The chief street is half a league in length.  The houses, which are in general uniform, are built of free-stone upon piazzas, and have a stately appearance, and there are several towers which add to the general effect.  In the middle of the street, runs a rapid stream, and there is sufficient space for two carriages to pass at each side of it.  Fountains are also placed at regular distances.  The piazzas are flagged and kept extremely neat; but, I should think, that in this climate they must make the houses cold in winter.  This was the first place since my departure from London, where I found a flagged way for the convenience of pedestrians.

Berne is not a city of very remote antiquity, having been founded in the year 1191.  It is 1650 feet above the level of the sea.  The fortifications are kept in tolerable order, but from the height of most of the surrounding hills, above the city, cannot be considered as of much utility.  In the trenches are kept several very large stags, and also several bears; there being an annual rent of 1200 livres for their support.  This animal is thus favoured, as being the armorial bearing of the city (to which it gives name) and these arms are every where to be seen, there being few barns without them.  There are many handsome churches in Berne:  the tower of the cathedral is very fine, and it contains many windows of stained glass.  The public library is well worth visiting; as is also the botanic garden, which is on a most extensive scale; in it is placed the tomb of the celebrated Haller.  I was much struck by the great number of chemists’ shops in Berne.  The bakers’ shops also are very numerous, and the bread is inferior to none in Europe.

A stranger is surprised to see the convicts chained to the carts which are constantly in use to keep the streets clean.  I confess the sight displeased me, and this system would not be tolerated in England, where I think there was an attempt to introduce it during the reign of Edward the Sixth.  The objects that most pleased me, at Berne, were the public walks, which are unequalled by any I have ever seen, in respect to their number, extent, and the neatness with which they are kept.  The views from some of these walks are quite magnificent; one, in particular, on an eminence beyond the city, which follows the course of the Aar for a long distance, commands a view which can never be forgotten by these who have seen it.  The city is a striking object at a distance from the number of its spires; but although, from the spaciousness of its streets, it covers a good deal of ground, yet it is by no means populous, the inhabitants being only 11,500, but there are no mendicants.  The public roads, in the Canton of Berne, are kept in excellent order, and every thing indicates the activity of the administration.  The government is an aristocracy, and I was informed the chief power of of the state is vested in about