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188

THE CANTON OF SCHAVEITZ.

those who were possessed of credit and authoritypub-licly declared, that the new regulations endangered theirrights both civil and religious. The general dissatisfac-tion was instantly changed into popular fury; and, thediet being re-assembled, it was resolved not to furnishtroops in future to the King of France ; the treaty of al-liance of 1713 was torn from the archives; and DeRedin was ordered, under pain of perpetual exile, to re-turn with the soldiers under his command. In this extre-mity, he obtained the Kings leave of absence for himselfand regiment, and, entering Schweitz with drums beatingand colours flying, marched immediately towards thegreat church, where,after having placed the colours by thesideofthe altar, he fell upon his knees, and offered up histhanks to God . He then paid his soldiers their arrears,and, with tears in his eyes, presenting them with their ac-coutrements and clothes, discharged them from his ser-vice. These brave fellows wept around him; but when hetook his leave, the fury of the mob began to increase. Theman whom they considered as a perfidious w'retch, a trai-tor, and a monster, and who had favoured the new regula-tions, and conspired to give a mortal blow to the hap-piness of his country, was now before them. The diet,therefore, re-assembled, and the general was orderedto disclose the manner in which these new regulationshad passed, in order that they might know the terms