sacks of corn, to prevent monopoly, and fifty thousand francs, or nearly t,vo hundred
and eight pounds sterling, to supply the city in case of emergency.
Their business consists in disposing of the Hour to the hakers, and to individuals,
at a moderate, hut fixed price, and of the best quality; and the commissioners have
it not in their power to raise or increase the price without the consent of oire of the
syndics.
A distinguished care on the part of the government, combined with a well-digested
system of laws, operated as a great blessing to the Genevese, who ma, be considered
as making one large family. No people in the world appeared to have so much
in their possession,-" enjoying," as Dr. Moore justly observes, " freedom without
licentiousness, and security unbought by the horrors of war."
Thus did they remain a length of time, in spite of the internal disagreements which
now and then occurred, and which may be compared to the bickerings that sometimes
happen in families, among the younger and elder branches i and if they had
retained sufficient fortitude to preserve that original simplicity of manners and amiableness
of character, which had so deservedly attracted the admiration of their neighbours,
and strangers in general, their happiness might have been permanent. But,
alas! that very industry and activity, which had for ages strengthened them against
their enemies, nnfortunately accelerated their fall, for, in proportion as Geneva became
rich and opulent, avarice and selishneis rapidly increased,-circumstances which induced
a well-known modem writer (the chevalier de BouBler), justly esteemed for the beauty
of his poetry, to observe, in his Tour to Switzeriand—" That the Genevese were in no
want of money, and much less of knowledge and information,—hut that they were
ignorant of the manner of using either for their own happiness: that the women were
handsome, but eumjles d la morl, or aieariei to deaUt, though they richly deserved to be
amused -."—In fine, he concludes by comparing the French and the Swiss to a couple of
gardeners, one of whom amuses himself in the cultivation of flowers, and the other of
cabbages. Certain it is, that during my last residence in that city, the general topic of
conversation seemed to be totally engrossed by the cmpruM, or loan on the Innte-ttles
and io„ie-léla. being a kind of tontine raised at Paris, as likewise insurances,&c.-transactions
which are known to have gone far towards hastening the ruin of France, and
of the individuals who had unfortunately allowed themselves thus to speculate. Even
amiable young women, who, from their youth and beauty, might have been supposed
» UMiai!.,
more conversant with the sentiments of the heart than with the principles of interest,
were led on by example, and made it their favourite topic, eagerly allotting to that
purpose whatever spare money they could accumulate, instead of employing it in many
respects more appropriate to their sex and youth.
In fact, the desire of becoming rich so universally prevailed, at that time, through
every rank and class of people at Geneva, as to give them more the appearance of speculators,
jobbers, and money-lenders, vying with each other who should amass the most,
than as humble inhabitants of the Alps, and peaceable allies of the Swiss,
If Geneva, from the above picture, be considered at that period as declining from that
zenith of virtue and glory she had so justly acquired, it must, however, be acknowledged
that her opulence and refined luxury had been retained, her commerce being then at its
highest pinnacle of prosperity.-every thing denoting an active and busy scene, more like
a maritime town than one above four hundred English miles distant from the sea. At
St. Gervais in particular, a part of the city on the right bank of the Rhône, the whole
business of Europe, in watch-making, seemed to be centered, while at the Moriand,
and the Rues-basses, articles of trade were exhibited on so large a scale, as to create the
greatest surprise in all strangers,-and, what with the immense number of loaded and
unloaded barges continually in the harbour, the huge bales, cases, and casks, c"
about the quays, added to the busy appearance displayed by the people in their v
departments, emotions of wonder were powerfully exched.
But at the Paquis and Eaiuc-vives, situate at the north-east of the town, travelers
who have either seen Lyons or Zurich may, for the moment, suppose themselves transported
to one of those places, from the extreme number of manufactories in different
branches, the extent of their bleaching-grounds. Sec. S j c . - i n short, the activity in every
part of the city at that time was so considerable, as to mate its population, then estimated
at about twenty-four thousand souls, appear to exceed one hundred thousand.
By these means tlie inhabitants of this little republic were enabled to procure not
only articles of absolute necessity (which the contracted hmits of their territory could
not furnish), but even every desirable comfort. The greatest part of the poorer class of
citizen, had sufficient at the errd of the week, after providing for themselves and families,
to allow them the enjoyment of humble recreations.
The taste for rural amusements among the Genevese is such, that after public worship
on the Sunday, the city becomes, as it were, deserted, the major part of the inhabitants