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trast exhibited by some of your poor neighbours, and known the benefits of your state !
Should ye not, instead of opposing yourselves to the laws established and adopted in
1782, have tried to have maintained and supported them, and seen that they were properly
executed ? On the other hand, had your magistrates, instead of being desirous of increasing
the powers already granted by those laws, made the trifling sacrifices required
by the then existing circumstances, would not the calamities which have, since the year
1790, desolated your republic, as well as the turbulent contentions and anarchy which
have taken place in your government, which may always be considered as a prelude or
forerunner to revolutions, have in all probability been avoided?
Distractions and encroachments are too often accelerated or instigated by the ambition,
ignorance, and avarice, of a few individuals, who, in order to realise their vicious
and atrocious designs, commit every species of horror and extortion in the name of the
people and nation whom they thus so cruelly deceive and prey upon.
But, to return to the cause of my being awakened so suddenly the morning after my
arrival.—It may be necessary to inform my reader, that it being Sunday, a day in
general set apart by the Genevese for rural amusements and parties on the water
(though seldom till after religious service), the report of fire-arms, &c. which I had so
unexpectedly heard, was occasioned by several of the inhabitants being, even at so early
an hour, in their boats, or rather small barges, ornamented according to the taste of the
owner. "While gradually spreading their sails, the variegated flags, gaily floating on the
lake, displayed their colours to the greatest advantage,—all together forming a beautiful
and pleasing effect, bringing to my mind the regatta at Venice.
These parties were generally accompanied by music, and small pieces of artillery,
employed for the purpose of saluting each other as they passed, as well as those whose
villas are seated on the banks of the lake. It was also customary to take provisions on
board, and to stop at some of the most picturesque spots, with which that beautiful lake
abounds, and there spend the greatest part of the day in simple and innocent amusements.
I do not hesitate in styling them innocent; nor can I sufficiently extol the good
manners or polite morals and courtesy of the female Genevese,—although at first they
may probably make a contrary impression on the mind of a common observer, on
account of the extreme liveliness, vivacity, and affability displayed in their character.
Thus did chance throw in my way what induced me to form a favourable idea of the
happiness of the Genevese : but having, some time after, had occasion to make a longer
51
stay at Geneva, and of course to be better enabled to judge of the manners and genius of
the people, I shall here produce the fruit of my researches as to what relates to, or is
connected with, the leading facts of their political history, previous to my entering on
their character, industry, commercial resources, &c.
From the most authentic accounts, it appears that the city of Geneva was known to
the Romans by the name it now bears, but that it was afterwards corrupted into Gebenna,
or Geneva, and even to that of Genabmn, as is found in several copies of " Antoninus's
Itinerary." Its origin is so ancient, as to render it impossible to fix its epoch
with any certainty ; though it seems to have existed at as early a period as any of the
cities in that part of Europe ; and that, previous to the conquest of the Allobroges
by the Romans, about one hundred and twenty-two years before the Christian Era,
it had for a length of time been esteemed one of the principal towns of that country.
Indeed some historians go farther, and pretend that it was even the capital, and that
Vienne in Dauphiny, or Vienna Allobrogum, was not considered as the metropolis till
after the entire subjugation of Gallia Narbonensis by Julius Caesar [Vide D'Anville's
Notice de la Gaule) : for which reason, Christianity having been introduced there
towards the middle of the third century, the bishops who were afterwards sent became
suffragans to those of Aries, and since of Vienne.
It is however evident, that Geneva was not so considerable at that epoch as at present
J since, in the time of the Romans, its extent went no further than that part of the
city which now stands on the left bank of the Rhône. Hence it appears, that to Julius
Coesar may be attributed the annexation of the small island formed fay the two branches
of that river, where it breaks out of the lake, on which he built a square tower, which is
still extant, and nearly entire. It is not improbable that this tower may have been
extremely serviceable, not only in protecting the city on the side of the Helvetii,
but in flanking and defending the head of the intrenchments, or walls, erected by that
general along the course of the Rhône, extending from Geneva to the basis of the
Vouaches, opposite the defile of Cluse.
The remains of these intrenchments prove, by their solidity, construction, and judgment
in directing them, the skill and military talents of him by whose command they
were erected, who had not only learned the art of subduing so extensive a part of
Europe, but, in general, to behave as a lenient conqueror to those whom he had
subdued.
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