99] ANNUAL REGISTER, IS14. 



federal pact, which had parcelled 

 out the canton of Bern still more 

 than heretofore, had stripped it of 

 rights over countries acquired by 

 their ancestors, and separated it 

 from its ancient subjects. After 

 stating some other grounds of com- 

 plaint, the proclamation proceeded 

 to mention the sacrifices which 

 the canton had been willing to 

 make for the sake of union. The 

 grand council had not only aban- 

 doned the rights of the state over 

 the ancient common seignories, 

 but had expressed their intention 

 to leave, upon equitable condi- 

 tions, its liberty to the country of 

 Vaud. They could not, out of 

 gratitude to their subjects of Ar- 

 govia for their fidelity, renounce 

 the Bernese part of that country, 

 but they had opened a plan for 

 their union with the canton, and 

 had offered them a share in all the 

 rights and advantages of Bernese 

 subjects. The paper concluded 

 with expressing a desire to de- 

 fend the constitution and rights 

 of the canton against all attacks, 

 and called upon all to whom it 

 was addressed, for their support. 



Switzerland was at this time far 

 from being in a tranquil state. 

 The Vaudois and the Araovians 

 were resolute m asserting their in- 

 dependence on Bern. Some time 

 before, a <:onspiracy was formed 

 at Soleure for taking possession of 

 the town, and deposing the ruling 

 party, which was disconcerted by 

 an accident; and its ill success 

 was said to have prevented the 

 execution of a similar plot at Bern. 

 The canton of St. Gall havino- 

 made a demand of a federal aid 

 from the Diet, on account of a 

 ispirit of disobedience manifested 

 in the districts of Uznach and 



Sargans, the ministers of the allied 

 powers thought it proper to in- 

 terpose by a note addressed to the 

 Diet on August 8th. In this, the 

 ministers express their regret for 

 the doubts they have been com- 

 pelled to entertain of the firmness 

 with which they hoped that body 

 would maintain the arrangements 

 of their circular of May 31st, 

 which established the immuta- 

 bility of the status quo of the 

 possessions of every canton, and 

 of the political relations of their 

 inhabitants, till the definitive set- 

 tlement of affairs in general ; and 

 in a tone of authority they require 

 the preservation of the public 

 peace by a vigorous execution of 

 that provisory law. This inter- 

 position, together with the dis- 

 turbed state of Switzerland, ap- 

 pear to have excited very serious 

 apprehensions in the political 

 leaders, and on August 16th, the 

 President of the Diet addressed in 

 his own name (that body not then 

 sitting), a circular to all the go- 

 vernments of the cantons. After 

 reciting the violent opposition 

 which the Federal Compact had 

 met with, and the necessity under 

 which the Diet had found itself 

 of framing a new plan with va- 

 rious modifications, the President 

 warmly exhorts the cantons to 

 unanimity, and proceeds to say, 

 " A note of the ministers of Aus- 

 tria, Russia, and England, offici- 

 ally communicated to the deputa- 

 tions in our sitting of this day, 

 shews the danger which a longer 

 division may draw down upon 

 our country. The opening of the 

 General Congress, a period of the 

 greatest importance to Switzer- 

 land in particular, as well as to 

 Europe in general, is approaching. 



