of the existence of much bolder views, at least in some of its memhers, by a measure brought forwards in the Chamber of Commons on November 7th. The Jarge proportion of landed property in Sicily possessed by the ecclesiastical corporations is the cause that the number of landholders is very inconsiderable, to the great detriment of agriculture. As a remedy for this evil, the plan of a law was proposed, enacting the perpetual alienation of all ter

ritorial property, domainal or fendal, held by churches, pious foundations, orders of knighthood, episcopal sees, and universities, under the condition of an annual payment to the present titulars, calculated upon their existing emoluments. There seems, however, little probability that such a sweeping innovation, so contrary to the spirit elsewhere prevailing, will be adopted in an assembly of which the noble and ecclesiastical orders are a constituent part.

CHAPTER

HILST the greater part of

vetic body, which, however wise

the European continent were waiting, in suspense, and under protisional occupation, the decision of the great powers respecting their future condition, the Swiss confederacy was employed in settling at a national diet the terms on which they were hereafter to exist as an independent commuaity. In the beginning of July, a Federal Compact of the Cantons was accepted by the Grand Council. The sovereign cantons composing the confederation, in num ber nineteen, were thus enumerated: Uri, Schweitz, Underwald, Lucerne, Zurich, Glaris, Zug, Bern, Friburg, Soleure, Basil, Schaffhausen, Appenzel, St. Gall, the Grisons, Argovia, Thurgovia, Tessin, and Vaud.

The plan of confederation, con sisting of a number of articles, was based upon a principle of equality of rights among all the communities forming the Hel

union, could scarcely fail of exciting discontent in such of the cantons as were reduced in their relative importance, and especially those which had possessed subjects. At the head of these was Bern, long the most wealthy and populous of the cantons, and the sovereign of several dependent districts which it had ruled as a master. Not long after the publication of the federal compact, the Avoyer and Council of the republic of Bern issued a proclamation addressed to "their faithful and dear subjects of the Canton," which began with reciting the infraction of the ancient Swiss confederation by the power of France in 1798, and the restoration of the legitimate government in Bern, under the influence of the allied powers, in the last December. It then complained of the renewal of all the former acts of injustice towards the canton by the new

federal

federal pact, which had parcelled out the canton of Bern still more than heretofore, had stripped it of rights over countries acquired by their ancestors, and separated it from its ancient subjects. After stating some other grounds of complaint, the proclamation proceeded to mention the sacrifices which the canton had been willing to make for the sake of union. The grand council had not only abandoned the rights of the state over the ancient common seignories, but had expressed their intention to leave, upon equitable conditions, its liberty to the country of Vaud. They could not, out of gratitude to their subjects of Argovia for their fidelity, renounce the Bernese part of that country, but they had opened a plan for their union with the canton, and had offered them a share in all the rights and advantages of Bernese subjects. The paper concluded with expressing a desire to defend the constitution and rights of the canton against all attacks, and called upon all to whom it was addressed, for their support.

Switzerland was at this time far from being in a tranquil state. The Vaudois and the Argovians were resolute in asserting their independence on Bern. Some time before, a conspiracy was formed at Soleure for taking possession of the town, and deposing the ruling party, which was disconcerted by an accident; and its ill success was said to have prevented the execution of a similar plot at Bern. The canton of St. Gall having made a demand of a federal aid from the Diet, on account of a spirit of disobedience manifested in the districts of Uznach and

Sargans, the ministers of the allied powers thought it proper to interpose by a note addressed to the Diet on August 8th. In this, the ministers express their regret for the doubts they have been compelled to entertain of the firmness with which they hoped that body. would maintain the arrangements of their circular of May 31st, which established the immuțability of the status quo of the possessions of every canton, and of the political relations of their inhabitants, till the definitive settlement of affairs in general; and in a tone of authority they require the preservation of the public peace by a vigorous execution of that provisory law. This interposition, together with the disturbed state of Switzerland, appear to have excited very serious apprehensions in the political leaders, and on August 16th, the President of the Diet addressed in his own name (that body not then sitting) a circular to all the governments of the cantons. After reciting the violent opposition which the Federal Compact had met with, and the necessity under. which the Diet had found itself of framing a new plan with various modifications, the President warmly exhorts the cantons to unanimity, and proceeds to say, "A note of the ministers of Austria, Russia, and England, officially communicated to the deputations in our sitting of this day, shews the danger which a longer division may draw down upon our country. The opening of the General Congress, a period of the greatest importance to Switzerland in particular, as well as to Europe in general, is approaching, Switzerland

Switzerland attracts the attention of foreign powers; and it daily becomes more probable, that if the Swiss confederation be not fixed at that time, her constitution will no longer depend on herself, but her fate be determined without her participation." He then announces the intention of the Diet to return to Zurich on the 4th of September, in order to resume its deliberations on the following day, and take the necessary steps to obtain the guaranty of the independence of Switzerland at the general congress, and regulate its political interests.

The Diet having assembled at the time appointed, was not long in coming to a conclusion on this weighty point; and on September Sth made a decree, that the treaty of alliance between the nineteen cantons, of which the tenor was subjoined, should be signed and sealed as a true federal convention. The following are the most impor. tant articles of this compact. The cantons reciprocally guarantee each other's constitution, as accepted by the chief authorities of each canton in conformity with the principles of the alliance; and also their territories. For the maintenance of the guaranty, a contingent of troops is appointed to be raised, in a specified proportion for each canton, calculated at two men in every hundred, and amounting to a total of 30,006; which proportion is subject to revision in 1815. A contribution for defraying the expenses of war and of the confederation is next allotted for each canton, the whole sum being 490,507 francs; in addition to which, a federal Treasury is established, to be supplied by duties on foreign goods,

not being articles of the first necessity. In case of danger, external or internal, each canton is entitled to claim the aid of the confederates; and all differences or claims between canton and canton, not provided for by the treaty of alliance, are to be decided by the confederation. No alliance is to be made between separate cantons unfavourable to the general confederation, or to the rights of other cantons. The confederation admits the principle, according to which, having recognized the 19 cantons, there is no longer any subject in Switzerland; whence the enjoyment of rights cannot any longer be the exclusive privilege of any particular class of citizens.

The Diet is to consist of nineteen members, one from each can. ton, every canton having a vote by its deputy. The business of the Diet is to take care of the affairs of the confederation. It declares war, makes peace, concludes alliances with foreign states, but in these important matters two-thirds of the voices are requisite for a determination; in others, a majority. It also decides on treaties of commerce. It names envoys from the confederation. The cantons may severally contract treaties to furnish soldiers, and other minor engagements with foreign powers, not infringing the general confederation. Such was the main substance of this compact, which was ratified by the agreement of a majority of the cantons, and on which the Diet received the congratulations of the ministers of the three allied powers. An union of Geneva, Neufchatel, and the Valais, with the Helvetic body, was afterwards effected,

The

The restoration of the republic of Geneva to a state of independence, was a consequence of the overthrow of French usurpation, which cannot fail of giving pleasure to all who have been interested by the moral and literary character of that eity. Occupied provisionally by the Austrian troops on their entrance into France, and burdened by the usual military requisitions, it was soon permitted to entertain hopes of a favourable change in its condition. On May Ist, the envoys extraordinary of their imperial and royal majesties addressed a declaration to the syndics and council of Geneva, in which, referring to an address presented by the citizens of Geneva on April 22d to the provisional council, expressing their wishes for the restoration of the republic, and its aggregation to the Helvetic body, they congratulate the Genevans on the accession of the provisional council to their desires. They affirm that the allied powers are desirous that the republic of Geneva, strengthened by a liberal constitution, and by a suitable increase of territory, should offer itself to Switzerland as a co-estate; for which purpose they advise that the provisional council should employ itself in preparing the plan of a constitutional act for the republic, the cantons being now engaged at Zurich in drawing up their federal compact; and they declare that Geneva sball be authentically acknowledged in the possession of its political rights, and of the territory which the allied powers intend to assign it.

The full concurrence of the court of England to this disposition of the other allies was made known on August 4th, by a note

to the provisional government transmitted by M. d'Ivernois from Mr. Stratford Canning, minister plenipotentiary from the Prince Regent to the Swiss Confederation. In this paper his Royal Highness expresses in the most obliging terms his friendly sentiments towards Geneva, and promises his efforts at the congress to bring to effect the purposes in its favour declared by his allies.

On August 18th, two companies of Zurichers arrived at Geneva to form its garrison; and on the same day was published the constitution of the Genevan republic. The following are its most important articles. The Protestant religion is the predominant. There shall be at Geneva a church appropriated to the Catholic worship; it shall be maintained at the expense of the state. The constitution recognizes neither patricians nor privileged classes. All the Genevese are equal in the eye of the law. The liberty of the press is acknowledged, but every work must be signed. Should circumstances require it, the representative body shall have power to limit the exercise of that liberty. The legislative power is vested in a representative council, composed of 250 members, or 268, including the syndics and council of state. The legislative council shall conform to the general laws of the Helvetic confederation; it shall possess authority to fix the taxes annually, to accept or reject treaties, to coin money, to appoint to the administrative and judicial offices that are reserved for it, to regulate all matters relative to the ordinary and extraordinary diets, and to name the deputies to the latter. The representative council

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