cups,-I never exceed that limit,-I reclined my head-heavens! what a luxury; I had been broiling on the outside of a coach to Hampstead in the morning. The refreshing cool ness was exquisite-I once more reclined-I closed my eyes-the wind gave a gentle puff I would not have changed places with Mahomet. Yes, dozing reader, I felt the silver seal of Morpheus upon me; I found my self gradually sinking and sinking; I began to open my mouth-terrible thought! but I was relieved-I gave a nod the vision was dispelled the servants entered-things were removed. Mr. Hundid a ma nuscript traced in beautiful characters, and smelling sweetly of the perfumes of the east, and delivered it to Mr. S, who, glancing his dark and troubled eye around, proceeded to read it in a pompous tone. I listened awhile to the twilight breathing softness of this exquisite poetry, but the irresistible tempting chair-back recurred to my imagination-I tried it again; it was even more soft than before, and the wind sighed more gently and coolly; I thought I could listen better with my eyes closed; I might as well, at least, try the experiment; I shut them gradually the lines were sweeter and more beautiful, and Mr. S- -'s voice grew more soothing every instant; my sensations were wrapt in a dreamy elysium-this lining, thought I, must be made of lamb's wool; I never knew any thing so amazingly soft. Mr. S―'s voice now began to grow extremely faint I could scarcely hear him— how very odd, he had a very clear voice-how strange that it should become thus indistinct; he must have drank too much tea-now I don't hear him at all-oh! they are applauding some passage, I suppose

Excellent! excellent! that is excessively good, H," said I, and the effort I made broke my slumber; all stared at my exclamation, and the poet did not look over and above pleased.

I now became singularly attentive; but sometimes the thoughts of the chair and its tender back would intrude-like visions of bye-gone days of happiness, of rest, of sleep -and then the poetry was so slumbery-so soul-becalming-who could

resist its influence?—and the chair -I am perfectly clear that this time the back advanced towards my head, and not my head towards it; but be that as it may, they did meet again, and seemed mutually rejoiced at the re-union of such approved friends my eye-lids, too, seemed to have imbibed an unusual affection, for they kissed and toyed with each other unceasingly. Mr. S now left off reading, and sat himself down upon the cieling, to gaze about at his leisure; I somewhat wondered how he did this, but as I saw Kstanding upon his head, and Pgetting into the looking glass, Î thought it was a trifling circumstance, and so I would not disturb them. It was about this time, I believe, that Mr. S, arriving at a particularly sleepy passage, began to be rather alarmed at hearing a low groan somewhere beside him—. as this gentleman is remarkably nervous, he shook like an aspen leaf at the violence of his own emotions, and swallowing a glass of cold wa ter, he asked them if they had heard any thing? a reply being given in the negative, he read on; the groaning sound was now heard deeper and more guttural than before, and all were astonished-" What-what is that?" was echoed from every one; even as they spoke the sound became harsher and more prolonged

it was my other voice-they laughed so-but I am sure you will not wish me to reveal the extent of my shame.

Well, if my nasal powers were mistaken for those of a spirit, they have at least some resemblance to those of animate beings, as the following instance_will prove:-one afternoon a small party of ladies were sitting in a leafy bower at Vauxhall, holding a most interesting chat; when suddenly they were petrified by sounds which, to their weak ears, appeared the roarings of some wild bull, or the growlings of a bear which had burst from the shackles of its keeper-they shrieked and screamed and cried-“ Oh, the monster!" said one-"We shall be ruined-we shall be devoured!" screamed another; "Oh! that my brother Richard were here with his gun, he'd shoot its brains out," said a third. This commotion served to

awaken a gentleman who was reposing in an alcove behind. " Oh dear! I believe it's gone now," said the first lady," for I don't hear its dreadful howls;" I-I mean the gentleman-conjecturing what had been the matter, walked off as quietly as he could.

I must also relate an instance of the unwarrantable authority exercised by the holy fathers of the church. I rode over,-being then upon a visit at my friend G's, to R- and it happening to be Sunday, I attended divine service; the weather was somewhat oppressive, and the seat commodious; the text, I believe, "In that day shall they be awakened as from a sleep." But I heard not the arguments-I must acknowledge, I slept. In a field adjoining this sacred place grazed a "solitary ass;" this animal occasionally uttered that sound which is denominated braying; and upon the present occasion-Oh!must I go on?-as I unconsciously snored peculiarly loud, the brute fancying, (I suppose) for he fancied like an ass, that it was the voice of a comrade, set up a hideous roar-the clergyman and congregation were astonished- the junior part were convulsed with laughter-a dreadful response echoed from my nose to this donkeyish ebullition-and he, not to be behind-hand in politeRess, returned the compliment with interest; this was too much-but the mirth was, if possible, increased, by the clergyman's calling gravely to the parateur, "turn that beast out

to his brother."

Thus you see, Mr. Editor, I was born under a most malignant star; to think that I have been mistaken for a ghost, (I really possess a grave appearance) a polar bear, and an ass-an ass!!! oh! gentle reader, I almost snore at the thoughts of it. But if it has been injurious in some respects, it has been really beneficial in others. Some thieves once broke into our house, and were ransacking the next room, when they took to their heels at hearing what they mistook for the unearthly

bellowings of the devil, but which was in reality my voice during a sound sleep.

I never dream; and it is certainly better to snore than to dream; I have none of the nocturnal spectra -no incubi, or headless monsters floating in my disturbed slumbers; I lay me down and rest; sleep steals. upon me almost the instant I couch my head-sleep the most tranquil and profound. Perhaps one reason may be I eat no supper; I go to bed soon and rise early-but oh, my unfortunate lungs!-my most unmusical larynx! I am no sooner placidly laid in the arms of Somnus, than a piping arises which would, frighten his Satanic majesty himself -a noise not unlike that of a bassoon, or a hymn chaunted in a country church. Would that I might sleep in a vessel during a rough and boisterous sea-my nose has a natural antipathy to any thing more sonorous than itself; I will hold a wager, let the winds roar and the rain pelt as they would, it shall outstorm them all.

L'ENVOY.

CINNA,

I understand that there have been several questions concerning my identity. Now, as this is an affair in which I may, I hope, be allowed to take a part, I beg leave to declare,. for the satisfaction of all such querists, that my name is really and bona fide, Cinna. Being introduced once to a young lady, she smiled, and whispered to a sprightly beau near her," Lord! what a heathenish unchristian name!" I am sure the ancient family of the Cinnas were much beholden to her-I am also much perplexed by the fooling manner in which my friends of Cockayne pronounce it. "How came you," said P to me one day, "to get so appropriate a name as Sinner?" This was too bad. How would he approve of my saying, “I like the last scene in Mirandoler?

Eur. Mag. Vol. 82.

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THE Canton of Berne is divided into Bailiwicks or Prefectures, as they are now called; each of these Prefectures elect two deputies to the Sovereign Council, and every town the same number, The elections are made by the majority of suffrages of the citizens, and on the nomination of the Magistrates, Overseers, and other public officers. The candidates must be thirty years of age at least, and possess ten thousand Swiss francs, or fifteen thousand French franks (about 6251. sterling). These elections, produce eighty-six Councillors, a number, doubtless, sufficient to represent such a small population and so confined a territory, particularly as the elections, being held in the respective jurisdictions, are not so liable to be perverted by foreign suggestions or influence.

To complete the third part of the National Representation, there remains about sixteen places to be filled. The nomination is left to the Council; and such power was, undoubtedly, granted by the Legislature, with very generous intentions. It affords to indigent merit, precocious talent, and obscure virtue, an opening to public offices, and that in the quickest, surest, and most honourable manner; for in a Republic, the free, spontaneous suffrage of the Magistrates is to a citizen the most flattering distinction. Several elections of this nature prove, that the Bernese Senate was imbued with the spirit of the Constitution; and it is evident, that in making these elections, public opinion, rather than private suggestion, was attended to. But as the best institutions are not perfect, and as those, which appear irreproachable in theory, are often defective in practice, because men, and generally passionate or prejudiced men, execute them, it may be easily conceived, that this, also, is subject to some inconveniences; as, for exam

ple, being destined to favour merit in the lowest ranks of the people, it only perpetuates old prejudices and obsolete pretensions; and thus a measure, calculated to render a government more popular, only tends, on the contrary, to strengthen aristocratical influence.

The Grand Council is the Legislative Assembly of the Canton. It discusses and promulgates the laws; regulates the police; contracts political alliances and treaties; appoints the Foreign Ministers, Deputies of the Diet, and the Officers of the Federal Contingent; examines the public accounts, and superintends the expenditure of the public revenues. But it exercises no authority over the different branches of the Administration-this authority is vested in the Little Council, whose members, taken from the Great Council, and appointed, for life, are, in reality, the heads of the Republic. These magistrates are 27 in number, including the two Avoyers, who are perpetual Presidents, and who divide between them the advantages and honours of the supreme powerThe same popular spirit which modified the old Constitution, relative to the Great Council, prevails also in the composition of the Little Coun cil, in which the inhabitants of the cities and country are allowed to sit; and there actually are, at the present time, two peasants in the Little Council,- a progress towards democracy, which may appear very slight, but which, in reality, is very remarkable in an aristocracy so inflexible as that of Berne, and which, it must be allowed, had acquired the right of considering itself in possession of the wisdom, as well as the confidence of the people.The Little Council, or Council of State, is charged with the detail of the Administration, the nomination to all the civil employments of the Canton, judicial and military, with the receipt and expenditure of the

revenues; it proposes the subjects to be submitted to the deliberation of the Great Council, and all the propositions relative to the laws. All matters are discussed in common, and carried by the majority, which does not prevent some special commissions, such as a Secret Council, charged more particularly with the care of the police, political negociations, and those affairs which require more than usual discretion. The Council of War, in which the levy of troops and orders concerning military service and discipline are decided, is also a particular commission in the Council of State. "The state revenues are considerable, in comparison with the other Cantons of Switzerland. The greatest part of the revenue consists in the property belonging to the State, in quit-rents and tenths. This last tax, which the State raises upon its lands, as proprietor, is rather a rent than a tax; some private property is, in reality, in the same situation, and the people prefer, in this country, so moderate a tax, the receipt of which being always proportioned to the harvest is as simple and easy as other methods are expensive. There are also indirect taxes at Berne; and the toll duties, which existed under the old government, are also exacted under the new, as well as the rents, the produce of which, according to our author, is considerable.

The government of Berne, though in general unfavourable to modern inventions, does not appear inimical to that of tolls, which have proved very beneficial to the State. Besides the old duties that have been re-established, the government has created new ones. That upon timber is most certainly an abundant source of riches to the Exchequer. Another concession to the opinions of the age, which the government appears, to our author, to have made, is the zeal with which it encourages a military spirit, as prevalent as that in the other Helvetic Republics.

The events which occasioned the fall of the Confederation have made Berne, as well as the other Cantons, feel the necessity of maintaining more respectable, regular, and permanent military force." It does

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not become me," the author modestly says, "to blame precautions, too well justified by the reverses this Republic has already met with." Passing by the principal question, he is not sure whether, in the end, the Canton of Berne may not experience more inconveniences than advantages in these military establishments. The national militia of this Canton is composed of eight battalions of 800 men each-in all, 6,400 men. These battalions are exercised by turns, at Berne, where they form a garrison for a short time, and only receive pay during their service. Now, it appears to the author, that if the consequence of this service is to produce more uniformity in military instruction, and more regularity in manœuvrés, yet these corps must also contract vices incompatible with agricultural inclinations and occupations. To keep alive public spirit in the Canton, and that is, in truth, the best safe-guard of the State, is it not better to concentrate the means of instruction in the Capital, rather than run the risk of infecting the population of the country? Would it not be more natural, wiser, and more conformable to their ancient maxims, which were those of liberty, that the local inhabitant should be exercised in the defence of his own fire-side, without ever losing sight of it, with the exception of the officers, who stand more in need of a war-like education, and who can more easily do without morality than the soldier? The people of Berne are naturally war-like; and that martial spirit which laid the foundation of their State, contributed to its growth, and which, in our days, retarded its fall, is too generally spread throughout the higher classes of society, to be in danger of falling off. Foreign service gives the Bernese youth the means of acquiring practical instruction, which could not be acquired at their own houses; and this, no doubt, would be sufficient, if the Republic always maintained an excellent school for officers; as good soldiers amongst the lower class would be found, who would be the more willing to devote themselves to their country, if their affec

tions were not alienated from their families. The government of Berne ought, then, to strengthen public spirit, by a better organization of the lower class, rather than form garrisons and people barracks, a reform more easily effected there than in other States, because the foundation of it is already laid.

A people long estranged from publie affairs, by a rigorous aristocracy, is able to take any interest in them, proportioned to the part allotted by the Constitution; but, whether through long habit or a confidence (without doubt justifiable), this people do not seem disposed to enjoy all their rights, and it is now its indifference that must be overcome after their liberty is well secured. Here, as in Friburgh, the Electoral Assemblies are little frequented. The countryman, unwillingly, goes to the Council, and it is with great repugnance that he quits his cart to place himself at the helm of the State. Even those, with whom patriotism supplies the place of ambition, and who consent to quit the government of their farms for that of the Republic, are satisfied with paying the tribute of submission to the laws of their country, instead of enlightening it with their knowledge, and vote servilely, and, in spite of themselves, are more attached to old recollections than new prerogatives. This disposition, though honourable in itself, ought to give way to public interest; and if the magistrates do not abuse the confidence of the people, the people, in their turn, ought to justify the confidence of the magistrates. It appeared to the author, that if the disquiet, which there, as well as in France, was the necessary consequence of a long and violent shock, had not ceased with the cause that produced it, the letter of the law not being till now precisely established, the meaning which might have been given to it, and the use that might have been made of it by a thousand petty interests and passions, might have created a revolution in one day, that years only could have quelled. A secret discontent pervades every order of the State. The noble families, whose glory is confounded with

that of the old government, proba bly regret a diet which was so favourable to their aggrandisement and that of the Republic; and, if considered dispassionately, these regrets may be more patriotic than they appear interested. The nobles of Berne may well think, without injustice, that a Constitution, under which their country was free, flourishing, and respectable, for five centuries, was not, in reality, vicious; and our author thinks, that the majority of the citizens, if they were permitted to express their wish, would willingly return to a Constitution, which procured them the rights and advantages of a free people.

T

The heads of the State, more united here than at Friburgh, would not counteract the will of the people, but they govern with the majority of the Councils, who have not the same inclination. On the other hand, the poorer citizens, who are, perhaps, more susceptible of popular spirit than the nobles are of regrets for the old order of things, are but little satisfied with their share in the new Constitution, as a recompense for the loss of numerous petty offices occasioned by the separation of the Pays-de-Vaud and Argovia. More interest in the Council is required; but private interest here, as well as elsewhere, is concealed under the pretext of public good. The citizens of Berne, as well as Friburgh, openly aspire to a Democratical Constitution; and though, in these two Republics, the majority of the government, as well as the people, repel this, there is always a vague and disquiet feeling, which prevents the prosperity and happiness of the State. jealousy and distrust which the different orders manifest towards each other, spread weakness and timidity in the Councils, and causes a sort of uneasiness in the political body.It is difficult to foretell what will be the result of these struggles between contrary interests and prejudices. Another source of embarrassment to the government of Berne is the acquisition of the Catholic part of the bishoprick of Basle, in virtue of the new regulations of the Congress of Vienna. The difficulty of

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