k, or pause
upon the verdant turf which encircles their picturesque habitations, the
demon appears like Satan in the garden of Eden. The infant, radiant as
love, extends its little hand for money; the adult, with his keen grey
eye, searches into you to ascertain in what manner he may overreach you.
Avarice rules over the beautiful country of Helvetia.

The prevailing foible of a nation is generally to be found in the
proverbs of the country and of those adjacent. The Genevese appear to
have the credit of excelling the Swiss generally: they say here, "Il
faut trois Juifs pour faire un Baslois, et trois Baslois pour faire un
Genevois."

Again:--

"Si un Genevois se jette par la fenetre, suivez le? Il y aura pour
gagner."

It was, however, a very neat answer given by a Swiss to a Frenchman, who
asserted that the French fought for honour, and the Swiss for money.

"C'est vrai," replied the Swiss, "chacun se bat pour cela que lui
manque."

The Swiss have abolished titles, they have crushed their nobility; but
human nature will prevail; and they seek distinction by other channels;
every one who has the least pretention to education or birth looks out
for employment under government; and you can hardly meet with a
well-dressed person in the streets who is not a magistrate, inspector,
_directeur_, or _employe_ in some way or the other, although the
emoluments are little or nothing. The question has been brought forward
as to trial by jury being introduced, and, strange to say, the majority
are opposed to it as not being suitable to the Swiss. The reason they
give is, that as all respectable people hold offices under Government,
and are thereby excused from serving, that there will be nobody but the
lower classes to sit as jurors. It is very difficult to obtain evidence
in a Swiss court of justice; and this arises from the dislike of the
Swiss to give evidence; as, by so doing, they may make enemies, and
their own interests may be injured. This is completely the character of
the Swiss. When I visited Switzerland in my younger days, I used my
eyes only, and I was delighted; now that I visit it again, when years
have made me reflect and inquire more, I am disappointed. The charm is
dissolved, the land of liberty appears to me to be a land of petty
tyranny in the Government, and of extreme selfishness in the
individuals; even the much-vaunted fidelity of the Swiss seems not to
have arisen from any other than mercen