against the Vaudois, from which Roman Catholics are exempt, we shall see that justice is administered."

These magnificent concessions were headed with the following preamble, and dated 4th June, 1794, a convincing proof that there could be no foundation for accusing the Vaudois of betraying Fort Mirabouc, or of any other treason against the state.

"We have read the memorial presented to us from you, by General Zimmerman, respecting the desires expressed by our dear and faithful subjects the Vaudois, relating to their actual political existence. In consideration of the constant and distinguished proofs, which they have ever given to our royal predecessors, of their attachment and fidelity, and the zeal which they have shewn in pressing into the army for the defeat of our enemies; we are disposed to receive their memorial favourably, and to make them feel, from the present moment, the effects of our special protection; making only some reservation as to some articles which require more explanation; granting them, after the war, such concessions as may be compatible with the constitution of the state, and which may assure them of the value we entertain for their services, and the interest which we take in their existence and their happiness. " VICTOR AMADEUS ↳ "

(Signed)

h

It is difficult to reconcile these and similar royal acknowledgements of the services, which the Vaudois have never ceased to render to their sovereigns, in times of emergency, with the grievances and humiliations to which they are exposed. The nineteenth century is disgraced by the barbarous edicts in force against them; and if they

h In the year 1821 an enemy of the Waldensian Church having endeavoured to insinuate something to the disadvantage of the Vaudois, the king of Sardinia nobly expressed himself to the following effect. "I know I have faithful subjects in the Vaudois. During the war, I was engaged in their Valleys, and passed my time pleasantly among them. They will never dishonour their character."

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could not be authenticated by the most indisputable evidence, it would appear incredible that the following complaints should be but a few among the numberless, which they have to urge. Some of the restrictions would be quite ludicrous, if their effects were not felt too keenly to be matter for a smile.

"No Protestant can inherit or purchase land beyond the limitations of the Clusone and Pelice."-It is hoped that puchases made before the restoration, will not be disturbed; but no petitions have succeeded in obtaining a repeal of the obnoxious law. A Protestant lately applied to the government for permission to buy a house, and a small piece of ground contiguous to it in Turin. It was answered by an intimation, that the enactments on this subject must remain untouched; but that no interruption to the transaction would be offered by the legal authorities. Of course, land upon such a tenure is scarcely worth having.

"No books of instruction or devotion, for the use of the Protestants may be printed in Piemont;" and the duty upon the importation of such books is enormous.

"No Vaudois may practise as a physician, surgeon, apothecary, attorney, or advocate, except among his own community, and within the limits."

Even in the syndicates of the communes of the three valleys, there may not be a majority of Protestants. For example; of the five syndics, three must be Roman Catholics. This is a crying evil in such places as Bobbio and San Giovanni, where the Protestants are as 1700 to 40, and the Roman Catholic population of the lowest order. It frequently happens that a duly qualified Romanist cannot be found in the commune to complete the number; and that the very refuse of the people have been nominated, to keep within the letter of the law.

The Protestants are obliged to observe the festivals of the Papists, and to abstain from work on those days. This is another excessive hardship. There is one holiday at least

every week, and sometimes two or three: so that the Protestant peasant has never more than five days in the week for labour, and sometimes only three. The Sabbath day he keeps with scrupulous observance, while the Roman Catholic cares not for violating it. A poor Vaudois peasant was accused of irrigating his little meadow upon a festival day, and condemned to pay a fine for not observing the sanctity of a saint's day.

Fifteen sous a day in the winter, and twenty in the summer, is the utmost a peasant can earn: take away two or three days from his weekly earnings, and what a pittance is left! Roasted chesnuts, potatoes, and bread, if any, of the blackest and most ordinary sort, are the principal food they can obtain.

The Protestants have to pay a land-tax of 20 per cent.; while the Roman Catholics pay but 13 per cent.

It will be seen from this statement, how very few are the resources of the Vaudois. From the military and civil employments, and from the learned professions, they are excluded. The valley of Luzerna is the only one which can be called productive; and, even there, agricultural pursuits cannot be prosecuted to much advantage, where the duties are high, and the restrictions so burdensome. A small trade is carried on in charcoal; and the silk-worm is reared in some of the hamlets; but there can scarcely be said to be any manufactures, when one woollen manufactory, and two tan-yards, are principally what come within this designation. The looms employ about thirty men, and forty women and children, and make about eight hundred pieces of cloth annually, of about forty yards to the piece. The tanyard at Bobbio finds occupation for four men; and that at La Torre, for about five.

I did not ascertain what business is done in the few smelting-houses that I observed: the hands at work were not

numerous.

This will not be an improper place to mention, that

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although La Torre is the principal village or town of the Vaudois, and contains a population of two thousand inhabitants, yet it offers not the least appearance of trade. Few shops are to be seen, and those are of a very humble character. My surprise at this want of shops, led me into a laughable mistake; and it was the more ludicrous, considering the simple character of the people.

"You have no shops at all," I said to M. Vertu; "not even that of a bourreau." I meant to say, boucher. "Bourreau!" he exclaimed, "what do we want with an executioner? Why we have had but one capital conviction among us for a hundred years!"

CHAPTER VI.

Angrogna-La Barricade-Cultivation-Cheerful landscapeSabbath on the mountains-Religious and moral character of mountaineers-Village pastor's house-M. Paul Goante-Alpine cottages-Thuanus-Want of religious books-Peasant of Angrogna-Mode of tillage-Mountain fastnesses-La Vechera-Pre du Tour-Obstinate and gallant conflicts there— Sublime mountain scenery-The Bouquetin-The JumarreBeautiful vale-Comparison between solitary and busy life-The fortress of La Torre.

M. VERTU, of La Torre, brother to our friend at Turin, was many years in England during the early part of his life; and his intimate knowledge of the English language, rendered him of great service to us, when we wished to make enquiries connected with local and technical explanations. He had the kindness to accompany us to Angrogna, acting as our interpreter in several conversations which he had with the peasantry, who spoke the patoisi only of the country; and to him I was indebted for much of the immediate information I picked up, as to the condition of agriculture, and the few manufactures of the Vaudois.

Angrogna lies to the north of La Torre, at the distance of about a mile and a half from the latter, and in the midst of some of the finest mountain scenery of which the Alps can boast. The mountain stream, which is called the Torrent of Angrogna, gives its name to a cluster of valleys which branch out like the boughs of a tree, and runs into the Pelice, just below La Torre. It is supplied by innumerable springs of i See Appendix, No. 9.