I
T R A V E L S THROUGH
CONTINUATION C
S E C T I O N VI I I .
F THE TYROLESE GOVERNMENT —
A L T H O U G H the county of Tyrol be confidered in the gcncrd divifion of Germany
as included in the Auftrian circle; it is proper "to obferve, that it has laws and cuftonis
peculiar to itfclf, totally different from the reft of the provinces belonging to that circle.
ALL affairs relating to the State are tranfafted at the Diet held at Infpruck, which
is afiembled whenever it is deemed neceflary. The Diet is compofed of deputies or
members belonging to the four orders or claffes which reprefent the nation ; conilfting
o f the church, the nobleffe, the tiers etats, or citizens, and the peafants. They are
chofen from among the fix diftriils into which the county is divided, viz. the lower
valley of Inn, the upper valley of the fame name, the diftrifl of Vinftgau, that of the
A d i g c , of tile Eifach, the valley of Puffer on the confines of Italy.
THE Diet, when affembled, has a right to deliberate on whatever relates to the general
good of the county; and has alfo the power of levying taxes, &c. When the Prince,
or Sovereign, in time of war, finds it neceffary to lay any extra impofts on the people,
he applies direilly to the Diet ; and, each time that fupplies arc granted him, he makes a
kind of acknowledgment, or declaration, that it is without prejudice to the privileges of
the county.
THE Diet alfo has the power of raifing troops when the States of Tyrol are in danger
o f being attacked. That province enjoys feveral privileges and exemptions which their
fovereigns have never attempted to infringe, the people having amply deferved them, by
their courage and fteady attachment to the houfe of Auftria.
IN time of war they all bear arms, and themfelves guard their defiles. The
French, although fuperior in numbers, and commanded by moft excellent officers,
experienced a fcvere repulfe from the Tyrolefe at the beginning of the prefcnt century:
for they defended the different paffes of the Tridentine Alps with the greateft bravery,
and prevented the enemy from entering Italy that way, as they propofed doing. The
French loft alfo vaft numbers of their troops near the city of Trent.
THE States furnifh one regiment, which bears the name of'the county: half of which
is garrifoned at Infpruck; the other half docs duty with the Auftrian troops.
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T H E RH^TIAN ALPS. 6 9
THE chief, or head of the Diet, takes the title of PrefeB, who ought, according to
the laws of the county, to be ekacd by the reprefentatives of the four eftates, from
among the clergy or nobleffe; but the Biihops of Trent, or Brixen, occupy that
d i g n i t y alternately.
THE taxes, or impofts, which are levied in the county, as alfo the, fums arifing from the
produce of the different mines belonging t o the Sovereign, are paid at the Receiver-general's
office in the Chancery, which is a large building, compofed of feveral diftinft petty offices.
THIS province grants annually 80,000 florins to Auftria, for the maintenance of
the army.
THE city of Infpruck, or ^nipontum, is the capital of Tyrol , pleafantly fjtuated on
the river Inn, which croffes it, and gives it a lively appearance. It is not extenfive,
but well built. Its fuburbs, which are confiderably larger than the city, are uniform;
the ftreets wide, and the houfes both handfome and convenient. Its elevation above the
level of the fea is 1,4.10 feet.
A s Infpruck is the feat of the prefentation of the Aulic Chamber, and where all
p u b l i c affairs, relating to the High and Interior Auftria, are revifed: it is populous,
and particularly cheaxful during the meeting of the Diet.
THE Chamber of Finance, which was formerly a palace belonging to the ancient
counts of Tyrol, termed by the people, the houfe with the golden roof, becaufe the
lead which covers it is gilt, deferves notice. It was built about the fifteenth century
b y Frederick, Duke of Auftria.
IN the garden belonging to the above palace is a beautiful equeftrian figure, itl
bronze, much larger than life, reprefenting the Archduke Leopold. -The horfe is in the
attitude of leaping, and is only fupported on his hind feet.
THE Church of the order of Cordeliers, which was alfo built in the fifteenth century
b y the Emperor Ferdinand I. is deferving the attention of travellers. It contains a
noble and fuperb Maufoleum of white marble, ereded in honour of tlie Emperor
Maximilian I. with various ornaments and bafs-reliefs, well executed, expreffive of the
courageous exploits of that Prince. There are alfo a number of ftatues reprefenting
the moft celebrated perfons of both fexes belonging to the houfe of Auftria. There is
another maufoleum in the fame church, fimple, but worthy remark, built by the
Emperor Ferdinand I. for his wife Philippina Welfer. The various gold and Tilver
ornaments which have been given to that church by individuals is aftonifliing: among
other rich gifts, is the figure of the Archduke Jofeph, in gold, as large as a new-born
infant, a donation of the Emprefs Maria Thcrefa, immediately after his birth, in 1741.
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