the same company to which the last senator belonged.

The

This body assembles thrice a week, and as often besides as circumstances require. reigning advoyer has the power of convocation.

Government draws its principal revenues, which collectively do not exceed thirteen thousand pounds a year, from a tax on funds, from tithes, tolls, excise duties on wine, a monopoly of salt, subsidies, &c.

The burghers are divided into ancient and new. The former consist of about eighty-five families, the descendants of those illustrious names who laid the foundation of the republic. These possess several privileges and exemptions above the new families; and the distinctions are very nicely observed between the two classes.

The burghers, both ancient and new, are distributed into eleven tribes. Every person may chuse his tribe; but having once inscribed his name in it, he cannot revoke the deed. For the purpose of obtaining a place as soon as possible in the government, a young nobleman fixes on that company in which there is likely to be a vacancy earliest; but if he enters into a different tribe from his father, he must pass a probation of a year before he can be a candidate for admission into the great council.

The general assembly of ancient and new burghers, called Rosengarten, which meets on St. John's day, for the purpose of electing, or confirming, the advoyer, and some other officers of the republic, is one of the grandest ceremonies in the state.

About six in the morning, the advoyer out of office, the senators, members of the great council, ancient and new burghers, assemble in their respective companies. After certain signals, the reigning advoyer, accompanied by some of the officers of state, repairs, with drums beating and trumpets sounding, from the town-house to the church of the Cordeliers; where, after presenting his offering upon the altar of the Virgin, he seats himself on a throne near the altar. short time, the senators and remaining members of the great council make their appearance, at the head of their respective tribes, and having presented their offerings, keep their ranks, except the ex-advoyer, who places himself near his colleague on the throne.

In a

Mass being said, all the burghers retire, and the doors of the church are closed. The advoyer with his sceptre in his hand, pronounces, a harangue, then delivering up the insignia of office, he receives the thanks of the assembly by the attorney general.

This ceremony being finished, the advoyers retire to another part of the church, when the chancellor summons the senators into the choir, and having obtained their confirmation to the advoyers remaining in office another year, afterwards demands the approbation of the whole assembly of burghers.

The election being confirmed, with the customary formalities, the advoyers take an oath of office; and the procession returns, headed by the reigning advoyer.

From the consideration of this detail, it is evident, that the government of Soleure is strictly

aristocratical, the lower classes of the people hav ing little share in it. But under whatever denomination it may be classed, it is certainly mild and equitable, and the people are tranquil and contented.

The French ambassador to the Helvetic body resides at Soleure, and distributes those annual subsidies which are stipulated by treaty to be paid to the cantons.*

It has long been a disputed point, whether Switzerland gains or loses by hiring out hertroops to foreign nations in alliance with her. That the fidelity of these troops is universally allowed, is a circumstance that redounds to the honour of the national character; but, on the other hand, to traf fic in blood, and for paltry subsidies to engage in any cause, seems to betray a mercenary spirit, and a disregard of justice and humanity. It has been urged that, were it not for those drains of the people, Switzerland would be overstocked with inhabitants, and find a difficulty in procuring subsistence; but in reply to this reasoning, it may justly be alleged, that the Swiss do not use all the resources in their power; and that commerce, in particular, is far from being generally encouraged or attended to.

In short, it seems, that the only advantage the cantons derive from engaging their subjects in foreign service, is to keep up a knowledge of the art of war and a martial spirit, which might be lost, or evaporate, during the long periods of

*This must be read with a reference to the time when Mr. Coxe wrote. The former relations between France and foreign nations are now totally changed; but certainly less with Switzerland than other countries.

peace which the Swiss enjoy. In other views, they are certainly losers; for the population is by no means so large as might be desirable: in most of the great towns, there is a manifest deficiency of inhabitants; and even in the country, hands are frequently wanted for the purposes of agriculture.

Having finished his account of Soleure, we next find our author at Zuric, from which he proceeded to Albis, a small village about three leagues distant, seated on the summit of a mountain, and commanding a delightful prospect.

Farther on they passed over the field of battle at Cappel, where Zuinglius was slain. While they regretted this instance of disunion between the Swiss cantons, they could not refrain their unavailing concern at the contemplation of the premature death of that great reformer, who fell in the forty-eighth year of his age.

They pursued their journey to Zug through a most delightful country, so thickly covered with fruit trees, that the whole resembled a continued orchard.

Zug, the capital of a canton, is charmingly situated on the edge of a beautiful lake, in a fertile valley, abounding with corn,, pasture, and wood. This canton preserved its fidelity to the house of Austria, when the neighbouring states had formed themselves into independent republics; but as it afforded frequent opportunity of invasion to their grand enemy, the allied states, in 1351, laid siege to Zug, and as the Duke of Austria was in no condition to relieve it, the town, at length, was obliged to surrender. The generosity of the conquerors was equal to the courage and magnani

mity of the vanquished; for, in consequence of this submission, the canton of Zug was delivered from a foreign yoke, and was admitted into the Helvetic confederacy.

The government of this little canton is extremely complicated; and the inhabitants of the town have somewhat more influence than those in the other democratic cantons. The general administration of affairs is intrusted to the council of the regency, composed of forty members. The council, as well as the landamman, reside always in the capital.

Oswald, one of our old British kings, is the titular saint of Zug. In the church stands his statue, with the subsequent inscription:

Sanctus Oswaldus Rex Angliæ Patronus hujus Ecclesiæ.

This Oswald was a king of Northumberland, in the seventh century, and was much renowned for his chastity, and the fancied miracles he performed. Why, or by what means, he became so highly honoured at Zug, would be vain to enquire. Superstition has nothing to do with argument or reason; and Oswald, it must be confessed, is just as valuable a patron as any saint in the calender.

Having got into a boat at Zug, they rowed across the lake, about three leagues long and one broad, and landed in the canton of Schweitz. From thence they walked to Kussnacht; and in the way passed by a small chapel sacred to William Tell, and said to be erected on the spot where he shot the Austrian governor.