they had factories established in foreign countries. This convention having, in fact, engrossed nearly the whole commerce of Europe, acquired so great a political influence as to alarm the different potentates, by whom its dissolution was resolved upon. To effect this object, the different governments obliged such cities as were under their respective jurisdictions to withdraw from the league, and now the only towns which retain and exercise its privileges are Hamburgh, Lubeck, Bremen, Rostock, and Dantzic.

On this event Hamburgh became again subject to the attack of the Danes. To put an end, however, to this, in 1618 the citizens found sufficient interest to procure the place to be formally declared a free imperial city, under which title it was summoned to a diet in 1641, when cognisance was taken of the claims of Denmark, which were ultimately renounced by Frederick V. It is from this period we have to date the importance which, to the present hour, attaches to Hamburgh. Assuming a character of independence, it necessarily drew to it most of the trade of the Hanse Towns; and we may now set it down on the map as the first city in Germany, and class it as the fourth in Europe in point of commercial consequence; a rank that its local situation cannot fail to ensure it even to remote ages. Such may be considered as a faint outline of its history.

With respect to the government, it is founded on democratical or popular principles, there being no sovereignty, precedency, or title of distinction beyond that of citizen. It consists of a senate, and three colleges of burghers: the former is composed of four burgomasters, four syndics, and twenty-four senators. The two first classes are styled "Magnificents;" the latter, who are civilians, "Hochweisheit;" and the merchants, "Wöhlweisheit." The eligibility of a senator consists in his being a native of the city, and having a thorough knowledge of the rights of the state, in being upwards of thirty years of age, of the Lutheran persuasion, and not dependent on any foreign prince. A judicious regulation has just been introduced, that, in future elections, more attention is to be paid to the ability of persons to discharge the duties incumbent on them, than to their opulence; and it should also be observed, that with the same view the salaries of senators have been increased.

It is the prerogative of the senate to nominate consuls to foreign courts, receive foreign ministers, to grant letters patent, and make contracts; and it has further the power of mitigating or of changing the punishment of criminals. With respect to the colleges of burghers, the administration of each parish is under three Oberalten, nine deacons, twenty-four sub-deacons, and six ad

SENATE AND COLLEGES.

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juncts of these the three colleges are formed. That of the Oberalten consists of fifteen members; namely, three from each parish. The sechzigers consist of sixty members, viz. the college of oberalten, and the nine deacons from each parish.

The third, named the college of a Hundred and Eighty, is composed of the former, and the twenty-four sub-deacons from each parish.

The college of the Oberalten, from its antiquity and high respectability, appears to have the greatest weight in the state, has the privilege of debating on any question, and of impeaching senators who are found to infringe the constitution.

The sechzigers are appointed to superintend the inferior departments of the state.

In addition to these, it may be observed, that there is another college, called the Kammerey, composed of ten members, viz. two from each parish its province is to audit the public accounts. There is also a college of "Sales and Services," composed of four senators, five oberalten, two kammerey burghers, and two citizens from each parish.

Of the burghers, there are two classes: one called Grosse or large, the other Kleine or little. This distinction consists in certain privileges exercised in trade: for instance, the former are laid under no restriction, while the latter can

neither import nor export goods by wholesale, in their own names, nor transact business on the public exchange. Foreigners, who are disposed to carry on any mercantile or mechanical profession, to keep a shop, to belong to any corporate body, or to marry the daughter or widow of a citizen, are bound to enter as burghers: when summoned to the senate, they are required to declare their name, native country, religion, and produce a certificate from the drill-master of the town, that for three weeks they have, under his inspection, been trained to the use of arms. The fees payable for a great burgher is one hundred and fifty marks in specie, and for a small one forty marks, besides about five marks to subordinate officers. To these may be added another rank of citizenship, which is called the Foreign Contract. Its members enjoy every commercial privilege in common with the higher burghers, and are exempted from all public offices in the state. On his admission, the individual must declare the amount of his capital, on which a per-centage is paid, and a similar sum yearly.

The ecclesiastical government of the state may be thus explained. The senate is declared to be supreme head of the church, of which the established religion is Lutheranism, and the clergymen are elective. On leaving college, students, who are intended for the ministry, undergo an examination before the five principal

ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT.

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clergymen of the city, which entitles them to the name of candidates for churches. There are three pastors to each church: service begins on Sunday morning at eight, and continues till eleven o'clock,-commences again at twelve, and finishes at two o'clock; and there is a third service from two to four. There is no established form of prayer, and sermons are delivered extempore. The clergy are in the habit of confessing their flock more than once a year in their houses, on which occasion a pecuniary gratification is presented to the pastors. In this city are English, French, and Catholic chapels ; but although the Jews form a considerable part of the population, we did not learn that they had any synagogue, although there is one at Altona, in the neighbourhood. A society is established here for the circulation of religious tracts, to which liberal donations have been made by the Society in London; and during last year, 93,767 tracts were distributed. *

In reference to the military establishment, it may be remarked, that the present governor of the city was at one time in the Russian service, which may explain the reason for the soldiers being dressed after the Russian mode. There are

* It may be mentioned, that in London the British Society, in 1826, distributed 90,000 Bibles, and in the course of twenty years, from 1802, there had been circulated one million copies of the Scriptures.