512 SWITZERLAND. 



scarcely ever had occasion to employ their arms against a foreign ene~ 

 my ; and have had no hostile commotions among themselves, that 

 were not very soon happily terminated. 



In the year 1798, Switzerland, obliged to yield to the intrigues and 

 arms of France, abolished the old constitution, and framed another on 

 the French model ; by which the whole country was declared a repub- 

 lic one and indivisible, and the government vested in two councils and 

 a directory. But in the year 1802 this constitution was likewise abo- 

 lished, by the authority of the first consul of France, and another pre- 

 sented to them for their acceptance ; but which the great majority of 

 them rejected, as still more repugnant to their political principles and 

 habits than the former. Their opposition was so determined that they 

 had recourse to arms ; and the first consul thought proper to withdraw 

 his constitution, and offer them a new one, which they consented to ac- 

 cept. By this, as under the original constitution of Switzerland, 

 each of the cantons has its distinct internal government, which, in 

 seven of them, Schweitz, Appenzel, Glaris, Unterwalden, Uri, Zug, 

 and the Grisons, is of the democratic kind, all the male inhabitants 

 above twenty years of age having voices in the landesgemeine, or as- 

 sembly, in which all laws and regulations proposed by the magis- 

 trates and public officers are discussed. The government of seven 

 others, Bern, Zurich, Soleure, Freyburg, Lucern, Basil, and Schaff- 

 hausen, is of the aristocratic form, being administered by a great and 

 little council, the composition and privileges of which are different in 

 the different states The five new cantons, Aargau, Leman, Thur- 

 gau, St. Gall, and Tesino (or Ticino) are likewise aristocratic, and 

 governed by two councils. The general government of the country, 

 is administered by a diet, to which each of the cantons sends a mem- 

 ber, and which assembles annually at Freyburp;, Bern, Soleure, Basil, 

 Zurich, and Lucern, in rotation. The president of the diet is a kind 

 of chief magistrate, and is styled landamman of Switzerland. The 

 nineteen deputies, of which the diet consists, have, in the whole, 

 twenty -five voices; the deputies of those cantons, the population of 

 which exceeds 100,000, viz. Bern, Zurich, Leman, Aargau, St. Gall, 

 and the Grisons, having two voices; those of the other cantons have 

 only one. The diet assembles on the first Monday in June, and, in 

 the ordinary course of affairs, continues its sittings during one month. 

 It decides on war and peace, and concludes treaties of alliance and 

 commerce ; but, on these subjects, there must be a concurrence of 

 three-fourths of the cantons. 



Revenue. ...The revenue of Switzerland, before that country was 

 oppressed and plundered by the French, was estimated at 1,050,000/. 

 sterling. It was derived from, 1. The profits of the demesne land; 2. 

 The tenth of the produce of all the lands in the country ; 3. Customs 

 and duties on merchandise; 4. The revenues arising from the sale 

 of salt, and some casual taxes. 



The finances of Bern and Zurich were in a very flourishing state, 

 and those cantons were said to be possessed of great wealth, which no 

 doubt, fell a prey to French rapacity and extortion. In the smaller 

 cantons the revenues scarcely defrayed the expences. The revenue 

 in 1809 was slated by Hassel at 550,000 dollars. 



Military force.. ..The internal strength of the Swiss cantons, in- 

 dependent of the militia, consists of 13.400 men. raised according to 

 the popuiation and abilities of each. Every burgher, peasant, and 

 subject, was obliged to exercise himself in the use of arms; appear 



