Art. I. Switzerland forms one federal republic, under the denomination of the Helvetic confederation. II. It is divided into cantons. III. Each canton to govern itself according to its own will, and to exercise in its own territory all the rights of sovereignty which it exer cised under the ancient regime. IV. The towns shall not enjoy any prerogative over the country, both one and the other, to participate in the administration of justice, of the police, and in the internal government of the canton. V. The government of one canton cannot publish ordinances prejudicial to another canton: those who break through this regulation to be denounced to the diet. VI. The government of each canton to name a deputy to the Helvetic diet. The deputies remain in office until their constituents think proper to recal them. They are indemnified by the canton. VII. The diet is permanent; it deliberates on war and peace, and on the conclusion of such treaties of alliance and commerce as the general interest of the confederation may call for. It is authorized to repeal and annul the ordonnances of the cantonal governments, which are prejudicial to the Helvetic confederation, or to any of its can tons. VIII. Every deputy, member of the diet, is obliged to conduct himself, upon the discussion of an important object, particularly of treaties, peace, commerce and alliance, according to the instructions of his constituents. IX. The diet chooses, from amongst its members, a president and a secretary, who continue in their functions for three months, and are always reeligible. X. The president of the diet receives the envoys of foreign powers, and signs the deliberations of the diet, which are countersigned by the secretary. The protocol shal be signed by every member. XI. The diet appoints the Helvetic envoys to foreign powers, and recalls them. XII. In case of a war, or threat of attack, the diet settles the contingent of troops, and the amount of the sums which each canton is obliged to furnish. The arsenals of the cantons are at the disposal of the diet. It appoints the generals, and removes them, as also the inspectors of the militia in time of peace. Each canton is obliged to exercise in arms and military evolutions, a contingent of the militia, which, however, is not to perform any effective service, in time of peace, and receives no pay. XIII. All the Swiss are soldiers. None can exercise the rights of citizenship, nor be received into the corporations of artists and tradesmen, nor exercise a profession, not marry, unless he has a musket, a sword, and a pouch. The government supplies the poor with arms In extraordinary cases the cantonal government may order the disarming of the citizens. The expenses of war are charged upon all the cantons in proportion to their re spective means, the French government, the sentiments of deep regret which have been excited in his majesty's mind by the address of the first consul to the Helvetic people, which was published by authority in the Moniteur of the 1st instant, and by the representations which have been made to his majesty on this subject, on behalf of the nation whose interests are so immediately affected by it. His majesty most sincerely laments the convulsions to which the Swiss cantons have for some time past been exposed; but he can consider their late exertions in no other light than as the lawful efforts of a brave and generous people to recover their ancient laws and government, and to procure the reestablishment of a system which experience has demonstrated, not only to be favourable to the inaintenance of their domestic happiness, but to be perfectly consistent with the tranquillity and security of other powers. The cantons of Switzerland unquestionably possess, in the same degree as every other independent state, the right of regulating their own internal concerns, and this right has, moreover, in the present instance, been formally and explicitly guarantied to the Swiss nation by the French government in the treaty of Luneville, conjointly with the other powers who were parties to that engagement. His majesty has no other desire than that the people of Switzerland, who now appear to be so generally united, should be left at liberty to settle their own internal government, without the interposition of any foreign powers; and with whatever regret his majesty may have perused the late proclamation of the French government, he is yet unwilling to believe that they will further attempt to controul that in "dependent nation in the exercise of their undoubted rights. His majesty thinks himself called upon by his regard for the general interests of Europe, and by his peculiar solicitude for the happiness and welfare of the Swiss nation, to express these his sentiments with a frankness and sincerity which he feels to be due to his character, and to the good understanding which he is desirous of preserving with the government of France. Downing-street, Oct. 10, 1803. To Mr. Otto, &c. &c. Dispatch from Lord Hawkesbury to Mr. Moore. Downing-street, Oct. 10, 1802. Sir, His majesty having deemed it expedient, that a confidential person should be sent at the present moment to Switzerland, in consequence of the communication which he has received from the Swiss confederacy, through their representative at Paris, I am commanded to inform you that he has made choice of you for that purpose. It is of the utmost consequence, considering the nature of the business with which you are entrusted, that you should lose no time in taking your departure from hence," and that you should make every practicable exertion to arrive on the frontiers of Switzerland with as little delay as possible. You will inform yourself there what is the actual residence of the government of the Swiss confederation, to which you will immediately repair. Haying taken the proper means to ob X x 2 tain tain a confidential interview with the persons who may be entrusted with the principal direction of affairs, you will communicate to them a copy of the note verbale which I delivered to M. Otto, and which is herewith enclosed; and you will take every opportunity of impressing upon their minds the deep interest which his majesty takes in the success of their exertions. You will state to them, that his majesty entertains hopes, that his representation to the French government may have the effect of inducing the first consul to abandon his intention of compelling the Swiss nation by force to renounce that system of government under which they had so tong prospered, and to which they appear to be almost unanimously anxious to return. In this event his majesty will feel himself bound to abstain from all interference on his part; it being his earnest desire that the Swiss nation should be left at liberty to regulate their own internal concerns, without the interposition of any foreign power. If, however, contrary to his majesty's expectations, the French government should persist in the system of coercion, announced in the proclamation of the first consul, inserted in the Moniteur of the 1st instant, you will, in that case, inform yourself, by every means in your power, of the disposition of the people at large of the Swiss confederacy, and particularly of those who have the direction of their affairs, and of those who possess the greatest share of influence amongst them, to persevere in the defence of their rights, and in the maintainance of the system they have adopted. You will likewise inquire into the means of defence of which they may be possessed, and of the probability of their being exerted with success. You will on no account encourage them to persevere in active measures of resistance which they are not themselves desirous to adopt, or which they may believe are unlikely to be ultimately effectual. If, however, you should find that the people of the Swiss confederacy are generally determined to persevere in the maintainance of their independence, and of thei right to return to their ancient system of government; and if you should be of opinion that from the union that subsists amongst the people, and from their zeal and enthusiasm in the cause in which they are engaged, they are finally resolved at all hazards to resist the threatened attempt of the French government to interpose by force of arms in the settlement of their internal concerns; you will then immediately communicate, in confidence, to the Swiss government, that either in the event of a French army having entered the country, or in the event of your having rea son to be convinced that a French army is actually advancing for that purpose, his majesty has authorized you to accede to their application for pecuniary succours, I have furnished you with a cypher and decypher, that you may have it in your power to correspond with his majesty's ministers at Vienna and Munich, if you should think it advisable; and as it is highly probably that the armies of the Swiss confederacy may be inadequately supplied with arms, ammunition or provisions, and may be desirous of procuring supplies thereof from the neighbouring countries, you will use your utmost endeavours deavours to give them every facility for this purpose. You will be very particular in informing me of the numbers and situation of thers in Arms. Dated Balse, October 12, 1802. Friends and brothers, HEN you separated your any Austrian corps in the neigh- W selves from your wives, your bourhood of Switzerland, and of the probability of their advancing in any event into the Swiss territory. As it is possible that previous to your arrival in Switzerland the present state of affairs may have undergone a decided alteration, either in consequence of the submission of the Swiss cantons, or of any compromise having taken place as to their internal concerns, it will be proper that, in that case, you should take up your residence in such a situation as you may think, most convenient in the neighbourhood of Switzerland, of which you will give me the earliest intelligence, and there wait his majesty's further orders. I am, children, your fathers, and your friends, to conquer for your chil dren, liberty, independence, and prosperity, you abandoned with alacrity and courage your cottages and your flocks, This idea," the God As it is of great importance that his majesty's government should be regularly informed of the events which may be passing in Switzer-"of our fathers is with us, and land, and of the dispositions that "protects us," gave you force to may prevail there, you will endea- brave all the dangers, and to despise vour to ascertain the most safe and the fatigues of war. You quitted expeditious mode of conveying your with songs your mountains and letters which will avoid their pass- your valleys, to enter into the field ing through any part of the French and defend the cause of liberty and republic. your country. The Almighty blessed your arms, and heard the just wishes of a nation known only by its rectitude, and which had armed for its liberty and independence. Our enemies, our oppressors, the soidisant Helvetic government, with its feeble party, have been chased almost to the frontiers of the confederate cantons. But brothers and friends, we have received a notification, that if we did not by our conduct give proofs of an entire confidence in the first consul of the powerful nation of France, who has caused a declaration to be made by his envoy, general Rapp, to our fathers assembled at Schwitz, that he wishes to interpose as mediator in the war which we are carrying on against the odious Helvetic government, we should be compelled to it by the victorious arms of the French warriors. Brothers, friends, confederates, who among us could conceive the thought of menacing ourselves with the numerous and experienced armies of France? No, friends, no; we wish to await X x 3 peaces With great truth and regard, Your most obedient humble servant, (Signed) To Francis Moore, esq. Proclamation of the Council of War of the Swiss League to their Bro peaceably the determination of the first consul; and with that order, that moderation, and that discipline, which have hitherto guided your steps, you will receive, we are convinced, the orders of your superiors, of your general; and even, if it should be necessary, you will return to your residences, in order that our country may not be exhausted by the entrance of foreign troops; that we may not be deprived of the scanty harvest of this year, which we hoped to consume with our children; and that we may not be plunged into indigence and misery. It is only the Helvetic government, directed by its passions and its private interest, that could call in the aid of foreign troops; we, who took up arms only for our country and tranquillity, have no need of troops to attain our object. But, relying on our conduct, we dare to hope, that the first consul of France, who has guarantied our independence, and who has been deceived by false reports, will, as soon as he shall have been informed of the true state of things, take measures, which will secure our honour, and the prosperity and independence of our country. May the Almighty deign to grant this, who has caused us to make an important step towards our future happiness, and crowned our arms with his benediction. received this evening authentic in formation of the submission of the diet of Switzerland, assembled at Schwitz, to the French arms, I lose no time in dispatching the messenger, Shaw, with this intelligence; from which your lordship will perceive that it only remains for me to obey that part of my in structions by which I am directed, under such circumstances, to take up my residence in the neighbourhood of Switzerland, and there to await his majesty's further orders. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Frances Moore, The right hon. lord Hawkesbury, &c. &c. Note addressed, on the 26th of O tober, by the Diet of Schwits t General Ney. HE president of the confed THE rated cantons having been re quired, on the part of general Ney, by his adjutant, M. Bechet, to de clare whether the diet would a cept the proclamation of the first consul of the French republic, the diet have the honour to observe to the general, that already, on the 15th of this month, they had taken the resolution of delivering up their powers into the hands their constituents as soon as the French troops should enter Swit zerland, having never entertained the design of opposing them force of arms. Now that the diet is positively informed that the o ties of Balse and Berne are occ pied by French troops, it no longe delays to dissolve itself; at the same time, they seize this opp tunity of declaring to the genen, that conformably to the instructions they have received from their co stituents |