Nearly opposite to _Rense_ is the small town of _Oberlahnstein_,
which belongs to the Elector of Mentz, though separated from his
other dominions by those of several Princes. To such intersections
of one territory with another the individual weakness of the German
Princes is partly owing; while their collected body has not only
necessarily the infirmities of each of its members, but is enfeebled
by the counteraction arising from an arrangement, which brings persons
together to decide a question, according to a common interest, who are
always likely to have an individual one of more importance to each than
his share in the general concern.
The banks of the Rhine afford many instances of this disjunction of
territory. The Elector of Cologne has a town to the southward of nearly
all the dominions of Treves; the Elector Palatine, whose possessions
on the east bank of the Rhine are intersected by those of five or six
other Princes, crosses the river to occupy some towns between the
Electorates of Mentz and Treves; the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel does
the same to his fortress of Rhinfels; and the Elector of Mentz, in
return, has a strip of land and his chief country residence, between
the dominions of the two houses of Hesse.
That this intermixture of territory exists, without producing domestic
violences, is, however, obviously a proof, that the present state
of the Germanic body, weak as it may be, with respect to foreign
interests, is well formed for the preservation of interior peace.
The aggrandizement of the Houses of Austria and Prussia, which has
been supposed dangerous to the constitution of the Empire, tends
considerably to secure its domestic tranquillity, though it diminishes
the independence of the lesser Sovereigns; for the interests of the
latter are known to be ranged on one, or the other side; and, as the
House, to which each is attached, is likely to interfere, upon any
aggression against them, the weaker Princes are with-held from contests
among themselves, which would be accompanied by wars, so very extensive
and so disproportionate to their causes.
Nor is the Chamber of Wetzlaar, or the Court for deciding the causes
of Princes, as well as all questions relative to the constitution, to
be considered as a nullity. The appointment of the Judges by the free
but secret votes of all Princes, subject to their decrees, is alone
wanting to make its purity equal to its power. In minute questions,
the chief Princes readily receive its decision, instead of that of
arms, which, without it, might sometimes be adopted; and the other
Sovereigns may be compelled to obey it, the Chamber being authorised
to command any Prince to enforce its decrees by his army, and to
take payment of the expences out of the dominions of his refractory
neighbour. An instance of such a command, and of its being virtually
effectual, notwithstanding the ridicule, with which it was treated,
occurred, during the reign of the late Frederic of Prussia; the story
is variously told, but the following account was confirmed to us by an
Advocate of the Chamber of Wetzlaar.
The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel had disobeyed several injunctions of
the Chamber, relative to a question, which had been constitutionally
submitted to them. At length, the Judges had recourse to their power
of calling out what is called the _Armée Exécutrice de l'Empire_,
consisting of so many troops of any Prince, not a party in the cause,
as may be sufficient for enforcing submission. The Sovereign of Hesse
Cassel was not to be conquered by any of his immediate neighbours,
and they were induced to direct their order to the King of Prussia,
notwithstanding the probability, that so unjust a monarch would shew
some resentment of their controul.
Frederic consented to the propriety of supporting the Chamber, but did
not choose to involve himself with the Landgrave, on their account. He,
therefore, sent him a copy of their order, accompanied by a letter,
which, in his own style of courteous pleasantry, yet with a sufficient
shew of some further intentions, admonished him to obey them. The
Landgrave assured him of his readiness to conform, and the two Princes
had privately settled the matter, when the King of Prussia resolved
to obey and to ridicule the Chamber of Wetzlaar. He sent, by a public
diligence, a serjeant of foot, who, at the first Hessian garrison,
delivered a paper to the captain of the guard, declaring himself to
be the commander of the _Armée Exécutrice_, set on foot by order of
the Chamber; and the army consisted of two corporals, who waited at
the door! The Judges of Wetzlaar did not shew, that they knew the
disrespect, and were contented that the King of Prussia had reduced the
Landgrave of Hesse Cassel to obedience.
To this Court subjects may make appeals from the orders of their
immediate sovereigns, when the question can be shewn to have any
general, or constitutional tendency. Such a cause we heard of in
Germany, and it seemed likely to place the Chamber in somewhat a
delicate situation. The Elector of Treves had banished a magistrate,
for having addressed himself to Custine, during the invasion of the
French, in 1792, and requested to know whether he might remain on a
part of his property, near their posts, and perform the duties of his
office, as usual. The magistrate appealed to Wetzlaar; admitted the
facts charged; and set forth, that, in this part of his conduct, he had
exactly followed the example of the Chamber itself, who, though at a
greater distance, had made a similar application.
* * * * *
Soon after leaving Oberlahnstein, we passed the mouth of the Lahn, a
small river, which descends from the mountains of Wetteravia on the
right, and washes silver and lead mines in its course. It issues from
one of those narrow and gloomy forest-glens, which had continually
occurred on the eastern bank since we left Boppart, and which were once
terrible for more than their aspect, having been the haunt of robbers,
of whose crimes some testimonies still remain in the tombs of murdered
travellers near the shore. In the ruins of castles and abandoned
fortresses within the recesses of these wild mountains, such banditti
took up their abode; and these are not fancied personages, for, in
the year 1273, an Elector of Mentz destroyed the deserted fortress of
Rheinberg, because it had been a rendezvous for them.
Towards sun-set, the rain, which had fallen at intervals during the
day, ceased; a fiery flush from the west was reflected on the water,
and partially coloured the rocks. Sometimes, an oblique gleam glanced
among these glens, touching their upper cliffs, but leaving their
depths, with the rivulets, that roared there, in darkness. As the boat
glided by, we could now and then discover on the heights a convent, or
a chateau, lighted up by the rays, and which, like the pictures in a
magic lanthorn, appeared and vanished in a moment, as we passed on the
current.
But the shores soon begin to wear a milder aspect; the mountains of
the western bank soften into gradual heights; and vineyards, which had
disappeared near Boppart, again climb along them. The eastern shore
is more abrupt, still bearing on its points some antient buildings,
till, opposite to Coblentz, it shoots up into that enormous mass, which
sustains the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein.
Having passed a Benedictine convent, seated on the island of
Oberworth, we reached Coblentz as the moon began to tint the rugged
Ehrenbreitstein, whose towers and pointed angles caught the light. Part
of the rock below, shaded by projecting cliffs, was dark and awful, but
the Rhine, expanding at its feet, trembled with radiance. There the
flying-bridge, and its sweeping line of boats, were just discernible.
On the left, the quay of Coblentz extended, high and broad, crowned
with handsome buildings; with tall vessels lying along its base.