GENEVA, a city near the confines of France and Switzerland, in E. Long. 6. o. N. Lat. 46. 20. It has a small territory subject to it, and is a republic. See Switzerland.
The city, called in Latin also Geneva, in German Genf, and in French Genève, is situated where the Rhone makes it exit from the lake, 65 miles from Bern, 75 from Lyons, and 106 from Turin. A part of it stands on an island in the Rhone, and part on the banks on both sides, being a handsome well-fortified city, and pretty large. In some of the streets are arched walks or piazzas. The Treille is a most charming place, planted with linden trees; and commanding a fine prospect of the lake, and of several ranges of mountains and rocks rising behind one another, some covered with vineyards and herbage, and others with snow, with openings betwixt them. Immediately below the city, the Rhone is joined by the Arve. Over the former of these rivers are four bridges. The inhabitants of Geneva are mostly Calvinists. Of the six churches, the cathedral of St Peter is the principal, in which is a monument to the memory of Henry duke of Rohan. The service in some of these churches is in French, in others in Italian, and in others in German. The guildhall is a stately free-stone edifice, situated on an eminence, the ascent to which is without any steps, so that a person may not only walk, but ride from the top to the bottom. Here is an arsenal, which is said to contain arms for 12,000 men; and an university, which has 12 professors belonging to it, with a very valuable library. Several learned men have either been natives, or professors and ministers, of this city; particularly Calvin, Theodore Beza, the Diodati, the Turretines, the late Mr Le Clerc, and others. As the quantity of corn produced in the territory of the city is not sufficient for the consumption of the inhabitants, the republic has erected large granaries, which always contain a quantity to supply the inhabitants two years. The bakers, the inn-keepers, the garrison, and the artificers, employed by the city, are obliged to take what corn they want from these granaries, at a small advance of the prime cost. Besides the revenue arising from hence, the city has other incomes, amounting to about 130,000 dollars, with part of which it maintains a garrison consisting of 800 men, well disciplined, and clothed in a blue uniform turned up with red. The environs of the city are extremely pleasant; which, with the goodness of the air and provisions, the mildness of the government.
(c) The liquor amni coagulates like the lymph. It has been supposed to pass into the oesophagus, and to afford nourishment to the fetus; but this does not seem probable. Children have come into the world without an oesophagus, or any communication between the stomach and the mouth; but there has been no well-attested instance of a child's having been born without a placenta; and it does not seem likely that any of the fluid can be absorbed through the pores of the skin, the skin in the fetus being everywhere covered with a great quantity of mucus.
Geneva verment, the politeness of the inhabitants, the numbers of foreign gentlemen always residing here, or passing from France, Germany, and other countries, to the north of the Alps, to Italy, and others lying south of them, render it a most agreeable place: hence Mr Addison styled it, very justly, the court of the Alps. In all the streets are fountains and canals to supply the inhabitants with water, which is raised by engines from the Rhone. The trade of the city is very considerable, it being a great thoroughfare, and having a variety of manufactures, with a number of industrious and ingenious artificers, particularly in the watchmaking branch. The library belonging to the city is well furnished with excellent books, besides a curious collection of medals and petrifications, and some ancient manuscripts. They are not so rigid in keeping the sabbath here as the Calvinists in England and Scotland: for they tolerate, and even authorise, all manner of manly exercises on Sundays, after divine service; and then it is that the militia also are exercised. The sun rises later here, and sets sooner, than in most other places of the same latitude; which is owing to the Alps. Mr Addison says, that there are merchants in Geneva who are reckoned worth two millions of crowns, tho', perhaps, not one of them spends 500 pounds a-year. At the general hospital, besides the city poor, poor travellers are maintained for one day, and then dismissed, with some money in their pockets, to proceed on their journey. As to the government, it is much like that of Zurich and Bern. The number of burghers is about 1500, and the principal magistrates are the four syndics. There are no less than four councils, viz. the general council of the citizens and burghers, the council of 200, that of 60, and that of 25. Of the last, two persons of the same family cannot be members at the same time. A son here, who refuses to pay his father's debts, is incapable of any office in the state. No marriages are permitted unless both parties are of the Protestant religion. A woman of 40 years of age must not marry a man of less than 30; if she exceed 40, her husband must at least be 35: nor must a man above 60 marry a woman, who is not, at least, 30. A widow must not alter her condition in less than six months after her husband's decease. The kings of France and Britain are constantly mentioned in their public prayers here. It is said that Calvin lied buried in that part of the church-yard called the Plain-palais; but the particular spot is either not known, or pretended not to be known. Before the reformation, this city was the see of a bishop, who was possessed of the sovereignty thereof at first, jointly with its counts, and afterwards with the dukes of Savoy; but it got rid of both, about the period abovementioned, and entered into alliance with several of the cantons: at present, however, those only with Bern and Zurich continue in force. The king of France always keeps a resident here. So much are the magistracy afraid of opening a door to luxury and licentiousness, that no theatre is permitted in the city. The lake, to which it gives name, resembles a half-moon, whose convex side lies towards Switzerland. On that side it extends 18 leagues, reckoning along the shore, but on the Savoy side not above 12; and its greatest breadth is upwards of seven. As for its depth, in some places it is said to be unfathomable. Contrary to most other lakes, it decreases
in winter, and increases in summer, which is owing to the melting of the snow in the neighbouring mountains. It is hardly ever frozen over; and has the territories of no less than five different states bordering on it, viz. the kingdom of France, the duchy of Savoy, the canton of Bern, the bishopric of Sion, and the republic of Geneva.