LETTER XIV.



                       LUCERNE.



My dear Sir,



THE canton of Lucerne comprehends a country of sixteen leagues long and 

eight wide, containing fifteen bailiwicks, besides several cities, abbays, 

monasteries, seigniories, &c. The inhabitants are almost wholly engaged in 

agriculture, and the exportation of their produce. Their commerce might be 

greatly augmented, as the river Reuss issues from the lake, panes through 

the town, and falls into the Rhine.



The city contains less than three thousand fouls, has no manufactures, 

little trade, and no encouragement for learning: yet the sovereign is this 

single city, and the sovereignty resides in the little and great council, 

having for chiefs two avoyers, who are alternately regents. There are five 

hundred citizens in the town, from whom a council of one hundred are chosen, 

who are nominally the sovereignty; out of this body are formed the two 

divisions, the little council, senate, or council of state, consisting of 

thirty-six members, divided into two equal parts of eighteen each, one of 

which makes choice of the other every half year. The whole power is actually 

exercised by this body, the two divisions of which administer the government 

by turns. They are subject to no controul, are neither confirmed by the 

sovereign council, nor by the citizens; the division which retires 

confirming that which comes in. As the vacancies in the senate are filled up 

by themselves, all power is in possession of a few Patrician families. The 

son succeeds the father, and the brother his brother.



The grand council consists of sixty-four persons, taken from the citizens, 

who are said to have their privileges; but it is hard to guess what they 

are, as the elections are made by the little and great council conjointly.



The administration, the police, the finances, and the whole executive power, 

is in the senate, which is constantly sitting.



The grand council is assembled only upon particular occasions, for the 

purpose of legislation. The senate has cognizance of criminal causes, but in 

capital cases the grand council is convoked to pronounce sentence: in civil 

causes an appeal lies from the senate to the grand council; but these 

appeals can be but mere forms, the same senators being in both courts.



As the senate constitutes above a third of the grand council, choose their 

own members, confer all employments, have the nomination to ecclesiastical 

benefices, two thirds of the revenues of the canton belonging to the clergy, 

their influence must be uncontroulable.



The two avoyers are chosen from the senate by the council of one hundred, 

and are confirmed annually. The relations of the candidates are excluded 

from voting: but all such checks against influence and family connections in 

an oligarchy are futile, as all laws are cyphers. There are also certain 

chambers of justice and police.



In some few instances, such as declaring war and making peace, forming 

alliances or imposing taxes, the citizens must be assembled and give their 

consent, which is one check upon the power of the nobles.