Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser., 1802-12-27
TIE SWISS cHTEr.

r. '"1 aiia''s OF ne owIls Canton.
are becoming every day more fer;oa
u will not BE- unintereifing TO the nua
lie TO be better aequainted with il.
charader OF the perlon who Is the \ ~.
Of thofe brave men, who are now -
deayoflng TO recover lheir liberties ~
70 tree Switzerland from abjea depsn'
dence on foreign power.
Alloys Reding, the valiant chef oe
the independent cantons, fndisd r.
art of war in the fervice of Soan i
which be attained The .ank of colonel
A fhort time previous to the revolution
he had retired into the folitary vallies
of his native country, and devoted b;s
leifure to frienoihip, 10 The mufes. and
10 the Gu utiva,Ion of his lands. H.
had long wilhed for an amelioration &C
the federal fyaem, and thar his country
hould enjoy ufeful and true liberty.
but bis heart. revolted at the idea Of
revolution effected BY a foreign power.
and at the 9Th more abhorent idea of
fteing his country fall under the do.
mnion Of France.
Such are The motives which induced
him 70 refume the fwoFd, and to fbsw
himf-lf worthy OF the Helyetian name
ard of his brave znceaors. The lofs
Of a young wife. whom he tenderly
loved, had left a profound melancholy
on bis mind, which made him perhaps
more eager to feek the perils cf battle
Wary, loyal, brave attached, and poC
fei1ing great coolnef il PROPERTY as
well as in adverGty, he became ii
fhort time, he favorite and the hope Of
the people.
From the bravery and fkill with which
Alloys Reding defended bis country,
when the French Grlt invaded Switzer-
land, we may Judge what be Is now
capable of performing fhould they re.
turn. With a few hundred men he
repeatedly routed whole army; and
was at laa obliged to yield TO terms
only by the treachery of Prieas, and a
conaant diminuton of his numbers
Like Leonidas of old, waiting a certain
and glorious end at the pats Of Thermo-
pyla fuch was Reding at the head Of
his troops on the famous Heights Of
Morgarten. Upon this occahos he
made the following remarkable fpetch
to his folders, Of which the authenticity
is conidered unqueaionablc -
g Brave comrades, beloved fellow
citizens ! The dec,Iiys moment Is now
arrived Surrounded by enemies, and
deferted by our friends, i only remains
to know If We will courageouly initiate
the example formerly let by our a1cef
tors at Morgarten. An aimof certain
death awaits US. II any one fears i,
let him retire we will not reproach
him. Let Us not impoie upon each
other at this folemn hour. | would
rather have an hundred men on whom
could depend, than FIVE hundred who,
BY fight might occaIion contsGon, and,
BY perhdous retreat. immediate the
brave men who would Rill defend
ihemfclves. AS to nyflf, 7 promlie
not to abandon you even in the greatelt
Danger. Death and no rstrsat. Il you
participate my relolution, let two men
come out Of your ranks, and iwear 70
me in your name that you will be faith
rul 70 your promIfes."
The folders, leaning upon their arrnsy
Iiaened in filcnce, and with religious
awe, to the words Of their chief (; tears
dropped down the cheeks of thoi-
manly warriors and when Reding had
done fpeaking, a thoufand voices et-
claimed, g We will partake. your lot
We will never abandon you IN Thea
TWO meE came out Of each rank, and
gave their hands to Reding, in token
IF fidelity in life and death. lhs
reaty of alliance between the Chief anu
lis folders was fworn in open air, ana
n the face Of Heaven It bears marks
If patriarchal manners, worthy OF sns
golden age.