Switzerland, Or, a Journal of a Tour and Residence in That Country, in the Years 1817, 1818 and 1819 (Volume 2); Followed by an Historical Sketch on the Manners and Customs of Ancient and Modern Helvetia in Which the Events of Our Own Time Are Fully Detai (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822. Excerpt: ... POLICY OF BUONAPARTE in an appendix to this work. The meeting lasted from one o'clock in the afternoon till eight in the evening. The earnest interest taken by Buonaparte in the welfare of Switzerland, and his anxious desire to suit its civil institutions to the local prejudices and habits of each small community, was wholly military and political; he looked on Switzerland as an important military position, a watch tower between three great divisions of Europe, of which the act of mediation secured the possession to him without the trouble and expense of a garrison. This act conciliated the people of the subject districts (forming three-fourths of the country, and heretofore held as private property by the remaining sovereign fourth), for it declared there should be no subject districts in Switzerland, no exclusive privileges. It pleased the aristocracy, by giving them a certain preponderance in the six cantons directeurs; it pleased also the democratic cantons, satisfied with any thing not umtaire. Buonaparte found no difficulty in securing an influence over the leading men in each of the cantons, both democratic and aristocratic, whose pride he condescended to flatter on all occasions, and most of whom were anxious to accept of public missions at his court, their ready obedience RESPECTING SWITZERLAND.. 543 going generally a good deal beyond what might have been deemed indispensable. The treaty, offensive and defensive, imposed on the cantons the obligation of furnishing a body of sixteen thousand effective men; and as the cantons had not the resource of the conscription, high bounties became necessary to obtain voluntary enlistments; but this expense afforded the different governments the plea of necessity to obtain money by taxes, while to the members...