The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-29 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

A kind of revolution has taken place at Geneva, if so
alarming a name can be given to a change which de-
stroys the exclusive influence of a score of rich and old
families, and opens the councils to the mass of respect-
able citizens. This is reform, not revolution. All the
Swiss cantons have undergone this reform during the last
ten years. Tessin began even before the Revolu-
tion of July ; and many have led to convulsions. The
Bernese farmers have been obliged to exile their aristo-
cracy. An attempt at reform in Basle, led to a separa-
tion of town and country into two cantons. In Schwitz
and Valais it produced bloodshed, as well as in Basle.
And the present unsettled state of things in Argau and
Lucerne, has been produced by the same changes. Lu-
cerne, after having made a Radical reform, made a
counter reform, and placed power in the hands of its
priesthood. Geneva could not escape.
Such are the remote causes of the revolution which
opens the borough of Geneva. The immediate cause,
however, is curious. It arose in the disputes respecting
the suppressed convents of Argau. In the votes of the
Diet one was surprised to find the deputies of Protestant
States embrace the cause of convents and hyper-Catho-
licism. They did so from a religious-aristocratic feeling,
akin to Puseyism ; the result of which was, to disgust
the religious-democratic and liberal party. The deputy
of Vaud was called to order, and received counter-
instructions. In Valais troubles are pending in con-
sequence. The deputy of Protestant Neufchatel cannot
be punished or displaced, the Prussian Government sup-
porting
his conduct. But in Geneva the Government
itself has fallen in consequence of the conduct of its
Deputy. The zealous Calvinists of Geneva united in an
association on the 3d of March last, in consequence of
the vote of the Deputy Rigaud; and it is this Association,
by labouring, and preaching, and clamouring for poli-
tical reform, in order to the preservation of Protestant
doctrine, which has produced the revolution of the other
day. This revolution consists in the promise of the ex-
isting Council to call a General Council, especially elected
and charged with the task. of reforming the Constitution.

- (From the Journal de Geneve.)
It is to be, feared that public discontent will break out
if the Council of State does not add to its programme
the reforms demanded. This is what we said in our
number of the 20th. Before that, on the 18th, we said
that " The authorities intended to have the Town-hall
guarded during the deliberations of the Representative
Government by a few companies of the National Militia.
This mark of diffidence on the kart of Government
might produce unfortunate events.' The events have
verified our predictions. As soon as the projects of law
to be discussed were known, there was great agitation.
The necessity of a constituent assembly has become quite
popular, and the resolution of enforcing the recourse to
this mode of revision has been taken generally. On the
21st (Sunday), on account of the silence observed by
Government, the agitation increased. Nevertheless, no
groups formed in the streets, and no kind of disturbance
took place. The morning of the 22d was patiently
waited for, when of a sudden it was learned that Govern-
ment, frightened by rumours, no doubt exaggerated, had
called out the militia, and caused the Hotel de Ville to be
guarded by armed troops. At this news, immediately con-
firmed by the sight of some militia, a shout of isnodgrigea4
Lion rose from all sides, and the detachment had scarcely
formed before the Town-hall than the people gathered
trhoruonudgthhethme,
nanigdh, in
bteganordtoe lriotootshaonwd sthhoeuirt
disapprobationat- them, even
of this measure. Finally, the exasperation %M
that the doors of the Town-hall were obliged to be shut,
and even barricadoed. Nevertheless, Government had in
the evening cemprehended the necessity of calming the
public discontent by making some Promises, and publish-
ing" the following woifngopernocerala,tsati
jounce:
—the last few weeks a po-
litical agitation has manifested itself among you ; the
Council of State had to seek the cause of this; it believed
that cause to be in the desire of. a modification in the in-
stitutions which
ch changes goers
rwelifoicrlmi wnepgroenvtGorilitriahusk. el;lt hastened to examine the
is about to be called to ielthe
place first, and prepared pro-
jectsthe
system, will be submitted Representative Council
deliberate. The most important
of these changes,
Tstaautgeheloubyntetdhe tweet law of the organisation of the elec-
toral to it in a very short time.
them ; ealidivhieh, y-seven years past,. the Council of
upon the calmness and moderation of the
Geneves
spread that
in difficult times, has distinguished
now that sinister rumours are
there are projects for hindering the deliberations of the
mCoeunscil, it appeals to every citizen that he may use every 1
an
to prevent disorders, which
would tarnish the
honour which the nation has, until now, kept spotless.
In the name of the Council of State,
" DEROCHE, Secretary of State.
" Geneva, Nov. 21, 1841."
In reply to this proclamation of the Couhneg ofuoStthaete,
the Association of the 3d of Ma
beggingpurity o
of their
d thee summons of
.81.1:nudblb3nfiedenat in thre
ttsheaidrhmeroetnivtsest,eilroetriviv
ld wou remain
the armed force by the Council. . ey
united, and continue to call for the rights of the Geneveso
1117setielnmh4.hg
people. 'es' of rural
At last Monday arrived. Some compam
militia arrived, not very numerous. Those of the town
did not attend. Such force as did collect mustered be-
fore the Hotel de Ville, and endeavoured to keep back
the people, till, pressed on all hands without power of
resisting, they resolved to disband, to their own relief