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beautifully situated above the valley of the
Aar, on the road to Thoun, and commanding
a fine view of the Swiss Alps.
Simplicity, neatness, and substantial comfort
seemed to characterise every part of
the establishment; the furniture, the table,
the equipage, &c. I could not avoid reflecting
how generally real enjoyment is
sacrificed, in my own country, to fashion,
luxury and display. With all their external
simplicity, however, it is well known,
that the aristocracy of Berne have as high
an estimation of their own importance,
and are as little disposed to yield any of
their privileges, as the titled aristocracy in
any country in Europe. The canton of the
Pays de Vaud was gained by the Bernese
from the dukes of Savoy, in the sixteenth
century and was ever after treated nominally
as a conquered country. Though the government
o f the Bernese was mild, compared
with that of Savoy, it was still galling to
the pride of the Vaudois, who were regarded
as beings made of an inferior sort
of clay to the ancient seigneurs of B e rn e ;
hence, a bitter hatred took root, which led
to the separation of the Pays de Vaud from
Berne at the conclusion of the late war ; but
the Bernese look forward to some future
change which may re-establish their dominion
over the Vaudois. Had the council of
Berne acted towards the Pays de Vaud
with the liberal policy of the ancient Romans,
and incorporated the country into
their own, with a community of rights,
there cannot be a doubt but that the union
of the two cantons would have been a mutual
benefit to both. As it is, the germs of
future disunion are deeply sown in the
Helvetic confederacy, which Austria will
endeavour to take advantage o f ; for that
state has never lost sight of the possession
of Switzerland. But it was too much to
expect from the Bernese, in the sixteenth
century, correct and liberal views of government
; for there are few countries professing
to be free, where the principles of
government are even now, less understood
than at Berne. The doctrine of the divine
right of kings and governors, as maintained
by the Tories in the time of the Stuarts, is
still cherished here in its full extent. But,
however defective the theory of the Bernese
government may be, tbe practice is excellent
; for though the people are very imperfectly
represented in the councils, the
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