CHARACTERS. 
subjects. Nevertheless, even in 
Switzerland it is a dear article, 
being retailed by the officers of 
state, who monopolize, and draw a 
principal part of the public revenues 
from its sale. The total receipt of 
Berne amounts to about 75,0001. 
and of Zurich to a little more than 
one half. Exclusive of this tax on 
salt, the revenue is made up by cus- 
toms and duties on merchandize, 
the profits of demesne lands, and 
the tithes of the general produce of 
the country (the clergy being paid 
by government); to which might 
be added the money that the ditfer- 
ent cantons receive from foreign 
powers for the hire of their troops. 
This is a custom that has given rise 
to a difference of opinion among 
the Swiss, relative to its advantage 
or ill consequence. They who op- 
pose it, maintain that the officers 
and soldiers of those regiments ac- 
quire the vices of the different 
countries in which they serve, and 
on their return to Switzerland, by 
spreading them, corrupt the purer 
morals ‘of its inhabitants. In an- 
swer to this it is asserted that, as 
the revenues of the cantons are in- 
adequate to the expences of govern- 
Ment,a::d the support of a sufficient 
army for the national defence, it is 
necessary to pursue this system, laid 
down by their ancestors, as it gives 
them all the advantages of a regular 
army without the expence of its 
Maintenance, it being stipulated in 
their treaties, that in case of attack 
om a foreign enemy, these troops, 
which amount to 30,000, sbould 
be at liberty to return home, and 
act in concert with their country- 
men. Both of these arguments are 
plausible; but the question is, if 
‘they be" admitted as fact, whether 
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363 
the morality of a nation should be 
sacrificed to its policy? but it may 
be asserted again, that true policy is 
inseparable from good morals; and 
still further, the Swiss ‘cannot be 
apprehensive of the encroachments 
of any foreign state, as long as they 
perceive that the general aim of 
Europe is to preserve an equilibrium 
of power: this balance is their best, 
and indeed their only safeguard: 
for, though no: soldier, I think I 
might assert that Switzerland, with 
all its force, could never maintain 
a defensive war against either France 
or the Emperor. The Swiss and 
their allies are supposed to amount 
to more than two millions of souls. 
Their manner of living ‘is much 
more simple than that of their 
neighbours, as they are more re- 
stricted by their respective govern- 
ments; sumptuary laws being in 
full force among them; and no 
amusement, such as games of haz- 
ard, plays, operas, cr even dancing, 
except at appointed times, being 
permitted. As every citizen 15 a 
soldier (the clergy excepted) they 
on Sundays, after divine service, go 
through the military exercise. They 
are careful of the education of their 
youth, as is evident from their pub- 
lic seminaries or‘ universities; the 
principal of which are at Basil and 
Berne.—In giving you a sketch of 
the national character, I shall con- 
fine myself to the popular govern- 
ments, as I think the people there 
retain the temper and manner of 
the ancient Swiss more than the 
other canions. Of them I think 
very favourably, ‘provided I except 
those of the lower class who have 
seen other countries, or bave any 
communication with travellers; as 
such are, not only in this, but I be- 
lieve 
