The city is tolerably well fenced in with
walls within walls, draw and suspension bridges, and gates; while
stakes and chains secure from surprise on the part of the lake. The
small canton of Geneva, though in the vicinity of the Great Alpine
chain and the mountains of the Jura, includes no mountains. The name
of the city and canton has been traced by the etymologists to a Celtic
origin; _Gen_, a sally-port or exit, and _av_, a river, probably
because the Rhone here leaves the Leman lake. The eagle on the
escutcheon of the city arms indicates its having been an _imperial_
city; and it is believed the key was an adjunct of Pope Martin V., in
the year 1418. The motto on the scroll, "Ex tenebris lux," appears to
have existed anterior to the _light_ of the Reformation. The number of
inhabitants may now be estimated at about 22,000; but it appears, by a
census in 1789, to have been 26,148. In this moral city, it is
computed that every twelfth birth is illegitimate. The number of
people engaged in clock and watch-making and jewellery, may be safely
rated at 3,000. In years favourable to these staple manufactures
75,000 ounces of gold are employed, which is almost equally divided
between watches and jewellery.
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