief languages of the Austrian Empire. Each in turn, German, Magyar (Hungarian), Bohemian (Czech), Wallachian (Romanian), Illyrian (Albanese), and Pole (Polish ), took occasion to address the astonished professor; but although naturally somewhat startled by the novelty of the scene, and perhaps abashed by the presence of royalty, he replied with such perfect fluency and correctness to each, "as to extort not merely approval but admiration and applause." ^{Note 1}

Notes