of German Landowners in 1841. 231 



3rd class is called ''fidei commesse," where all the sons have 

 equal rights, and cast lots for the inheritance. These three 

 classes of land can never be sold unless where there are but two 

 heirs to give consent, in which the Prince must concur. 



The other seignories are called '' allodial e," titles derived from 

 the strength of the position, or the bounty of the Prince ; they 

 may be held by any one who can purchase them, are privileged 

 in all respects like the others, and may be sold by the owner 

 without the consent of the Prince. Each seignory has its own 

 jurisdiction, and the proprietor his seat in the " landtas:," or 

 provincial Parliament. The course of justice is short, simple, 

 and attainable by the humblest against the most wealthy and 

 noble. Formerly every "noble" held his own Court, and did 

 much as he pleased with his serfs ; but now he cannot be a judge 

 in his own case, even in the most trifling matter. His deputy, 

 who is a barrister, approved by the Chancery, is sworn to do im- 

 partial justice, and must send in written details of all his acts and 

 proceedings to the superior Courts, where they are carefully 

 scrutinized; nor can he award the most trifling punishments 

 without their approval. The police-duties are performed by one 

 or more policemen on each estate : there is also a mounted and 

 well-appointed gens d'armerie force of about 80, who ride over 

 the duchy, and are well informed as to what passes, without 

 being troublesome to any but the evil-doer. There is but little 

 crime — no beggary — and but one workhouse in the whole duchy, 

 for a population of nearly .500,000, in an area of 4836 square 

 miles. There are schools under the superintendence of the 

 clergy in every parish, and generally also on the large estates. 

 Parents are bound by law to send their children from five years 

 old until they are confirmed, at fourteen or fifteen : hence arises 

 the circumstance, which, until thus explained, struck me as re- 

 markable, the absence of all young persons from the labours of 

 the field, which are carried on entirely by adults. Until con- 

 firmed, they have no civil rights — cannot be bound to any trade — 

 nor marry. At seventeen all the young men are inspected by a 

 general-officer and his staff, and those found eligible ballot for 

 three years' service, after which they join their regiment for drill 

 only four weeks in the three subsequent years, when they are free, 

 unless called out in the event of war : about one in twenty is 

 required to fill the ranks. 



No young peasant can marry until he is free from all military 

 obligations ; and he must even then procure the consent of his 

 landlord, who in that case provides him with a dwelling. The 

 small population and numbers of public works which furnish so 

 much employment obviate all difficulty. The domains of the 

 Prince are all let — generally in large farms, for terms of one, two. 



