The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-09 00:00:00

SMITZERLA'ND..

The following narrative of the political situa-
tion of the Swiss Cantons, from the meeting of
the Congress at Verona to the present time,•
together nith some observations on the fu-
ture prospects of that con.ptry, is extracted
from vecy copious details, furnished by a gentle-
ho Inktently arrived in London from
13asle,and whom we understand to have possessed'
the confidence of several. leading members both
of the Representative Council of his own Canton,
and of the Council of State for the Confederated
Cantons. It possesses, therefore, all the authen-
ticity and importance that can belong to a private
communication

" Our anxiety was first awakened last winter, immediate*
after the scpar4tion of the
.Congress of Verona, by several
trifling incidents. 1. Obscure rumours that some proceedings

towards us had formed part of the deliberations at Verona.
2., Some expressions used by certain priests and curates, natives
of Savoy, who said openly that Gent7va would shortly belong
to them. 3. Violent articles in the French Ultra Journals,
wherein Switzerland was spaken: of as a petty municipality,
not liming institutions that Merited the name of a Govern-
ment, but in want of theM ; and that it could be proper in her
neighbours to supply'that want ; that she had become a focus
of sedition and Carbonarlsm,: &c.

" Towards the spring, the report was circulated that Austria
lad demanded a passage to Spain for her troops through the
Cantone, with a stipulation that part of the army should re-
main in them, for the purpose of securing a safe return. The
order understood to have been given about the same time for
concentrating the Austrian troops in Upper Italy appeared to
confirm the rumour, and added to our inquietudes.
" These had reached their height by the middle of April, in
consequence of an extraordinary convocation of the Represen-
tative Council by the Council of State, although their usual
time of meeting was in the succeeding tnooth of May, and
which. appeared therefore to indicate that affairs of great
urgency pressed on the attention of the Legislature. The ar,
custorned oath of secrecy was administered to the Representa-
tive Council, who 'were authorized to give out only in public
that measures for the general security of the confederacy
were under consideration. The Council of State further
announced to the Representative Council, that they could
not lay before them all the documents which•were in their
possession ; but requested. the nomination of a select com-
mission to take cognisance of them, who should be strictly
sworn not to communicate any part of their contents. Thir-
teen Members were accordingly chosen, who, it was remarked,were contrary to custom, all of' the independent party, genes,
rally called the Opposition. A few days after, this commission
made their report; and without giving any reasons, from which
they were restrained by their oath of secrecy, proposed a legi-
slative act conferring on the Council of Slate the extraordinary
power of issuing any decrees they thought proper, provided
they carried with theta no punishment exceeding.a year's im-
prisonment, nor any.greater fine than 2,00(1 florins. These
powers were to terminate in fifteen (lays after the close of the
session of-the Diet for the present year, which would probably
take place hi September, when the Council of State were to
give an account of the use they had made of them. This law
created the greater sensation among us, from its being rccom
'mended by the independent party, little disposed to make
such concessions, unless called for by events endangering the
general safety.
The immediate consequence of this report was two de-
crees from the Corincil.of State. 1. Establishing a censorship
iierepertilnyt.intrlanlynsertuartinkgs
sone_
ofonretilgtenpir,:ticso,r ra
eithertlier Ercethetilbyitonri
were measures of police against foreigners.
‘"These decrees were preceded by an order to all French,
Italian, and Piedmoutese refugees, to quit onr territory ;
their respective Governments, and had done so fur 10 and 15
eluding even thaw who resided here with the permission of
years. .ThiA. order, which was strictly executed, did not result
from the extraordinar y‘ powers granted to the Council of State,
Constitution.
l
isteaboei
dunitsit. cases
tsynAzwreseals;'utniniasl Switzerlandinedjn more
suld nu
nPocdantkt theoirionbtngollsowralanrindoba
made
ll:p4prstel tithe: thoseeioe3dyntopose ajistt Imrt ayiescl fftPuperrolaianerifiiesee particular
toelueharndrere sat canton
6wnoo2ano,mi years.nthiedieroedhfat:hv lobenryghi
inteo someindi-
rect,
t aronndknownoiyn aplsirseatssfuaomeftentaohnaitestlifeLsi
furnished
ish cd measuresi,ronlii
iee ibme ear: fToubnedr
which accompanied the injunction; but that some was
front this—that the Governments of
pretext for violating our neutrality. It follows,
It'qetiyr neutrality has been menaced, and this corre-
sponds w:th Won-nation all but certain,
jAnr:he laoeldlni:aeij:nltiagesi
every
that they have aimed at re-
tina the poi:ivi of discussion concerning uswwhhicilollihw"ertiellangsPitirtedd'
in the congress of Verona were- whether 8
be partitioned, or given to a Russian or Austrianwitzerland should
Archduke.
••On the effectof these proceedings in Switzerland it should

be observed, that little account it made there or the liberty of
the press, which, except in three or four. Cantons, can hardly
be said to exist, and It would therefore' be wrong to estimate
their impression by that which would be made in England;
but the greater part of the Swiss feel deeply humbled at receiv-
ing dictation from a foreign power, and this is, with few excep-
tions, the unanimous, ienument. The obligation, ton, of sent
in away certain unfortunate • foreigners, persecuted on all
sides, and without any other place of refuge, has sensibly move
tified us. It is to be feared,: aisteetliat the concessions we have
made are not thought sufficient, and that new pretensions will
in a short time be set up against us: These ought to be re-
sisted, and in that sense the Members of the Diet are said to
have been expostulated with to induce them to act with firme
ness. God grant that they may adhere resolutely to this course !.
for nothing is to be gatned by submission; and a State is
always Stronger. before it has been bumbled than after.
" With respect to the maintenance of an effective neutrality,
that is, of her territory, .the,spirit of tiWitezerlatid is excellent,
and exertions would be made, with an unanimity hitherto un-
known, to resist every attempt considered preliminary to a de-
sign to overwhelm her by the forces of the Holy
The arietqcratic cantons agree in sentiment with the rest; and
the fortunate insults directed in the Ultra Journals against all
the cantons without distinction liar,: produced the -happleo
died.
" The Military Federal Commission are diligently occupied
in their proper funetions, and they have ordered a survey of our-
frontier to be made by experienced engineers. An attack ots
Sunolltyz eAllaititadn
ccannot 'llitaeturraegelalrtin
eead,
seionthdotzuete
rz
ce apprehensionpossessed
bbyy
the
the
country are excellent,' and she leable new to maintain freer
80,000 to 100,000 militia, aunlified to contend- whit the
troops in the Amid... The very attempt would glee a vivl,r7
.shuck to public opinion in Europe, air ,V;stnelil probably leis`;"
on a general war. •
" It is an extremely interesting question to determine u.:es:it.-
the English Ministry knew the real itate of affairs in
land, when they were questioned upon that' point in Paylia
meat, and when they denied that they had any inforruation.—.
In-a diplomatic sense they spoke the truth in saying that they
knew nothing. since that would refer only to communications
by notes or official advises. lint it was a Jesuitical evnsion---
a sophistry unworthy the Governinent of a great country.
" Many eirctimitances,• trifling in thenteelves, unite to skew
that designs are forming against the independence of Switzer-
land. The rellowing area few of the symptoms :---
I. The French Ultra Journals continue with incredible
perseverance to load us with insults, and to utter the most de-
testable falsehoods with regard to us. See the Drapeait Blanc,
No. 10., and severatOthers.
2. The French Ambits's:oer, M. de Talleyrand, has been
withdrawn, because he refused to lend himself to the unworthy
proceedings requited of hint, and was known to feel an attaeh-
ment to Switzerland. His takinleave_ was remarkable for his
lihtaaentmeiwit pefrroe7rstetipdi
eelakioedsnat
litneialne,ejtet 000tufr forltztal theei (il,rel,)irs D
ceers:btniaiabf preservation ounb ofd tiSt ewwitoznes-s
in
" 3. His place was supplied by M. du Mourtieree
ville, with whom the Cantons weee menaeed.
principles are such as to cause regrets for M. Ilyde tlewNhete-
cis:oo.ll.s,Dfrivoineliownshiacirte
tiintedyusitirai%o.teiselyx fp:pi:eluting on an Sid" in
Switzerland, through the agency yet' the Jesuits. 'They are
established at Fribourg, as euperintendants of the public
ti
ibuvl i greatoil
between cordt
been t
efei
abolished the system of mutual instruction,
Govern-
ment. At Lucerne and Soleure the canoe steps are taking, and
in Valais the Jesuits have acquired complete ascendancy:
" Thus it is apparent, that while open aggression is suse
pended, there exists a design to ruin Switzerland by dis.cord,Of
,nren,teettilte in
vt
ch eccoatuni:t naal tnireidoddr
teatilxicieerl rnieS
which religion is the principsl mediunn"—( Times.)