of government, against their continuance after eleven. English country dances are frequently introduced; but a species of allemande is the favourite dance of the natives. The parties arrange themselves in distinct couples, and follow each other in a circular direction, each gentleman turning his partner with great velocity.

The life and spirit of those dances are astonishing, and can never be conceived by such as have not seen them. The gaiety of these parties is still more enlivened, during the summer months, by the company resorting to a garden near the town, where they dance under an open pavilion, in rural festivity.

Little trade is carried on here; though some few manufactures have been established." The families, who enjoy any influence in public affairs, think it degrading to engage in any branch of

commerce.

One general advantage, however, attends this anti-commercial spirit; for the members of government, not being interested in laying any restrictions on trade, do not, as at Zuric and Basle, confine the exclusive right of establishing manufactures to the burghers of the capital; but prudently extend that permission to all their subjects, without distinction of rank or place. Hence the comfortable state, and even the wealth, of the peasantry in the canton of Berne.

It deserves remark, that the lower classes, who have acquired opulence by manufactures, seldom quit their situation; and seem not only extremely attached to their country, but to their own modes of life, which they neither wish to vary them

selves, nor to bring up their families with a prospect of doing.

The public buildings are constructed in a noble stile of simplicity, and announce the grandeur and good sense of the republic. The arsenal contains arms for sixty thousand men, and a considerable quantity of cannon. The granary always is stocked with a large provision of corn, supplied in consequence of particular treaties, by France and Holland.

The charitable institutions are numerous, liberal, and well applied. The hospitals are large, clean, and airy; and in the alms-house is an establishment for furnishing distressed travellers with a meal and a lodging, and a sixpence on their departure. If sick or wounded, they are maintained till their recovery.

The house of correction is extremely well regu lated; and seperate cells are allotted to the men and the women. Persons also, who are confined for smaller offences, have a different dress, and are entirely kept apart from greater delinquents. Both are constantly employed in cleaning the streets, and other servile employments. At other times they are taught to read and write, and are instructed in various trades, which may keep them from the danger of a relapse into crimes, when they regain their libetty. By these means, the expence of the establishment is nearly supported, and an honest livelihood assured to those who would otherwise prove useless, or obnoxious, to the community. After having earned their maintenance, the prisoners in the house of labour receive ten per cent, those in the house of correction eight per cent, for their extra labour.

Public justice is wisely and impartially administered; and the torture is now formally abolished. This humane and just act forms a distinguished era in the history of Swiss jurisprudence.

The public library contains about twenty thousand volumes, a cabinet of Swiss coins and medals, and many curious manuscripts. Of these M. Sinner, a man of great erudition, has published a descriptive catalogue.

Learning, however, is not so universally encouraged as in other states; but the government seems to be sensible of this defect, and is taking effectual steps to remedy it.

A society for the promotion of physics, and natural history in general, and that of Switzerland in particular, has lately been established. The members have formed a regular correspondence with the literati throughout Europe; and are ready to answer the enquiries of foreign naturalists, who wish for local information.

The sovereign power resides in the great council of two hundred. The authority with which they are invested is, in some respects, the most absolute and uncontrolled of any among the aristocratical states of Switzerland; but there are various checks and modifications, which allow sufficient protection to civil liberty.

The executive powers of government are delegated by this sovereign council to the senate, chosen from their own body: the former assembles ordinarily thrice a week, and extraordinarily upon emergencies; the senate every day except Sundays.

The senate, comprising the two advoyers, or chiefs of the republic, is composed of twenty-se

ven members; and from this select body is drawn the principal magistrates of the common wealth.

At Easter, the reigning advoyer delivers up his authority, in full council, to his colleague. The advoyer in office sits on an elevated seat, under a canopy, and the seal of the republic is placed on a table before him. He never deli vers his opinion, unless it be demanded: he has no vote, unless the numbers are equal, and, in that case, he has the casting voice. The advoyer out of office is the first senator in rank, and president of the secret council.

The canton of Berne is divided into a certain number of districts, called bailliages, over which bailiffs are chosen from the sovereign council; and these posts being the most lucrative in the disposal of government, are the great objects of ambition.

The several bailiffs are representatives of sove. reign power in their respective districts. They enforce the execution of edicts, collect the pub lic revenue, act as justices of the peace, and are judges in civil and criminal causes, except where there is any local jurisdiction. An appeal, how' ever, in most cases, lies to the courts in Berne.

Although there are no standing armies in Switz erland, yet in many of the cantons, and especially in Berne, the militia is under excellent re gulations, and can be assembled at the shortest warning. Every male, at the age of sixteen, is enrolled and about one third of the whole number are distributed into regiments.

Every person, thus enrolled, is obliged to provide himself, at his own charge, with an uni

form, a musket, and a certain quantity of powder and ball; and no peasant is allowed to marry, without producing his uniform and his arms.

Every year a certain number of officers are deputed by the council of war to inspect the arms of the soldiers, to complete the regiments, and exercise the militia. Besides this annual review, the regiments are occasionally exercised by veteran soldiers, commissioned for that pur pose.

A certain number of regiments, being thus always in preparation, signals are fixed on the most elevated spots, for assembling them in particular districts, where they receive marching orders.

Berne has hitherto produced but few men of distinguished literary talents; but has established her glory, in being the birth-place of Haller, who is himself a host. This great man, known by his works wherever science has been cultivated, was born in 1708, and after passing through many, honourable employments, and producing a number of valuable publications, quitted this transitory scene in 1777, in the seventieth year of his age. He wrote, with equal facility, the German, French, and Latin tongues; and was so well acquainted with all the European languages, except the Russian, Polish, and Hungarian, as to converse with the natives in their respective. idioms.

A person, who was well acquainted with him, says, "he possessed a fundamental knowledge of natural history; was well read in history, both ancient and modern, universal and particular; and uncommonly well versed in the state of agriculture, manufactures, trade, population, litera