of the country, but fashion has rendered this branch of commerce insignificant. Yet among the considerable exports may be named excellent timber of all kinds, skins, leather, flax, and hemp, madder, linseed, pearlash, and every species of grain; nor must the linens of Silesia be passed in silence, many of which are sent into Holland, and sold under the name of Dutch manufacture. In return Prussia receives wine, and other products of more southern and favored countries.

Climate and Seasons. The climate of the Prussian dominions is, upon the whole, cold and moist. Prussia proper has about 8 months of winter, the autumns being often deluged with rain. The lower parts of Silesia are regarded as the most healthy and fertile provinces of the monarchy; but the southern and western parts of that dutchy, bordering on elevated mountains, long covered with snow, are exposed even in summer to severe freezing gales.

Face of the Country. Prussia proper displays superior fertility, a character which may also be extended to Prussian Poland, an immense plain. Silesia displays a pleasing diversity, being level and open towards Poland, but separated from Hungary on the S. by the Carpathian mountains, a branch of which proceeding N. W. divides this country from Moravia and Bohemia. It is every where watered by the Oder and its tributary streams: nor is there any deficiency of rivers in the other parts of the Prussian sova ereignty.

Soil and Agriculture. Agricultural improvements are little known. Brandenburg produces buck wheat and turnips, with scanty crops of rye. Prussia proper, and the Polish provinces display every kind of grain, and esculent plant, that can flourish under such a latitude; and among the productions of Silesia must be classed maize, and even vines, but the wine is of inferior quality.

Rivers. Among the chief rivers of the Prussian dominions may be first mentioned the Elbe, which rises in the south of Bohemia, and pervades the dutchy of Magdeburg. The Spree, which passes by Berlin, falls into the Havel, a tributary of the Elbe. The Oder may be regarded as a river entirely Prussian; it rises in the mountains of Moravia, and, after watering Silesia, Brandenburg, and Pomerania, joins the Baltic, after a course of about 350 miles. Next appears another noble stream, the Vistula, which, rising in the Carpathian mountains, passes Warsaw and joins the sea near Dantzic, after a circuit of about 450 miles. The Pregel, passing by Konigsberg, springs from some lakes and marshes in Prussian Poland; and the Memel, a superior river, now forms in part the Prussian boundary on the east.

Lakes. The lakes in the Prussian dominions are numerous, especially in the eastern part, where among others may be mentioned the Spelding See, which, with its creeks, extends more than twenty miles in every direction.

Mountains. The only mountains in the Prussian dominions are those of Silesia. The mountains in the S. and W. of this province

may be regarded as a northern branch of the Carpathian chain, which itself forms the most southern boundary.

Mineralogy. The most distinguished and peculiar mineral production of Prussia is amber, which is chiefly found on the Samland shore of the Baltic, near Pilau, on a neck of land formed by the Frisch-Haff, which seems to have been the chief seat of this mineral from the earliest ages. It is found at the depth of 100 feet, reposing on wood coal, in lumps of various sizes, some five pounds in weight, and is often washed on shore by tempests. It adds 5000 yearly to the royal revenue.

LOW COUNTRIES.

THE Low Countries include the seven United Provinces, or Holland, and the Austrian and French Netherlands. Though they are now (Nov. 1813) an integral part of the French empire, we give them a separate description, in hope that the great changes, now in operation in Europe, will release them from their present thraldom; and soon give them a rank ainong independent nations.

HOLLAND.

Extent. THE length of Holland is about 150 miles; the breadth 100. The square miles, according to Hassel, 12,662.

Divisions. There were originally seven provinces in Holland, In 1806 they were erected into a kingdom. The following is Hassel's table of the departments, with their extent and population in 1809.

2,001,416

Colonies. The foreign possessions of Holland were extensive and valuable before the commencement of the French Revolution. Since that event they have all fallen into the hands of the English.

Historical Epochs. Among the historical epochs may be mun bered,

1. Holland and some inferior provinces revolt from the tyranny of Philip II. in 1566; and in 1579 formed the famous union of Utrecht.

2. By the end of that century the Dutch had established colonies at the Cape of Good Hope, and in the East Indies; and settlements were afterwards gained in South America. During the 17th century they rivalled the English in the empire of the sea; and greatly exceeded them in commercial advantages. Their power began somewhat to decline after the obstinate naval conflicts in the time of Charles II. In 1672 Louis XIV. invades Holland; and Amsterdam is only saved by opening the sluices.

3. The stadtholderate declared hereditary, 1747. The war in 1756 opening great connexions between Holland and France, a French party began to form in the country, which opposed the stadtholder, who was supported by the English. In 1780 a war arose between Great Britain and Holland, which closed in 1784, after exposing to Europe the decline and weakness of the United Provinces, still farther displayed by the entrance of the duke of Brunswic in 1788, who may be said to have subdued them without a blow.

4. The Dutch having joined the coalition against the French, their country fell a prey to the invaders, during the hard frost of the winter 1794-5; and the stadtholder took refuge in England in 1795.

5. Holland was created into a kingdom and given to Louis Bonaparte in 1809.

6. The king was deprived of his crown on account of his clemency, and Holland was annexed to the French empire in 1810.

Religion. Calvinism was the established religion of Holland. The states in 1583 proposed that no other form should be tolerated; but this was wisely rejected. None but Calvinists however could hold any employment of trust or profit.

The following table exhibits the state of the established church in 1759, 1797 and 1803.

Besides these there were, in 1797, 2 ministers in the island of Ameland, and 52 in the colonies; viz. 9 in the W. Indies and 43 at the Cape of Good Hope and in the East Indies.

The Walloon Calvinist churches are 50 in number, and are superintended by a general synod, which is the oldest body of the reformed church in the Low Countries. There were, in 1803, 7 English presbyterian congregations, 1 Scotch, and 2 English Episcopalian.

The number of catholic churches then in the seven provinces was 350, of priests 400. Of these 51 churches and 74 priests were of the Jansenist party. The rest were Jesuits. There were of the Lutherans 41 congregations, and 70 ministers; of the Remonstrants 34 congregations, and 43 ministers; of the Anabaptists, in 1791, 169 congregations, and 251 ministers; and of the Rhinsburgers 20 congregations. There are also a very few Quakers, one congregation of Arminians, and a considerable number of Jews in the large cities.

Government. Each of the seven provinces was a republic retaining its own states, which consisted of nobles and burgesses governed by its own laws; and exercising most of the rights of a Sovereign state. The general legislature was called the States General, composed of deputies from each province as many as it pleased.

Population. See table..

Army. The army in 1801 amounted to 22,384 men. Now the young men are drafted for the French conscription.

Navy. The navy in 1806 consisted of 16 ships of the line, 10 frigates and 21 smaller vessels, manned by 6000 seamen.

Revenue. The revenue in 1808 amounted to 50,000,000 Dutch guilders. The expenditure was 74,119,554; and the debt in 1807, 1,172,327,252 guilders.

Manners and Customs. The towns, villages, and houses of the Dutch are distinguished for their neatness and cleanliness. The villas of the opulent are thickly planted among the numer ous canals. Their dress is plain and wisely accommodated to the cold damp nature of their climate. Their chief food is herrings, in the curing of which they are unrivalled. Their butter and cheese also are excellent. The Dutch have always been noted for their cool phlegmatic temperament. Their courage is obstinacy; their industry heavy perseverance. All classes are distinguished for their frugality.

Universities. The universites are five; Leyden, Utrecht, Harderwyck, Franecker, and Groningen; with two inferior colleges at Amsterdam and Deventer. The Dissenters in England were accustomed to send their children to these universities for education. There is an academy of sciences at Haerler.

Cities and Towns. AMSTERDAM, in North Holland, the capital of the United Provinces, is situated on the river Amstel and an arm of the Zuyder Sea called the Ye or Wye, about 2 leagues from the mouth of the latter. It is situated on a low marshy soil, and built on piles of wood. The haven is a mile and a half in

length and about 1000 paces in breadth. It is not distinguished by natural advantages; but has been improved and secured by art. In 1796 the number of houses was 27,351, and of inhabitants 217,024. The houses are of brick or stone, and are universally neat and cleanly. The streets are generally narrow, but well paved. There are 14 Calvinistic churches, 3 English, 1 or more Lutheran, Arminian and Anabaptist, several Catholic chapels, and 2 synagogues; one the largest in Europe. Amsterdam before the late troubles was surpassed in its commerce by no city in Europe, but London.

The HAGUE, about half a league from the German sea, was the seat of the general government as well as that of the province of Holland. The number of houses, in 1796, was 6164; and of inhabitants 38,433 The houses are uncommonly good; the streets long, broad and cleanly; many of them being adorned with rows of trees.

ROTTERDAM, is at the confluence of the Rotter, with the Meuse. The haven is deep, easily accessible to the largest ships, and free from ice in the spring much sooner than the Texel. 1796, contained 6621 houses and 33,800 inhabitants. ket place stands the statue of Erasmus.

The city, in
In the mar

UTRECHT stands on a northern branch of the Rhine, which, before the great change in the bed of that river was a principal channel. The houses are brick, many of them stately. It contained in 1796, 32,294 inhabitants.

LEYDEN is situated on the old northern branch of the Rhine, a few miles above the spot where it loses itself in the sands. The river divides the city into about fifty islands, communicating with cach other by 145 bridges, upwards of 100 of which are of freestone. The university has been celebrated for many years, but is now on the decline. Leyden contained in 1796, 3017 houses, and 30,955 inhabitants.

GRONINGEN, the capital of the province of the same name, is in the northern part of Holland, about 10 miles from the sea. It contained in 1796, 23,770 inhabitants.

HAERLEM lies on the Sparen, about 3 miles from the sea or lake of Haerlem. It contains 4 Dutch Calvinist churches, 1 French Calvinist, 1 Lutheran, Arminian, 4 Anabaptists, and several private Catholic chapels. Here are extensive manufactorics of linen, ribbands and tape. The number of houses in 1796, was 7,963, and of inhabitants 21,360.

DORT lies on a small island in the Meuse. Its harbor is very commodious for trade. It contained in 1796 about 4000 houses and 18,014 inhabitants.

MIDDLEBURG, the chief town in Zealand and the capital of the island of Walcheren, was surrounded by a wall in 1132. The town house is a large magnificent building. The fortifications are strong and regular. The situation is very unhealthy. In 1796 it contained 17,687 inhabitants. In 1809 the town and the island were taken by the British, but were soon after abandoned. Inland Navigation. The canals of Holland are very numerous