23. Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, circa 1814

The Treuthardt family lived in the Canton of Vaud.    At the time of their immigration to the U.S., Friedrich's employment was near Aubonne.   That Lausanne was mentioned in Anna's obituaries means we should pay attention and try to visualize it.    Lausanne is "the principal place in the Canton of Vaud."    Below is a brief description of Lausanne.   The lake referred to herein is the Lake of Geneva. 

These remarks are taken directly from a book, A tour through some parts of France, Switzerland, Savoy, Germany and Belgium, written by The Hon. Richard Boyle Bernard, M.P. in 1814, and printed in London:  for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown.  Pater Noster-Row;  1815. 
[M.P. means "Member of Parliament."]  

Between Vevay and Lausanne is the vineyard of Vaud, which bears a great reputation.   We passed through the villages of Cully and Lutri, both situated on the lake, and after mounting a considerable hill arrived at Lausanne, which is the capital of the Canton of Vaud.  It stands on three hills, and on the intervening valleys, which being very steep, render its situation more picturesque than convenient.   It is situated about 400 feet above the level of the lake, from which it is distant about half a league;  the village of Ouchy serves as its port, and carries on a good deal of trade.   Lausanne contains several remains which prove its antiquity, and several Roman inscriptions are preserved in the townhouse, which is a handsome building.

Here are three churches, one on each of the hills.  Of these the cathedral is well worthy of attention.   It is said to have been founded by one of the ancient kings of Burgundy, and is certainly superior to any church I had hitherto seen in Switzerland.   Its architecture exhibits various specimens of Gothic:  there are many windows of painted glass in good preservation, and also several handsome monuments.  The choir is handsome, and its pillars are of black marble.  Its spire rises to a great height, and from the church-yard there is a fine prospect of the lake, and the surrounding country...

The population of Lausanne is computed at 8,000, and they are very industrious; there are manufactories of hats and cottons, and the printing business is carried on to a greater extent than in any other town in Switzerland.   There are also several jewellers' shops and watchmakers' warehouses.

Of all the Swiss towns this is considered as the most remarkable for the adoption of French fashions, and there is much more dissipation here than at Geneva, as it is the constant residence of many wealthy families;  but, with few exceptions, the houses are neither large nor well built.   Near the church is shewn the residence of Gibbon, the historian, and his library is now the property of a gentleman of this town, who purchased it in England.  

Lausanne was formerly subject to its bishops, who were princes of the German Empire.   A council was held here in 1448, when Pope Felix V., to restore peace to the Romish church, and extinguish the schisms to which it was then a prey, resigned the tiara and retired to the Abbey of Ripaille, in Savoy, a second time.   This prince is distinguished by some of the historians of his century by the title of the Solomon of the age...  His restless disposition having induced him to seek the papal dignity, he, soon after obtaining it, became a second time a recluse... This remarkable character died in 1451, age 69, at Geneva; he was buried with a Bible under his head...

The reformation was established in the Pays de Vaud, in 1536 after a public controversy had been held between the Protestant and Romish ecclesiastics.   The environs of Lausanne present as cheerful and animated a sight as is to be seen in any part of Switzerland, and the view from the public walk, in particular, is enlivened by the bays and promontories, which diversify the sides of the lake.   


From Annamarie the following Note:
Since this is a Kindle book, no page numbers are available.  The above remarks come from Chapter IX.

In his preface in 1815, The Hon. Richard Bernard did not recommend his pages "to the perusal of the critical reader; as in fact, they contain merely the hasty observations suggested by the scenes he visited in the course of his Tour, together with a few occasional remarks, which he thought might be acceptable to the generality of readers;  since notwithstanding the late increase of travellers, the numbers are still very great, who, being prevented by business, or deterred by the inconveniences of travelling, from visiting the Continent, might be disposed to pardon some inaccuracies, should they meet with a small portion either of amusement of information."