The Finns, in the north of Europe, have a language of their own, and the characters of a peculiar race. They have light brown eyes, a pale complexion, hollow cheeks, and are of a middling stature, but heavy and muscular. The Laplanders, and other tribes who live within the polar circles, are distinguished by their very low stature, the smallness of the legs and feet, and largeness of the head, prominent cheek bones, small round black eyes, black and bristly hair, and a swarthy skin. The Laplanders, from intermixture with the Finns, Russians, and Norwegians, have lost, in some degree, the characteristic traits of the original race. The modern Greeks and Albanians are supposed to be descended chiefly from the ancient inhabitants of the country, whose language they have preserved. They have a greater resemblance to the Latin nations than to those of the Gothic race. The Turks are an Asiatic tribe. Religion. The Christian religion, in one form or other, is professed in every state in Europe, except Turkey; and even here, one-half of the inhabitants belong to the Greek Church. The Christians are composed of three great bodies,-Roman Catholics, Members of the Greek Church, and Protestants, Though such calculations are not susceptible of much accuracy, it may be remarked, that the Roman Catholics are supposed to amount to more than 100 millions, the adherents of the Greek Church to 50 millions, and the Protestants to upwards of 45 millions. The Mahometans, in Europe, amount to about five millions, and the Jews to between two and three millions. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION IN EUROPE. 1. What are the boundaries of Europe? 2. How is it situated? What tracts are not included within these limits? 3. Mention its greatest length and breadth. 4. Into how many principal states is Europe divided, and how are they situated? 5. Mention the four in the north, with their capitals, and the situation of these cities. 6. Do the same with the six in the middle. 7. The four in the south. Mention the whole number of states in Europe. Into how many classe may these states be divided, and how many are there in each class? Mention the states in the first class, and the population of each. The second class; The third class. 8. Mention the principal islands in Europe, and how they are situated? Point them out upon the map. 9. Do the same with the peninsulas. 10. The isthmusses. 11. The capes. 12. The mountains. In what direction do the most elevated districts of Europe run? In what direction do the principal rivers generally flow from this ridge? What peninsula is not included in this remark? In what part of Europe are the most extensive plains? In what countries are the chief ranges of mountains? 13. Mention the oceans and seas, and point them out upon the map. 14. Do the same with the gulphs and bays. 15. The straits. 16. The lakes. 17. The rivers. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THE MAP OF EUROPE DE Find the latitude and longitude of each of the chief towns in the fourteen principal states of Europe. What places answer to the following latitudes and longitudes:-Lat. 60° N. long. 304 E.; lat. 51 N. long. 0°; lat. 49 N. lon. 24° E.; lat. 429 N. long. 129 E.; lat. 3834 N. long. 9° W. Find the difference of latitude between Gibraltar and Cape Matapan; Constantinople and Madrid; and Petersburg and Stockholm. What places have the same latitude as Petersburg, Berlin, and Madrid? Find the difference of longitude between Rome and Paris; and Lisbon and Vienna. What places have the same longitude as Petersburg; Cracow, and London? Which points of Europe stretch farthest to the north, south, east, and west? With which of the other general divisions of the earth is Europe connected? In which of the zones is Europe situated? In what direction do the Apennines run? What sea separates Europe from Africa? Where is the Levant? Between what countries is the Bay of Biscay? Where are the Alps and the Pyrenees? Where is the Gulph of Venice? What are the names of the two large gulphs in the Baltic? What mountains, rivers, and seas separate Europe from Asia? What ocean washes the western shores of Europe? What ocean lies to the north of Europe? What sea lies between Sweden, Russia, Prussia, Germany, and Denmark? Where is the White sea? What strait connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean? How is Norway separated from Sweden? Where is the Sound? What sea lies east of Great Britain? Where are the Naze; Lizard Point; and Cape Clear? Mention the four volcanic mountainsín Europe, and where they are situated. BRITISH ISLES, OR UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 1. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is situated in the north-west part of Europe, and consists of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, with several other smaller islands. 2. Great Britain extends from 50° to 581° N. latitude, and from 2o E. to 69 W. longitude. Its length from north to south is 580 miles, and its breadth from the North Foreland, in Kent, to the Land's End, in Cornwall, is 330 miles. It comprehends the kingdoms of England and Scotland, with the principality of Wales. 3. Ireland extends from 511° to 551° N. latitude, and from 6 to 100 W. longitude, and is about 300 miles long, and 180 broad. 4. The population of Great Britain and Ireland is about 21 millions, and the extent 118,000 square miles, of which England and Wales contain about one -half, and Scotland and Ireland each a quarter. 50-5 The population of Heligoland, Gibraltar, and Malta, is about 110,000. 5. Government.-The form of government established in Great Britain and Ireland, is a limited monarchy, or mixed government, consisting of King, Lords, and Commons. The King is the organ of the law, the head of the church, the fountain of honour, the director of the public forces, and the medium of communication with foreign states. He can declare war, or make peace, and is regarded by law as incapable of doing wrong; the responsibility of unjust or illegal measures resting solely on his ministers. He summons Parliament to meet, and can adjourn, prorogue, or dissolve it at pleasure. He can refuse his assent to any proposed law, and has the power of pardoning offenders. The Imperial Parliament is the supreme legislative assembly in the state, and consists of the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. The House of Lords is composed of Lords Spiritual and Temporal. The Lords Spiritual consist of two Archbishops, `and twenty-four Bishops of England and Wales; and four elected Bishops from Ireland. The Lords Temporal, of Dukes, Marquisses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons, all of whom, in England, sit by their own right, and the rest, for Scotland and Ireland, by election; there being sixteen Peers, elected every Parliament, to represent the Nobility of Scotland; and twentyeight Peers, elected for life, to represent the Nobility of Ireland. The number of Peers is about 400. The House of Commons consists of 658 members, of whom England elects 513, Scotland 45, and Ireland 100. They are returned as follows: ENGLAND. 40 Counties send each 2, except Yorkshire? 82 knights. which sends 4, 25 Cities send each 2, except London, which sends 4, and Ely none,.................... 50 citizens. .................... 332 burgesses. 166 Boroughs, each 2, 5 Cinque ports, viz. Hastings, Dover, Sandwich, 12 Counties, each 1, WALES. SCOTLAND. 33 Shires, each 1, except Bute and Caithness, Clackmannan and Kinross, Cromartie and Nairn, which have only 3 members; each of these pairs choosing a member alternately. 15 Boroughs, each 1, 32 Counties, each 2, IRELAND. 33 Boroughs, each 1, except Dublin and Cork, which send each 2; and Dublin University, which sends 1, 5 burgessés. 4 burgesses. 16 barons. 12 knights. 12 burgesses. 30 knights. 15 burgesses. 64 knights. 36 burgesses. Total 658 It is necessary that every bill obtain, by a majority of votes, the consent of both Houses, as well as that of the King, before it becomes a law. All taxes levied on the people, originate in the House of Commons, and are considered as grants or supplies to the King. The chief business of the state is transacted by a Privy Council, a select committee of which, is called the Cabinet Council. The first Lord of the Treasury has the most important office in the nation, under the King, and is therefore called the Prime Minister. The Lord Chancellor is the first in dignity, though not in political importance. The Lord High Admiral conducts the affairs of the navy, but this department has frequently been under the direction of a Board of Admiralty. All criminals, or accused persons, are tried by a jury of twelve men, their peers, or equals, who decide whether the persons accused appear to them guilty, or not guilty of a breach |