Page images
PDF
EPUB

have the Danube, which rises within 30 miles of the Rhine in Suabia, and, after a course of above 1300 miles, falls into the Black Sea; and the Mayne, which may be considered as dividing the Northern from the Southern States. The principal Mountains are the Hartz, in the North; the Erzgeburg, or Metallic Mountains running between Bohemia and Saxony; the Mountains of the Black Forest in Wurtemberg; and the Mountains of Bavaria and Salzburg, which are continuations of the Swiss and Tyrolese Alps.

[blocks in formation]

The principal Rivers in the Austrian Dominions are the Danube, whose source and course is already described; the Tiess, which flows into the Danube near Belgrade;. the Save, which forms a boundary to Austria and Turkey, and flows into the Danube at Belgrade; the Drave, which joins the Danube above the Save, near Esseg; the Inn, which joins the Danube on the Western boundary of the Austrian Dominions, near Passau; and the Elbe, already described, which rises not far from Olmutz in Moravia.

Germany before its dismemberment by the late Emperor of France, was divided into nine circles: 1, Westphalia, East of the Seven United Provinces; 2, 3, Lower and Upper Saxony, East of West

phalia; 4, 5, the Lower and Upper Rhine, South and South East of Westphalia; 6, Franconia, East of the Rhine, and South of Saxony; 7, Swabia, South of the Rhine and Franconia; 8, Bavaria, East of Swabia; and 9, Austria, South and South East of Bavaria. - The remainder of Germany contained Bohemia, East of Franconia, and North East of Bavaria; and its dependencies, Lusatia to the North, Silesia to the North East, and Moravia towards the South East of Bohemia.

[blocks in formation]

The principal Rivers are the Rhine, already described, which rising amidst tremendous Alpine precipices in the country of the Grisons, flows through the Lake of Constance; the Rhone, already described, which rises from an extensive glacier, forming as it were a palace of arches of perpetual ice, and flows through the lake of Geneva; the Aar, which joins the Rhine near Waldshut; the Limmat which flows into the Aar. The Mountains in Switzerland are the Alps, the highest of which are towards Savoy, Mount Blanc being about 15,000 feet high, and Mount Rosa, to the North East of Mount Blanc, very little lower. Between them is the Great St. Bernard, one of the passes over the Alps into Italy.

[blocks in formation]

Alessandria 44° 53' 8° 40′ Near which is Marengo, celebrated

for the victory of Buonaparte over the Austrians.

[blocks in formation]

The principal Rivers are the Po, which flows into the Adriatic near Venice; the Tesino, Mincio, and Trebia, which flow into the Po; and the Adige, which also flows into the Gulf of Venice. The Alps are the principal Mountains in the North of Italy.

[blocks in formation]

The principal Rivers are the Tiber which falls into the sea near Rome, and the Arno which flows by Florence and falls into the sea near Pisa. The Apennines are the principal Mountains in the Centre of Italy, and run. through the middle of Italy from North to South. *

* The Apennines branch off from the Alps, and their highest point is Mount Velino, near the centre of Italy, almost 8000 feet above the level of the sea.

[blocks in formation]

In the South of Italy, near Naples, is the celebrated Volcano of Vesuvius. In Sicily is the much more stupendous Volcano of Etna, near Catania. The height of Vesuvius is not above 3600 feet, nor its circumference more than 30 miles; while Ætna rises at least 11,000 feet in height, and covers a space of 180 miles in circumference. Many of the smaller mountains in the neighbourhood of Ætna exceed Vesuvius. The crater of Vesuvius is about half a mile in circumference, that of Ætna never less than three, and often six miles. In the neighbourhood of Sicily, to the North, are several small Volcanic Islands, known by the general name of the Lipari Isles.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Corunna 48 23

36 35 4 10 W..

8 19 W. Memorable for the famous Battle of Corunna, between the English and French, the latter of whom were defeated; but the English General, Sir John Moore, fell in the action, 16th January, 1809.

[blocks in formation]

Saragossa 41 45

Toledo
Ciudad Real 39

0 48 Memorable for its siege and gallant defence against the French army.

39 50

3 20

1

[blocks in formation]

3 57

6 40 Memorable for its siege and capture

by Lord Wellington, 6th April, 1812. Reckoned the Wonder of Spain.

[blocks in formation]

37 58 Grenada 37 8 Valladolid 41 42 Salamanca 41 24

1 16

3 38
4 47
5 48

Vittoria

Memorable for the Battle of Salamanca, July 22. 1812; in which the French army, under the command of Marshal Marmont, were totally defeated by the allied army, under the command of the Earl of Wellington.

42 52 2 50 Memorable for the Battle of Vittoria, gained by the Marquis of Welling

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »