r.

Scarcely any country of Continental Europe, has excited so deep an
interest in the minds of Americans, as Switzerland. Its valleys and
lakes, its streams and cataracts, its lofty mountains and the seas of
ice and deserts of snow which crown their summits, have been the Ultima
Thule of the traveller, from whatever land. But _we_ have dwelt upon
them from the very days of boyhood, with an interest belonging to
scarcely any thing earthly, because we regarded all this magnificent and
beautiful display, as the mere scenery and decoration of the stage, on
which an important act in the great drama of liberty, was exhibited. In
the christian, these magnificent objects awaken emotions perhaps less
tumultuous, but deeper and more elevating; for it is here that another
scene of that great drama was early opened, involving interests
incomparably more valuable, and a struggle far more deadly, not for the
civil liberty of Switzerland, but to free the world from a tyranny, in
comparison with which, that of Austrian dukes was paternal kindness,--a
despotism that held the soul itself chained to the papal throne, and
assumed the triple crown of heaven and earth and hell, which its
representative still wears. To the christian, the names of Tell and
Winkelreid, sink into insignificance beside those of Zuingle and Calvin;
and the war of Swiss independence scarcely deserves a thought, in
comparison with that struggle for the moral reformation of the world,
in which these men were such distinguished actors, and to whose
influence we ourselves owe that religious liberty, which is the most
precious part of our birthright.

But it is an humbling reflection, that the palladium of liberty could
not be kept inviolate, even in the fastnesses of the Alps. A few years
only have elapsed, since some of the fairest portions of this "land of
the free," were held as conquered tributaries by other cantons, and were
governed by a bailiff residing in his castle, and exercising a power
like that of a feudal baron. A considerable portion of Switzerland is
still subject to an aristocracy, as absolute in its sway, and as much
opposed to the extension of light and liberty, as any other branch of
the holy alliance. The press is, in many cantons, under severe
restrictions, and industry and enterprise are checked by the regulations
of the incorporated _trades_, which place the rod of oppression in the
hands of ignorance and self-interest; and which bring home it