a tolerably handsome town of Switzerland, capital of a county of the same name. There are several ancient ruins near it, which show its former extent; and there are two large churches, besides a castle where the governor resides. The town contains about 3000 inhabitants. It is situated partly on a small plain between Mount Jura and the lake of Neuchatel, which is 17 miles long and five broad; the side of the harbour is the usual walk of the inhabitants. Part of it too is built upon the side of the mountain; whence some of its streets are very steep. In this small place several public works have lately been executed, which Mr Coxe thinks are far beyond the revenues, or even the wants, of such a little state. Among these he instances a superb caufeway and a town-house “built (says he) of such solid materials as if it was intended to survive to the most distant posterity, and to rival the duration of the much-famed Roman capitol.” At the beginning of the present century, commerce was very little followed in this town, owing to an absurd opinion which prevailed among the inhabitants of its being disgraceful; but this prejudice is now extinguished, and the town in a much more flourishing situation than before. The chief article of exportation is wine, which is much esteemed; and manufactures of printed linens and cotton have been established with considerable success. The flourishing state of Neuchatel is principally owing to the benefactions of Mr Neuchatel David Pury, late banker of the court at Lisbon. He was born at Neuchatel in 1709; but having received his education there, he quitted it in great poverty and repaired to Geneva, where he served his apprenticeship, but in what line is not mentioned. From Geneva he went to London, where he acted as clerk to a dealer in precious stones, and acquired great reputation by estimating the value of diamonds at sight. After a long residence in England he went to Lisbon, where he carried on a very extensive commerce; and having been appointed court-banker, his fortune rapidly increased. His generosity, however, kept pace with his wealth; and he not only remitted large sums to Neuchatel while living, but left his country his heir when he died. His contributions in all are estimated by Mr Coxe at L. 200,000; a considerable part of which has been employed in constructing the public works already mentioned. Mr Coxe hints, that notwithstanding the superb edifices already mentioned, there are many conveniences still wanting to render Neuchatel agreeable; the public walks, for instance, might be greatly improved, the streets, which are very dirty, might be kept clean, and a torrent which runs through the town, and frequently threatens it with inundations, might be turned. Encouragement ought also to be given to literature; for our author observes, that the inhabitants of Neuchatel are much more ignorant than those of other parts in Switzerland, which no doubt is in a great measure owing to their having not a single seminary of learning which deserves the name in the place. It has a grand and little council: the first is composed of 40 persons, with two masters of the keys; the little council consists of 24 members, comprehending the mayor, who is president. These two councils assemble regularly every month. The ecclesiastics likewise assemble every month, to consult on affairs belonging to the church, and to fill up the places of ministers that die. They choose a dean every year, who is president of the general assemblies, which are called claffes; and sometimes he is confirmed in this dignity. E. Long. 7° 10' N. Lat. 47° 5'.

a sovereign county of Switzerland, bounded on the west by the Franche Comte, on the north by the bishopric of Bâle, and on the east and south by the cantons of Berne and Friburg. This principality of Neuchatel and Vallengin extend from the lake of Neuchatel to the borders of Franche Comte, being in length about 12 leagues, and six in breadth. The plain with the lower part of the mountains is occupied by the district of Neuchatel, but Vallengin is totally inclosed by Jura. Parallel chains of these mountains run from east to west, forming several valleys in the most elevated parts. The lower grounds of this chain consist of arable lands and vineyards; the higher of large tracks of forest, which in many parts have been cleared and converted into pasture-grounds, intermixed with fields of barley and oats. The inhabitants are numerous, and remarkable for their genius, politeness, and active industry. It contains three cities, one town, 90 villages, and about 300 houses dispersed in the mountains. The inhabitants are all Protestants, except two Roman Catholic villages; and in 1529 they entered tered into a strict alliance with the cantons of Berne, Friburg, Soleure, and Lucern. The air is healthy and temperate, but the soil not everywhere equally fertile; however, there are large vineyards, which produce white and red wine, which last is excellent. The pastures on the mountains feed a great number of all sorts of cattle; and there are plenty of deer in the forests; besides large trouts, and other good fish, in the lakes and rivers. The mildness of the government, and agreeable situation of the inhabitants in general in these districts, is evident from the great increase of population in the space of 32 years. In 1752 they contained only 28,017 subjects and 4318 aliens; but in 1784, the number was augmented to 31,576 subjects and 9704 aliens; being an increase of near a fourth part in that time. The facility with which the burgiership of Neuchattel is acquired, may also be accounted one of the means of augmenting its population; for between the years 1760 and 1770, the magistrates admitted 41 persons to this privilege; from 1770 to 1780, 46; from 1780 to 1785, 51; in all 138; many of whom had children before they purchased their burgiership, and 38 of them were foreigners, either German, French, or Dutch.

The districts of Neuchattel and Vallengin now make part of the Prussian dominions. It had its own counts for a long time; the last of whom dying in 1694 without issue, it came to Mary of Orleans duchess of Nemours, his only sister, who also died without issue in 1703. There were then 13 competitors, among whom was Frederick I., king of Prussia, who claimed as heir to the prince of Orange. His right was acknowledged by the states of the country in 1707; but in this part of his dominions the Prussian monarch is far from having such an absolute authority as in others. On the accession of Frederic I., some general articles were agreed on, by which the prerogatives of the prince and the rights of the people were settled. Disputes, however, occurred betwixt the king and his subjects, which were not thoroughly settled till the year 1768, when the general articles were not only renewed, but explained wherever their tenor had been mistaken, confirming also several privileges in favour of the people which had hitherto been equivocal or not duly observed. The most important of these general articles were, 1. The establishment of the reformed religion, and the toleration of no other, except in two places where it was already prevalent. 2. No civil or military office to be possessed by foreigners, that of governor only excepted. 3. All subjects have a right to enter into the service of a foreign prince not actually at war with the king as sovereign of Neuchattel; the state may also continue neuter when the king is engaged in wars which do not concern the Helvetic body. 4. The proper administration of justice; for which the three estates of Neuchattel and Vallengin shall be annually assembled. 5. The magistrates to hold their places during good behaviour; but of this certain persons appointed at Neuchattel, and not the king, are to judge. 6. The sovereign, on his accession, shall take an oath to maintain the rights, liberties, and customs of the people, written and unwritten.

This last article is no less important than it is singular; for upon an unwritten custom one of their most essential privileges depends; viz. that the sovereign shall be considered only as resident at Neuchattel.

"Now (says Mr. Coxe), this privilege, in conjunction with the third article just cited, forms the basis of their civil liberty. By the former, the prince, when absent, can only address his subjects through his governor and the council of state; and no subject can be tried out of the country, or otherwise than by judges appointed by the constitution: by the latter, should the king of Prussia be at war with all Germany, the people of Neuchattel and Vallengin are by no means obliged to arm in his defence; but individuals may even serve against him, as long as the powers whom they serve are not engaged in any hostilities against their own country." A remarkable instance of this last our author gives in the following anecdote.

"When Henry duke of Longueville, and sovereign of Neuchattel was, in 1650, sent to the castle of Vincennes, Felix de Mareval, captain of the Swiss guards, kept guard in his turn, though he was citizen of Neuchattel, at the door of the prison where his sovereign was confined."

The king confers nobility, names the principal officers of state, appoints the presidents of the courts of justice called chatelains and mayors; but his revenues scarcely amount to L. 5000 a-year. They arise from certain demesnes; from a small land-tax, the tithes of wine and corn, and a tenth part of the value of all immoveables. No subject pays any duty upon goods either exported or imported, except for foreign wines brought into the town itself.

Neuchattel enjoys very considerable privileges, has the care of the police within its own district, and is governed by its own magistracy consisting of a great and little council. The three estates of the country form the supreme tribunal, and receive appeals from the inferior court of justice. They consist of 12 judges divided into three estates: the judges in the first and second division hold their places for life; but those in the third are chosen annually. The estates usually meet once a-year in the month of May, but are convoked extraordinarily upon particular occasions, and the town of Neuchatel is always the place of meeting. They are not, however, the representatives of the people, nor do they possess any legislative authority. Properly speaking, they are the supreme court of judicature, which receives all appeals, and decides finally upon all causes, even those which relate to the sovereignty of the country, of which we have an example in the revolution of 1707. The ordinary administration of government is vested in the council of state, which superintends the general police, and is the medium by which the sovereign exercises his jurisdiction. The members are nominated by the king, and are not restricted to any number, but he is always considered as personally presiding in the assembly; and the president has no other powers than those of convoking the assembly, proposing the subjects of consideration, collecting the votes, and deciding when the voices are equal. The ordinances of this council are previously communicated to the miniftraux of Neuchattel, who must certify that they contain nothing contrary to law. The miniftraux are a kind of committee from the council of the town, and are entrusted with the administration of the police. They con- Neuchatel, first of the two presidents of that council, four master-burgers taken from the little council, and the bannet or guardian of the liberties of the people. The former six are changed every two years; and the banneret is chosen by the general assembly of the citizens, and continues in office during six years.

When the causes are decided in the month of May by the three estates, the four judges, who form the third estate, retire, and their place is supplied by the four ministrants. The attorney-general then defines the members of the three estates to take into consideration whether it is necessary to frame any new laws. If a new ordinance is proposed, a declaration is drawn up and delivered to the council of state for their deliberation, whether it be contrary to the prerogatives of the prince or the rights of the subject; from thence it is communicated to the council of the town in order to be examined, whether it infringes the privileges of the citizens. If adopted by the council of state and the council of the town, it is proposed to the prince for his approbation or rejection: in the former case it is again publicly read before the three estates, and the governor or president declares the approbation of the sovereign. It is then promulgated, or passed into a law by the three estates. The people of Vallengin have always been consulted upon the framing a new law since the accession of the house of Brandenburg. For this purpose the three master-burgers of Vallengin examine, whether it contains anything inconsistent with the franchises of that district; in which case they have the power of remonstrating to the governor in council. Every year, at the conclusion of the assembly of the estates of Neuchatel, those of Vallengin, as constituting the supreme court of judicature for that country, meet at Vallengin, and decide finally all appeals from the inferior courts of justice. Both principalities are divided into a certain number of districts, each of which has its criminal court of justice. Every criminal is brought to trial immediately after he is arrested, and sentence is read to him in prison. Next morning he appears again before the judges, assembled in the open air; the former proceedings on the trial are read, and the judges once more deliver their opinion. In capital sentences the governor is immediately made acquainted with the circumstances of the case; and if he does not mitigate the sentence, it is put in execution without delay. Torture, though seldom used, is not entirely abolished in these districts. Great circumspection, however, is made use of in judicial proceedings, which (says Mr Coxe) may sometimes favour the escape of the criminal; but the few instances of atrocious crimes prove that this humane caution is no encouragement to transgressions, and is a strong presumption of the general good morals which prevail among the people. In a word, personal liberty is almost as tenderly and as securely protected by the laws of this country as by those of our own invaluable constitution. Thus the liberties of the people are as well and perhaps better secured, than even in the democratical cantons; for although the most despotic prince in Germany is sovereign, his power is exceedingly limited. Among the striking circumstances which characterise this government, must be mentioned the very liberal encouragement given to strangers who settle in the country. They enjoy every privilege of trade and commerce; and in no state are fewer essential distinctions made between strangers and natives."