often met at Presburg. Transylvania, on the east of Hungary; Croatia, Sclavonia, and Dalmatia, on the south, are smaller countries, also subject to Austria.

95. Gallicia forms an extensive plain on the south of Poland, which Austria has wrested from that country by successive partitions. It is generally fruitful in grain, but rudely cultivated; and all the branches of industry are in a depressed state. The salt mines of Wieliczca, however, are the largest in the world, containing long ranges of

Sea of Marmora and the Black Sea, and one of the most considerable cities in the world.

Obs. The beauty of the situation of Constantinople can hardly be exceeded, the aspect from the sea being peculiariy grand; but, on a nearer approach, the wooden hovels and narrow streets disappoint the splendid expectations of the stranger. It forms an unequal triangle, resembling a harp, being about twelve or fourteen English miles in circumference, enclosed by walls, and on two sides by the sea and the harbour called the Golden Horn. The inhabitants are computed at 400,000, including the four suburbs. Of these 200,000 are Turks, 100,000 Greeks, and the remainder Jews, Armenians, and Franks. The most celebrated edifices are the Seraglio, and the mosque of St. Sophia. The principal entrance of the Seraglio is styled Capi, or the Porte, which gives name to its court and government.

100. Adrianople is the second city in European Turkey. Salonica has a great trade. Schumla, Silistria, Nicopolis, and Belgrade are strong frontier fortresses. The chief river in European Turkey is the Danube.

Obs. The chief mountains are Hæmus, or the Balkan, a long lofty range, which forms a barrier against Russia; Pindus and Olympus, in Thessaly: Mount Athos, celebrated in classic history, is now inhabited by thousands of monks and hermits.

101. The Turkish islands were very numerous ; but most of them are annexed to the new state of Greece, and the only important one which she retains is Candia, a fertile island, anciently celebrated and powerful under the name of Crete.

The Turkish provinces generally, are under the local go. vernment of pachás, or viceroys; who, having purchased their power, use it to rob and oppress the inhabitants.

Extent, 200,000 square miles. Population, 9,000,000..

GREECE.

102. Greece, the most celebrated country of the ancient world, has for many ages been in an oppressed and miserable state. It was respected by the Romans. its first conquerors; but the Turks,

who held it for three centuries, reduced it to a state of cruel bondage. Recently, however, the Greeks made a brave stand for their independence; and, being supported by the great Christian powers, they have compelled Turkey to withdraw her claims, and their country has been formed into a small constitutional kingdom.

103. The new state of Greece comprehends the Morea (the ancient Peloponnesus), with the territory of the ancient Attica and Thebes, as far south as the Gulfs of Arta and Volo. It includes also the islands of Negropont, Hydra, and the Cyclades. The population is not supposed to exceed 700,000; but it is expected to increase under a free government. Otho, prince of Bavaria, has been chosen king.

104. Athens, recently chosen as the capital, is still a considerable town, adorned with the most splendid ruins. Thebes, Corinth, and Sparta are now only villages. The chief modern towns are Tripolizza, Napoli di Romania, Navarino, Patras, and Missolonghi.

THE REPUBLIC OF THE SEVEN ISLANDS.

105. On the south-west of Greece lies the confederacy of the Seven Islands, consisting of Corfu, Santa Maura, Cephalonia, Ithaca, Zante, Cerigo, and Paxo, having an independent government, but under the military protection of Great Britain. These islands are rugged but fertile, abounding in fruit, especially currants, for which Zante is famous.

FRANCE.

106. This extensive, fertile, and populous country occupies a commanding situation in the centre of Europe; and has always been distinguished by the military prowess of its armies, the intriguing spirit

of its government, and the volatile character of its inhabitants.

107. France, being situated in the middle of the temperate zone, enjoys a mild and agreeable climate. The air in the south is considered so very salubrious, that it has become the resort of many invalids from northern countries.

Obs. The population now exceeds 32,900,000; but, during the reign of Napoleon, the French empire, comprehending Belgium and Piedmont, had more than forty millions.

108. France was formerly divided into 32 provinces; but since the revolution of 1789 it has been divided into 86 departments, called after the rivers, the mountains, or other remarkable features.

109. Paris is the greatest city in Europe next to London. In 1827 it contained 890,000 inhabitants. Many of the streets are narrow and dirty, but the public structures are very magnificent. This city was embellished by the Emperor Napoleon with many splendid buildings and triumphal structures, and enriched with immense collections of works of art, amassed in Italy, Germany, Prussia, Holland, and the Netherlands: but these, after the taking of Paris in 1815, were restored by the allied sovereigns to their lawful owners.

Obs. Paris rises on both sides of the Seine, in a pleasant and healthy situation, with delightful environs. It is divided into three parts; the Town (ville) on the north, the City in the middle, and that part called the University on the south. It is one third smaller than London. The houses are built chiefly of freestone. The banks of the Seine present noble quays; and the public buildings are not only elegant in themselves, but are placed in open and commanding situations. The Louvre is among the best specimens of modern architecture; and the church of St. Généviève is also deservedly admired; nor must the Tuileries, the Palais Royal, and the Hospital of Invalids be forgotten. Paris exceeds London in magnificence, but yields to it in size, cleanliness, and convenience.

110. The other principal inland towns of France

are, Lisle or Lille, Amiens, Rouen, Rheims, Verdun, Nancy, Strasburg, on the north; Lyons, Besançon, Grenoble, Montauban, on the east; Aix, Avignon, Montpélier, Toulouse, to the south; Rennes, Poitiers, to the west.

Its sea-ports, in the north, are, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe, Havre, Cherbourg, St. Malo, Morlaix; on the west, Brest, L'Orient, Nantes, Rochelle, Rochefort, Bordeaux; and, in the Mediterranean, Marseilles and Toulon.

111. The principal mountains in France are the Alps, which divide it from Italy; and the Pyrenees, which divide it from Spain. In the interior are the Cevennes, and the mountains of Auvergne.

112. The chief rivers are, the Rhone, the Garonne, the Loire, the Seine, and the Somme. The Rhine is a boundary between France and Germany only, on the eastern side, near Switzerland.

113. Numerous canals have been formed in France within the last few years. The earliest was the canal of Languedoc, between the Garonne and the Mediterranean. Agriculture is in a very flourishing condition. The wines of France, particularly those of Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux, are the most generally esteemed of any, and are exported to a large amount. Her silk manufactures are superior to those of any other nation; she excels also in woollens, cottons, fine linens, and jewellery.

114. Near Toulon are the Isles of Hières. The Isle of Rhé and Belleisle are in the Bay of Biscay. Corsica gave birth to Buonaparte.

Obs. In 1788, King Louis the Sixteenth was induced to call an assembly of the States General of the kingdom, which had not been convoked since 1614. This was, in fact, the commencement of that memorable revolution, which, after promising to France a well-regulated government, and the enjoyment of rational liberty, was soon sullied by the murder of the king