Every thing connected with the history of Wil liam Tell is interesting. He was born of humble parents, at Burglen, in the neighbourhood of Al torf, the capital of Uri; and was married to a daughter of William Furst, one of the three orig inal conspirators. On the spot on which Tell landed when he escaped from Gessler, a chapel was erected, thirty-one years after his death, to com memorate the event. In the interior of the build ing, the most celebrated actions of the patriot's life are coarsely painted. He fought at the famous battle of Morgarten, of which we shall immediately speak. Instead of courting places of emolument or distinction, he refused them when offered to him. The highest official dignity he accepted was that of first magistrate of Burglen. His death, which happened in 1368, when he had attained to advanced years, was accidental, and took place in connexion with an event not unworthy of his patri otic life. He was drowned in attempting to rescue a boy who had fallen into a stream which passes by his native place. He left behind him a name the most illustrious in the Swiss annals.
But Austria, though, as previously mentioned, she could not effectually oppose or prevent this revolution, adopted measures for this purpose, so soon as her intestine commotions would permit. In the year 1315, Leopold, Duke of Austria, marched against the independent cantons with an army of 20,000 men. Nor were the patriot band, which, though few, were undismayed, unprepared to receive them. The latter amounting only to 1400, seeing that their invaders were intending to force their way into their liberated territory at Morgarten, a narrow pass formed by the lake Al geri, and a neighbouring mountain, resolved to make a stand at this formidable strait: and, after imploring the divine assistance, they took up an advantageous position on the mountain. The re sult, which, in some measure, recals to our minds the battle of Thermopylae, was as glorious to the patriots, as it was worthy of their cause. The whole Austrian army was either killed or dispersed; while the loss of the Swiss is not estimated at more than fourteen. This defeat settled the question between the two countries. In the same year the three cantons of the \Valdstetten confirmed at Brunnen the alliance recently formed: and the Helvetic confederacy dates its foundation from this period, namely, the year 1315. It consisted at first of the three cantons already mentioned: during the course of the same century, Berne, Zurich, Lu cerne, Glaris, and Zug, joined the confederacy; and other five, namely, Appenzell, Schaffhausen, Fribourg, Soleure, and Basil, in the beginning of the 16th, thus forming the thirteen cantons so well known in history.
Aleanwhile, indeed so early as the eighth cen tury, christianity was introduced into this country, by two Scotsmen, educated at the famous monas tery of Iona, founded by St. Columbus. The re formed doctrines were also early introduced; and the name of Switzerland is intimately connected with the history of the Reformation.
The history of the Swiss confederacy ceases to be interesting for many centuries sultsequent to the union of the thirteen states. These states, not withstanding intestine quarrels about religion, continued to flourish, to cultivate and enjoy the friendship of each other, and to be at peace with the other states of Europe. It is not till the year
1798, that the history of the Helvetic confederacy began again to be connected with that of the sur rounding countries. Contrary to the express treaty concluded between France and the country under review in 1792, the French Directory made a hostile descent on the canton of Basil in the year 1797. The Directory, without any other motive than the hope of plunder, excited, says M. Schoell, a revolution in Switzerland, and under pretence of being invited by one of the parties, they sent troops into that country; overturned the existing order of things; and under the title of the Helvetic Repub lic, established a government entirely subject to their authority.
Such was the downfall of the ancient constitu tion. The Swiss, enslaved by the Directory, made several bold efforts to regain their former indepen dence, but in vain. Nor were they firmly united, else success might have crowned their exertions. Two parties, which had long existed, though they had not openly avowed themselves, now appeared, and Switzerland experienced a series of revolu tions in which the unionists, or aristocratical par ty, and the federalist or democratic alternately had the ascendency. A civil war now tore this country, so long peaceful and happy. A French ar ray, under the command of Ney, again entered it, and established (1803,) a constitution, not of a kind wished for by the majority of the people, but re commended by Bonaparte, now consul of France. This constitution is known in history by the name of the .det of Mediation; and Bonaparte, putting himself at the head of iy commanded the able co operation of the Swiss in his future wars. Switz erland, as before mentioned, now included nineteen cantons; the constitution of each of which was more or less democratic; while the equality of the citizens formed the basis of them all. Under such circumstances, with the exception of some partial commotions, did this country continue till the suc cess of the allied forces emancipated her from the grasp of her conqueror. Immediately on this event, the cantons were far from being agreed as to the future constitution of the country. A civil war, indeed, was likely to be the consequence. But the Congress of Vienna, which met in 1815, and fixed the boundaries of the different countries of Europe as they now stand, prevented this calamity, by taking the case of Switzerland into their considera tion. They did for her more than her best friends could have expected. They restored her indepen dence. They made, as stated in the beginning of this article, an addition of three new cantons to her territory. They granted to her that constitu tion of which we have already given an account.— Under all these advantages, however, the Swiss cantons cannot be looked upon as greater than a third rate power; but in other respects, particu larly with regard to literature, education, and civil privileges, she is not inferior to almost any of the first powers in Europe.
Sec the Articles AUSTRIA and FRANCE: Muller's history of Switzerland: Koch's Revolutions de rope, with Schoell's Continuation; Treads in Swit zerland, by Ebel, Coxe, and Simond: Saussure's Voyages dans les Sipes; Jlnnual Register for 1815.
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