JOURNEY OVER MOUNT GOTTHARD. $2J 



The catholics, from an unhappy jealoufy towards the 

 fomewhat ftronger and far richer proteftants, have im- 

 bibed the notion that it is the beft policy for them to 

 attach themfelves in the ftricleft manner with France; 

 and the advantage enjoyed, by thofe perfons who com- 

 pole the magistracy, from the yearly penfions (as a 

 hundred louis-d'ors in this country is nearly fufficient 

 to maintain a whole family) has drawn this connection 

 itill more clofe, and rendered it almoft indiffoluble. 

 Hence it is at prefent next to impofhble for the helvetic 

 confederation to enter into alliances, or to take any ftep 

 that fhould be difagreeable to the court of France. 



I now found myfelf in a very retired, folitary, and 

 infignificant corner of the earth, divided from all the 

 world by almoft impafTabTe mountains, though famous 

 heretofore as the fcene of actions truly heroic, and 

 which muft be ever venerable to all who know how to 

 fet a proper value on civil and religious liberty. 



In Altorf the freedom at prefent enjoyed by the hel- 

 vetic cantons took its birth : and on the borders of the 

 lake that I am now to pafs lie places where formerly a 

 petty people, extremely fimple in its acquirements and 

 manners, and withal very poor, procured to itfelf a 

 perfect independence, and an unlimited freedom, againft. 

 the efforts of a mighty tyrannical power. I felt a ge- 

 nial glow of rapture in my veins on contemplating that 

 I was now in the native country of a Tell, of a Wal- 

 ter Furft, an Arnold of Winkelriecl, and other men, 

 whofe hardy courage, though lefs celebrated, yet per- 

 formed no lefs heroic deeds than Agamemnon, Ajax, 

 and the reft of the heroes of Homer. I confefs, that 

 while I contemplated the tranfaclions that formerly 



y 4 happened 



