esque scenery, such as is composed of stupendous moun tains, valleys, glaciers, precipices, cataracts, and lakes and on account of these, it is much visited by travellers. 2. It is traversed by ranges of the Alps, which lie chiefly to the south and east. Some of the principal summits in Switzerland are Cervin, Jungfrau, Simplon, St. Bernard, and St. Gothard; and close upon its borders are the elevated summits of Mont Blanc and Mont Rosa. 3. Mont Blanc, in Savoy, on the borders of Switzerland, is the highest mountain in Europe, and receives its name, which signifies White Mountain, from the immense mantle of glaring white snow, with which its summit and sides are always covered. 4. On the north side of Mont Blanc is the celebrated vale of Chamou'ni (sha-moo'ne), which is greatly admired for the beauty and grandeur of its scenery. 5. Mount Simplon, between Switzerland and Piedmont, is famous for the magnificent road made over it by Bonaparte, the most elevated point of which is more than 6,000 feet high. 6. Between the two principal summits of Mount St. Bernard, is one of the principal passages from Switzerland to Italy; and at the height of 8,038 feet, the most elevated point in the passage, there is a Benedictine monastery and hospital, which is the highest inhabited spot in Europe. 7. The Glaciers, which abound in the elevated hollows, between the peaks of the high mountains, are fields or lakes of glittering ice and snow; extending, in some instances, 15 or 20 miles in length, and often presenting the most fan tastic forms. 8. Avalanches are immense masses of snow and ice, which occasionally detach themselves from the glaciers, and are precipitated down the mountains, as sheets of snow down the roof of a house. 9. The Rhine and the Rhone, two of the largest rivers of Europe, and also the Inn, a head branch of the Danube, rise in the mountains of Switzerland. The Aar (är) is the largest river that has its whole course within the country. 10. Cataracts are very numerous, and small streams are often precipitated from a great height. About 40 miles to the southeast of Berne, is the famous cascade of the Staub'bach, which is nearly 1,000 feet perpendicular. 2. What mountains? 3. What is said of Mont Blanc ? 4. What is said of Chamouni? 5. Simplon? 6. St. Bernard 7. The Glaciers? 8. Avalanches? 9. Rivers? 10. Cat aracts? 11. The Falls of the Rhine, near Schaffhau'sen, form the most noted cataract in Europe, and are much visited by travellers. The river here dashes headlong from a height of about 50 feet. 12. Switzerland is celebrated for its numerous and beautiful lakes. The largest is the lake of Gene'va, which is esteemed the most beautiful lake in Europe. Some of the others are the lakes of Neufchatel' (nu-sha-tel'), Lu-cerne', and Zurich (zu'rik). 13. The climate of Switzerland is healthy, but severe in the elevated parts. 14. The soil is not generally fertile, and much of the country is rugged and sterile; but the productive parts are cultivated with great care. The breeding of cattle forms the principal source of subsistence. 15. Switzerland is divided into 22 cantons, in 9 of which the Catholic religion prevails, in 8 the Protestant, and 6 are divided; but the Protestants comprise a good deal more than half of the whole population. 16. The prevailing language is the German; but French is spoken in the cantons which border on France, and the Italian in the cantons which border on Italy. 17. Switzerland is a republic, or a confederacy of 22 little republics. The cantons are independent, having their respective constitutions, some of which are democratic, but most of them oligarchic. But the general concerns of the confederacy are intrusted to a general diet, which meets, by rotation, at Lucerne, Zurich, and Berne. 18. Geneva, the most populous town in Switzerland, has a very picturesque situation, at the southwest end of the lake of Geneva, embracing the most magnificent views of mountain scenery, including the summit of Mont Blanc. It is famous for the manufacture of watches, as a seat of learning, and for having been the centre of the Reformed religion. 19. Bäle or Bas'il, on the Rhine, is distinguished for trade and its university; Berne, on the Aar, as the most beautiful 11. What is said of the Falls of the Rhine? 12. Lakes? 13. Climate? 14 Soil? 15. Religion? 16. Language? 17. What is said of the government? 18. Geneva 19. What other towns? See Map No. VIII. How is Switzerland bounded? How is the lake of Geneva situated? Lake Constance? What rivers rise in Switzerland? How is Berne situated? Geneva? Bäle? Zurich? Schaffhausen? Lausanne? Lucerne? Neufchatel' town in Switzerland; Zurich, for its delightful situation for learning, and for the cultivation of flowers; Lausanne (lo-zan'), for its picturesque situation on the lake of Geneva; Gruyeres (gru-yare'), for cheese. 1. France, a fine country, advantageously situated to the west of the central part of Europe, has, during the last thousand years, been one of the leading states in that quarter of the globe. 2. Before the French Revolution, France was divided into 32 provinces, some of the most important of which were Brittany, Normandy, Pic'ardy, and the Isle of France, in the northwest; Champagne' (sham-pan), Lorraine', Al-sace', Franche Comte (fransh kong'ta), and Bur gundy, in the northeast; Pro-vence', Dauphiny, Languedoc', Gas'cony, and Guienne' (ghe-en'), in the south. S. The kingdom, including the island of Cor'sica, is now divided into 86 departments, which are named from the principal rivers by which they are watered, or from other natural features. 4. France is favorably situated for commerce, being FRANCE.-1. What is said of France? 2. What of its divisions before the Revolution? 3. What of its present divisions? 4. What of its commercial advantages? bounded on the west by the Atlantic ocean, or Bay of Biscay, on the northwest by the British Channel, and on the southeast by the Mediterranean. It is also watered by many fine rivers, and has numerous canals; though its inland navigation is much less complete than that of England. 5. The four largest rivers which have their course chiefly in France, are the Seine, which flows through Paris, and is navigable for vessels of 200 tons to Rouen, and for boats to Troyes (trwä); the Loire (wär), the navigation of which is connected by canals with the Seine and Saone (son); the Ga-ronne', which is navigable to Toulouse, where it is connected with the Mediterranean by the Languedoc canal, 140 miles long; and the Rhone, which is navigable to Seyssel. 6. The surface in the northern part is level; in the middle, agreeably diversified ; and in the south and east, mountainous. 7. The principal ranges of mountains are the Pyrenees, in the south; and the Alps, in the southeast. Inferior ranges are those of Ce-vennes', Can'tal, Jura, and Vosges (vōzh). S. The climate is one of the finest in the world, being warmer, drier, and less changeable than that of England; but it is much colder in the north than in the south. 9. With regard to soil, France is a favored country. Though there are many large tracts that are unproductive, yet a great proportion is fertile. 10. Some of the most important productions in the northern part are wheat, barley, oats, pulse, and potatoes; in the southern, wine, maize, silk, and olive oil. 11. The mineral productions are valuable, consisting chiefly of iron, copper, tin, lead, and coal. 12. Some of the principal exports are wine, brandy, silks, linen, cotton, and woollen goods. 13. The French have been long distinguished for their manufacture of silk, woollen, and linen goods; the cotton manufactures are of comparatively recent introduction. 14. Education is formed into one comprehensive system, styled the University of France, which embraces not only 26 academies, that are constituted on a plan similar to the universities of other countries, but also all other institutions 5. What is said of its rivers? 6. Surface? 7. Mountains? 8. Climate? 9. Soil? 10. Productions? 11. Mineral productions? 12. Exports? 13. Manufactures? 14. Seminaries of education? for imparting education, down to the lowest schools; and at the head of the whole is the " Minister of Public Instruction." 15. The French have always, since the revival of modern literature, ranked among the most literary nations of Europe; and they excel in the belles lettres, mathematics, astronomy, and chemistry. The education of the lower classes has heretofore been much neglected, but is now more attended to. 16. The French language, which is derived from the Latin, is one of the most polished of the modern languages; and it is more used than any other in European courts. 17. The government of France is a limited monarchy, and the constitution resembles that of Great Britain. The legislature is composed of the king; of a chamber of peers, formerly hereditary, but now nominated for life by the king; and of a chamber of deputies elected by the people. 18. All religions are tolerated in France, and are on an equal footing; but the great mass of the people are Roman Catholics. 19. PARIS, the capital, situated on the Seine, in the northern part of the kingdom, is the second city in Europe in population, and the first as a centre of gayety, luxury, and fashion. It is inferior to London in size, and in the width and commodiousness of its streets, but greatly superior in public libraries, galleries of painting, magnificent palaces, and other public edifices. 20. Ly'ons, finely situated at the conflux of the Rhone and Saone, is the second city in France, and distinguished for trade and for its extensive manufactures, particularly its silks and gold and silver stuffs. 21. The five largest commercial ports are Marseilles' (mar-sālz), noted as the first commercial port of France; Bordeaux (bor-do'), for its wines; Nantes, for its brandy and for an edict respecting the Protestants; Hä'vre-deGrace, as the port of Paris; Rouen (rô'äng), for cotton manufactures and its magnificent cathedral. 22. The principal naval stations are Brest and Tôu'lon (too long), the two largest; also Rochefort (rosh'fört), L'Orient (lo're-äng), and Cherbourg (sher'burg). 23. The other most important seaports are Bay-onne', noted for its trade with Spain, its fisheries, and the inven 15. What is said of the French? 16 French language? 17. Gov. ernment? 18. Religion 2 19. Paris? 20. Lyons? 21. Which are the five principal commercial ports? |