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DOMESTIC MANNERS OF TUE PEUSSIANS.

At this period Constanz itself contained somo 40,000 in-habitants; its cloth manufactures were thc most celebratedthroughout Europe, and its wealth the envy of all Germany.The Session of the Council, however, attracted towards thetown such an enormous host of strangers, that its workingpopulation and artisans were obliged to quit the city on accountof the dearness of provisions and lodgings. The emigrantsretired to the Canton of St. Gall, where they settled, andsince that period Constanz has never regained its ancientprosperity.

The Council had for its main object the vindication of theauthority of the General Councils, to which the Roman Pontiffwas declared to be amenable; or, in other words, it sought, first,to put an end to the schism of the three Anti-Popes who thendivided the Romish Church, viz. Gregory XII., who had beenelected during the minor schism in the East, while Bene-dict XIII. (the Anti-Pope of Avignon) yet lived — and theinfamous John XXIII., who had been chosen during the"greater schism" which followed. The second object ofthe Council was to consider and report on the doctrines ofthe " arch-heretic," John Huss.

Indeed, the Diet professed to have but one single endin view — the remedying of the abuses of the Church.Accordingly, it commenced its proceedings with a declarationthat a Council of the heads of the Church obtained, throu<rh

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divine right, supreme authority in all matters of religion—evensuperior to that of the Pope. Its next step, therefore, was todepose the existing Popes, and to elect Martin V. in theirstead.

The crowning act of the Council, however,—an act whichcasts everlasting odium on its members — was the treacherousimprisonment and subsequent burning of John Huss, eventhough bis protection had been guaranteed by the Warrant of