ation, no agreement could be made respecting a common seal, which it was cuftomary to make ufe of in the imperial chamber during an interregnum; a circumftance which was found to be attended with much inconvenience. Besides, the vicariate court of judicature at Augsburg was not acknowledged by most of the fates of the empire; fo that, except in the district of the Saxon vicariate, there was almoft a total cefiation in the adminiftration of justice.

While the fucceffion to Charles VI. was agitated among the princes of the empire, his daughter, Maria Therefa, upon his death, took immediate poffeffion of all his territories; and fhe flattered herself that her confort, the grand-duke of Tufcany, would have the majority of votes in his favour at the election of an emperor. It was thought at Vienna, and not without great probability, that the votes of Mentz, Treves, Saxony, and Hanover were certain; and reckoning, therefore, the additional vote of Bohemia, the election must be obtained. With respect to Bohemia, the only difficulty feemed to be, whether a female could vote? At leaft, if Maria Theresa attended the election as queen of Bohemia, it would be the first instance of the kind. To obviate all difpute on this head, fhe declared her husband co-regent, and that the transferred her right of voting to him. This step, however, only ferved to increase the difficulty; and while it was in agitation, an unexpected event gave the whole affair a different turn. The elector of Bavaria, at the inftigation of the court of France, declared himself a candidate for the imperial dignity; and fuch were the alliances formed in his fupport, that of all the powers whofe guarantee of the Pragmatie Sanction was called for by Maria Therefa, George II. the king of Great Britain, was the only one who was ready to afford her actual affittance, which he did by a new treaty concluded at Hanover. The refult, however was, that the elector of Bavaria fucceeded to the imperial dignity, under the name of Charles the Seventh.

The most important circumftances which happened during thefe tranfactions were, the additions made to the capitulations of the emperor, particularly refpecting unequal marriages.

Ever fince the time of the middle ages, fays our author, it had, no doubt, been customary for a prince, when he married a perfon of inferior rank, not to confider her in the light of a princefs; neither were the children born in fuch wedlock, entitled to princely honours, or capable of fucceffion to their father's territories. If a prince had fons already by a fuitable marriage, and then became a widower, or elie were induced from other motives to marry beneath his dignity, it was ufual to give the perfon of inferior rank the left hand in the marriage. ceremony.

5

ceremony, that his family might not be overburdened with the neceffary provifion for a widow or younger children. At the fame time it was generally previously fettled how fuch ladies should be called, which was either after the name of the prince, as madame Rudolphina, madame Erneftina, or elfe after fome particular eftate purchafed for her ufe, as FRAU VON (Madame de) M. N. &c. and a fettlement was made both for her and her children, as well as an agreement concerning their names.'

Mr. Pütter obferves on this subject, if it was once admitted that the marriage of a prince with a woman of ancient nobility was not a méfalliance, we thould foon find that the princes would more frequently marry perfons of that rank than those who are born princeffes; at leaft they would have a much greater choice among the latter: and how many princeffes would then remain unmarried!'

Short as was the reign of Charles VII. it was fruitful in events of great importance. The principal of these were, the augmentation of the Pruffian power by its acquiring Silefia and Eaft Friesland; the houfe of Holstein-Gottorp's profpect of fucceeding to the thrones of Sweden and Ruffia; and the decree of the empire in favour of the house of Heffe-Caffel, confirming its poffeffion of the county of Hanau, as well as its unlimited privilege de non appellando.

On the death of Charles VII. Francis, grand-duke of Tufcany, and confort of Maria Therefa, was elected to the imperial throne. One of the most remarkable circumstances attending this election was, that an envoy was admitted with full powers from Maria Therefa, in quality of queen of Bohemia, without any hesitation; by which the point was fully fettled, that an electoral female voice fhould henceforth be confidered as valid.

Among the tranfactions of the diet fubfequent to this period, the ancient difputé concerning rank was revived between the spiritual and fecular princes; but nothing has hitherto been decided on this contested priority.

The ninth period of modern hiftory extends from the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, to the election of Jofeph II. king of the Romans, in 1764. The chief event in this period is the war of feven years, of which our author explains the caufe, and recites the part taken in it by the emperor and the empire.

The tenth period of modern history begins at 1764, when Jofeph II. was elected king of the Romans, and continues to the year 1786. The perfonal attendance of the newly elected king of the Romans was no longer required, as formerly, in the conclave; nor likewife the confent of the father. Among the other events in this period, is the abolition of the order of Dd 4

the

the Jefuits, of which our author fpeaks in the following

terms:

• Dark clouds had been collecting for many years about the Jefuits, in feveral Catholic countries; but that their diffolution was fo near, that a bull fhould be fuddenly iffued by pope Clement XIV. July 21, 1773, to abolish the order entirely, after the attempt had already been made in feveral particular countries, and the order had made itfelf abfolutely neceffary to the fee of Rome, as the greatcft fupport of the Catholic hierarchy in general, was fcarcely to be expected; but fo it happened: neither did the bull merely make its appearance, it was punctually com plied with in almost every Catholic country. Their landed property was in moft places confifcated by the government, or elfe the revenues of their eftates were applied to charitable purpofes, as the fupport of hofpivals, churches, or fchools.

It was difficult to fupply their places in the fchools, which the Jefuits fuperintended, though applications were made for the vacant offices by the clergy of other religious orders, or parochial minifles; but in order to remedy this difficulty, feminaries were inftituted, that there might be no fcarcity of able men in future. This plan was evidently attended with good effects, and the fyftem of education was in many places confiderably improved. Every one viewed the profpect of the diffusion of more enlightened fentiments with pleafure. Exaggerated ideas of the power of the pope, a fuperftitious attachment to a monaf tic life, falfe pretenfions to devotion, prejudices against the religious perfuafions of others, and the fpirit of intoleration and perfecution which had fo long prevailed, vitibly declined.

The empress Maria Therefa herfelf approved even of many of the steps now taken, which but a few years ago would scarcely have been thought of; and yet thefe were but faint preludes to the gigantic ftrides of her great fucceffor, which not even the vifit of pope Pius VI. to Vienna, in the year 1782, was able to pervert.

The Ex-Jefuits, notwithstanding this, continued in many places to preferve their former fyfiem, habited in other drefles, and under feigned names, in the character of parochial clergy, Many individuals among them continued in the pofeffion of the confeffionals of perfons of diftinction, and the pulpits of the moft frequented churches; others became profeffors in univerfities, fuperinter dants of fchools, private tutors, travelling companions, authors, editors of periodical publications, or had recourfe to other means of employing their talents, and exering the fame influence as formerly in the affairs of diftinguished

courts.

Their number annually decreased by the death of individuals, which, in all probability, would foon have totally extin-guifhed the order; but fince the year 1779, this fociety feems to have acquired a kind of immortality by the conduct of Catherine of Ruffia, who not only oppofed their difperfion in that part of

Poland

Poland which fell to her fhare, but gave them an opportunity of perpetuating the rules of their order, by permitting them to admit novices, under the command of a vicar-general, who was newly elected, and invested with the full power of a commander in chief.'

The public events in Germany after this period are, the extinction of the houfe of Bavaria, and the fubfequent war, which was terminated by the peace of Tefchen, with the death of the empress Maria Therefa, and the league of the princes in 1785.

The laft book of the work contains General Obfervations on the Conftitution of the Germanic Empire, as it exifts at prefent. From the whole of the accurate Developement exhibited by Mr. Pütter, it appears that, with regard to all the principal circumftances, the Germanic empire remains at prefent in the fame form which it had received at the time of the peace of Weftphalia. In many refpects, its foundation fince that period has been rendered more firm, though it has occafionally likewife experienced fome violent shocks. Our author obferves, that notwithstanding the Germanic empire is united under one fupreme head, yet the circumstance of its confifting of many distinct ftates, totally independent of each other, renders it difficult in many cafes to discover its conftitutional unity, which, in reality, is only immediately obvious at the emperor's court, the diet, and the imperial chamber. These are held refpectively at Vienna, Ratisbon, and Wetzlar, and on each of them the author makes fome obfervations, which tend to throw additional light upon the prefent conftitution of the empire.

Our author defcribes it as one of the great advantages of the Germanic conflitution, that a legal refort is open against every member of the empire, even in favour of the fubject against his territorial lord, and the creditor against any of the ftates which are his debtors. In Mr. Pütter's opinion, however, it is to be wifhed, that fome regulation was made by the legislature respecting the appeals to the diet againft unfavourable decrees of the courts of judicature. The accomplishment of this object would probably be attended with difficulty; but, until fome regulation is made, the refult of every appeal depends upon the majority of votes in the three colleges of the empire.

Befides the three places above mentioned, where the conftitution of Germany is always confpicuous, it occafionally ap pears at the election of a king of the Romans or emperor; in the deputations of the empire, and particularly the vifitation of the chamber. Separate collegiate meetings may likewife

be

be held; as well as the diet of the circles, connected with the conftitution of the empire, especially thofe of Swabia, Franconia, Bavaria, and the circles of the Rhine. Befides thefe, may be held feparate deliberations of each party of religion, and to this the proteftant body has had the greatest reason to have recourfe, on account of the majority of votes of their antagonists, and their intolerant principles. Our author defcribes, with his ufual accuracy and minuteness a variety of other fubordinate regulations in the Germanic conftitution, which it is unneceffary for us to detail.

The learned profeffor, after enumerating feveral imperfections in the constitution of the Germanic empire, concludes with the following obfervations:

Upon the whole, however, we must do the conftitution of the Germanic empire the juftice to confefs that it is not the most imperfect, but in comparison with other countries, has certain advantages in its favour; at least it is not to be attributed to the conftitution that the different parts of Germany do not enjoy an equal degree of profperity. Where there are defects and obftacles remaining, let us hope that the fame Providence which hath hitherto evidently watched over the country, will continue to protect it: and why fhould we not entertertain the most chearful profpects, when fuch fublime examples of activity, justice, and philanthropy, promife to adorn the approaching age, as Jofeph, George, and Frederick-William ?'

To the Hiftorical Developement is fubjoined a view of the prefent ftate of the population, revenues, military establishments, &c. of the principal territories in the Germanic empire, extracted from the Statistical Tables lately published at Berlin, and other authorities.

We cannot conclude our account of this work without repeating, that Mr. Pütter has accomplished with great judgment and induftry, the task which had fo lately been recommended to him by the queen; and that the tranflator likewife has executed his part with fidelity.

The Danger of the Political Balance of Europe, tranflated from the French of the King of Sweden, by the Right Hon. Lord Mountmorres. Small 8vo. 35. Boards. Jeffery.

LORD Mountmorres has tranflated these Memoirs in the be

lief that they are the production of his Swedish majesty; but, according to private literary intelligence, the greater part of them was written by an ambaffador, who admitted into the narrative some obfervations furnished by the king. Whoever the real author may be, the work discovers much private in

formation