In the Hanseatic towns naturalization is acquired in the following manner :—In Lfibeck and its territory, any person of respectability, especially after a prolonged residence, is admitted as a citizen without difficulty, on showing, if required, that he has sufficient means of subsistence. Let ters of naturalization confer all the rights which natural-born subjects enjoy. In Hamburg an alien cannot hold landed property, but any persons taking up their bonft fide residence there may obtain letters of naturalization on payment of a moderate sum (a few pounds, it is stated), upon which they enjoy all the rights of native citizens, with the exception of not being eligible to the order of the burger schaft ; but the restrictions in this case apply only to age and some other quali fications, which are equally applicable to native citizens. No business can be transacted by foreigners, until they have obtained the privilege of citizenship, and become members of some one of the guilds.
Any foreigner may become a citizen by purchase. Jews cannot become citizens. In Bremen an alien obtains the rights of citizenship for a money payment, and by becoming a member of a commune. In Frankfort naturalization is obtained by gift for public services, by marriage, or by purchase, if the person desirous of be• coming a citizen can give satisfactory references as to character, station, and pro Pert9 In Sardinia the power of conferring naturalization rests entirely with the king, and is never refused on any bon& Me ap plication: a naturalized person enjoys all the privileges of a natural-born subject.
In Portugal an alien of not less than twenty-five years of age can obtain let ters of naturalization after two years' re sidence, and provided he has the means of subsistence. The two years' residence
is dispensed with if the alien has married a Portuguese woman ; or has opened or improved a public road ; embarked money in trade ; improved any branch of arts ; introduced any new trade or manufac ture ; or otherwise performed some ser vice of public utility.
In Belgium an alien cannot purchase or hold land. There are two kinds of naturalization, the petite naturalization and the grande naturalization. The first gives the alien some advantages, as the right to sue, &c.; and the second, which is an act of the legislature, confers political privileges in addition.
In Switzerland naturalization is con ferred in some cantons by the legislature, and in others by the executive. In Tessin a naturalized foreigner can only enjoy the full rights of citizenship after five years have elapsed from the date of his naturalization. In Thiirgau no one can hold any office under the government unless he has been a burgess of the can ton at least five years. In Berne, Ziirich, Vaud, Geneva, and most of the cantons, an alien obtains the full citizenship from the date of his naturalization.
In Russia no foreigner, who does not become a "perpetual subject," can enjoy the rights and privileges attached to the guild of merchants. The commercial rights belonging to merchants are en joyed in their character as guests, or as itinerant merchants. A foreigner who imports goods must sell them to Russians only.