Sketches of the natural, civil, and political state of Swisserland; in a series of letters to William Melmoth, Esq; / from William Coxe.

  • William Coxe
Date:
1779
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sketches of the natural, civil, and political state of Swisserland; in a series of letters to William Melmoth, Esq; / from William Coxe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / [ 8 ] length and three in breadth : its popu¬ lation is fuppofed to amount to twenty- five thoufand fouls; of which, the ca¬ pital contains about fix thoufand. The whole number of citizens or burgefles (in whom the fupreme power ultimately refides) is, I am informed, about fixteen hundred. They are di¬ vided into twelve tribes: and from thefe are elected eighty-five members, who form the fovereign council, confifting of a great and little council. To thefe two councils combined, the adminiftra- tion of affairs is committed: the fenate, or little council of twenty-five, being entrufted with the executive power; and the great council, comprifing the fe¬ nate, finally deciding all appeals, and regulating the more important concerns of government. The revenues of the ftate arife, partly from the tythes, and other articles of the like nature; but principally from the duties laid upon the merchandife, which