is said of Gibraltar? By whom was it defended during a siege by the French and Spaniards?

ITALY.

1. BOUNDARIES.-Italy is bounded on the northwest and north, by the Alps, which separate it from France, Switzerland, and Germany; on the east, by the Adriatic; and on the south and west, by the Mediterranean. Its form is usually compared to that of a boot.

2. EXTENT.-It extends from 38° to 479 N. latitude, and from 79 to 19° E. longitude; being about 700 miles long, and 150 broad.

3. DIVISIONS.-Italy is divided into the following States:

4. ISLANDS.-Sicily and the Lipari Isles, belonging to Naples; Malta to Great Britain; Sardinia to the Kingdom of Sardinia; Corsica to France; and Elba to Tuscany.

Sicily is of a triangular form, and the largest island in the

Described under Austria.

Mediterranean. It is 180 miles long, and 130 broad, and contains about 12,500 square miles, being somewhat more than one-third of Ireland. That fertility still exists, which made it the granary of ancient Rome. The chief towns are Palermo, the capital, Messina, Catania, and Syracuse. On the east of the island is the celebrated burning mountain Etna, which is divided by nature into three zones or girdles, as distinct both in climate and productions as the three zones of the earth. The upper part is marked by a circle of ice and snow, in the centre of which is the crater; the middle is surrounded by thick and verdant forests; while the lower region, to the base of the mountain, consists of fruitful vineyards, corn fields, and orchards.

The Lipari Isles, twelve in number, are to the north of Sicily. Stromboli, one of these, from its everlasting burning volcano, is called the Light House of the Mediterranean.

Malta lies about 50 miles to the south of Sicily, and is 20 miles long and 12 broad. It belongs to Great Britain, and is cele brated for the strength of its fortifications. Its chief town is La Valetta, containing a population of 32,000. The population of the whole island, including the small islands of Gozzo and Cerrino, which belong to it, is about 90,000, and the superficial extent 170 square miles, being one of the most populous spots on the globe.

Sardinia, which confers a regal title, is 160 miles long, and 70 broad, and contains 9,250 square miles. It produces wine, oil, fruits, and salt.

Corsica belongs to France, and has been described under that kingdom.

Elba, between Corsica and the coast of Tuscany, is famous for its iron ore. Buonaparte selected it for his residence, when he abdicated the throne of France, in 1814.

5. CAPES. Spartivento on the south-west, and Leuca on the south-east of Italy, and Passora on the south of Sicily.

GULFS.-Venice, and Manfredonia on the east ;

Tarento and Squillace on the south; St. Eufemia, Policastro, Salerno, Naples, Gaeta, and Genoa, on the west.

7. STRAITS. Bonifacio, between Corsica and Sardinia; and Messina, between Italy and Sicily. The latter strait is famous for the Scylla, and Charybdis of the ancients; the former a rock, and the latter a whirlpool.

8. MOUNTAINS.-The Alps, forming the boundary on the north-west and north; and the Apennines, extending through the whole country from north-west to south-east. The volcanic mountains are Vesuvius, near Naples; Etna, in Sicily; and Stromboli, which occupies one of the Lipari isles.

9. LAKES.-Maggiore, Como, and Garda, in Austrian Italy; and Perugia, in the east of Tuscany.

10. RIVERS. The Adigé, the Po, the Arno, and the Tiber.

The Adige. See Austrian dominions.

The Po rises on the borders of France, traverses the fertile plain of Lombardy, from west to east, separating Austrian Italy from Parma, Modena, and the States of the Church. It passes Turin, Casal, Placentia, and Cremona, and falls into the Gulf of Venice. It receives thirty rivers in its course, the principal of which are, the Tanaro, the Trebia, and the Panaro, on its right; and the Dora, the Secia, the Tecino, the Adda, the Oglio, and the Mincio, on its left.

The Arno rises in the Apennines, passes Florence and Pisa, in Tuscany, and falls into the Mediterranean.

The Tiber rises near the source of the Arno, flows southward, through the States of the Church, and falls into the Mediterranean, fifteen miles below Rome.

K

11. CLIMATE.-The climate of Italy is various, but in general mild and genial; the excessive heats of summer being moderated by the influence of the mountains and surrounding sea, and the cold of winter being hardly ever extreme. In the south, however, the heats of summer, especially when the Sirocco blows, are sultry and oppressive. Winter, in this part of Italy, is hardly known, and the spring is delightful.

12. PRODUCE.—Italy presents a rich and varied spectacle of natural products. The most important are vines, olives, fruits, corn, cotton, and silk. The buffalo is found here, and the pastures are stocked with large herds of black cattle, sheep, and goats. The country is rich in mineral treasures.

13. MANUFACTURES.-This country contains few manufactures in proportion to its extent and population. The principal are silks, velvets, woollens, mirrors and other glass ware.

14. COMMERCE.-Italy exports wine, olive oil, silk, and fruit; and imports coffee, sugar, and other colonial goods; also muslins, linens, hardware, and dried and salted fish.

15. GOVERNMENT.-The sovereigns of the Italian states are despotic in their respective dominions.

16. RELIGION.-The Roman Catholic religion prevails exclusively over all Italy.

17. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.-The Italians are polite, and excel in the arts of painting, sculpture, and music; but they are in general effeminate, superstitious, and revengeful.

18. ANCIENT NAME.-Italia.

SARDINIA.

The Kingdom of Sardinia comprises Piedmont, Nice, Savoy, Genoa, Montserrat, and part of Milan, in the north-west of Italy, and the Island of Sardinia.

POPULATION OF OTHER TOWNS.-Genoa, 76,000; Cagliari, in Sardinia, 35,000; Alessandria, in Piedmont, 30,000; Nice, 19,000.

PARMA.

The States of Parma consist of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, and are subject to the Archduchess Maria Louisa, widow of the late Emperor of France.

MODENA.

The States of Modena consist of Modena, Mirandola, Reggio, Massa, and Carraro.

LUCCA.

Lucca lies between Tuscany and Modena. It is of small extent, but very populous.

TUSCANY.

Tuscany, the ancient Etruria, has long been celebrated for the cultivation of the arts, and for civilization. The Italian language is spoken here with the greatest purity. Elba belongs to this state.

POPULATION OF OTHER TOWNS.-Leghorn, 50,000; Sienna,

24,000.

STATES OF THE CHURCH.

The States of the Church comprise the central part of Italy, from sea to sea, and on the east part extend as far north as the Po.