SWITZERLAND. 



SITUATION AND EXTENT. 

 Miles. Degrees. 



Length 230 > , C 6 and 1 1 East longitude,, 



Breadth 120 $ between ^ 46 and 4g Nonh latimdet 



Containing 14,960 square miles, with 130 inhabitants to each. 



Name.. ..Switzerland was considered by the Romans as a part of 

 Gaul, and inhabited by the Helvetii on the west, and the Rhaeti on 

 the east. The modern name of Switzerland, or Swisserland, seems to 

 be derived from that of the canton of Schweitz, one of the earliest in 

 forming the league by which the liberty of the country was asserted 

 against the dukes of Austria. Alter the revolution in its govern- 

 ment, effected by the influence and arms of France, it took the name 

 of the Helvetic Republic. 



Boundaries. ...It is bounded on the north by the circle of Svvabia in 

 Germany, on the east by Tyrol, on the south by the Italian republic 

 and by France, and on the west by France, from which it is separated 

 by Mount Jura. 



Divisions. ...Switzerland, before the year 1798, was divided into 

 thirteen cantons, which stood, in point of precedency, as follows : I. 

 Zurich ; 2. Bern ; 3. Lucern ; 4. Uri ; 5. Schweitz ; 6. Unterwalden ; 

 7. Zug ; 8. Glaris ; 9. Basil ; 10. Freyburg ; 11. Soleure, or Solothurn; 

 12. Schaffhausen ; 13. Appenzel. 



Besides these there were certain districts and towns which were 

 the subjects of the cantons, and some small states who were their 

 allies. The extent and population of the cantons, and of their subjects 

 and allies, were as follows : 



Cantons. Chief Towns. Sq. Miles. Population, 



Bern Bern 3,840 350,000 



Zurich Zurich .... 752 175,000 



Lucern Lucern .... 496 100,000 



Uri Altorf . . . • 480 25,000 



Freyburg Freyburg . . . 464 73,000 



Glaris Glaris . ... 336 20,000 



Schweitz Schweitz .... 320 28,000 



Soleure or Solothur . . Soleure . . . . 288 45,000 



Appenzel . ... Appenzel . . . 256 54,000 



Unterwalden . . Stanz . . . 176 18,000 



Basil . . . Basil . . 160 38,000 



