5 8 HINTS of OCCURRENCES, &c.

The revenues of Aix la Chapelle amount to ninety thoufand rix-dollars, eleven thoufand feven hundred andforty pounds fterling, and arife from the land-tax, duties upon foreign goods, the excife on wine, beer, brandy,meat, and the tolls on the gates and roads. This fum, though fmall, would be more than fufficient for theexpence of the date, if the exchequer were managed with propriety; and if, by the impolitic condu<5t of fome ofthe burgermeifters, the town had not been involved in difficulties with the Elector Palatine, which, together withthe civil commotions now prevailing, occafion repeated commiffions from the chamber of Wetzlaer, and muchembarrafs the public funds.

It is a general obfervation, that all nations are more or lefs influenced by a public fpirit; this fpirit is differentin different countries. In Pruffia, for inflance, it is warlike, and aims at conquefl; in Holland it is commercialand peaceful. Great-Britain worfhips Mercury and Mars alternately; and her merchantmen employed either inexporting her induftry to foreign countries, or in importing the produ<5lions of the four parts of the globe, areattended by a powerful navy, which protects them, and keeps her enemies in awe. The government of Aix laChapelle feems to be a6luated by a third kind of public fpirit, that of gambling; and if from effects we may infercaufes, the moft ftriking inflances of this fpirit will appear every w T here. All diverfions and amufements thatmay interrupt gambling, are difcouraged, impeded, and often forbidden ; nay the roads, leading to neighbour-ing places, fituated on foreign territories, where gaming-houfes have been eftablifhed in competition with thofeof Aix la Chapelle, are fuffered to decay and rendered impra6!icable; and if report, which but too often fpeakstruth, may be credited, the late revolution had its origin in gaming, and the rioters w r ere fupported out of thefunds of the gaming tables. Hence the ill-bred infolence of the monopolizers of the pharo-bank, the defertedwalks, the wretched troop of comedians, and the want of good fociety.

The cathedral, called Munjler , a bold Gothic pile, was built by Charles the Great, and by him dedicated tothe Virgin Mary. It has been repaired, and in fome meafure modernized; by which alteration its original beautyis impaired.

In the middle of this church lie the remains of its founder. The tomb of this great emperor is level with theground, and w r ould remain totally concealed from the eye of the traveller, if a huge fmoked crown of more thantwelve feet in diameter, fufpended over it by a chain from the dome of the church, did not roufe his curiofityand occafion an enquiry into its meaning. This crown, if report may be credited, is of mafly gold ; but if ita<5tually were fo, it probably would foon be converted into coin.

In