The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-02-04

on the contrary, England relatively loses,
what France thus absolutely gains. France
! is paying great attention TO her navy: her
naval arsenals are well provided with every
material necessary for the equipment of
large fleets, and the number of ships build
ing, and In readiness for sea, and in COM
mission, is greater than think is generally
supposed. The expedition to Greece was
also rather popular measure; it was sooth-
ing to the military pride of France to make
display OF well-appointed force in the
nelghborhood of the war, in order that, in
case of necessity, she might come in for her
share of the spoil.
There is still, and think ever must be,
so strong national feeling against the Eng
lsh, that although they are generally well
and respectfully treated as travellers, so
long as they have money to spend, our coun-
trymen are upon the whole, received with
more courtesy, and occasionally treated
with somewhat more attention.
L assembled the Rhine from Cologne to
Mayence by steamboat, in order to COM
pare It's scenery with that of the Hudson.
There are occasional beauties on that
stream, IN which our river is deficient. Its.
mountains crowned with verdure, or cult
waited TO the very SUBMITS; and teeming
with the foliage of the fruitful vine, GER
talnly present prospect as new as it is in
wing to the eye OF one accustomed only to
American scenery. But with this except
ion, the banks of the Hudson have decid-
ed preference, upon the whole, over those
OF the Hhlne, both IN the variety and mag
nltcence OF their views. Prussia gained an
important accession Of territory, and an in
crease OF population of two millions of in
habitants in the Rhenish provinces hut
strange as 1T may appear, the taxes paid by
the people OF these provinces, which were
formerly annexed to France, are heavier
now, during period of profound peace, than
they were under the system of Napoleon
and this Is the case also with the Neither
lands.
The CONSUMPTION of Napoleon, not objec-
tlonable IN itself as a system, but onerous
as 1t became during his wars of ambition.
rendered him justly obnoxious. With this
exception, the people have gained nothing
by the change of allegiance and, as |
found, would have no objection again to
form part of the French empire The
civil administration of Napoleon was genpr-
ally admired; and many of the fist men
In Europe consider that the civil policy of
his government reflected more credit on his
talent, than his military career. Prussia is
complete military government: from IL
millions OF people, the king receives annu-
ally 80 millions of dollars, and supports an
army of 100000 men. The Grand Duke of
Baden, who possesses delightful territory,
and rules over poor but well behaved and
apparently contented population of mil
hon OF souls, taxes the industry of HE cub
yo~N-7 80 @'-Fr--- e - 20
idle show, standing army of nearly 10000
men. The Austrian government is poor,
and so is the people; and they are badly
ruled, while their Italian provinces would (
be ready at any moment to shake off the
yoke of allegiance. The finances of the
powers of the Continent, generally, France I
excepted, are not in a fourishing condition
government and people are poor. England
appears to be the only nation where great !
individual wealth is retained in the hands, /
as we'll of the landed arstocracy, as among
the merchants and manufacturers. | did
not fail to visit Switzerland, and was charm (
ed with the country and its inhabitants. (
The Swiss character, as you know, is pro-
verbal for honesty; but does it deserve the
exclusive reputation it has acquired? No
more than any other class under the same
circumstances; there cannot be much vice
where there is little temptation, and human
nature under similar circumstances, is, in
many respects every where the same.
But do you think so many foreigners, of
all descriptions, can travel through Switzer
land, and he of service to the morals of this
simple people? Be assured they cannot.
Politically speaking, the people have little
or no voice. A few of the districts are
essentially democratic in form but the
aristocracy rule all the principal Cantons.
AS an instance, the city of Berne, with
population of less than one tenth of the
Canton of its name, appoints two-thlrds of
| its whole representatives. Switzerland has
about 10000 soldiers in the service Of for
reign governments. The principal object
being, as | understand, TO provide for the
sons of the aristocratic families, who being
poor, and disdalning TO work, hire them
selves out as officers in these regiments.
! The men generally leave their country con-
tented citizens, and return demoralized sol
diers. AS nation, Switzerland is weak.
With a population of about two millions,
and placed between two powerful nations,
Austria and France, its safety, perhaps,
| consists in its weakness for not being
sufficiently strong to excite the jealousy Of
either power, they are each of them anxious
20 preserve her independence, as barrier
against the other. The country, however,
is without much debt or taxes, and the peo-
pie are poor, but contented.
J The goatherd and the peasant are SIM
pie in their manners, and industrious in
their habits, and if their knowledge is limit
ed, theli wants are comparatively few. You
are familiar, from description, with the sur
passing beauty and suhlimity Of the scenery
of Switzerland, its glaciers and its avaanch-
es, its lofty mountains and its smiling val
lies, its rugged pathways and its placid
lakes. ] will merely take you with me to
the top of the Rhegi, one of its most ac-