Geneva

with the canton of that name, is now a member of the Swiss confederation. It was for centuries, however, a small republic, independent of the great powers of Europe. For this reason it was the refuge of intellectual people who were persecuted by the despotic governments of Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. Many of the inhabitants are of Huguenot descent. The prevailing language is French; the prevailing religion, Protestant.

Like other small countries, the territory of Geneva was subject to political revolutions of violence and intensity quite out of proportion to the size of the country, and was on that account the subject of more or less sport. "When I shake my wig," said Voltaire, "I powder the whole republic." Emperor Paul of Russia spoke of one of these revolutions as a tempest in a glass of water. Geneva has exercised an influence on the world's thought quite out of proportion to its size, rivaling Florence in this respect. Various revolutionary ideas have emanated from it. Calvin, the founder of Presbyterianism, resided here; Rousseau was born at Geneva; the botanist, De Candolle, Necker, Minister of France, and his daughter Madame de Stael, were natives of Geneva. Voltaire was long a resident here. We may say, therefore, that Geneva has played an important part in the history of the intellectual and social progress of Europe.

The present canton has an area of 108 square miles, a population of 132,000, and seven representatives to the Swiss National Council. See Rhone; Calvin; Voltaire; Servetus