Schwyz, the capital of the canton, is situated at the junction of the valley of Muota with two other valleys, not quite 3 miles distant from the Waldstatten Lake. The curiously-shaped mountain called Mythen, nearly 6000 feet high, rises immediately north-east of the town, and seems to threaten to overwhelm it by its fall. The country around Schwyz is beautiful and very fertile, and the scenery is splendid. Schwyz is an open town : it has two good streets', a largo square, a church dedicated to St. Martin (which is one of the finest in Switzer land), two or three convent., a college, a town-house, an hospital, a library which is rich in works relative to the history of the country, a cabinet of medals, and 2414 inhabitant& In the burying-ground annexed to the parish church is the monument of Mops Reding, who fought bravely for the independence of his country against the French in 1793-99. The pariah church contains the rich banner given by Popo Julius IL to the Swim troops which he had Ulm into his pay in the war of the Holy League.
Eitssiesitios, situated about 10 miles N. from Schw7z, is a thriving with a good paved street, numerous shops, inns, and 2597 place, ro tante. The Benedictine abbey of Eiusiedoln was founded in the 10th century; it stands outside of the town, is a square building three stories high, and 476 feet long and 414 foot wide, with spacious &gird.= and numerous offices and outhouses. Tho church has several fin. altars. The library of the monastery contains 26,000 volumes.
Germs, a small town on the shore of the Ws1dstatton-See, was formerly a distinct republic, the smallest in Europe, with a population of about 1300, but it is now united to the canton of Schwyz. It manufactures silks, leather, and potash.
LecArs, the bead town of the district of the March, on the south shore of the Lake of Zurich, 16 miles N.E. from Schwyz, has a hand
some church, • town-house, some iron-forges, several mills, and about 1500 Inhabitants. .4r(A, a pretty little town at the south extremity of the Lake of Zug, has a good parish church, a library in the Capuchin convent, and about 1300 inhabitants.
The cantonal government is democratic. All citizens who have completed their 15th year, and who are neither bankrupts nor under a sentence of degradation, are members of the Landegemeinde, or General Assembly, which meets in the valley of Rothenthurm, in the month of May, every other year, or oftener if required. The landagemeinde appoints the landamman, or president of the canton, the statthalter, or lieutenant, and the treasurer; it sanctions or rejects the projects of law or bills which are laid before it by the great council, and examines the financial accounts of the canton. The votes are taken by show of hands, and a simple majority decides. The Groat Council consists of 108 members, who are elected by the various districts in proportion to their respective population for the term of six years. The Cantonal Council consists of 36 members, including those of the executive commission. It meets four times a year under the preeidenco of the landamman. The Cantonal Tribunal, or Supreme Court of Justice, consists of 14 members, besides supple mentary ones, named by the various districts for the term of six years. In every district there are district councils, with their respective landamman, statthalter, treasurer, and other officers for the district, besides district tribunals. Every citizen from 19 to 50 years of age belongs to the militia. Every commune has a society of rifle men, and meetings for firing at the target. The canton returns two members to the National Council or Diet of Switzerland. [Swrrzea LAND.)