they must be of the age of 40 and upwards; and, in point of number, must be between 40 and 60. Their titles are not hereditary; and so different are they in regard to fortune, from the aristocracy of Britain, that their attendance in parliament is paid by an annual allowance of L.270 a-year. The members of the commons receive L.220 a-year. In the Netherlands, as in France, no bills can be brought into parliament by the opposition; all motions for the purpose of making laws require the sanction of the crown, a precaution which, however strange to an Englishman, is necessary in a new and unsettled government. The liberty of the press exists nearly as in England; and there are no political disqualifications on account of religious tenets. The judges are appointed by the king, on the presentation either of parliament, or of the provincial states. They hold their places for life. The minor courts are numerous as in France. The supreme courts sit at the Hague, Brussels, and Liege. All, as in Britain, are open to the public. The royal power is vested in the family of Nassau-Orange. (See Nassau). The title is "king of the Netherlands, prince of Orange, and grand duke of Luxemburg;" in the last capacity, he is a member of the Germanic confederation.

Finances.-The annual expenditure of the Netherlands is nearly L. 7,000,000 sterling, and the revenue has, since 1819, been brought to an equality with it. The navy costs only L.500,000 a-year; the army L.2,500,000; the church establishments, Catholic, Protestant, and sectaries, about L.270,000; but the great pressure arises, as in Britain, from the interest of the national debt. That debt amounts to L.140,000,000 of stock ; but the rate of interest being in general so low as 2 or 2 per cent. the aggregate of annual payment does not much exceed L.3,000,000 sterling. To these burdens, in themselves heavy for a state of limited extent, the maritime provinces of Holland and Zealand have to add the annual expence of defending their territory from the sea.

Military Force.-The army of the Netherlands amounts in peace to above 50,000 regulars, a large force for a small state, but required by its exposed frontier, and by the necessity of periodical draughts of troops to the colonies. In this establishment are four Swiss regiments; and of the rest of the army, the great majority, at least of the privates, are Germans, the lower orders in the Netherlands being little accustomed to military service. The marine consists at present of only 12 sail of the line, and twice as many frigates.

Colonies.-The Dutch settlements in different parts of the world are, 1st, In Asia,

Java, with the lesser governments of Amboyna, Banda, Ternate, Malacca, and Macassar, as well as the factories in Coromandel and Persia. 2d, In Africa, 13 small forts on the coast of Guinea. 3d, In the West Indies, the colony of Surinam on the mainland, and the islands of Curaçao, St Eustatius, and St Martin. The Dutch have also a right to send stores, and receive produce from their former colonies, Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice, though now subject to Britain.

Manners and National Character.-The character of the inhabitants of the Netherlands differs considerably in the southern and northern provinces. That of the Dutch has evidently been formed by their situation; little favoured by nature, they require continued exertion, not only for the means of support, but to keep their country from being swallowed up by the sea. They have accordingly been long distinguished as a laborious and persevering people, not devoid of enterprise, but led much more rarely than the English or Americans into mercantile speculations of doubtful success. They have been reproached for a selfish calculating character, but the charge is much exaggerated. There are among them thousands of families as unconnected with trade as the aristocracy of France or England; and their mercantile men are no more strangers to the pleasures of society, than the merchants of other countries. The Dutch have long exhibited the effect of commercial habits in a highly advanced stage, transacting business on a large scale, satisfied with a very limited rate of profit, and avoiding as much as possible long credits.

The current notions of Dutch economy and annual saving are not literally correct; but there is certainly less desire for display in this than in several other countries. The contrast drawn by sir W. Temple a century and a half ago, between Ireland and Holland, might, with no great change of colouring, be repeated at the present day. Large fortunes are here, as elsewhere, much more rare than is asserted by current rumour; but handsome competencies were frequent before the disasters of the French revolution; and there is still a considerable share of comfortable mediocrity. An intimate connection of 20 years (from 1795 to 1814), with the French, effected but a slight change in the manners of the Dutch: all the striking traits of their national character continued predominant. In the habits and dispositions of the Belgians, there is less uniformity: on the borders of Holland they are hardly to be distinguished from the Dutch, while in the provinces to the south, the dress and habits of the French are prevalent. The great difference b3

tween the Belgians and Dutch arises from difference of religion, the former being much more under the influence of bigotry.

History. On this subject we have already touched, under the head of Holland. Our earliest accounts of the Netherlands are from the Romans, by whom all the southern and central part (named Belgia), was conquered and kept in subjection till the decline of their empire in the 5th century. The barbarians from the right bank of the Rhine, in particular the Franks, then occupied it; and for a considerable time it formed part of the kingdom of Austrasia, of which Metz was the capital. It was subsequently placed, like Holland, under the government of counts or earls, and owed its early share of prosperity in the 12th and 13th centuries, more to its physical than political advantages. Having afterwards been incorporated with the extensive possessions of the dukes of Burgundy, the Netherlands passed to Maximilian of Austria, father of the emperor Charles V. The latter, like an able politician, united the 17 provinces into one state, and published in 1549, a law, vainly styled irrevocable and perpetual, enacting that they should in future be all governed by the same sovereign. The bigotry of his son Philip II. produced the separation of the Dutch provinces, and was the cause of great dissension and distress in the others. They continued, however, under the Spanish crown, until the middle of the 17th century, when the activity of Conde, and the more formidable tactics of Turenne, were both exerted to add them to the dominions of Louis XIV. In this they were advancing rapidly, when in 1668, a temporary stop was put to their progress, by the quadruple alliance concluded at the Hague by sir W. Temple: but the long war from 1672 to 1679, and the still longer war from 1689 to 1697, was carried on chiefly for the Netherlands. At last, in 1702, Louis obtained, by diplomatic art, that possession he had so long sought in vain by arms: but the talents of Marlborough redeemed the errors of the court of Spain; and after the battle of Ramillies in 1706, the Netherlands were brought under the power of the allies, and assigned to Austria by the peace of Utrecht. A long peace ensued, until the war of 1741, commenced in the heart of Germany, was transferred to the Netherlands, and the French under marshal Saxe recovered what the preceding generation had lost to Marlborough. Bergen-opZoom had fallen, Maestricht was about to follow, and the Dutch barrier was likely to be broken, when the naval successes of England, and the persevering aspect of the

coalition, led in 1748 to the peace of Aixla-Chapelle, and to the restoration of the Netherlands to Austria.

The secret treaty of 1756, by which Austria, forsaking her former supporters, agreed to cede the Netherlands to France, in return for the aid of that power in subverting Prussia, was fortunately never carried into effect; but it afforded a lasting admonition to England, that Austria was not the power to be entrusted with this precious deposit. A second peace of 30 years ensued: hostilities did not recommence till 1792; but Austria lost the Netherlands in the first campaign. Though recovered in 1793, they passed again in 1794, to France, and were now held by so firm a tenure, that nothing short of a great political convulsion could redeem them from her grasp. The hope of recovering them was doubtless the cause of the prolonged hostility of England, and in particular of the renewed coalitions of 1799 and 1805, both baffled in their object, and both conducive to the farther aggrandizement of France. At last, the catastrophe of the French army in Russia, in the end of 1812, opened the long desired prospect. During 1815, Germany occupied all the exertions of the allies; but in 1814, the Netherlands were detached not by operations on their own territory, but by a consequence of that revolution which replaced the sceptre in the hands of the Bourbons. It was now that the British cabinet was enabled to accomplish what had long been its anxious wish-the union of the 17 provinces, and their erection into an independent state. This union has not yet obtained the cordial acquiescence of the majority of the Belgians; but time can hardly fail to show them its advantages; and it is due to them to state, that in the final struggle for their provinces (in 1815), they took no part with their French invaders.

NETHY, a river of Scotland, in Inver ness-shire, which rises in the hills of Badenoch, and falls into the Spey, 3 miles S. E. of Grantown.

NETLEY, a hamlet of England, in Southamptonshire, 2 miles S. E. from Southampton.

NETPHE, UPPER and LowER, two vil lages of Prussian Westphalia, in the princi pality of Siegen, the one 4 and the other 5 miles E. of the town of Siegen.

NETRAVUTTY, a river of the south of India, province of South Canara, which has its source in the range of mountains called the Western Ghauts, runs into the lake of Mangalore, and then disembogues into the sea. It is navigable by small vessels as far as the tide runs, and afterwards by boats for 20 or 30 miles inland.

NETSBUCKTOKE, or SANDWICH BAY,

bay on the east coast of Labrador. Long. 57. 30. W. Lat. 53. 45. N.

NETTE, OF NETHA, a small river of Prussian Westphalia, which falls into the Weser, 3 miles S. of Corvey.-Nette is also the name of a river in Hanover, which joins the Innerste.

NETTLEBED, a parish of England, in Oxfordshire, noted for a fine spring, which is said never to fail in the driest summer. Population 456. 5 miles N. W. from Henley-upon-Thames.

NETTOLICZ, or NETTOLICZY, a small town in the interior of Bohemia, 6 miles E. of Prachatitz, and 72 S. of Prague. Population 1700.

NETTUNO, a small town of Italy, in the States of the Church, on the sea coast, 30 miles S. S. E. of Rome.

NETZ, or NOTEC, a river which rises in the north-east of Poland, issuing from a lake near Sompolno. After flowing through the grand duchy of Posen and New Mark of Brandenburg, it falls into the Wartha, above Landsberg. It is navigable in a part of its course; and the valley through which it flows is called the Netzbruch.

NETZE, a small river of Hanover, in the duchy of Luneburg, which falls into the Ilmenau, near Tonhausen.

NETZE, a small town of the west of Germany, in the county of Waldeck.

NEVA, a large river of Russia, which is sues from the great lake Ladoga; and after a course of about 35 miles to the westward, empties itself into the gulf of Finland, below St Petersburg, by three mouths. Though its course is so short, the river is from 300 to 400 yards wide, and from 10 to 15 feet deep. It is consequently navigable for vessels of considerable size. The water being pure, is used for drinking and cooking throughout St Petersburg. The Neva is generally frozen over from the end of October till April.

NEVADA, OF SIERRA NEVADA, i. e. the Snowy Range, a well known chain of mountains in the south of Spain, forming the most elevated range in the whole peninsula. It branches off from the great Iberian chain, in the vicinity of the Sierras de Filabres and Algamilla, runs through Granada and Andalusia from east to west, and terminates on the shores of the Mediterranean, in several promontories, of which that of Gibraltar is the most remarkable. The loftiest peak of all is the Cumbre de Mulhacen, which is said to rise to an elevation of 13,600 feet. The Alpujarres and the mountains of Ronda form parts of this chain.

NEUBENDAM. See Nybundan. NEUBOURG, a town in the north of France, department of the Eure, between

It

the Seine and the small river Rille. has 1500 inhabitants, and some manufactures of cotton. 11 miles N. W. of Evreux.

NEUBURG, called also the YOUNGER PALATINATE, was a duchy of the German empire, belonging to the elector of Bavaria. It was divided into two parts, the western, lying between Suabia and Franconia, on both sides of the Danube; the eastern, called also the Nordgau, stretching along the borders of the upper palatinate. The extent of the whole was 1080 square miles; the population 102,000. This territory is well cultivated and tolerably fertile. It contains some iron works; but the principal manufactures are of hemp and flax. In 1808, the whole was incorporated in the Bavarian circles of the Upper Danube and the Regen. The duchy of Neuburg has long belonged to a branch of the house of Bavaria; and it was this branch which succeeded to the states and dignity of the elector of Bavaria in 1742.

NEUBURG, a town of Germany, in Bavaria, on the Danube. It stands on a very pleasant eminence, is neatly built, and contains several good edifices. Over the Danube is a good bridge; and near it is the old ducal palace, still a good building. The council-house stands in a neat square, surrounded with trees. Neuburg has a collegiate church, a college, an hospital, and an orphan-house. It is likewise the seat of a court of appeal. It was formerly a fortified place, and repeatedly besieged; but was dismantled in the early part of the 18th century. Population 4000. 11 miles W. of Ingolstadt. Long. 11. 11. 24. E. Lat. 48. 44. 23. N.

NEUBURG, a village in the north-east of France, in Alsace. It adjoins the Rhine,

and contains 800 inhabitants.

NEUBURG. See Kloster-Neuburg; also Korn-Neuburg, and Maros Uivar.

NEUBURG NEAR THE FOREST, a town of Germany, in Bavaria, on the Schwarzach, 21 miles E. S. E. of Amberg. Population 1200.

NEUBURG ON THE KAMLACH, a town of Bavaria, on the Kamlach, in the circle of the Upper Danube. Population 1000.

NEUDAMM, a town of the Prussian states, in the province of Brandenburg, government of Frankfort. Population 2200. 11 miles N. by E. of Custrin, and 60 E. N. E. of Berlin.

NEUDECK, a town in the north-west of Bohemia, standing on a hill, 10 miles N. W. of Carlsbad. Population 1400.

NEUDENAU, a town of the west of Germany, in Baden, on the Jaxt, with 1100 inhabitants. 11 miles N. by E. of Heils bron.

factures of tobacco; and in the neighbourhood, iron works. 28 miles S. W. of Nancy.

NEUFCHATEAU, a town of the Netherlands, in the grand duchy of Luxemburg. Population 1300. 30 miles W. N. W. of Luxemburg.

NEUFCHATEL, a canton in the west of Switzerland, bounded by the canton of Bern, the lake of Neufchatel, the Pays de Vaud, and a part of the frontier of France. Its superficial extent is about 340 square miles; its population 50,000. Its surface is mountainous, being intersected by several branches of the Jura chain; the climate of these elevated parts is cold and disagreeable, the winter continuing during seven or eight months, and the soil being in most places naturally unproductive. Vines, how ever, are cultivated in the lower and sheltered parts of the canton, bordering on the lake. The two principal vallies, the Val de Ruz and the Val de Travers, produce a little corn; but the higher part of the canton, bordering on France, is laid out only in pasturage and plantations. It is therefore owing to political advantages, to the freedom and privileges long enjoyed by the inhabitants, that industry and activity are generally diffused among them, and that this became last century a manufacturing district of consequence. The fabrics of cotton, linen, and woollen, are extensive, as well as those of lace and stockings; also of watches and other works in metal.

The inhabitants of this canton, with the exception of about 2000, are Protestants. Their language is French; and there exists among them a degree of comfort and civilisation not yet attained by several of the surrounding cantons. Their country originally formed, with the adjacent principality of Valengin, a small state, enjoying a considerable share of freedom; the prince being obliged, before his accession, to take an oath that he would preserve the integrity of the principality, and secure to his subjects all their ancient rights. In 1707, on the extinction of the reigning family, the state acknowledged the claims of the king of Prussia to the sovereignty. The government continued thus till 1807, when, by the treaty of Tilsit, Neufchatel was ceded by Prussia to France, and given by Bonaparte to marshal Berthier. The events of 1814, however, relieved it from subjection, after which the congress of Vienna acknowledged it a Swiss canton, but the nominal sovereignty of Prussia was preserved.

NEUFCHATEL, the capital of the foregoing canton, situated in the midst of vineyards and gardens, near where the rivulet of Seyon falls into the lake of Neufchatel.

It stands partly on an eminence, partly on a plain. Its population is nearly 5000, and it is in general well built, the houses having an air of neatness and elegance. It consists of four principal streets, has no fortifications, but several public buildings of interest, particularly the old castle, the town-house, the principal church, and the hospital. The town-house was constructed at great expence by an individual citizen, who had acquired a large fortune, and who, on his death in 1786, bequeathed the whole of it for public purposes. The manufac tures of Neufchatel consist of printed cottons and linens. 50 miles N. E. of Lausanne, and 25 W. of Bern. Long. 7. 0. E. Lat. 47. 5. N.

NEUFCHATEL, LAKE OF, a considerable lake in the north-west of Switzerland, which separates the canton of that name from the canton of Friburg. It is about 20 miles long, and 4 broad; its greatest depth is about 400 feet. It lies about 1820 feet above the level of the sea, and its length extends from south-west to northeast. The rivers that fall into it are the Orbe, the Rnz, the Seyon, and the Broie. It abounds in fish, and is of considerable utility by affording the means of navigation, though the boats on its surface are occasionally exposed to danger from sudden storms. Its waters flow through the small lake of Bienne into the Aar, and eventually into the Rhine.

NEUFCHATEL, a town in the north of France, in the department of the Lower Seine, situated on the small river Bethune, It is a manufacturing place, and has a population of 2900. The environs are remarkable for the richness of their pastures. 26 miles N. E. of Rouen.

NEUFELD, a market town of Upper Austria, on the river Muhl. It has extensive manufactures of linen, and is 17 miles N. W. of Lintz.

NEUFFEN, a town of the west of Germany, in Wirtemberg, 17 miles S. S. E. of Stutgard, among the Suabian Alps. It has 1500 inhabitants.

NEUFRA, a town of the west of Germany, in Wirtemberg, department of the Danube, and principality of Furstenberg. Population 900.

NEUFREN, a town of the south-west of Germany, in the principality of Hohenzollern, 10 miles N. of Sigmaringen. Population 900.

NEUGERSDORF, a village of Saxony, in Upper Lusatia, near Zittau. It contains 2000 inhabitants, chiefly linen weavers.

NEUHAUS, or GINDRZICHU HRADICZ, & well built town of the central part of Bohemia. It contains 5200 inhabitants, with a gymnasium formerly belonging to the