council of twenty-five, enjoyed in that capacity several very considerable prerogatives. By them half the members of the great council were named; the principal magistrates were supplied from their own body; they convoked the great and general councils, deliberating previously upon every question which was to be brought before these councils. They were vested also with the chief executive power, the administration of finances, and had, in a certain degree, the jurisdiction in civil and criminal causes. Most of the smaller posts were likewise filled by them, and they enjoyed the sole privilege of conferring the burghership. These, and other prerogatives, however, were balanced by those of the great council, and the privileges of the general council. The former had a right to choose the members of the senate from their own body; receiving appeals in all causes above a certain value, pardoning criminals, &c., besides which they had the important privilege of approving or rejecting whatever was proposed by the senate to be laid before the people. The general council, or assembly of the people, was composed of the citizens and burghers of the town, their number, in general, amounting to 1500, though usually not more than 1200 were present; the remainder residing in foreign countries, or being otherwise absent. They met twice a year, chose the principal magistrates, approved or rejected the laws and regulations proposed by the other councils, imposed taxes, contracted alliances, declared war or peace, and nominated half the members of the great council, &c. But the principal check to the power of the senate arose from the right of re-election, or the power of annually expelling four members from the senate at the nomination of the syndics or principal magistrates, and from the right of represenation. The syndics were four in number, chosen annually from the senate by the general council; and three years elapsed before the same members could be again appointed. In choosing these magistrates, the senate appointed from its own body eight candidates, from whom the four syndics were to be chosen by the general council. The latter, however, had it in their power to reject not only the first eight candidates, but also the whole body of senators in succession; in which case four members of the senate retired into the great council, and their places were filled by an equal number from that council. As to the power of representation, every citizen had the privilege of applying to the senate to procure a new regulation in this respect, or of remonstrating against any act of the magistracy. To these remonstrances the magistrates were obliged to give an explicit answer; for if a satisfactory answer was not given to one, a second was immediately presented. The representation was made by a greater or smaller number of citizens, according to the importance of the point in question. Since 1776, however, several changes have taken place. This right of re-election, which the aristocratical party were obliged to yield to the people in 1768, soon proved very disagreeable, being considered by the former as a kind of ostracism; for which reason they caught at every opportunity of procuring its abolition. They were now distin guished by the title of negatives, while the popular party had that of representants; and the point in dispute was the compilation of a new code of laws. This measure the negatives opposed, as supposing that it would tend. to reduce their prerogatives; while, on the other hand, the representants used their utmost endeavours to promote it, in hopes of having their privileges augmented by such means. At last, in January 1777, the negatives were obliged to comply with the demands of their antagonists; and a committee for forming a new code of laws was appointed by the concurrence of the little, great, and general councils. The committee was to last for two years, and the code to be laid before the three councils, for their joint approbation or rejection. A sketch of the first part of the code was presented to the little and great councils on Sept. 1st, 1779, that they might profit by their observations before it was presented to the general council. Great disputes arose and at length it was carried by the negatives that the code should be rejected, and the committee dissolved. The opposite party complained of this as unconstitutional, and violent disputes ensued; the issue of which was, that the great council offered to compile the code, and submit it to the decision of the public. This did not give satisfaction to the popular party, who considered it as insidious: the contentions revived with more fury than ever, until at length the negatives supposing, or pretending to suppose, that their country was in danger, applied to the guarantees France, Zurich, and Ber.ie, intreating them to protect the laws and constitution. This was productive of no good effect; so that the negatives found no other method of gaining their point than by sowing dissention among the different classes of inhabitants. The natives were discontented and jealous on account of many exclusive privileges enjoyed by that class named citizens: they were besides exasperated against them for having, in 1770, banished eight of the principal natives, who pretended that the right of burghership belonged to the natives as well as to the citizens, and demanded that this right should be gratuitously conferred instead of being purchased. The negatives, in hopes of making such a considerable addition to their party, courted the natives, by all the methods they could think of, promising, by a public declaration, that they were ready to confer upon them those privileges of trade and commerce which had hitherto been confined exclusively to the citizens. The designs of the negatives were likewise openly favored by the court of France, and despatches were even written to the French resident at Geneva, to be communicated to the principal natives who sided with the aristocratic party. The attorney-general, conceiving this mode of interference to be highly unconstitutional, presented a spirited remonstrance; by which the French court were so much displeased, that they procured his deposition from his office; and thus their party was very considerably increased among the natives. representants endeavoured to conciliate the favor of the same party, and even promised what they had hitherto opposed in the strongest manner, viz. to facilitate the acquisition of the burgher The ship, and to bestow it as the recompense of industry and good behaviour. Thus two parties were formed among the natives themselves; and the dissensions becoming every day worse and worse, a general insurrection took place on the 5th of February 1781. The representants seized the avenues of the city, and though they agreed to an augmentation of the commercial privileges of the natives, they absolutely refused to fulfil their promise of awarding the burghership to them. Alarmed, however, at the number and threats of the natives, and prevailed upon by the deputies from Zurich and Berne, who had been sent to conciliate the differences, they laid down their arms; and this was no sooner done, than the same deputies declared the edict in favor of the natives to be null and illegal. The senate declared themselves of the same opinion; and maintained, that the assent of the councils had been obtained only through fear of the representants who were under arms, and whom none at that time durst oppose. The representants, exasperated by this treacherous proceeding, presented another reinonstrance on the 18th March, 1782, summoning the magistrates once more to confirm the edict; but a month afterwards, received the laconic answer, that the government was neither willing nor able to confirm it.' At last, however, but not until a universal tumult had ensued, and the body of the citizens had deposed several members of both councils, the great council executed the edict for conferring the burghership upon a number of the natives; and appointed a committee of safety, composed of eleven members, with considerable authority. The conciliation of the opposite party was now clearly the course of safety; for the French and Sardinians had both advanced towards the city to support its pretensions. But the French general, Jaucourt, proposed such humiliating terms to those in power, that it was unanimously determined to resist his entrance. The fortifications were strengthened; at the hour in which it was expected that an attack would begin, the ramparts were filled with defenders; and though the most zealous of the popular party had calculated only on 3000, upwards of 5000 appeared in the public cause. The French general, however, justly alarmed for the prisoners, who were now in imminent danger, again prolonged the period proposed for the capitulation. By these repeated delays, the ardor of the defendants began to abate. At last the committee of safety themselves, who had so strenuously declared for hostilities, entirely changed their mind. A new council, composed of about 100 citizens, was formed; in which the chiefs of the popular party, by various manœuvres, first intimidating, and then endeavouring to persuade the members, of the necessity of surrendering, found means, first to take the thoughts of the people entirely off from the defence of the city, and then to engage them in a scheme of general emigration. A declaration was now drawn up to be delivered to the syndics with the keys of the city; the chiefs summoned the principal officers from their posts, ordered the cannon of several batteries to be rendered unfit for service, and at last took care of themselves by quitting the town, followed by large bodies of the people; so that when the Sardinians entered it in the morning, they found it almost deserted. This was followed by the restoration of the former magistrates, a complete subjection of the popu lar party, and the establishment of a military government. The changes which took place on this occasion, were: 1. An abolition of the right of reelection. 2. The abolition of that right by which the general council nominated half the vacancies in the great council. 3. The right of remonstrating was taken from the citizens at large, and vested in thirty-six adjuncts, who might be present in the great council the first Monday of every month. 4. The introduction of the grabeau, or annual confirmation of the members of the senate and of the great council, vested entirely in the latter. By this law, part of the authority both of the senate and general council was transferred to the great council; and, by subjecting the senate to this annual revision, its power was greatly lessened, and it was made, in fact, dependent upon the general council. 5. The circles or clubs in which it was customary to convene the citizens, and all public assemblies whatever, were prohibited: and so rigorously was this carried into execution, that even the Society of Arts was forbidden to meet. 6. The militia were abolished; firing at marks, even with bows and arrows, was prohibited, and the town, instead of being guarded by its own citizens, was now put under the care of 1000 foreign soldiers, whose colonel and major were both to be foreigners. These troops were to take an oath of fidelity to the republic, and of obedience to the great council and the committee of war; but were under the immediate command and inspection of the latter, and subject to the superior control of the former. 7. No person was permitted to bear_arms, whether citizen, native, or inhabitant. It was not to be expected, that this constitution would be agreeable to people who had such a strong sense of liberty, and had been accustomed to put such a value upon it as the Genevans. But after the public resentment had time to subside, most of those who fled at first, returned; and, in the opinion of Mr. Coxe, not more than 600 finally left their country, on account of the revolution in 1782. Above 1000 persons, however, of both sexes, applied to the earl of Temple, then lord lieutenant of Ireland, expressing a desire to settle in that kingdom: and the proposal met with such general approbation, that the Irish parliamen voted £50,000 towards defraying the expenses of their journey, and affording them a proper settlement. Lands were purchased for £8000 near Waterford; part of New Geneva was actually completed at the expense of £10,000; a charter was granted with very considerable privileges; the standard of gold was altered for the accommodation of the watch manufacturers; and the foundation of an academy laid upon a useful and liberal plan. Several Genevans landed in Ireland, in July 1783; but, when the nation had expended nearly £30,000 on the scheme, it was sud denly abandoned by all parties. Several of the emigrants finally settled at Constance and at Brussels. and craggy mountains; but from Geneva to the environs of Lausanne it slopes to the margin of the lake, and is very rich and fertile. The banks A In 1789 the people again rose on the magis-rise considerably in the neighbourhood of Lautracy, dissatisfied with a new regulation respect- sanne, and form a most beautiful terrace, with a ing the price of bread. The soldiers of the rapid descent a few miles beyond the town. city on the 29th of January were driven from plain begins in the neighbourhood of Vevay, their posts and disarmed, while the gates were which continues for a great way beyond the end seized by the people. The solicitor-general at of the lake, but contracts towards the water by this time advocated the ancient liberties of the the approach of the mountains. The lake itself people, urging for them, however, those moder- appears at a distance of a beautiful blue color, ate demands which were received with universal and the water is very clear and and transparent. satisfaction. A new edict of pacification was Near Geneva the coast abounds with pebbles; now published, under the title of Modifications à between that city and Lausanne it is sandy; from l'Edition de 1782, and approved by the senate, thence to Chillon it is bounded by hard calcaregreat council, and general council. The sons of ous rocks; and the extremity of the shore is a the principal negatives frequented the circles of marsh formed by mud collected from the Rhone. the burghers; and the magistrates obtained the The greatest depth of this lake, found by M. de confidence of the people, by dismissing the Luc, is 160 fathoms. Here the birds called military, evacuating the barracks, and devoting tippet grebes appear in December; but retire in them to the use of the university and public February to other places where they breed, and library. In a word, the constitution established make floating nests of reeds, as the lake of Gein 1789, became a just medium between the too neva affords none. This lake, like all others democratic form established in 1768, and the situated between mountains, is subject to sudden too aristocratic one of 1782. In 1798, however, storms. The Rhone runs through its whole exthe popular and aristocratic parties were both tent from its east to its south-west extremity. It destined to feel the dire effects of the revolu- is never frozen. De Saussure published a full actionary principles of France, and their conti- count of its natural history, and notices the reguity to that political volcano. The French had markable influence of electrical clouds on its always actively promoted the civil dissensions surface. of Geneva, and, when the power and energy of the country was by these means so completely reduced that it was unable to defend itself against foreign encroachment, they seized upon the city, and annexed it this year, sans ceremonie, to the territory of the republic. In 1813 the willingness of the inhabitants to shake off the yoke of France was abundantly manifest; and on the Austrians under general Bubna entering the city the restoration of the old republic was to their great joy proclaimed. In September of the following year the diet admitted Geneva into the Swiss confederation. A constitution was framed for its future government in which it was declared that no patricians or privileged classes are acknowledged by the state, but that all the Genevese are equal before the law,' and the public affairs were vested in the hands of a great council of 250 members, and a smaller council of twenty-eight, the latter being the executive. The late treaties also augmented the territory of the republic to an area of 120 square miles, with a population of 25,000, exclusive of the citizens. The canton furnishes to the Swiss confederation 600 men, and nearly £1000 sterling. The soil is gravelly, and not very fertile, but it is remarkably well cultivated, and the climate is salubrious, though cold. Geneva is forty-two miles north of Chamberry and seventy north-east of Lyons. GENEVA, LAKE OF. This lake, anciently called Lemanus (whence the name of the late French department, Lac Leman), is in the shape of a crescent; along the concave side of which Mr. Coxe travelled fifty-four miles. Switzerland forms the concave, and Savoy the convex part: the greatest breadth being about twelve miles, and its greatest depth about 1000 feet. The country on the side of Mont Blanc is full of high GENEVA, or GIN, is an ordinary malt spirit, distilled a second time, formerly with the addition of some juniper berries. The berries were added to the malt in the grinding; so that the spirit thus obtained was flavored with the berries from the first, and exceeded all that could be made by any other method. At present, they leave out the berries entirely, and give their spirits a flavor by distilling them with a proper quantity of oil of turpentine; which, though it nearly resembles the flavor of juniperberries, has none of their valuable virtues. GENEVIEVE (St.), the patroness of the city of Paris, flourished in the end of the fifth century, and died A. D. 512. Five years after her death, Clovis erected the church of St. Genevieve, under the name and invocation of St. Peter, where her relics were long said to be preserved, her shrine visited, and her image carried, with great processions and ceremonies. GENEVIEVE (St.), FATHERS OF RELIGIOUS OF, a congregation of regular canons, established in France, in the seventeenth century. It was a reform of the Augustine canons, begun by St. Charles Faure, in the abbey of St. Vincent de Senlis, in 1618. In 1634 the abbey was made elective; and a general chapter, composed o the superiors of fifteen houses, who had received the reform, chose F. Faure coadjutor of the abbey of St. Genevieve, and general of the congregation. It increased very much, and consisted of above 100 monasteries; in some of which the religious were employed in the administration of parishes and hospitals; and in others, in the instruction of ecclesiastics. It took its name from the abbey of St. Genevieve, which was the chief of the order, and whose abbot was the general. GENEVIEVE (St.), a district and town of the Missouri territory, in North America, bounded south-east by Apple Creek, north by the Merimack river, north-east by the Mississippi. Upon the latter it extends upwards of 100 miles. Its limits to the west are indefinite. The land is various, and perhaps less fertile than some of the neighbouring districts. It is rich, however, in minerals, particularly lead and salt. The town extends itself back upon ground considerably more elevated than the river. On an elevation in the rear of the town a handsome stone building has been erected for an academy, which commands a fine prospect. This town has a considerable trade, being a place of depôt for the lead obtained from the famous mines on the Marameck, and also the store-house from which those employed in working in the mines obtain their principal supplies. The mines are about fifty miles west of this town, and are so rich that 100 lbs. of the ore will yield eighty or ninety of fine lead. Inhabitants about 1500. The produce under the present management is about 100 tons annually. GENEVIEVE BAY, a bay on the coast of Newfoundland, in the straits of Belleisle, twenty miles north of St. John's Bay. GENEVOIS, a province of Savoy, bounded on one side by a part of the French frontier, on another by Savoy Proper. It lies to the southward of Geneva, and came to the house of Savoy in the fifteenth century. Its surface is mountainous, but cultivated with great and well-rewarded care. It belonged to France from 1793 to 1815, forming a part of the department of Mont Blanc. Population 70,000. GENEVRE, MONT, a celebrated mountain of the Alps, the boundary between Piedmont and France. Its altitude is about 6000 feet above the level of the sea; but the top, on which is a village and monastery, is of comparatively mild temperature. It is nine miles from Briançon. GENIAL, adj. Į Lat. genialis. That which GE'NIALLY, adv. contributes to propagation; support; mental endowments or cheerfulness. Nor will the light of life continue long, Milton. men and angels. They are of a grosser fabric than the latter, but much more active and powerful than the former. Some of them are good, others bad, and they are capable of future salvation or damnation like men. The orientals pretend that these genii inhabited the world many thousand years before the creation of Adam, under several princes, who all bore the common name of Solomon; that falling at length into an almost general corruption, Eblis was sent to drive them into a remote part of the earth, there to be confined; and that some of that generation still remaining, were by Tahmurath, one of the ancient kings of Persia, forced to retreat into the famous mountain of Kaf. Of this king's successions and wars they have also many fabulous and romantic stories. They likewise suppose several ranks and degrees or different species among this kind of beings; some being peculiarly called Jin, or genii; some Peri, or fairies; some Div, or giants; and others Tocwins, or fates. GENIO, n.s. Ital. genio; Lat. genius. A man of a particular turn of mind. Some genios are not capable of pure affection; and a man is born with talents for it as much as for poetry, or any other science. Tatler. GENIOSTOMA, in botany, a genus of the monogynia order and pentandria class of plants: CAL. a turbinated quinquefid perianthium: COR. monopetalous and tubular; the stamina five short filaments; the antheræ oblong: SEED numerous and subangulated, placed on a filiform receptacle. Species one only; a native of the island of Tama. GENISTA, broom, or dyers'-weed, a genus of the decandria order, and diadelphia class of plants; natural order thirty-second, papilionacea: CAL. bilabiate, the upper lip bidentated, the under one tridenate; the vexillum is oblong and reflexed, turned back from the pistil and stamina. There are several species; of which the following are the most remarkable : G. cytisus, or cytiso-genista, or common broom; which is too well known to need description. Its young flowers are sometimes preserved as pickles; and the plant, when burnt, affords a tolerably pure alkaline salt. Dr. Mead relates the case of a dropsical patient, who was cured by taking half a pint of a decoction of green broom tops, with a spoonful of whole white mustard seed, every morning and evening. The patient had been tapped three times, and tried the usual remedies before. An infusion of the seeds, drunk freely, has been known to produce similar happy effects. Cows, horses, and sheep, refuse the plant. G. tinctoria is also a native of Britain. It rises with shrubby stalks three feet high, garnished with spear-shaped leaves, placed alternate, and terminated by several spikes of yellow flowers, succeeded by pods. The branches are used by dyers for giving a yellow color, from whence it is called dyers'-broom, green-wood, wood-waxen, or dyers'-weed. A dram and a half of the powdered seeds operates as a mild purgative. A decoction of the plant is diuretic; and, like the former, has proved serviceable in dropsical cases. Horses, cows, goats and sheep, eat it. GEN'ITALS, n. s. Lat. genitalis. The organs of generation. Ham is conceived to be Jupiter, who was the youngest son, who is said to have cut off the genitals of his father. Browne. GENITES, among the Hebrews, those descended from Abraham without any mixture of foreign blood. The Greeks distinguished by the name of genites, such of the Jews as were issued from parents who, during the Babylonish captivity, had not allied with any gentile family. GENITING, n. s. A corruption of janeton, an early apple gathered in June. In July come early pears and plumbs in fruit, genitings and codlins. Bacon. GENITIVE, adj. Lat. genitivus. In grammar, the name of a case, which, among other relations, signifies one begotten, as, the father of a son; or one begetting, as, son of a father. The GENITIVE is the second case of the declension of nouns. The relation of one thing considered as belonging in some manner to another, occasioned, in the Greek and Latin, a peculiar termination of nouns called the genitive case; but in the modern tongues a particle is prefixed to express the relation of this case. In English we prefix the particle of; in French de or du, &c.; though in strictness there are no cases in either of these languages; inasmuch as they do not express the different relations of things by different terminations, but by prepositions. GENIUS, n. s. Fr. genie; Lat. genius. A fabled ruling power; a person of superior mental faculties; peculiar disposition or nature. GENII, n. s. Plural of genius, and always used in its primary sense: the annexed illustration is an example. If there be infinite planetary and firmamental worlds, as some will, there be infinite Genii, or commanding spirits belonging to each of them. Burton, Anat. Mel. But if it be thei of evil life, Chaucer. Romaunt of the Rose. Spenser's Faerie Queene. For they 'tis credible have sense Milton. Marvell. The state and order does proclaim The genius of that royal dame. Waller. And the tame demon that should guard my throne Shrinks at a genius greater than his own. Dryden. To your glad genius sacrifice this day; Let common meats respectfully give way. Studious to please the genius of the times, With periods, points, and tropes, he slurs his crimes. A happy genius is the gift of nature. Id. Id Id, Your majesty's sagacity, and happy genius for natu ral history, is a better preparation for enquiries of this kind than all the dead learning of the schools. Burnet's Theory. Preface. There is no little writer of Pindarick who is not mentioned as a prodigious genius. Addison. When I read an author of genius without method, I fancy myself in a wood that abounds with many noble objects, rising among one another in the greatest confusion and disorder. Id. Spectator. In Poets, as true Genius is but rare, True Taste as seldom is the Critic's share; Both must alike from Heaven derive their light These born to judge, as well as those to write. Pope's Essay on Criticism. Chaucer, whose native manners-painting verse Well mortalized, shines through the Gothic cloud Of time and language o'er thy genius thrown. Thomson's Summer. The proverb ought to run, A fool and his words are soon parted; a man of genius and his money. Shenstone. lish impropriety, and whose authority can make error But if there is any writer whose genius can embelvenerable, his works are the proper objects of critical Inquisition. Johnson's Rambler. In fashioning the character, and in giving impulse and direction to genius, the influence of habit is certainly very great. Beattie. There is a tomb in Arqua ;-reared in air, Pillared in their sarcophagus, repose The bones of Laura's lover: here repair To raise a language, and his land reclaim Watering the tree which bears his lady's name With his melodious tears, he gave himself to fame. Byron. Childe Harold. GENIUS, a good or evil spirit or dæmon, whom the ancients supposed set over each person, to direct his birth, accompany him in life, and to be his guard. See DEMON. Among the Romans, Festus observes, the name genius was given to the god who had the power of doing all things, deum qui vim obtineret rerum omnium gerendarum: which Vossius, de Idol., rather chooses to read genendarum, who has the power of producing all things: by reason Censorinus frequently uses gerere for gignere. Festus adds, that Aufustius spake of the genius as the Son of God, and the Father of men, who gave them life; others represented the genius as the tutelary god of each place; and it is certain, the last is the most usual meaning of the word. The ancients had their genii of nations, of cities, of provinces, &c. The following was a very common inscription on their medals, GENIUS POPULI ROM. The genius of the Roman people.' The Platonists, and other eastern philosophers, supposed the genii to inhabit the vast region of air between earth and heaven: |