870 S WI T Z E

some portions of the population, who renounced theauthority of Prussia, and demanded a new constitu-tion. The insurgents were however soon put down ;and the country has since been tranquil.

The natural history and geographical features ofthis interesting country must now be briefly noticed.Switzerland, the most elevated district in Europe,consists chiefly of mountains, lying near together, orpiled one upon another, with narrow valleys betweenthem. The highest mountains are found in Uri,Berne, Underwalden, and the Grisons. Of about sixtySwiss mountains which have been measured, thehighest is Monte Rosa, 15,535 feet high ; the lowest,Cholet, is 3000 feet high. The lowest region of theproductive mountains is covered with thick forestsand rich meadows ; the middle consists of hills andnarrow passes, containing pastures ; the third regionis composed of sharp and almost inaccessible rocks,either wholly bare, without earth or grass, or coveredwith perpetual ice and snow. The middle regionsare inhabited in summer by herdsmen, who find goodpasturage for their cattle, and obtain excellent waterfrom the mountain springs and streams. The herds-men give an account of the milk, butter and cheeseto the owners of the cattle, or pay them a stipulatedportion of the proceeds.

The glaciers, more than 400 in number, are eitherthe barren parts of the mountains, or heights whichconsist only of snow and ice. These icy mountainsbegin in the canton of Glarus, and extend to the Gri-sons, thence to the canton of Uri, and, finally, downto Berne. The glaciers are produced by rocky val-leys, whose declivities are too small to admit of theready descent of the water of the melted snow and ice,so that they are gradually filled up by vast masses ofsnow and ice, which accumulate in them. The con-tinual alternation of hill and valley affords the moststriking natural scenes in ever}' part of Switzerland.In some places, within a short distance, the travellermay see at the same time all the seasons of the year ;and it is often possible to stand between spring andsummer, so as almost to collect snow with one hand, andto pluck flowers from the soil with the other. Everymountain has its waterfalls ; and, as their sources aresometimes lost in the clouds, the cataracts seem todescend from the skies. Switzerland abounds inlakes and rivers, the fisheries of which are valuable,and which serve to embellish the landscape. Thelake of Zurich, one of the most picturesque in Switzer-land,is twenty-five miles in length by three in breadth.The lake of Geneva is about fifty miles long and eightto ten wide. The lake of Neufchatel, is twenty-eightby six ; and the lake of Lucerne, or the Vierwaldtstad-tersee, twenty-five miles long, and, where widest, asmany broad, is celebrated for its beautiful envi-rons. The largest rivers are the Rhine, the Reuss, orRuss, the Rhone, and the Tessino, or Ticino. TheRhine is remarkable for its falls, and the Reuss for abridge, called the Devil’s Bridge, which leads over itin the canton of Uri. It connects two mountains,between which the water rolls at the depth of seven-ty-five feet below it. There are springs of excellentwater among the hills, with warm and cold baths, andmineral springs.

In Thurgau, a part of Zurich, Basle, Schaffhausen,Berne, Soleure, and Friburg, every thing is different;for although there are some mountains, yet this partof Switzerland is more level ; there are here noAlps, no cataracts, few trees, and, in summer, neither

RL AND.

ice nor snow. In general, the foot of the mountainsalmost every where is covered with farms, meadows,vineyards, and trees ; and even amidst the rocks,there are numerous cultivated patches. Switzerlandis rich in minerals, especially lime and clay, slate,black, grey, and dark-red marble, porphyry and ala-baster ; also quartz, crystals, peat, coal, &c. Silver,copper and iron ore likewise occur. Gold dust isfound in the rivers.

The flora of Switzerland is peculiarly rich. Thecultivation of the vine is carried to a great extent,and a considerable trade is carried on w ith France,Holland, England, and Suabia. Fruits are abundant,but corn is not produced in great quantities, owingartly to the great numbers of cattle which are bredere. The breeding of cattle is the chief employ-ment of the inhabitants, for which the rich pasturesof the valleys and hills afford great advantages. TheSwiss cheeses are imported in great numbers intoGermany, France, and Italy. Of the wild animals,the most important is the chamois ; the ibex, the mar-mot, and the lammergeier, or vulture of the Alps, arealso found. As to manufactures, those of linen, cot-ton, and, of late years, silk, are the most important.

The Swiss confederacy, according to the terms ofthe federal compact between the twenty-two cantons,is a federative state of twenty-two republics, whoconduct their domestic concerns wholly indepen-dently of one another. Appenzell and Underwalden,however, consist of two distinct parts ; and, in 1832,Basle was also divided into two portions. The con-federacy, as its limits were determined by the congressof Vienna, contains an area of nearly 20,000 squaremiles. The size and population of the cantons are asfollows :—

Cantons.

Sq. miles.

Population.

Ziirich

. 953

224,150

Berne

3(165

356,710

Lucerne

. 762

105,600

Uri .

508

13,930

Schweitz

. 466

36,040

Underwalden

258

23,150

Glarus

. 460

28,000

Zug

116

14,710

Friburg .

. 487

67,814

Soleure

487

54,380

Basle

. 275

55,330

Schaffhausen

169

28,050

Appenzell

. 222

57,510

St. Gall

847

157,700

Grisons .

. 2966

98,090

Aargau

762

152,900

Thurgau .

. 349

89,845

Tessin

. 1133

103,950

Pays de Vaud

. 1483

178,880

Valais .

. 1949

77,570

Neufchatel

. 296

56,640

Geneva

95

53,560

We cannot close our notice of this beautiful coun-

try, without furnishing our readers with a few factsillustrative of the most advantageous mode of pass-ing through its wild and picturesque districts, andbecoming acquainted with its wonders, both of natureand art.

For travelling in Switzerland, the months of July,August, and September, afford the most settled wea-ther. The most delightful season is in September,and often even in October, when the shores of thelakes of Geneva, Neufchatel, and Bienne, and the