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The town of Merges is likewise the seat of ooe of the largest bailiwics of the
Pays-dc-Vaud, including within its jurisdiction eighty villages, three small towns, and
forty seigneuries or manors. Its soil is fertile, producing much corn and wine ; and vast
quantities of cattle are bred in its neighbourhood :—in fact, I know few towns in
Switzerland where the inhabitants appear to enjoy more real happiness and comfort
than at Morges, which, with the air of prosperity and neatness that reigns throughout,
naturally accounts for its being much frequented by strangers.
I shall here give the description of a fête, which took place on the day I was passing
through it in my way to Lausanne, and which detained me some hours longer than
I had intended in the town.
Since the annexation of the Pays-de-Vaud to Switzerland, its inhabitants have insensibly
adopted the usages and customs of the Helvetic cantons ; and, like them, have also
formed several companies of archers and carabiniers, who exercise themselves during a
certain time of the year, and sometimes on Sundays, after public worship.
The government, sensible of the policy and utility of encouraging such recreations,
grant annual prizes to those who excel, and can shoot nearest the mark, so as to carry
off, wi th either arrow or bullet (making use of both), a small wooden bird, placed at
the distance of about one hundred and sixty paces in the front of the target. Besides
the above prize, which is invariably a sum of money paid out of the treasury, there
are other honourable badges, such as titles of merit, or pieces of plate, &c.—gifts
conferred by the baiUff, who never faiis assisting at the ceremony, as well as the magistrates
and most respectable families of the country : so that these meetings are in
general numerous, attracting a vast concourse of people. Yet, though this species of
amusement be frequent in Switzeriand, the capital prizes are never given but on particular
days—as on the solemnisation of some great annual festival, which, in the Paysde
Vaud, is commonly on the 2d of May and 2i2d of June, in commemoration of the
victory won at Morat, See. over Charies the Bold, duke of Burgundy.
Fortunately, arriving on one of the above-mentioned days at Morges. I had the satisfaction
of witnessing a part of this joyful festival. As I drew near the town, I discerned
the emblems of rejoicing displayed on every side; and, on entering, met, in the midst
of drums beating, bells ringing, banners flying, bearing the arms of the Thirteen Cantons,
a procession of the military, archers, and carabiniers, all in their uniform, attended
by a band of martial music, proceeding to the Maison-de-Villc to receive their prices.
This jovial day, as I was informed, was to close with a ball given by the bailiff at the
château, and others at the houses of private individuals. In short, never did I before
see so military and at the same rime so pleasant a sight—every one appearing to possess
one and the same idea of rendering each other happy ; and assuredly, under so prudent
a government, and with such excellent dispositions on the part of the people, it would
be astonishing were they not so in reality.
Indeed, so delighted and pleased was I with what I had seen and heard, that gladly
would I have stayed rill the next day, could I have been accommodated ; but finding
that impracticable, owing to the number of people that were come from the distant
towns and villages, to be present at the fête, I made the best of my way, the same
evening, to Lausanne, about six miles further.