3&8 
new cantons, Argovia, (with the great- 
eft part of Frickthal,) the Pays de Vaud, 
‘Thurgovia, St. Gall, and Teffin. The 
magiltrates in thefe countries are not per- 
petual, but both the great and little coun- 
cil is renewed periodically, according to 
the principles of modern reprefentative 
governments. 
Six cantons, thofe of Berne, Zurich, 
Friburg, Lucerne, Bafle, Soleure, are ex-: 
clufively invefted with the prerogative of 
being cantons direGeurs. ‘They alone 
have the privilege of affembling the diet 
among themfelves, and placing their firft- 
magiftvate in the chair, who by this func- 
tion is elevated to the fupreme dignity of 
Landamman of Switzerland. 
Friburg has been the firtt cauton direc- 
zeur, and M. DAFFRY the fii ft Landam- 
man, 
The diet affembles the firf Monday in 
June, and its fitting cannot exceed the- 
term of a month. 
According to this new divifion of Bo- 
naparte, the fize and population of the 
country Is reduced to the following efti- 
mate. 
Square miles. Inbabitants. 
Bern, — 226,000 
Pays de Vaud, ox” 140,0cO 
Argovia, — 132,763 
Zurich, 44. 190,0c0 
Bafle, 9 40,000 
Friburg, 39 77,000 
Lucerne, ae 100,C00 
Appenzell, i 50,000 
St. Gall, 49 140,000 
Turgovia 16 75,000 
Schaifhaufen, 64 30,000 
Soleure, 3 45,000 
Grifens, 141 100,000 
Teffin, 30 140,000 
Schwitz, 22 32,000 
Uri, a 13:000 
Underwalden, — 19,000 
“ Zug, — 13,000 
Glaris, — 22,000 
The prefent population may then be 
reckoned at about 1,60¢0,000 fouls; the 
fcourges of war,revolution, andenugration, 
having evidently taken off no lefs than two 
rnillions, befides that the feparation of Va- 
lais,Geneva, Bienne, Mulhauilen, Valieline, 
Chiavenna, and Bermio, which formed 
part of ancient Helvetia, produced a lofs 
250,0co inhabitanis ; as a compenfation 
for which Frickthal and the lordthip of 
Trafp, ceded to the Swils, do not furnith 
more than 9,900 louis. 
Valais forms at prefent a feparate and 
Letters on the Prefent State of Switzerland. 
[June 1, 
fovereign. republic, governed by a fenate. 
Its extent is 924 fquare miles; but the 
population f{earcely exceeds 90,000 fouls. 
Tn time of war the contingent of all the 
cantons is to be about 
namely ; 
9987 Infantry. 
2666 Light-troops. 
810 Do. : 
- 960 Artillery. 
350 Cavalry. 
430 D'Etat-major. 
At prefent, as formerly, every canton 
fends to Bafle its contingent of men, called 
Zuzugers, from whence their national mi- 
litia is formed, for the purpofe of defend- 
ing the frontiers of Switzerland. 
You will call to mind in hiftory how 
very diffatisfied the ancient Swifs were 
that the French’ fortrefs of Hunringen 
fhould exit fo near their territory, and 
how many remonftrances they made 
againft it in the years 1679 and 1680, 
till Louis XIV. pacified them with the af 
furance that this citadel muf be regarded 
as a bulwark to their liberty, rather 
than as a fource of diftrult in their oldeft 
aily. The Swifs however thought proper 
-to aét on the defenfive, and for that reafon 
ftationed this body here to maintain their 
neutrality, and guard their borders from 
violation. 
You will eafily conceive what a med- 
ley of colours and figures the military thus 
affembled from all quarters of Switzerland 
prefents. I could not recognize in all the 
pofterity of thofe hardy warriors of the 
16th century, before whofe phalanx and 
halberds at Morgarten, Sempach, Mar- 
ten Dornach, St. Jacob, as alfo in the 
fields of Italy and France, the courage and 
fame of fo many brave armies funk in the 
duft, Yet my cenfure is not general. 
The Underwalders and fome others have 
fhewn themfelves worthy of their country 
and their forefathers. I was alfo well 
pleafed with the appearance of the Entii- 
buchers, a bold race of Alpine inhabit. 
tants ; and with the dexterity of the Zu- 
rich fharp-fhocters, of which I had many 
firiking proofs. 
While viewing thefe troops, my friend 
who was with me faid tame, ‘* You have 
no doubt heard and read much on our 
breaches of nevtrelivy during the jate Re- 
volution ; but never was the fable of the 
Lamb and the Wolf more ftrikingly ex- 
emplified than in the cafe of Switzerland 
and France. R. 
(To be continued.) 
Ta 
15,203 men; 
