CONTENTS CHAP. I.-Helvetia discovered by the Greeks, and described by them--Cæsar it first Historian-He repressed the Helvetic Invasion of the Roman Pro- CHAP. II.-Geographical Description-The Rhetians or Hetrurians-Ancient Helvetia, a League of Four States, resembling the Swiss Confederation -Helvetian Character changed under Roman Control, and Civilization advanced-Aventicum-National Manners-Rapacity of Roman Travellers -Helvetia subjected to military Execution-Affecting Story of Julia Al- CHAP. III.-Last Struggles of the Roman Empire-Attila and the Huns, Bur- gundians, Allemani, Ostrogoths, occuping Helvetia in the Fifth Century- The Burgundians dispossessed by the Franks-Burgundian Laws described -Government of the Descendants of Clovis-Hermits' Cells and Monas- CHAP. IV. Christianity introduced into Helvetia by Scotchmen-Invading Huns from the North defeated at Dissartes-The Arabs from the South vanquished by Charles Martel-Age of Darkness without an Historian- Pepin and Charlemagne-Government of the latter-Feudal Institutions- The Influence and Authority of the Clergy useful in those Ages-Mar- CHAP. V. The Invasions of Turks or Hungarians-Queen Bertha-End of the World-Monasteries founded-House of Hapsburgh-Ida of Lorraine- Learning of the Monks described-their Husbandry-Mode of Living 47 CHAP. VI.-The Treuga Dei-Burgundy, and the whole of Helvetia, fall under the Protection of the Emperor-Noble Families ruined-New Monasteries and Abbeys founded in the Deserts of Helvetia-Glaris-Rise of Towns- Henry I. fortifies them, and institutes the middle Class of Burghers-Ar- nold of Brescia-Degeneracy of the Clergy-Curious Clause in the Agree- ment between the Bishops and the Count de Genevois CHAP. VII. Rise of the Waldstetten-Constitution of Berne-Anecdote of the Heroic Count Peter of Savoy-He obtains a Grant of Fiefs in Switzer- land from Richard, Earl of Cornwall, Emperor for a while-The Swiss resist a papal Interdict and their own Clergy-The three Waldstetten re- ceive a Diploma from the Emperor in testimony of their Valour CHAP. VIII.-Rodolph of Hapsbourgh protects the Townsmen against the Nobility-An Account of him and his Reign-Traits of his Wars, showing the Tactics and Manners of the Times-The Jews-Rodolph besieges b 72 CONTENTS. CHAP. XXXIII-Rousseau-Emile and the Contrat Social-Dissensions at Geneva concerning his Prosecution-Foreign Mediation-Arrogance of the French Plenipotentiary-The Magistrates gradually yield Page 330 CHAP. XXXIV.-Natifs the Occasion of fresh Disturbances-Interference of France-Duc de Choiseul and Voltaire-A Code-An independent and supreme Judge--Revolution of 1782-France, Savoy, and Berne, besiege Geneva-the Patriots subdued-Claviere-Patriotism suspicious when a CHAP. XXXV.-The History of Switzerland resumed from the Death of Zuinglius-Great Change in Manners and Morals-Political Union of the Cantons weakened-Religious Wars during the Whole of the Seventeenth Century Death of Louis XIV.-End of religious Controversy, 1712-The Aristocracy strengthened-Exaggeration of Travellers respecting Switzer- CHAP. XXXVI.-Natural Differences between the Cantons-The seven old aristocratic Cantons-The six old democratic Cantons-Corrupt Adminis- tration of Justice in the democratic Cantons-The Grisons-The Tyro- CHAP. XXXVII.-Constitution of Berne-Union of the Cantons weakened by the Difference of Religion CHAP. XXXVIII--French Revolution-M. de la Harpe, Preceptor of Alex- ander-Invasion of Switzerland-Systematic Plunder-Taking of Ge- CHAP. XXXIX.-Constitution unitaire-The democratic Cantons compelled, by the most cruel Treatment, to submit to it-Switzerland the Seat of War for two Years-Campaign of Massena and Suwarrow-Policy of Buona- SWITZERLAND. CHAPTER I. Helvetia discovered by the Greeks, and described by them-Cæsar its first Historian-He repressed the Helvetic Invasion of the Roman Provinces. THE obscurity which so often attends the origin of nations is not wholly due to the absence of all early records, but also to the variety of descent of the first inhabitants, brought together from different countries, at different periods. We might as well ask what waters first penetrated into the Mediterranean, as what race of men first discovered, or first occupied, any particular spot of the earth. In an attempt to remove this obscurity, in regard to Switzerland, Muller, its learned historian, establishes on certain passages of the classics the following ingenious theory. A colony of Phoceans*, reduced by the arms of Cyrus, abandoned their own country, and founded, near the mouth of the Rhone, a city called Massilia, (Marseilles), which soon became rich and powerful. They afterwards, he says, explored the whole course of the Rhone, as far as its junction with another river, (the Saone), where Lyons arose in after times; and, * Herodotus. VOL. II. B 2 HELVETIA DISCOVERED still guided by the Rhone, they reached a chain of mountains, the Jura*, through which that river pours its waters by a narrow channel. They discovered beyond those mountains the melancholy abode of the Celtst, on the banks of a great lake, which they called the lake of the wilderness. Pursuing their journey along its banks, they found the Rhone again entering it, and observed the difference between the colour of the waters. They marked the long narrow vale, dark abode of eternal night §, along which the Rhone pursues its rapid course to the lake. The lofty mountains, where its source is hid, they poetically compared to the pillars of the sun ||, (solis columnas,) probably from the circumstance of its rays dwelling upon them long after it was apparently set. It is curious to imagine such a country as Switzerland, in the state in which the interior of America is in our days, and to hear Grecian adventurers speaking of the Rhone and the Lake of Geneva, much as Canadian hunters do of Lake Michigan and the Blue Fox River! When the Helvetians invaded the Roman provinces * "Jou Rag, in Celtic, reign of God," says Loys de Bochat, "is the name of one of the Hebrides, very high and mountainous, and the ancient name of Grand St. Bernard was Jou, which is more likely to be of Celtic than of Roman origin, Mons Jovis." + Apollonius Rhodius. Rufi Festi Avieni. Descriptio Ora Maritimæ à Gadibus ad Massiliam usque. § Apollonius Rhodius. || Festus. BY THE GREEKS! 3 in Cæsar's time, they carried a return of their forces in the Greek language, and this circumstance, mentioned in the Commentaries*, might in some degree countenance the foregoing historical theory, and even the supposition that the Greeks established colonies in Helvetia, between the Reuss and the Rhine. Yet when, at this day, we find the archives of every German state full of Latin documents of the middle ages, we do not conclude that the inhabitants are of Roman origin. Helvetia received the name of Switzerland about the middle of the fifteenth century, and the Helvetians are noticed, for the first time in Roman history, little more than a century before our era, as allies of the Cimbres and Teutones, invading the Roman provinces. These confederates defeated the consul Silanus, near Marseilles; but another Roman army passing the Alps in their rear, compelled them to return in hastè to defend their own country. A young hero, (Diviko), certainly the first Helvetic name on record, commanded his countrymen; Lucius Cassius, the Romans. The two armies met about the place where the Rhone falls into the Lake of Geneva, and the conquerors of all Italy, the masters of Greece and Macedonia, who Cæsar says, that this return of the Helvetian forces, found in their camp after their defeat, was written in Greek letters, which might mean in the Grecian language, or Grecian characters only, probably the latter. + The Swiss antiquarian, Loys de Bochat. |