Geneva

Geneva, a canton in the south-west of Switzerland, is bounded N. by the canton of Vaud and the Lake of Geneva, and S., E., and W. by the territories of France. Area, 108 sq. miles; pop. (1880) 101,505; (1888) 105,509, of whom more than half were Catholics, whilst 85 per cent. spoke French as their mother-tongue. It is watered by the Rhone and the Arve, which unite about 2 miles from the south-west extremity of the Lake of Geneva. The surface is hilly, chief eminences being the steep Salève (4528 feet) and the Reculet (5631); but the soil, which is not naturally fertile, has been rendered so by the industry of the inhabitants. According to the constitution of 1847, since amended, all male citizens of twenty years of age exercise the right of electing representatives to the cantonal council, the supreme legislative body, the age of members of which must be at least twenty-five years. There is a representative for every 1000 inhabitants. The executive is confided to a council of state composed of seven members, nominated for two years by universal suffrage. The constitution guarantees civil and religious liberty, all forms of worship being allowed by law; but the national church is the Reformed Calvinistic. Primary education is compulsory, but free. The chief branches of industry are gardening, vine and fruit growing, and the manufacture of articles of bijouterie and watches. In the two last-named branches the annual production is valued at nearly one million pounds sterling. Musical-boxes, chronometers, mathematical instruments, with pottery, &c., are also made. The chief town is Geneva.