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about a mile from the town, among many fragments of antiquity, in which mention is
made of the inhabitants by the appellation of Lmisoneiises. And it also appears, by the
Theodosian table, that, at the time of the lower empire, this part of the lake was called
Lacus Lausonius. Some historians have supposed that the present is not the original
site of the town, but that, on the contrary, it formerly occupied the spot where the little
village of Ouchie, or port of Lausanne, now is, which lies on the edge of the lake, about
a mile and a half from the city, and, as it were, directly under it: not, however, knowing
any fact which gives probability to this supposition, I shall content myself with this
slight mention of it. Certain it is, that Lausanne has not been exempt from calamities
similar to those which desolated the Pays-de-Vaud, and the major part of Switzerland,
&c. at the commencement of the present ajra, and that it then ended, like many other
cities, in becoming a province belonging to the German empire. In the year 450, the
city of Avanche was entirely destroyed by Attila, and the bishop's see was removed to
Lausanne at the beginning of the sixth centur}', where the prelates, in imitation of
those of Geneva and Slon, soon after succeeded in appropriating to themselves the
whole jurisdiction, both temporal and spiritual, of their different dioceses—extending
even the latter over the whole of the Pays-de-Vaud, the greater part of the Swiss cantons,
and some of the French provinces.
Respecting the temporal jurisdiction (in the sequel ceded to this city by the emperors,
as well as the right of coining money), its inhabitants enjoyed greater privileges than
those of Geneva and Sion, privileges granted by the empire at different t imes; besides,
after the extinction of the ancient family of the Zeringhens, emerging again from under
the sovereignty of the House of Savoy, they were particularly indulged by their bishop,
who, towards the eleventh century, took the title of Prince of the Roman Empire and
Count of Lausanne. This did not, however, prevent the people themselves from forming,
in 1368, their laws into a code, called placitim generate, the general decree or resolulion.
These laws continued in force until the introduction of the reformed religion, in
15S6, by Pierre Viret and Farel, which obliging the bishop to retire, he went to Freyburg,
to which the episcopal see was soon after transferred; and the inhabitants
quietly gave themselves up, with the town and territory thereunto belonging, to the
canton of Berne, who, on the reduction of the Pays-de-Vaud, not only confirmed this
city in all its ancient privileges, but granted many in addition. Among these were the
high and low jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, as well as the enjoyment of different
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portions of church-land •, so that the government of Berne reserved to themselves only
the right of sovereignty, with power to pardon en dernier ressort, and to coin their
money.
This town likewise appoints its own magistracy, consisting of a burgomaster, five
bannerets* or vcnncr, three councils, viz. the Lesser, that of Sixty, and the Great
Council, besides other inferior officers. The Lesser Council is composed of five bannerets,
twenty counsellors, one secretary, the great sceautier or keeper of the seals, and
comptroller, over which presides the burgomaster. Its members are elected by the
Grand Council, who appoint them by a majority of votes j and these, in their turn, have
the privilege of naming the one of Sixty, consisting of five bannerets, twenty counsellors,
and thirty-five members. To the latter council is confined the decision of civil
causes not exceeding two thousand livres in value; for, beyond this sum, the senate of
Berne is referred to. As for the Grand Council, or that of Two Hundred, which is
considered as the first of the three, it is also formed of five bannerets and twenty counsellors,
with the addition of seventy members taken from the two former, and one hundred
and five other members, over whom presides the burgomaster, accompanied hy his
secretary and keeper of the seals.
This council assembles once a year only, in order to appoint to the vacant scats in the
jurisdiction of the town, &c. ; besides, there is a particular tribunal for criminal causes,
which are afterwards decided in the Lesser Council by a kind of jury, chosen from
among tile proprietors of the Rue-du-bourg, who have that exclusive privilege: sentence
of death, however, cannot be pronounced, except by the senate of Berne, who judge, as
before observed, eii dernier ressort. As Lausanne, in consequence of the privileges en-
Joyed by its inhabitants, and its forming one of the principal bailiwics in the Pays-de-
Vaud, the bailiff, on his arrival, takes an oath. In the presence of the council and bourgeoisie
of the town, to maintain their rights and franchises f , and not allow, them to
b e violated or Infringed without opposing such measures. His residence is in the
* In German Tiimcr, a litlc given in Switzerland to civil magistrales, according to an ancient custom of
carrying the colours or banner of the city or district at the foderalisalion or confederation of the cantons, as
well as in tlie wars tliey had to sustain, in order to cstaUlish their liberty, These magistrates arc four years in
office, and are charged witli inspecting the civil and military police of llieir respective districts.
+ Since tlie Frcncli revolution, the inliabilants of Lausanne liave unfortunately lost a part of those privileges,
owing to tliB indiscretion of a few individuals, who, being ill-advised, endeavoured to stir up the people against the
senate of Berne,