BELGIUM. 1. Belgium comprises the Belgic Netherlands or Low Countries, a term applied to the country on account of its low situation; although, with the exception of the western part, which lies near the sea, it is more elevated and less level than Holland, and the air less damp. 2. Much of the soil is fertile, and highly cultivated, producing large quantities of grain, flax, hemp, and fruits; and the country is the most populous in Europe. 3. The inhabitants, who are styled Belgians, Walloons, or Flemings, are mostly Catholics, generally speak the French language, and resemble the French more than the Dutch. 4. This country has long been distinguished for manufactures; and it boasts an eminent school of painting, called the Flemish. 5. BRUS'SELS, the capital, and one of the most elegant cities in Europe, contains a royal palace, and is famous for the manufacture of lace, camlets, and carpets. 6. Antwerp, on the Scheldt, is noted for commerce; Ghent, for manufactures, and a treaty of peace between the United States and England; Liege, for iron-works and fire-arms; Lôuväin', for its university: Mech'lin (mek'lin), for lace, and as the first archbishopric; Spä, for mineral waters. 7. No part of Europe, of the same extent, has been the scene of more numerous and important warlike operations, within a few centuries past, than Belgium. Some of the places which have been rendered memorable by battles or sieges, are Ostend', Oude'narde (ood'nard), Ypres, (e'pr), Tournay', Fontenoy', Ramillies (ram-e-leez'), and Waterloo. GERMANY. 1. Germany is a large country situated in the central part of Europe, extending from the Baltic on the north to the BELGIUM.-1. What is said of Belgium? 2. Soil and productions? 3. The inhabitants? 4. For what is the country distinguished? 5. What is said of Brussels? 6. What other towns, and for what noted? 7. What places are memorable for battles? GERMANY.-1. What is said of Germany? See Map No. VIII. How is Belgium bounded? How is Brus sels situated? Antwerp? Ghent? Liege? Spa? What towns in the west? In the south? In the east? gulf of Venice on the south. It is somewhat larger than France, and contains a greater number of inhabitants, who belong to various political states. 2. Before the French revolution Germany was an empire, divided into 9 circles, namely, Up'per Sax'ony, Lower Saxony, and Westphalia, in the north; Up'per Rhine, Low'er Rhine, and Franco'nia, in the middle; Swa'bia, Bavaria, and Aus'tria, in the south. Bohemia, Moravia, and Sile'sia, which were not included in the 9 circles, formed also a part of the German empire. 3. The empire of Germany was also subdivided among upwards of 300 sovereign princes, each independent in his own territory but subject to the emperor as head, who was chosen by 9 electors; but this division has been discontinued, and Germany is no longer an empire. 4. The country of Germany now comprises about one third of the empire of Austria; the greater part of the kingdom of Prussia; Holstein and Lau'enburg, belonging to the kingdom of Denmark; Luxemburg, belonging to Holland; the kingdoms of Bavaria, Sax'ony, Han'over, and Wurtemberg, together with the 26 smaller states, and the 4 free cities. 5. The states are all united under the Germanic Confederation, whose affairs are intrusted to a Federative Diet, which meets at Frankfort on the Mayne. 6. Germany is divided into two parts by the difference of the surface. Low Germany, forming the northern division, is mostly level; High Germany, the middle and southern parts, which are greatly diversified with ranges of mountains, hills, and plains. 7. The southern part is traversed by ranges of the Alps; and the middle, by the Sudetic Mountains and other smaller ranges. 8. The 6 largest rivers are the Dan'ube, Rhine, Elbe, O'der, We'ser, and Mayne. 9. The largest lake in Germany is the beautiful lake of Constance, which lies on the borders of Switzerland. 10. The climate is rather cold in the north, but mild in the south; and the air salubrious, except in the marshy parts. 2. How was it divided before the French revolution? 3. How was it subdivided and governed? 4. What does it now comprise? 5. How are these states united? 6. How is Germany divided by surface? 7. What mountains? 8. Rivers? 9. Lakes? 10. Climate? 11. Much of the country has a fertile soil; thougn sandy plains, barren heaths, and marshes abound in the north; and in the south large portions are rugged and mountain ous. 12. The Protestant religion prevails in the north of Germany, and the Catholic in the south. The Catholics comprise rather more than half of the population. 13. Germany, particularly the northern part, is distinguished for literature and science; and in no other country is authorship so extensively made a business for life. 14. Germany contains 24 universities, some of which have a high reputation, and are resorted to by students from other countries. Some of the most distinguished are those of Gottingen, Berlin', Hal'le, Leip'sic, Jena, and Vienna. 15. The principal states in the north of Germany, are Prussia, Hanover, Mecklenburg, and Oldenburg; in the middle, Saxony, Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Darmstadt, Nassau, and Saxe-Weimar; in the south, Austria, Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Baden. PRUSSIA. 1. Prussia (prush'e-a or pru'she-a), formerly a small state, but now a powerful kingdom, consists chiefly of two parts, entirely separated from each other, the larger one lying in the northeast of Germany, and the smaller one in the west. 2. The kingdom is divided into 10 provinces. The two provinces of East Prussia and West Prussia comprise Prussia Proper; the province of Posen is formed of the 11. What is said of the soil? 12. Religion? 13. Literature? 14. Universities? 15. What are the principal states? PRUSSIA-1. What is said of Prussia? 2. What of the differ ent divisions? See Map No. VIII. NOTE. Germany includes the countries rep resented on this Map, which lie to the east of Holland, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. What part of Germany is embraced by Prussia? How is the king dom of Hanover situated? Holstein? Mecklenburg? Oldenburg? Hesse-Cassel? Hesse-Darmstadt Nassau ? What part of Germany is included in the Austrian dominions? How is Saxony bounded? Bavaria? Wurtemberg? Baden? What rivers are there in the north of Germany? In the south Where is the Mayne? Prussian part of Poland; the other seven provinces are all included within the limits of the late German Empire. The western part of the kingdom includes the three provinces of Westphalia, Cleves-Berg, and Lower Rhine; the eastern part, the other seven. Provinces. Chief Towns. Provinces. East Prussia, Konigsberg. Silesia, West Prussia, Dantzic. Brandenburg, BERLIN. Pomerania, Posen, Stettin. Posen. Saxony, Chief Towns. Breslau. Magdeburg. Westphalia, Munster. Lower Rhine, Aix-la-Chapelle. 3. The Prussian territories are generally very level, abounding in small lakes, marshes, and rivers of a slow current. 4. The principal mountains are the Rie'sengebirg, a part of the Sudel'ic chain, which separates Silesia from Bohemia and Moravia. 5. The country is well supplied with navigable rivers ; the principal of which are the Nie'men, Vis'tula, O'der, and Elbe, in the eastern part, and the Rhine, in the western. 6. The soil is in some parts good, and highly cultivated ; but not generally fertile, being often sandy and covered with heath. 7. The most remarkable mineral production is amber, which is found in large quantities on the shores of the Baltic. 8. Prussia is rather an agricultural than a trading or manufacturing country; yet it has considerable commerce, and some districts are much employed in manufactures, particularly Silesia and Westphalia, which are noted for their linens. 9. Nearly two thirds of the inhabitants are Protestants, and one third Catholics; but all religions are tolerated and on an equal footing. 10. There are flourishing universities at Berlin', Hal'le, Konigsberg, Breslau, and Bonn. The Prussian government is distinguished for patronizing learning, and the kingdom is one of the best educated in Europe. 11. BERLIN', the capital of the kingdom, is situated in a level and sandy district, on the river Spree, and is the second city in Germany_in_population, and one of the most regular and beautiful in Europe. 3. What of the surface? 4. Mountains? 5 What of the rivers? 6. Soil? 7. Mineral production? 8. Agriculture and trade? 9. Religion? 10. Universities and education? 11. Berlin 12. The three principal commercial ports are Konigsberg, formerly the capital of Prussia; Dant' zic, famous for the export of grain; and Stet'tin, which is the chief port for the commerce of Berlin. Other ports are Elbing, Stral'sund, and Mem'el. 13. Some of the principal trading towns in the interior are Breslau, the capital of Silesia, the second city in population, and famous for its fairs and manufactures; Frankfort, on the Oder, also noted for its fairs; Magdeburg, on the Elbe, for its strong fortifications; Cologne (ko-lōn'), on the Rhine, for trade, Cologne water, and the invention of gunpowder. 14. Aix-la-Chapelle' (ais'-la-sha-pel') is famous for hav 12. What is said of the commercial ports? 13. What trading towns in the interior? See Map of Europe.. On what sea does Prussia border? What rivers flow through Prussia into the Baltic? Through what corner of Prussia does the Niemen flow? How is Konigsberg situated? Dantzic? Elbing? Tilsit? Memel? Eylau? [See Map No. VIII.] How is the island of Usedom situated? What branches of the Elbe are in Prussia? Of the Oder? Of the Rhine? How is Berlin situated? Breslau? Posen? Magdeburg? Halle? |