Two miles farther they reached the celebrated pass of Pierre Pertius, at the bottom of which the Birs bursts from the ground in several copious springs, and turns two mills within a few paces of its principal source.

Pierre Pertius is a large arched aperture through a solid rock, about thirty feet long, forty-five broad, and thirty high in the lowest part. It is doubtful whether it is formed by art or nature. A Roman inscription over the arch, much defaced, has exercised the ingenuity of several antiquaries. It seems to imply that a road was formed through the mountain by Patermus, a duumvir, during the reign of Marcus Aurelius and Verus.

The southern extremity of Pierre Pertius leads into the valley of St. Imier. The inhabitants are Protestants, and are governed by a bailiff, appointed by the bishop of Basle. The whole district lies within the Jura mountains, and is fertile in pasturage.

On arriving at the extremity of Mount Jura, one of the sublimest views in nature bursts on the sight, commanding an undulating line of country fertilized by the Aar, and backed by the majestic chain of Alps, extending beyond the frontiers of Savoy.

Descending gently into the plain, they crossed the Sure, and finished this delightful expedition at Bienne.

This small territory lies between the lake and a chain of the Jura mountains, and contains about six thousand inhabitants. The town stands at the foot of the Jura, near the borders of the lake, which is here about nine miles in length and four in breadth.

The bishop of Basle is sovereign of this district; but the inhabitants enjoy many extensive privileges and franchises. The revenue amounts only to about three hundred pounds per annum ; but, mean as his civil list is, it is still more considerable than his power.

The language of the country is a kind of provincial German. The people are active and industrious, and several manufactures are established in the town, which carries on a considerable trade.

The road from Bienne to Soleure traverses a fertile valley watered by the Aar, at the foot of a ridge of Mount Jura, the sides of which are deeply tinged with pendent forests of pine and fir.

Soleure is delightfully situated on the Aar, which here expands its banks, and opens into a spacious river. Some fanciful antiquarians ascribe the foundation of this town to Abraham; others with more probability maintain, that it was one of the twelve towns which was destroyed upon the emigration of the original inhabitants into Gaul. But whenever its demolition happened, it is pretty clear, from the medals, inscriptions, and antiquities, found in the neighbourhood, that the spot was re-occupied by a Roman colony, as its name, Castrum Salodurense, imports.

It is now a small, but extremely neat, town, surrounded by regular stone fortifications. Its population amounts to about four thousand. The church of St. Urs is one of the most striking objects in it. This is a noble modern edifice, of whitish grey stone, which admits of a high polish. The lower part of the building is of the Corinthian, and the upper of the Composite order.

The expence amounted to at least eighty thousand pounds; a very considerable sum to a republic, whose annual revenues do not exceed twelve thousand sterling.

In the prison house, a strong stone building, the criminals are confined in separate cells. Though the penal laws are apparently severe, yet the judicial sentences are so remarkably mild, that we are told a prisoner, on his acquittal, wrote on the wall of his cell, "He who is inclined to rob and escape hanging, let him exercise his trade in the canton of Soleure."

The public library is a late erection, and consequently cannot boast of any considerable treasures; yet by the industry and zeal of the Abbe Herman, it has already risen to some distinction. Great praise is due to this public spirited ecclesiastic, who with an income of barely sixty pounds a year, gave birth to the institution, and increased its stores at his private charge.

The circumjacent country is pleasantly diversified, and presents many views, which are as agreeable as wild, and as pleasing as romantic.. The situation of the hermitage, called des Croix, is a most enchanting retreat, at the extremity of a small wood not far from the town. This, however, is only one of the many scenes that invite admiration. In a country so picturesque as Switzerland, it is impossible to particularize every lovely or impressive view.

The canton of Soleure, which holds the eleventh rank in the Helvetic confederacy, stretches partly through the plain, and partly along the chains of Jura, and contains about fifty thousand people.

The soil is mostly fertile in corn, and some districts, which lie within the Jura, abound in excellent pasturage.

The trade carried on here is much less exten sive than the situation would allow; for few of the cantons are more advantageously placed for a flourishing commerce.

The inhabitants are Catholics, excepting those in the bailliage of Buckegberg, who are Protestants. In spirituals, the Catholics are under the government of three bishops; those of Lausanne, Constance, and Basle.

The Protestants, though subject to Soleure, are under the protection of Berne. This complication of political and religious interests formerly created frequent misunderstandings between the two cantons; but at last matters were amicably and finally adjusted; and Berne never interferes except in regard to ecclesiastical matters in the Protestant bailliage.

All the male subjects in the canton, from the age of fifteen to that of sixty, are enrolled into six regiments; forming, collectively, eight thousand men, exclusive of two hundred and forty dragoons, and a corps of artillery. The colonel of each regiment is always a senator, and the major a member of the great council. The captains are either members of the great council, or ancient burghers; the first lieutenants are usually ancient burghers; while the subordinate officers are commonly chosen from among the most respectable peasantry.

The militia are assembled and reviewed every May and September; and in spring and autumn,

are exercised by the inferior officers in their respective villages.

The sovereign power resides in the great council, which, including the senate, or little council of thirty-six, consists of one hundred and two members, chosen by the senate, in equal proportions, from the eleven tribes or companies, into which the ancient burghers are distributed; and in all instances, the vacancy is filled up from the company to which the last member belonged. The prerogatives of the great council, are to enact and abrogate laws, to explain any obscure parts of the constitution; to levy taxes; to declare war, and conclude peace; to contract alliances; and to receive appeals in criminal causes, and in civil processes above a certain value. It assembled ordinarily once a month; and extra- ordinarily on being convened by the senate.

The senate or little council, a constituent part of the great, is composed of the two advoyers, or chiefs of the republic, who annually alternate; the chancellor or secretary of state, who, however, has no vote; and thirty-three senators drawn from the remaining sixty-six members of the great council, in equal proportions from the eleven tribes.

This senate is entrusted with the executive power, and with the care of the police. It has likewise supreme and final jurisdiction in all criminal causes, except where a burgher is concerned, who has the privilege of an appeal to the great council. The qualifications of a senator are, that he shall be twenty-four years of age, a member of the great council, and drawn from